Dear Editor:
Over the course of the past few days, in addition to the many other unhinged things the president has said and done, he’s announced the renaming of the Department of Defense as the “Department of War.” When questioned as to the reason, his answer was that “we want defense, too” suggesting defense is secondary, almost an afterthought. He went on to suggest that “offense” is a large part of what he’s looking for.
Here’s one of the problems with the renaming initiative: Words matter.
Renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War signals a subtle, but definite, change in U.S. posture toward the rest of the world. In the eyes of both our allies and our enemies, we are no longer just ready to defend ourselves and U.S. interests; this change in nomenclature indicates our willingness to go on the offense whenever Trump gets the itch to flex.
The White House has announced to the world the U.S. military is no longer an instrument of peace. Under Trump, the U.S. is no longer the peacemaker, the diplomatic voice of reason or the carrot; he wants us to be, and notably Trump fancies himself, the stick in all matters domestic and foreign.
Is it just coincidence that Putin and Kim, just days before the name change announcement, looked on in admiration at China’s grand display of military might? Is anyone in Congress concerned these three dictators are canoodling in plain sight and are almost fully in bed together? Could it be that the visual of this unholy alliance stirred Trump to puff up with this name change nonsense?
Probably, but we don’t know what goes on in his mind, do we?
But, words matter.
Grady Throneberry, Louisville, Ky.