It’s War

[DWalt]

Seems we now have a Department of War. From what I read, it officially remains the Department of Defense, but Department of War and the title of Secretary of War will be used in communications instead of DoD and the SecDef. Go figure. I always considered my wife to be the family Secretary of War.

 

[swsig]

I wonder what it will cost the taxpayers to replace all the Pentagon stationery. Lots of paper there!

 

[Onomea]

I thought it of interest that the Washington Post had an editorial two days ago in favor of the change. Their point seemed to be best do away with euphemisms, call a spade a spade, and make policy makers think carefully before calling for action by the Pentagon.

Personally, I prefer Dept of Defense. Mess with us or our friends and we will defend ourselves.

 

[Rudi]

The War Department. Has a nice ring to it.

 

[326MOD10]

Just a distraction.

 

[M29since14]

Seems like "much ado about nothing," to me, but I realize sometimes semantics can be more far reaching to those involved than to outsiders.

 

[UncleEd]

The War Department. Has a nice ring to it.

Ding dong! Ding dong! Ding dong!

 

[Skyhunter]

For some reason, that description REALLY fits my former wife!

WYT-P
Skyhunter

 

[quikdraw67]

I think there's bigger issues to worry about.

 

[dockmurgw]

The War Department. Has a nice ring to it.

Yes, it does. And as an added bonus, historically accurate. Department of War just sounds stupid. Here's my Uncle Johns Basic Field Manual from 1941. To be completely accurate, just call it War Department,

 

[LVSteve]

After the two world wars, it is easy to see why most nations decided that "Defense" (or even Defence) would now be the operative word. Why use a name that suggests a self-fulfilling prophecy of nasty stuff you've just been through.

Mind you, I did like the name of a building in Whitehall, the Old War Office Building (OWOB). The name carried a certain menace, especially when it became the HQ for the British version of the DIA. As you can see, it is a fairly forbidding, but elegant, Edwardian pile. Rumor control says the UK government abandoned it because the structure contained no steel and was vulnerable to a terrorist bomb. It is now a hotel.

 

[dockmurgw]

After the two world wars, it is easy to see why most nations decided on "Defense" (or even Defence) would now be the operative word. Why use a name that suggests a self-fulfilling prophecy of nasty stuff you've just been through.

Mind you, I did like the name of a building in Whitehall, the Old War Office Building (OWOB). The name carried a certain menace, especially when it became the HQ for the British version of the DIA. As you can see, it is a fairly forbidding, but elegant, Edwardian pile. Rumor control says the UK government abandoned it because the structure contained no steel and was vulnerable to a terrorist bomb. It is now a hotel.


View attachment 793011

What a gorgeous building. Bet they got a staff of 100 just to keep the pigeons under control!

 

[dockmurgw]

I wonder what it will cost the taxpayers to replace all the Pentagon stationery. Lots of paper there!

Cost about the same as what the Navy spent printing new charts with Gulf of America.

 

[OutAtTheEdge]

I had an employer create a new position for me a few years (or decades) ago. When I asked what my new title would be, he just shrugged and told me it would be whatever I wanted, until I suggested "Secretary of Offense".

 

[LVSteve]

What a gorgeous building. Bet they got a staff of 100 just to keep the pigeons under control!

The new owners kept many of the original floors and decorations. In another life I had cause to do a little work in that building, and I can vouch for all the mosaic tile floors and wood paneling. There were also some magnificent staircases, but they were closed off because of the way the building was divided into different security zones.

The OWO

The OWO Residences

theowo.london

 

[The Last Standing Knight]

For some reason, that description REALLY fits my former wife!

WYT-P
Skyhunter

What my dad used to call my mom.....seriously....

 

[M29since14]

Almost every older gentleman I knew when I was growing up would sometimes refer to their wife as "the war department." Most of them were WW II/Korea age. No one gave it a thought.

 

[The Last Standing Knight]

In my view, when the War Department's name was changed to Department of Defense back in the late 40's, a lot had to do with the fact that we had fought in two World Wars within a generation. America was weary of war...so to change the name to DoD was more appearance than substance to begin with.

The War Department and Secretary of War are an office and position that date back to Washington. I see nothing wrong with the change and to be frank, it has a more historical significance to it. We've had some pretty great people occupy the Secretary of War office; Knox, Stanton, Stimson, Root, et. al.

Congress will have to really approve any final/permanent changes...but I think it is a good idea and long overdue.

 

[Ματθιας]

I think it's 100% appropriate.

Our economy is a war economy as defense spending is a huge chunk of the budget. We've been like that since Korea. On top of that, we conduct military ops around the globe. Not to mention invading and fighting low intensity proxy wars in 3rd world countries for decades that end when it becomes politically untenable with us, literally, running away. Also, we tend to bomb folks semi-regularly. Constant, endless wars.

So, yeah, Dept. of War is appropriate. The slogan should be, "War, it's what we do!"

 

[taz666]

We should realize that one less tank purchase could mean 1,000 fully equipped taco wagons on our streets. Yum.