Name of the current conflict in Iraq?

[SeleucusNicator]

Most of the wars in the past have had names. Some were rather creative, some were boring, but they were there. They may have had to do with how long the war was (Thirty Year's War, Six-Day War), when they occured (War of 1812, Yom Kippur War), what they were over (Opium Wars, War of the Spanish Succession) or simply who fought who (Mexican-American War, Franco-Spanish wars).

In the 20th Century, we got slightly boring with World War I and World War II, but then we got a nifty little term in "The Cold War." Even "Operation Desert Storm" was cool. (Although I still call that The Gulf War)

However, in the 21st century, with traditional warfare rapidly disapearing, and apparently so is our ability to name wars. What do we call the last two "conflicts"? Quite blandly, they're "The war in Afghanistan" and "The War in Iraq."

For Afghanistan that may work, but we've had a "war in Iraq" before. I think that name, although it is beloved of the media right now, is unacceptably vague. Right now, it's fine, but I don't consider it historically acceptable. From a non-American viewpoint, "The War in Afghanistan" is also far too vague; the Russians fought there less than three decades ago.

What do you call the current conflict in Iraq? I have said "the war in Iraq" or "the current situation in Iraq" or simply "Iraq" many times on these forums, but when I formally refer to it, I use "Gulf War II".

What say you?

 

[Hitro]

How about "The Oil War"?

No seriously, I think "Gulf War II" (or "The Second Gulf War") makes some sense right now.
On the other hand, right now "the War in Iraq" also is sufficient, a more final name will depend on how long in endures, what more will happen and what will be the outcome.

So my vote is other, meaning too early to say.

 

[The Yankee]

I would suppose Gulf War II would fit the bill for this. Operation Iraqi Freedom was the invasion itself, but the war (now that the enlightened administration is telling us) is still ongoing, though Iraqi Freedom is over.

Same for the first Gulf War. I think that includes both phases, Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

 

[WillJ]

Gulf War II, I guess.

 

[Inter4]

''THE WAR TO GET MO' OIL''

seriously..Gulf War II sounds about right..

 

[The Yankee]

Wonder if someone will say "Bush's War"

We have had wars named after rulers before....

 

[Archer 007]

I'd say Iraqi-American War II. Gulf War just seems to vague.

 

[WillJ]

Oh, and if a video game were made out of it, "Gulf War 2K3" would be perfect.

 

[Pontiuth Pilate]

Operation Just Because.

 

[Sparrowhawk]

How about "Rumsfeld's Folly"?

I mean, I didn't really have a problem with invading until there weren't enough troops to control things and the whole country went to heII in a handbasket.

 

[Perfection]

Quagmire II

 

[Richard III]

First, I'm sick of people using the cheap and gramatically incorrect "World War One" or "World War II." It's the "First World War" and the "Second World War."

Second, in that vein, "Gulf War II" sounds like a frickin' movie sequel. And a bad one, too Second Gulf War is clearly it.

That said, I have to say, I always thought that "Gulf War" was a better description of the Iran-Iraq War (the "Gulf" was much more of a battlefield within it, as were the states on that Gulf). So, I'd even be prepared to say "Third Gulf War," or start calling the second two something different, although that's not going to happen anytime soon.

 

[Richard III]

How about "Fourth Indochina War?"

 

[The Yankee]

Originally posted by Richard III
Second, in that vein, "Gulf War II" sounds like a frickin' movie sequel. And a bad one, too

Isn't it? I remember an Onion article before the war that went along those very same lines.

 

[samildanach]

I remember when the Iran-Iraq War was called the Gulf War. So this is really Gulf War III if you buy into Gulf war nomenclature thing. I think the second one is generally remembered as the "Mother of all Battles" thanks to the reknowned warrior poet Saddam Hussein. I don't know about this most recent one - I remember the Iraqis came up with some good ones to describe it. I think this one should be left up to the Iraqis name as after all we were there to help free them.

 

[The Yankee]

"The Mother of All Slogs" -- an ode to Donald Rumsfeld

 

[Sarevok]

Gulf War II

 

[Pontiuth Pilate]

Here's a more interesting question: by what name will we remember the "coalition" of forty odd nations that sat on their asses and "supported" us? You know, the one known today as the Coalition of the Willing?

I'm wavering between The Axis of Diesel and The Coalition of the Bought-Off.

 

[The Yankee]

Coalition of the Non-Existant

The Invisible Alliance

 

[samildanach]

For the coalition in the Kuwait War - The Beach Party
For the coalition of the willing in the Iraq war - The Son of a Beach Party


The Kuwait War - Sandmageddon I
The Iraq War - Sandmageddon II

The Kuwait War - RAGHEADNARROK I
The Iraq War - RAGHEADNARROK II