# Military Slang: Is there a "Charlie" for Iraq, Afganistan?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-slang-is-there-a-charlie-for-iraq-afganistan/172811>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 3, 2003, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-slang-is-there-a-charlie-for-iraq-afganistan/172811 "2003-05-03T05:34:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-slang-is-there-a-charlie-for-iraq-afganistan/172811/21 "2003-05-05T14:52:45Z")

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I asked this question a couple of weeks ago and got nothing.

[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=172543](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=172543)

Apparently, the situation has changed.

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**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-slang-is-there-a-charlie-for-iraq-afganistan/172811/22 "2003-05-05T15:24:30Z")

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Maybe not particularly relevant, but I have a vague reccollection that in the film 3 Kings (I only saw half), the forces were given a list of acceptable terms to use, for example Camel Jockey was considered all right, but Sandnigger most certainly was not. Obviously that is only a film, but hey…

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**Author:** ![Barney111](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@Barney111](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barney111)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-slang-is-there-a-charlie-for-iraq-afganistan/172811/23 "2003-05-05T16:33:39Z")

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_Barney: I wonder if those Soldiers are aware of the actual meaning of that word._

It just goes to show you that George Carlin was right - there are no bad words, just bad thoughts and deeds. “Pilgrim” is not derogatory, but I have a feeling that the thought behind this usage probably is.

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