# What will the military name the upcoming "Operation"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 14, 2001, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-military-name-the-upcoming-operation/81717 "2001-09-14T23:31:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Neurodoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/848f3c/32.png) [@Neurodoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurodoc)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-military-name-the-upcoming-operation/81717/21 "2001-09-17T05:30:40Z")
Direct and to the point. ---
**Author:** ![jinty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dbc845/32.png) [@jinty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jinty)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-military-name-the-upcoming-operation/81717/22 "2001-09-17T10:40:49Z")
I don’t believe there is a single “standard” for operation codenames. Some disparate examples: During the battles following D-Day, the British army used the names of horse-racing meetings (Epsom, Goodwood). (To quote author Max Hastings from memory, “It is symptomatic of the contrasting attitudes of the two armies that the British named their operations after race meetings, whereas the Americans named theirs [Cobra] after a symbol of deadly killing power.”) The German army in WW2 used colours for some major operations. Plan Yellow (“Fall Gelb”) was the invasion of France in 1940. Plan Blue (“Fall Blau”) was the offensive towards Stalingrad in 1942. Sometimes the operation’s codename is designed for disinformation. The name for the offensive known as the Battle of the Bulge was “Watch on the Rhine”, deliberately chosen to sound like a _defensive_ operation. And sometimes the operation’s name itself is a closely-guarded secret - when a British newspaper’s crossword compiler devised a clue with the answer “Overlord” in early 1944, he was surprised to receive a visit from the secret service wanting to know if he was a spy! (Sorry, these semi-relevant historical anecdotes are the best I can do ;)) ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-military-name-the-upcoming-operation/81717/23 "2001-09-18T02:08:32Z")
Operation Hallmark - _(“When you care enough to send the very best.”)_ > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bibliophage \* > **MPSIMS is a better place for suggestions.** Sorry, **bib.** Couldn’t resist. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-military-name-the-upcoming-operation/81717/24 "2001-09-18T02:28:09Z")
Someone expand on that NICKA thing. That sounds like a bad joke even though i guess it’s true. Actually, come to think of it, it sounds like a good joke. So they just have a column A filled with adjectives (Noble, Just, Flying, Hell, Angry) and then column B filled with nouns (Eagle, Bear, Storm). Sounds like a bad mix of a chinese menu’s and the Wonder Twins. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-military-name-the-upcoming-operation/81717/25 "2001-09-18T03:12:26Z")
I do know what the codename is for the _incident itself_ - that would be Pentt-Bomb, for Pentagon-Twin Towers Bombing. As reported in _Métro_ magazine this morning. ---
**Author:** ![dqa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dqa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dqa)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-military-name-the-upcoming-operation/81717/26 "2001-09-18T03:18:51Z")
Here’s a [Navy document](http://neds.nebt.daps.mil/Directives/o551137c.pdf) that goes into some detail about the rules. > [@](#): > > A nickname is a combination of two separate unclassified words, assigned an unclassified meaning that is employed for unclassified, administrative, morale, or public inforation purposes. It also provides a list of first words that may be used by various Naval units. Perhaps operations of the full DOD have more impressive names; I don’t expect to hear about our efforts in Afghanistan using a moniker starting with Lilac, Clarinet, or Cinnamon. ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-military-name-the-upcoming-operation/81717/27 "2001-09-18T03:22:47Z")
I found an excellent reference for mission operation codenames at the [US Army War College](http://carlisle-www.army.mil/usawc/Parameters/1995/sieminsk.htm): **On NICKA** > [@](#): > > In 1975, the JCS implemented these guidelines by establishing a computer system to fully automate the maintenance and reconciliation of nicknames, code words, and exercise terms.[76] The computer system, called the Code Word, Nickname, and Exercise Term System (an unwieldy name shortened to NICKA), is still in operation today and can be accessed through the Worldwide Military Command and Control System. The NICKA system is not, as some assume, a random word generator for nicknames; it is, in fact, merely an automated means for submitting, validating, and storing them. The authority to create nicknames rests not with those who manage the NICKA system, but with 24 DOD components, agencies, and unified and specified commands.[77] JCS assigns each of these organizations a series of two-letter alphabetic sequences and requires that the first word of each two-word nickname begin with a letter pair from one of the sequences.[78] For example, the US Atlantic Command (USACOM) is assigned six two-letter alphabetic sequences: AG-AL, ES-EZ, JG-JL, QA-QF, SM-SR, and UM-UR.[79] Selecting the letter pair UR from the last of these sequences, a staff officer recommended the nickname Urgent Fury for the 1983 invasion of Grenada. > > In the first 15 years of the new system’s existence, however, there was little attempt to exploit the power of nicknaming to improve either troop morale or public and international relations. Nicknames used from 1975 through 1988 were generally meaningless word pairs similar to the operation names used during World War II: Eldorado Canyon (the 1986 Libya raid), Praying Mantis (the 1988 air strikes targeting Iranian naval vessels and oil platforms), and Golden Pheasant (a 1988 show of force to deter Nicaraguan violations of Honduran territory). When nicknames were chosen purposefully, as in the case of Urgent Fury, the effect was overdone.[80] Undoubtedly, the staff officer who came up with “Urgent Fury” was intent on inspiring the troops executing the mission, but he failed to consider the reaction of the media and general public. The name, which was divulged to the press shortly after the invasion,[81] only fueled the arguments of critics who accused the military of excess in committing so much combat power to the operation[82]–which, one wag suggested, “the New York Police Department could have won.”[83] Another critic implied that the name belied the rationale for the invasion. Urgent Fury sounded “too militant,” he suggested; if we had really been provoked into invading the tiny island nation, then why not “Reluctant Necessity”?[84] **Modern Focus** : > [@](#): > > Since 1989, major US military operations have been nicknamed with an eye toward shaping domestic and international perceptions about the activities they describe.[3] Operation Just Cause is only the most obvious example of this phenomenon. From names that stress an operation’s humanitarian focus, like Operation Provide Comfort in Turkey, to ones that stress an operation’s restoration of democratic authority, like Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti, it is evident that the military has begun to recognize the power of names in waging a public relations campaign, and the significance of winning that campaign to the overall effort. As Major General Charles McClain, Chief of Public Affairs for the Army, has recently written, “the perception of an operation can be as important to success as the execution of that operation.”[4] Professor Ray Eldon Hiebert, in a piece titled, “Public Relations as a Weapon of Modern War,” elaborates on that view: “The effective use of words and media today . . . is just as important as the effective use of bullets and bombs. In the end, it is no longer enough just to be strong. Now it is necessary to communicate. To win a war today government not only has to win on the battlefield, it must also win the minds of its public.”[5] > > Like any aspect of operational planning, the job of naming operations initially falls to mid-level staff officers in Defense Department components, agencies, and unified and specified commands, to which the Joint Chiefs of Staff have delegated considerable freedom in the naming of operations. Because nicknames help determine the way operations are perceived, joint staff officers must develop not only their skill as operational artists but also their art as operation namers. **Origin of Operational Code Names** : > [@](#): > > Naming operations seems to have originated with the German General Staff during the last two years of World War I. The Germans used code names primarily to preserve operational security, though the names were also a convenient way of referring to subordinate and successive operations. Thus, it is probably no accident that operational names came into use at the same time as the rise of operational art. It was simply easier to get a handle on the complexities of operational sequencing and synchronization by naming each operation something that the staff could remember. The Germans chose names that were not only memorable but also inspiring. Plans for the great Western Front offensive in the spring of 1918, which saw the most extensive use of operational code names, borrowed from religious, medieval, and mythological sources: Archangel, St. Michael, St. George, Roland, Mars, Achilles, Castor, Pollux, and Valkyrie.[6] The selection of these names was perhaps an adjunct to Ludendorff’s patriotic education program, designed to stir a demoralized and weary army into making one final push.[7] The original, stirring vision conjured by these names was lost, however, when several of the planned operations had to be scaled back. St. George, for example, devolved to the uninspiring diminutive Georgette. There is also a history of operational code names for each of the major US conflicts, Korea, Vietnam, World War Two, etc. ---
**Author:** ![dqa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dqa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dqa)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-military-name-the-upcoming-operation/81717/28 "2001-09-18T03:34:58Z")
Just found [another article](http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/nation-world/html98/note_19990326.html), which leads me to ask, is the US within the European command? > [@](#): > > Alphabetical groups of letters are assigned to each of the Pentagon’s five geographic commands, explained a Defense Department official… > > While the “Noble” is often used in European operations, such as the “Noble Response” humanitarian operation in Kenya last year, operations with NATO always begin with the term “Allied.” ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-military-name-the-upcoming-operation/81717/29 "2001-09-19T19:55:40Z")
Well, it’s semi-official. The deployment of US warplanes to the Gulf in response to last week’s terrorist actions is being dubbed [Operation Infinite Justice](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/20010919/aponline153406_000.htm). ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-military-name-the-upcoming-operation/81717/30 "2001-09-19T20:25:12Z")
Operation Pooper Scooper? Operation Trash Bin? Operation Carpet Burn? Operation Eagle Scat? ---
**Author:** ![Major\_Feelgud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@Major\_Feelgud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Major_Feelgud)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-military-name-the-upcoming-operation/81717/31 "2001-09-19T20:41:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by evilhanz \* > \*\*Well, it’s semi-official. The deployment of US warplanes to the Gulf in response to last week’s terrorist actions is being dubbed [Operation Infinite Justice](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/20010919/aponline153406_000.htm). \*\* It is official. I saw it on CNN. But I think Operation Kill Kill Kill would have sent a stronger message. ---
**Author:** ![Powers106](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@Powers106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Powers106)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-military-name-the-upcoming-operation/81717/32 "2001-09-19T21:51:24Z")
Still, I really like the “Operation Local Blender” idea!! Oh well, Operation Infinite Justice is good too. Says it just about perfectly. Thanks to everyone for the info, especially **evilhanz**! ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-military-name-the-upcoming-operation/81717/33 "2001-09-19T22:48:02Z")
Take off every ‘Zig’ for infinite justice? ---
**Author:** ![maralinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@maralinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maralinn)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-military-name-the-upcoming-operation/81717/34 "2001-09-19T22:57:56Z")
I don’t think you saw on CNN that the name was official. I think you saw on CNN that the name is tentative. (“The military campaign has tentatively been named ‘Operation Infinite Justice,’ according to sources.”) [http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/09/19/gen.america.under.attack/](http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/09/19/gen.america.under.attack/) ---
**Author:** ![mojo\_filter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@mojo\_filter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mojo_filter)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-military-name-the-upcoming-operation/81717/35 "2001-09-19T22:59:18Z")
Well, I have just seen the name for the deployment phase; Operation Infinite Justice. I imagine that the different phases of this situation will also be graced with warm and fuzzy names as we try to ignore what is really about to occur. Whatever we decide to call the rest of this thing is irrelevant as our descendants will group this whole period of time into one sanitary name, World War III. ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-military-name-the-upcoming-operation/81717/36 "2001-09-20T04:05:05Z")
I guess their calling it \***“Infinite Justice”[i/]**. ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-military-name-the-upcoming-operation/81717/37 "2001-09-20T04:06:11Z")
…a little hard on the eyes - **Infinite Justice** ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-military-name-the-upcoming-operation/81717/38 "2001-09-20T04:07:32Z")
I admit I could read the thread before posting next time. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-military-name-the-upcoming-operation/81717/39 "2001-09-20T04:32:24Z")
Infinite Justice seems an odd choice of name. A google search on the phrase turns up all sorts of christian religious references which make it seem that infinite justice lies more properly in Gods domain than mans. A couple examples: [http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103325.htm](http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103325.htm) > [@](#): > > This world is ruled providence of one God, Who is both endowed with infinite justice to punish the wicked, and with infinite goodness to bless the pious, and impart to them salvation [http://landru.i-link-2.net/shnyves/Sacrifice\_of\_the\_Mass.html](http://landru.i-link-2.net/shnyves/Sacrifice_of_the_Mass.html) > [@](#): > > The Four Great Ends of Mass > 2. To satisfy the infinite justice of God, Who is infinitely offended by the sins committed against Him. I’m just pointing out a little etymology that seems to have so far gone unnoticed here. No doubt the implications of the phrase are open to debate. ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-military-name-the-upcoming-operation/81717/40 "2001-09-20T04:53:07Z")
Interestingly, all of the domain names that include the phrase “infinitejustice” were grabbed within minutes of the operation’s announcement. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-military-name-the-upcoming-operation/81717.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-military-name-the-upcoming-operation/81717.md?page=3)