# Why was the name "Geronimo" used in the bin Laden mission? \[edited title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 6, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-name-geronimo-used-in-the-bin-laden-mission-edited-title/580988 "2011-05-06T18:17:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-name-geronimo-used-in-the-bin-laden-mission-edited-title/580988/21 "2011-05-06T23:54:49Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > I for one had been getting tired of “Operation Pretentious Euphemism”, so it’s nice to get back to the classics like “Operation Sledgehammer” or “Operation Hercules”, but this seems a little tone-deaf. > > These days, I might have expected it to be something like “Operation Sauron” or “Operation Voldemort” or “Operation Jabba-the-Hutt”. I don’t think it was the name of the mission. Sounds like it was code for “Zed’s dead, baby”. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-name-geronimo-used-in-the-bin-laden-mission-edited-title/580988/22 "2011-05-07T00:01:11Z")
My apologies for screwing the usage up. The spirit of the OP stands either way. I don’t really think that it was a barb toward the Native Americans either. I just thought I’d give those who voiced those concerns an opportunity to explain their viewpoint. …speaking of which, I suppose it’d be a good idea to link this thread over there, huh? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-name-geronimo-used-in-the-bin-laden-mission-edited-title/580988/23 "2011-05-07T17:11:13Z")
Think of all the paratroopers who insult Native Americans every time they jump out of an airplane. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-name-geronimo-used-in-the-bin-laden-mission-edited-title/580988/24 "2011-05-09T01:55:21Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > Think of all the paratroopers who insult Native Americans every time they jump out of an airplane. And, think of their children! Best wishes, hh ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-name-geronimo-used-in-the-bin-laden-mission-edited-title/580988/26 "2011-05-09T08:26:41Z")
This isn’t GQ. We know what happened, the debate is whether it really is offensive or even if it was even a reference. I still say most people don’t even know where the word comes from. And it’s not like it’s even a Native American word. We just thought it was the guy’s name. Next we’re going to find out that bullseye is actually some racist stereotype about Asian Indians (due to Hinduism’s beliefs about cows.) ---
**Author:** ![Napkin\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8dc957/32.png) [@Napkin\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napkin_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-name-geronimo-used-in-the-bin-laden-mission-edited-title/580988/27 "2011-05-09T09:02:47Z")
Because they’re fans of the 11th Doctor? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-name-geronimo-used-in-the-bin-laden-mission-edited-title/580988.md?page=1)