The Sensitive War On Terrorism

The Obama Administration has decided to forgo the Bush-era term “enemy combatant”, replacing it with the less threatening label “ideologically challenged nuisance”. OK, the latter part of that sentence isn’t true, but the former stands. As does apparently the Bush policy of retaining broad leeway in detaining those who would give assistance to the bad guys.

However, the Obama Justice Department is seeking to distinguish itself from the Bush Administration in this regard by stating that it would hold only terrorism suspects who “substantially supported” al-Qaeda and other groups, and not those who “provide unwitting or insignificant support.”

Toe-may-toe, toe-mah-toe; whatever helps your base sleep at night. Just keep them from blowing things up here.