Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE= 3/237/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= PENTAGON: THE NAME GAME

NUMBER=5-53327

BYLINE= ALEX BELIDA

DATELINE= PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: In war, for the troops, bullets and bombs are crucial to the fight. But for the political figures behind the soldiers, words, too, are considered vitally important. V-O-A Pentagon Correspondent Alex Belida reports getting the right words in Operation Iraqi Freedom is often a challenge.

TEXT: This is a story about those Iraqi irregular forces, the ones called the Fedayeen Saddam, Saddam's "Men of Sacrifice."

Numbering 15-thousand or more in strength, this group, often called paramilitary, has been leading guerrilla-style attacks on U-S led coalition troops in southern Iraq.

But 'paramilitary' doesn't sit well with the Pentagon's Chief Spokeswoman, Victoria Clarke. She says it sounds, well, too nice.

///CLARKE ACTUALITY///

We're trying to figure out what we should call them; I know some people have referred to the special military that Saddam Hussein uses as "paramilitary," which I don't like using. It just -- it sounds too positive in some way.

///END ACTUALITY///

She went on at a news briefing this week to label them "thugs" and linked them to a host of brutal and deceptive actions including fake surrenders, the use of civilian human shields, torture and repression.

Before the briefing ended, she dumped "thugs" as the most appropriate description, apologizing for what she called her imprecision.

///CLARKE ACTUALITY///

I'll apologize for any imprecision in words that I may have used. I just -- and I'm struggling with this because...they are the worst of the worst, in my opinion.

///END ACTUALITY///

That probably would have ended the semantic struggling.

But less than 24 hours later, Ms. Clarke was trumped by her boss, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

In an exchange with reporters following a congressional appearance to discuss defense spending, Mr. Rumsfeld addressed the issue of what to call the Fedayeen Saddam --- and ultimately made clear he has rejected not only 'paramilitary' and 'thugs' but also 'the worst of the worse.'

///RUMSFELD ACTUALITY///

In fact, what they are is death squads, enforcers...they're vicious...

///END ACTUALITY///

Despite the escalation in what might be described as the war of the words, Pentagon press officials say they have been given no formal orders to call the Fedayeen Saddam paramilitary, irregular, guerrilla, terrorist or enforcers. In fact most Pentagon officials don't even appear caught up in the name game one way or the other -- save for one thoughtful military commander who told V-O-A he thought the whole affair was ridiculous.

But that official went on to say he also thought it was the type of thing that could prove counter-productive in the all-important struggle for global public opinion.

That is a struggle that will ultimately prove as important as the actual war on the ground. And while the military is confident of defeating the Fedayeen Saddam and other Iraqi forces on the battlefield, the outcome of the battle for hearts and minds worldwide remains unclear. (Signed)

NEB/BEL/MAR