Kinetic Military Action

[CajunCenturion]

I'm going to assume that we're all aware that kinetic is a term that is related to motion. For many of us, it have been in science class when we learned about kinetic energy and potential energy.

In any event, the USA White House has announced that the current activity in Lybia is "Kinetic Military Action". Since this is a forum about language, and how language evolves through usage, what are your thoughts about using the term 'kinetic' in this manner? Is it easy to understand the difference between kinetic and non-kinetic military action? Do you think it may become common usage? Is this a good thing?

Please, let's stay focused on the language. There are places more suited for the other obvious aspects of current events in Lybia.


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[SantaMufasa]

How would the MAI community have stated it? Is there a better word that is sufficiently euphemistic to appease the warlords while still conveying the intended meaning.

Yes, I believe the speaker was close to the accurate, descriptive word. Instead of kinetic, it's frenetic. <grin>

And my friend (of 17 years), Carp, articulated it well:

Limited, tightly-circumscribed military actions

...although I would have slightly modified the wording:

Limited, tightly-circum...

No...on second thought, I'd better not. <another grin>

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]
“Beware of those that seek to protect you from harm or risk. The cost will be your freedoms and your liberty.”

 

[carp]

Santa -
Oh, go ahead. Somebody has to!

 

[flapeyre]

Oy vey!

-- Francis
In Deo nos confídimus.
Ceteris pariatur.

 

[flyboytim]

Kinetic" is just striking from up in the air from moving craft without land based forces, surely?

I.e. "Hit-and-Run", with minimal risk to "us", and importantly, from the political p.o.v., no long term commitment.

But what is it "Leveraging" if there is no fixed fulcrum?

http://www.fxxxingcomputers.co.uk

 

[carp]

Perhaps in lieu of a fixed fulcrum, it's using a slippery slope (so success can be measured on a sliding scale).