‘Odyssey Dawn’ and the Politics of Naming a Military Operation

The Takeaway

“Operation Odyssey Dawn” is the name given to our current military mission in Libya. But the choice of words is giving some the uncomfortable feeling that the U.S. may be embarking in an epically long battle, akin to the story of Homer’s “Odyssey.”  But when it comes to military operations, what’s in a name? It’s not significant in the ways one might think. We talk with William Arkin, a former Army intelligence analyst and consultant. He’s also the author of “Code Names: Deciphering U.S. Military Programs, Plans, and Operations in the 9/11 World.”

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