Downing Street Says » Phrase: "War on Terror"

» Monday, April 16, 2007

Phrase: "War on Terror"

Asked if the Prime Minister had used the phrase "war on terror" since 2006, the PMOS said he did not carry an instant word search facility in his brain and therefore he could not really give the reporter an answer except to say that the Prime Minister had always made it clear that we believe that in fighting terrorism you should both use military means where necessary, but also political means as well. That was a constant theme running through the Prime Minister’s every utterance on this subject. In terms of particular phrases people use whatever phrases they use.

Asked if by using the term "war" suggests a conclusion, the PMOS said what was important is that we recognise that there are times when you do have to use, however reluctantly, military means but also that there is also the political context in which you do so. Therefore what you have to do is try and, for instance in tackling the Middle East issue, try and find political ways forward at the same time as you respond to terrorism whether it is in Iraq, Afghanistan or elsewhere.

Asked if what the International Affairs Secretary had said would apply to just him or all ministers, the PMOS said we all use our own phraseology and we talk about terrorism and we talk about the fight against terrorism but we also talk about trying to find solutions to political problems. Asked if the PMOS himself used the phrase "war on terror", the PMOS said that he expressed himself in his own way.

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