It's a matter of rhetoric for Miliband

graham

I can't begin to see what the "hoo-haa" is about. People were making the same broad point in the weeks after 9/11 (just as people had made similar points about phrases such as "war on drugs", "war on organized crime"). From what I can see, there is nothing new, but much bland in Miliband's article. I'm not even sure that there is anything novel in high level politicians saying as much; again, I think politicians, here and in the US, have been saying as much for a while.

Ray

Ah, 'smart power': a timely farewell to the hubristic utopianism of the Bush/Blair years and a welcome return to tried and tested Nixonian maxims in foreign policy like 'realpolitik' and the 'balance of power'.

Gruntson

Well past Miliband's bedtime!

He should stick to doing what he is good at: holding a banana.

Nuanced my foot.

Mike, Brighton

It's truly pitiful.
A kick aimed at Bush (and Blair) just as Bush is walking though the door marked "exit". A kick who's aim is to enhancing the sunken reputation of Mr. Miliband. Why say this now and not 5 years ago?

Tom

Interesting that he waits until George Bush retires before saying this. Might have had a little more force behind it, had he said this in 2001,2,3,4,5,6,7 or 8. But he didn't.

Ted Tedford

This is a marginal point. It doesn't really matter what governments call it, as long as they get out and the make the case so that the public *understands* what it all means. So far, they have made a really bad job of that, which is why so many people think it's just about invading Iraq.

The GWOT/war on terror/Long war/G-SAVE etc could be called Happy Fluffy Laugh-In Fun To Promote Global Loveliness, and the lazy hacks in the US and the UK would decide it was too complex, and find their own formulation. My guess is that 'war on terror' would have been their choice anyway if left to it themselves, just as they trivialise most processes.

This morning's Today programme encapsulated the hair-splitting, tortuous vanity of such nuances, when the newsreader stated that Miliband-Henman had said the phrase 'war on terror' had helped 'violent extremists'. 'Violent extremists'... Obviously they can't call them 'terrorists' because (a) that's a value judgement and (b) nasty divisive old GWB called them that, so it must be wrong.

It doesn't really capture the essence of the facts, but it perfectly highlights the sixth-form debating society style that seems increasingly to be Britain's main contribution the effort.

And I love the way he boasts about GEN Petraeus having spoken to him: it might almost make you think it meant the little squirt was a figure of authority, instead of the over-promoted wonky little Marxist he is.

Gordon Musgo

I see even the Guardian's readers aren't buying this facile rubbish

Rhoda Klapp

I see Melanie has dealt with this in the way it deserves. Please tell me this isn't really our foreign secretary. Or that a change in the presidency doesn't mean our policy here changes just like that?

Austin Barry

Excellent article by the boy Milibean. He has managed to consider the nature of modern terrorism without using the "I" or "M" words. Consequently, he seems, as always, a bit of a silly "C" word.

Wily Trout

Hooray, War on Terror was wrong. Can we have our Civil Liberties back then, please?

strapworld

Bring our troops home.

Colin

If Miniblair or one of his equally lightweight predecessors had come out with this, say 6 years ago, I'd applaud the sentiment on the grounds of political courage. The timing of this pearl of wisdom just makes him look like a tosser.