An amusing observation

Long ago I suggested a fun game:

Take any MSM article on Iraq. Replace all references to "insurgents" or "militias" with the terms "nationalists", or "patriots", or "freedom-fighters." The substance of the article will not change, but the tone will, dramatically.

The same post suggested that this re-labeling would entail real-world consequences:

Note: calling the various opposition elements "nationalist groups" changes the dialog.

Well, guess what? The U.S. Command in Iraq has adopted this suggestion, and followed-up by operationalizing the re-labeling.

At least, that is one interpretation of the military's sponsorship of local Sunni fighters under the various rubrics, "Awakening Councils", "Concerned Local Citizens", or the "Sons of Iraq". These same folks used to be called "Sunni insurgents", and they were among the bad guys.

Not only are we no longer calling 'em "insurgents", but we're also treating 'em differently in recognition of the new labels - they're now our allies against the so-called "al Quaeda in Iraq"!

I have no brilliant comment to further elucidate this observation, I just found it amusing.

[... and, no: I will not claim psychic abilities here... but it does support the alternative explanation that policy-makers are reading this blog for brilliant advice.]