Military leadership shifts once more.

In the realm of international politics, the nomenclature of military departments and the conduct of foreign policy have been subjects of ongoing debate. Here's a roundup of some significant events and discussions that have taken place in recent years.

Christopher Hitchens, a renowned writer, called for the renaming of the US Department of Defense to the "War Department" following the September 11 attacks in 2001. This proposal came after the US's involvement in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The concept of waging wars against abstract nouns and concepts has been a topic of discussion. The US has been engaged in the so-called "war on narcoterrorism," a term that encompasses the wars on "drugs" and "terror." This approach has been criticised for its lack of clear objectives and the potential for unintended consequences.

In Europe, Germany, a country with a tumultuous history of warfare, faces challenges in arguing for or against renaming its War Department due to historical comparisons. The current German Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius, has emphasised the importance of military preparedness, but there is no known plan for a name change as of now.

The US's actions in foreign conflicts have been a subject of scrutiny. During the Vietnam War in the 1960s, the US was not defending itself, but rather adopted the logic of the French colonizers, fighting against the Vietnamese people's right to self-determination. This war was less "cold" for the burned and maimed civilians in Vietnamese villages than the term suggests for the great confrontation of superpowers.

Wikileaks exposed US war crimes during the war against the abstract noun "terror," such as the bombing of Reuters journalists in Baghdad in 2007. Barack Obama, during his presidency, ordered drone executions in seven countries, including the killing of US citizens.

Donald Trump, the 45th President of the US, renamed the Department of Defense as the "War Department." This move was met with controversy and was criticised for its potential to further militarise US foreign policy. Pete Hegseth, the US War Minister, has been vocal in his support of the new name, often referencing it on his social media accounts.

Trump's administration also published a clip showing US drone strikes in Latin America, extrajudicially killing people on a raft off the coast of Venezuela. This action was condemned by human rights organisations and international law experts.

It's important to note that both the war on "drugs," declared by Richard Nixon, and the war on "terror," declared by George W. Bush, have been ongoing and have not been clearly won by the US. These conflicts have resulted in significant loss of life, displacement of populations, and destruction of communities.

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Recent events have underscored the importance of critically examining military nomenclature and foreign policy decisions. As we move forward, it's crucial to remember the impact of these actions on people around the world and to strive for a more peaceful and just international order.