Pentagon Is Critical On iraq's Decision To Choose A Shiite Code Name To Retake Ramadi

Reuters: Pentagon slams 'unhelpful' Shi'ite code name for Ramadi offensive

The Pentagon on Tuesday said it was "unhelpful" for Iraq's Shi'ite militia to have announced an openly sectarian code name for the operation to retake the Sunni city of Ramadi and added that, in the U.S. view, the full-on offensive had yet to begin.

A spokesman for the Shi'ite militias, known as Hashid Shaabi, said the code name for the new operation would be "Labaik ya Hussein", a slogan in honor of a grandson of the Prophet Mohammed killed in the 7th Century battle that led to the schism between Shi'ite and Sunni Muslims.

The United States has been vocally advocating for Iraq to tread carefully in employing Shi'ite militias to help Iraqi forces retake the city, which fell to the Islamic State a week ago in Baghdad's biggest military setback in nearly a year.

Update #1: US: Shiite Name of Iraqi Operation 'Not Helpful' -- Defense News/AFP
Update #2: Shiite Milita's Name for Ramadi Counter-Offensive Splits Iraq Force -- Military.com

WNU Editor: You would think that a name for a military operation would be the least of everyone's concerns .... but this is Iraq .... and this is a sectarian war. Here is an easy prediction .... the Pentagon's protests on the decision to choose this name will be ignored.