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Execution Idea Killed

By Ken Herman | Friday, April 13, 2007, 08:06 AM

Here’s how the most important new government job created in a long time got its name changed before it was announced.

The short version: Reporters chortled at the original choice.

The job had been unofficially known as “war czar.” But, as National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley told a small group of reporters in his office on Thursday, the official moniker is (or was) “assistant to the president for Iraq and Afghanistan policy execution.”

He short-handed it as “execution manager.” That’s what brought the journalists’ chortles. Execution, get it?

Hadley did. And so did Gordon Johndroe, Hadley’s top spokesman.

“Did you say implementation director?” he piped up.

“Yes,” said Hadley, “that’s what I said. Implementation director.”

And then, reading from a folder he pulled from his desk, he proclaimed the name change.

“Assistant to the president for Iraq and Afghanistan policy execution and, on your suggestion, we are going to get rid of the word execution and we’re going to make it implementation,” he said.

Addendum: Sign on wall near Hadley’s desk has a picture of Uncle Sam and this admonition:

“We’re at war. Are you doing all you can?”

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