Say goodbye to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and hello to "Operation New Dawn."  The Washington Note broke the news (and flashed the 17 February memo) that effective September 1st, by order from Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, the war in Iraq will be called "Operation New Dawn."  Insert dishsoap joke here...

In another PR change, also indicated to suggest that times have changed, there may be more starch required on the Pentagon's E-Ring moving forward.  After the attacks of 9/11, then-SECDEF Donald Rumsfeld ordered military officials to wear their fatigues in the Pentagon, reflective of a nation at war.  Today, at the end of a press briefing, Pentagon Spokesman Geoff Morrell confirmed that Secretary Gates, after his Christmas break, instructed his personal staff to shift to their dress uniforms and that other Pentagon offices seemed to be following suit.  He was clear that the move towards formality outside of the Secretary's office was not by fiat, but rather by choice but was also clear that it reflected a change in thinking. 

Morrell, implying that its not what one wears, its what's one does that reflects convictions, said: "I think we are at a point now where [the Secretary] believes at least that what one dresses in does not necessarily reflect their commitment to the warfighter or, and that there are other ways to demonstrate their solidarity.  Frankly it's by doing everything you can, once you walk in this door every day, to make sure they have what they need to succeed."