I have a question for our Forum members who are Veterans

[flintauqua]

This is a straight up question.  It has no bearing on anything.  There is nothing to read into it.  Just curiosity.

I thought of asking it in a personal message to one or two of you, but then thought to just ask here.


If a piece of pipe filled with an explosive and a detonator is found in a building, the building is evacuated due to a "bomb" threat.

If that same piece of pipe goes off along side a road in Iraq, it is an "Improvised Explosive Device"


What is the reason behind the difference in terminology?

Has the difference always been there, with the general public not knowing?


I guess that's two questions.

Thoughts . . .

[larryJ]

Is this a trick question/s?

A "bomb threat" means there is a possibility of an explosive device, not necessarily a pipe bomb.  An "improvised explosive device" is just the military's way of saying this is a explosive device, improvised, not necessarily a pipe bomb.  Pretty much like the military describing a Jeep as a "Truck, GP, 1/4 ton."  

Larryj

[Patriot]

I tend to agree, Larry.  The difference between 'pipe bomb' and 'improvised explosive device' is akin to the difference between 'trash collector' and ' sanitation engineer' or 'secretary' and 'administrative specialist'.  The formers being simple & straightforward and the latters being more politically palatable and intellectual sounding.

"A rose by any other name..." 

In short, either object has the potential to blow your butt to kingdom come.  Sometimes names are just.... names.

[flintauqua]

Okay, I guess maybe I was thinking too far into it.  I thought maybe it had something to do (within the military) with "bomb" being more akin to conventional exploding ordinance dropped upon a target.

Sometimes I just think too much.

[W. Gray]

The term "improvised explosive device" is a relatively new term to the US Army.

The term was coined by the British Army when they were battling the Irish Republican Army during the 70s.

[Patriot]

The term "improvised explosive device" is a relatively new term to the US Army.

The term was coined by the British Army when they were battling the Irish Republican Army during the 70s.

I guess the term 'roadside bomb' just didn't sound as sophisticated with a British accent as does 'improvised explosive device'.   LOL

[Ross]

"A rose by any other name..." 

Agreed!

Just like WMD, I think!
Trying to make it more sophisticated.