British Forces Use James Bond Code Names

AP | 3/31/03 | JACK GARLAND

[kattracks]

British Forces Use James Bond Code Names

By JACK GARLAND .c The Associated Press

LONDON (AP) - For British soldiers fighting in Iraq, the code names involved in their mission are hard to forget - for anyone who has ever seen a James Bond movie.

Crackling over the British communication equipment come references to ``Operation James'' and its military targets, code-named ``Goldfinger,'' ``Blofeld'' and ``Connery.''

By alluding to James Bond, its star Sean Connery and some of the heroes and villains in the 007 movies, British commanders have several goals in mind.

They include confusing the enemy, helping British soldiers remember the code words and boosting military morale with a little humor.

```Operation James' is an objective named after something the soldiers will remember easily,'' said Paul Beaver, an independent military expert in London. ``James Bond is a No. 1 Brit, and he's a hero.''

So who chose that name?

``Probably a commander on the ground,'' said Ian Kemp, the news editor of Jane's Defense Weekly. ``It's not surprising the army uses names like this. Some British camps in the first Gulf War were named after characters in 'Blackadder,''' a popular TV comedy in Britain starring Rowan Atkinson. ``It's definitely designed to give a morale boost.''

``I think it's just yet again an exhibition of the British sense of humor'' Capt. Al Lockwood, the British armed forces spokesman in Qatar, said with a straight face.

By contrast, American code names in the Persian Gulf - such as ``Operation Free Iraq,'' ``Enduring Freedom'' and mission titles like ``Noble Eagle'' and ``Valiant Strike'' - seem aimed at inspiring support.

Often chosen by politicians in Washington, they include mouthfuls such as ``Operation Provide Comfort'' - to aid Kurdish refugees in northern Iraq - or ``Operation Uphold Democracy,'' in Haiti.

In general, the British don't use ``Operation Free Iraq.'' Their version of that name is ``Operation Telic,'' featuring a little-known word derived from the Greek that means ``aim,'' ``purpose'' or ``ultimate end.''

The word ``telic'' was chosen at random for security reasons, said a spokesman at Britain's Ministry of Defense.

03/31/03 14:45 EST

[bedolido]

no doubt "Pussy Galore" is being used.

[JennysCool]

I think Goldfinger's code-name for his operation could be adopted by the allies -- "Operation Grand Slam."

Has a nice ring to it.

Bond...James Bond Bump!

[m1911]

I guess our next war will be "Operation Mom and Apple Pie".

[mondonico]

From another, less-PC report, "Pussy Galore" is, in fact being used. No report on whether "Alotta Fagina" (Austen Powers) is being used by either side.

[Dog Gone]

It is used. I posted a similar story from Sky News yesterday, and Pussy Galore was one of the targets specifically mentioned in the story. I'm guessing AP thought it was too racy to print.

[AFreeBird]

What about Dr. Goodhead, or Octopussy or Ms. Goodnight or Bambi and Thumper... Come on Brits, get with it... ;-)

[My2Cents]

The British have all the good material. What can we use? Allusions to "Man from U.N.C.L.E."?

As a side comment, I wonder if there's a "Blofeld" screen name on FR.

[My2Cents]

Don't forget "Moneypenny."

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Will they use any codes from the lastest Bond films, which are not really considered Bond movies by purists.

[Jonah Hex]

Now THIS got my attention! Since I'm a BlackAdder fan from way back, I'm curious, does anybody known which names the British forces used in DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM?

"Tonight, lads, the objectives are FLASHHEART and BALDRICK."

[bedolido]

we could always use code names from "Friends" (**sarcasm, of course**)

[My2Cents]

LOL..."Friends," and anchors at CNN. :-)

[Quilla]

"I must be dreaming."

How Mr. Bond responded when first introduced to Ms. Galore.

But, of course.

[My2Cents]

"...Our target tonight: 'Judy Woodruff'."

[Ditter]

He beat me to it too.

[My2Cents]

Operation "Wrath of Khan."

[AFreeBird]

Plenty O'Toole?