IED

I am sure we all have heard of the term IED, which stands for Improvised Explosive Device. My biggest point of wonder is why? Not about the device but why the need for the acronym in the first place/

Prior to the use of IED there seemed to be no problem with defining them. Land mines and booby traps come to mind quite readily. I am sure that that did not suffice to someone in the Pentagon became concerned that this was not “accurate” enough. After all, land mines and booby traps may denote purpose-built device and one must not mistake them for those from the devices built on-site. As if it makes a difference. As if they differ from a satchel charge or a bundle (or stick) or dynamite.

I am uncertain whether there was an official study made to come up with the acronym or if some officious individual came up with it and everyone clapped. In any case we got IED and a new acronym was born where one was not needed.

After all, why did we need IED when MFB would have sufficed. (If you need a translation to that acronym – IED was created with you in mind!)