The Obamas have codenames now

[R.Mackey]

Ah. . . so the bad guys don't get the internet?

Since operational security is paramount, I too have no idea why they would publish this...

... unless it's some kind of TRAP!

 

[UnrepentantSinner]

It's the difference between "say again," and, "repeat" (a long-time movie favourite ).

Ugh. When I was in artillery school that was drilled into me and it's a peeve to this day with some of my security gaurd co-workers. The worst is when they just yell "repeat?" over the radio.

 

[jj]

Redundancy prevents errors.

Redundancy prevents errors.

Specific jargon for telecommunication is SOP in all military branches, civilian aviation, and even ham radio operators. Sometimes, **** happens. That's why there's a phonetic alphabet, for example. Communication needs to be intelligible and unambiguous.

Redundancy prevents errors.

Ten Four.

And you can say that again, too!

 

[peptoabysmal]

Whats exactly the point of these codenames? If you publish them then way not use the real names instead.

It is just a quaint tradition now. Modern technology renders this method useless for security purposes.

 

[ImaginalDisc]

What does redundancy have to do with using code names?

"Ren-crackle-crackle just left the building, but Ren-crackle-crackle needs help right away."

Using a code word to refer to them prevents the possibility that other references "the President," "Obama," etc. could be heard and misconstrued as orders.

Secondly, I specifically complained about all their code names starting with the same sound as it might cause confusion! Thank you for agreeing with me.

Also, in the case of the use of a decoy, I'd be stunned if there was not a code word (let's use "Lincoln" for this example) which means "Lincoln is Obama, from now on, all references to Renegade are for the decoy."

 

[JoeTheJuggler]

It is just a quaint tradition now. Modern technology renders this method useless for security purposes.

Exactly.

Using a code word to refer to them prevents the possibility that other references "the President," "Obama," etc. could be heard and misconstrued as orders.

Secondly, I specifically complained about all their code names starting with the same sound as it might cause confusion! Thank you for agreeing with me.

The fact the codewords are crappy argues that they're not really useful for clear and unambiguous communication.

I agree that it's a quaint (and cool-sounding) tradition from a time when communication technology was a lot less reliable than now. That's also why they're published nowadays.

Also, in the case of the use of a decoy, I'd be stunned if there was not a code word (let's use "Lincoln" for this example) which means "Lincoln is Obama, from now on, all references to Renegade are for the decoy."

Yikes! I hope you don't mean they intentionally leak the codenames of the decoys just to make the decoys easier targets for would-be assassins!

If that's they're strategy for protecting the Obamas, there's going to be a rather high demand for the job of bullet-magnet decoy.

 

[Cicero]

Presumably the naming conventions reduce ambiguity in a tight situation. There are four Obamas in the White House.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_Service_codenames

My favorites:
Bush Sr. - Timberwolf
Jesse Jackson - Thunder
Mondale - Dragon
Prince Charles - Unicorn
Al Gore - Sundance
Reagan - Rawhide
Nancy - Rainbow
Chelsea Clinton - Energy

I can't believe Barbara Bush's was Tranquility (also Snowbank). She should have had some variation of the c-word.

"Snipery" Hillary's was Merkin.

 

[dudalb]

There actually is a point to using unambiguous radio jargon for these situations. It makes commands and updates sound unlike background chatter and it makes it easier to perceive the meaning of the message through interference. If you hear "DanceCHHHHHceeding to egg baskCHHHHH" you know what that means when you know the lingo.

Which is why the US Military and other agencies uses a Word for a Letter subsitution code in radio communications...Alpha for A through Zulu for Z.
I was an Artilleryman in the US Army, and believe me, it made coordinates for artilllery fire much easier when plotting on a map using Letter/Number coordinates. It is VERY easy to mishear "Z" for "T", for instance, but not "Zulu" for "Tango",and that kind of error could end up with messy results, like a barrage of 155 shells on friendly troops.
I still like the code name the Secret Service had for BIll Clinton..."Hillbilly".

 

[dudalb]

It is just a quaint tradition now. Modern technology renders this method useless for security purposes.

For Clarity in radio communications.

 

[JoeTheJuggler]

For Clarity in radio communications.

I'll say it again: no way is "Renegade" and "Renaissance" more clear on the radio than "Barack" and "Michelle" or "the President" and "the First Lady".

 

[MaGZ]

I think Obama’s code name should be “Towelhead”

http://en.metapedia.org/wiki/Image:Obama-robes.jpg

 

[UnrepentantSinner]

I was an Artilleryman in the US Army, and believe me, it made coordinates for artilllery fire much easier when plotting on a map using Letter/Number coordinates. It is VERY easy to mishear "Z" for "T", for instance, but not "Zulu" for "Tango",and that kind of error could end up with messy results, like a barrage of 155 shells on friendly troops.

Check or hold? Check or hold?

 

[BenBurch]

I think Obama’s code name should be “Towelhead”

http://en.metapedia.org/wiki/Image:Obama-robes.jpg

What's yours? Bormann?

 

[dudalb]

Check or hold? Check or hold?

Trying to give me flashbacks, or were you a Redleg yourself?

 

[dudalb]

I'll say it again: no way is "Renegade" and "Renaissance" more clear on the radio than "Barack" and "Michelle" or "the President" and "the First Lady".

Don't like cops, do you?

 

[JoeTheJuggler]

Don't like cops, do you?

Do you have to dislike cops to point out that these code names are NOT more clear on the radio than their actual names?

For Clarity in radio communications.

Wait a second, who is Clarity?

What happens if the First Family stays at a Renaissance Hotel? What happens if Malia goes to see Citizen Kane and someone mentions the sled?

 

[JoeTheJuggler]

Chelsea Clinton - Energy

Agent 1: Eagle has to get to that energy conference today. What's the ETA?

Agent 2: To her school?

Agent 1: What?

Agent 2: What?

 

[Cain]

What happens if the First Family stays at a Renaissance Hotel?

Would it surprise you to learn they have naming conventions for such locations?

What happens if Malia goes to see Citizen Kane and someone mentions the sled?

Worlds collide.

 

[Jimbo07]

Don't like cops, do you?

What happens if the First Family stays at a Renaissance Hotel? What happens if Malia goes to see Citizen Kane and someone mentions the sled?

Agent 1: Eagle has to get to that energy conference today. What's the ETA?

Agent 2: To her school?

Agent 1: What?

Agent 2: What?

Maybe it's not that you don't like cops, military, etc. Maybe it's just a lack of understanding. Maybe the Secret Service really is that dumb. I don't know. I'm not one of them.

Their radio protocols cannot be so ambiguous as your example suggests. It isn't for any other military unit, anyway...

 

[dudalb]

What's yours? Bormann?

Nah, Himmler is better for MaGZ.
I have a few of my own creation for MaGZ, but they all involve severe TOS violations.