Verbose

The tortuous term "improvised explosive device", or IED, is constantly used in newspaper reports of Taleban barbarity. Way back in 1940, an equally verbose title was invented in Whitehall, ie "Local Defence Volunteers". Prime minister Winston Churchill pragmatically changed the title to "Home Guard". I'm sure, were he in charge today, an IED would become … a "bomb".

By The Newsroom

Published 15th Apr 2010, 22:05 BST