Sept. 9, 2025 9 AM PT
To the editor: Even when solely at this level unofficial, President Trump’s transfer to rebrand the Division of Protection because the Division of Struggle disregards the damaging political impact it will have (“Trump executive order aims to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War,” Sept. 3).
His thought will be traced again to an earlier musing that Ukrainians mustn’t solely defend themselves but in addition take the offensive. The irony, in fact, is that he’s not offering Ukraine with the type of weaponry it will want to truly mount such an offense.
Traditionally, each nation frames its battle as a simply and “defensive” one — Putin himself described his invasion of Ukraine as a defensive measure in opposition to Western aggression. However the phrase “Division of Struggle,” even when not explicitly conveying aggression, undeniably carries that suggestion. Phrases have penalties. It’s puzzling, to say the least, that our president would gratuitously attempt to make such a change.
Jack Kaczorowski, Los Angeles
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To the editor: Since Trump is so keen to vary names, I’ve a number of ideas to extend transparency and accuracy in naming: Change the Division of Justice to the Division of Retribution and the Departments of Schooling, Labor, Vitality, and Well being and Human Providers to Ignorance, Massive Enterprise, Fossil Gasoline Improvement, and Sickness and Dying, respectively.
Whereas he’s at it, it could be a good suggestion to name the Environmental Safety Company the Environmental Destruction Company.
Thomas Van Huss, Tustin
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To the editor: With Trump overtly campaigning for a Nobel Peace Prize, attempting to rename the Division of Protection the Division of Struggle appears each weird and squarely on model.
David R. Ginsburg, Los Angeles
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To the editor: It looks like only a semantic difficulty, rebranding the Division of Protection because the Division of Struggle, however let’s face it: The USA now has 750 military bases around the globe. The protection finances is upwards of $800 billion yearly. All of this to maintain the peace and defend our nation? What number of bases does China have across the globe? How about Russia? Someplace around 21, largely in former Soviet states.
It’s onerous to think about our unprecedented deal with the army not resulting in extra elective wars. Why have this gigantic army presence in case you by no means flex your muscle mass? Division of Struggle? Sadly, it appears acceptable.
Peter Marquard, Northridge
