Kinetic military action



Kinetic military action is a euphemism for military action involving lethal force.

"Kinetic" was used as a euphemism for military action in Bush at War (2002) by Bob Woodward.

"Kinetic military action" was used by White House aide Ben Rhodes on March 23, 2011 to describe U.S. military action in Libya:"I think what we are doing is enforcing a resolution that has a very clear set of goals, which is protecting the Libyan people, averting a humanitarian crisis, and setting up a no-fly zone... Obviously that involves kinetic military action, particularly on the front end."

This use was noted by news media: "'Kinetic military action' is still hell" and "Kinetic Military Action No More".