Editing Code name (section)

=== Military operations since Churchill ===
Throughout the Second World War, the British allocation practice favored one-word code names ([[Operation Jubilee|Jubilee]], [[Operation Frankton|Frankton]]). That of the Americans favored longer compound words, although the name [[Operation Overlord|Overlord]] was personally chosen by [[Winston Churchill]] himself. Many examples of both types can be cited, as can exceptions.

Winston Churchill was particular about the quality of code names. He insisted that code words, especially for dangerous operations, would be not overly grand nor petty nor common. One emotional goal he mentions is to never have to report to anyone that their son "was killed in an operation called 'Bunnyhug' or 'Ballyhoo'."<ref>{{cite book |last=Jablonsky |first=David |date=2013-09-13 |title=Churchill, the Great Game and Total War |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ApvcAAAAQBAJ |publisher=Routledge |page=95 |isbn=9781135199296 }}</ref>

Presently, British forces tend to use one-word names, presumably in keeping with their post-World War II policy of reserving single words for operations and two-word names for exercises. British operation code names are usually randomly generated by a computer and rarely reveal its components or any political implications unlike the American names (e.g., the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] was called "Operation Telic" compared to Americans' "Operation Iraqi Freedom", obviously chosen for propaganda rather than secrecy). Americans prefer two-word names, whereas the Canadians and Australians use either. The French military currently prefer names drawn from nature (such as colors or the names of animals), for instance ''[[Opération Daguet]]'' ("brocket deer") or ''[[Opération Baliste]]'' ("Triggerfish"). The CIA uses alphabetical prefixes to designate the part of the agency supporting an operation.

In many cases with the United States, the first word of the name has to do with the intent of the program. Programs with "have" as the first word, such as [[Lockheed Have Blue|Have Blue]] for the stealth fighter development, are developmental programs, not meant to produce a production aircraft. Programs that start with Senior, such as Senior Trend for the F-117, are for aircraft in testing meant to enter production.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}

In the United States code names are commonly set entirely in upper case.<ref name="maryferrell/cryptdb">{{cite web |title=CIA Cryptonyms |url=https://www.maryferrell.org/php/cryptdb.php |website=[[Mary Ferrell Foundation]] |access-date=2023-02-07 |archive-date=2023-02-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207020033/https://www.maryferrell.org/php/cryptdb.php |url-status=live }}</ref> This is not done in other countries, though for the UK in British documents the code name is in upper case while operation is shortened to OP e.g., "Op. TELIC".

This presents an opportunity for a bit of public-relations ([[Operation Just Cause]]), or for controversy over the naming choice (Operation Infinite Justice, renamed [[Operation Enduring Freedom]]). Computers are now used to aid in the selection. And further, there is a distinction between the ''secret'' names during former wars and the ''published'' names of recent ones.