For once I'll side against you, Kevin. Regardless of the nature of the conflict, 'colonial' has perjorative connotations that are inappropriate here. Sort of the difference between 'necessity' & 'wanton cruelty', if you see what I mean?

HuwG's 'low intensity' may sound a little bureaucratic, but seems a remarkably accurate descriptor. The difference between legally accurate & how you can conveniently describe things has unfortunate parallels with the publicity hungry editor of the Daily Mirror & certain apparently stunted pictures in current circulation.

Talk is cheap - those doing the talking rarely seem to consider the implications for others & can always 'justify' their prejudices. I'm not implying anything of you (&, FWIW, my general attitude toward Iraq is one of abhorrent necessity), McG, but it is a point worth making, I feel. People are very good at tossing allegedly innocent 'words' around without consideration of the consequences for those beyond 'their' pale!