A recent Wired article about the innovative and improvisational information technology in the Iraq war brought a new military expression to my attention. Lima Lima Mike Foxtrot. I’m going to be mean and make you read the article to find out what it means. It’s kind of catchy, but a little awkward for normal use, unlike another of my military favorites, snafu (situation normal, all fucked up).
While I have mixed feelings about innovations that make it easier to kill people, the article is nevertheless interesting reading. It provides examples of many of the common management problems, not just in the military sector, but the private sector as well. Decisions being made by the clueless upper ranks without sufficient input from the informed peons (leading to Lima Lima Mike Foxtrot). Decision makers so overawed by glitzy new technology that they overlook simple problems. Etc etc.