Toby Bartels wrote:
Our "common name" naming convention also doesn't apply unless the phrase "September 11 attack" is /not/ commonly used without the word "terrorist". (That may be true, but I don't know it.)
I won't comment much on the underlying issue, but I did do some googling, for whatever that might be worth...
"September 11 attack" - 33,700 "September 11 terrorist attack" - 13,900
In Google News, "September 11 attack" - 71 "September 11 terrorist attack" - 10
So, although it would not be my first choice, it does seem that the "common name" naming convention may point us a way out of this discussion.
Those who find the idea that including the word terrorism in the title is biased to be mistaken or misguided or PC might still take comfort in a different reason for changing the title -- to comport with common usage.
For me, a standard policy of not using the word terrorism in such cases would be silly. The word can be overly politically loaded in some contexts, but in others it is not.
But I could be comfortable with other reasons for changing the title.
--Jimbo