Snafu

The Army has a laconic term for chronic befuddlement: snafu.* Last week U.S. citizens knew that gasoline rationing and rubber requisitioning were snafu. For months the people and their leaders had pussyfooted around the twin horrors. There were orders and counter-orders. All were different. The people, numb with bewilderment, choked with wrath, gave up.

The time seemed ripe for a stroke of lightning to clear the air. Instead, confusion was compounded. Samples:

> Motorists in 17 East Coast States, whose ration cards expire July 1, were told the whole setup would be changed,...