50 Top 10 Lists of 2007See All Lists »

Top 10 Buzzwords

Article Tools

#2. Surge

Influx of 20,000 U.S. troops to Iraq aimed at, among other things, quelling sectarian violence. Even if you don't know the specific details, the word itself has by now been drilled relentlessly into your head. "Is the surge working?" "Is the surge failing?" "What does Gen. Petraeus think about the surge?" Surge, surge, surge! President Bush's call for additional troops, which was announced in January, incited more heated discourse this year than almost any other issue save immigration.

Connect to this TIME Story

Interact with
this story

  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Full Archive
  • Covers