A Load Of Cobras

Wow! I never knew that!
I learnt today that the Government's top secret, emergency response task force, codenamed "Cobra", takes its name from where it meets......Cabinet Office Briefing Room A.
That's a bit of a disappointment, really. I thought the name Cobra had been deliberately chosen to reflect the sleek, deadliness of its members who were all, I assumed, mysterious and determined operatives, each known only by a letter of the alphabet, who wore white dinner jackets and bow ties and were able to strike anywhere, silently and with lethal precision.
My disappointment was compounded when I also learnt that Cobra met last night and was chaired by........................Hilary Benn!! Not only is he no James Bond, his name is not one to strike fear into the hearts of our enemies. He sounds more like an extra from Balamory!
The element of happenstance behind the naming of Cobra made Pither wonder how credible and dashing this elite force would sound if it met somewhere else.

Would it carry the same gravitas if it met in the "Cabinet Office Briefing, Liaison and Emergency Reaction Suite"?

Would the choice of "The War And Terrorism Suite" send out the wrong signal?

How about the "Strategic Planning Emergency Wing".........................................................................................................or the "General Operations and
National Action Departmental Snug"?
It would be even worse if we didn't have people obsessed with acronyms in Whitehall. I mean, how inspiring would it be to learn that the floods which have hit the nation had prompted a meeting of the "Gordon's Back Bedroom" group, the "Gents' Lavvies" council or the "Meeting-Room-C-But-Brenda-From-The-Cabinet-Keep-Fit-Class-Needs-It-In-The-Afternoons" task force?


Just a thought. Sorry I mentioned it.