This Diplomat article explores how the language around wartime operational control (OPCON) transition has evolved over the last decade, revealing important patterns and subtle (or not so subtle) shifts in position and policy. While recent commentary highlights the alliance's commitment to "expedite" or "accelerate" the wartime OPCON transition process, the article shows that such language has been used before yet the policy has faced repeated delays and detours. 

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Dr. Clint Work is a Research Fellow in the Center for Strategy and Military Power, Institute for National Strategic Studies, at the National Defense University.