Codename 'smart alec': British police label Obama with 'mildly offensive' Punjabi word for visit to UK

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 9:27 PM on 22nd May 2011

More than one person has wanted to call Barack Obama a 'smart alec', and now British police will get the chance to do so without getting reprimanded.
That's because Scotland Yard has tapped the codename 'Chalaque' to refer to the U.S. president for security reasons during his upcoming state visit to the United Kingdom May 24-26.
Indarjit Singh, a Punjabi speaker in the UK who is director of the Network of Sikh Organisations, told the Sunday Times the word 'is sometimes used when we want to denigrate someone who we think is too clever for their own good'.

Royal reception: Barack and Michelle Obama are heading back to Buckingham Palace this week, where they met the queen in 2009. Codename: Chalaque

Greeting allies: Mr Obama speaks with Andrew Marr of the BBC at the White House on May 19, ahead of his state visit to the UK

Another Punjabi speaker told the paper the word Chalaque is 'not considered rude', but could be 'mildly offensive'.
It is also said to mean 'cheeky, crafty and cunning'.
With his leadership of the recent successful raid on Osama bin Laden's compound, the president certainly showed himself to be the latter two.

Scotland Yard insiders told the Sunday Times that their codewords are 'randomly generated by computer', but the paper wondered why officials decided to stick with them, when they could have simply had another word selected that would be less provocative.

Still, that's not the kind of thing that normally rattles Obama, who recently told reporters he keeps calm under pressure by taking some time off for 'golf, laughter and travel'.
Barack and Michelle Obama will be guests of Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace this week.

Clever: According to a Punjabi speaker, Chalaque 'is sometimes used when we want to denigrate someone who we think is too clever for their own good'

Party: The First Couple is invited to the prime minister's house, where they will team up to host a barbecue for British and American military vets

The president will also speak to Parliament, probably on terrorism and ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The First Couple is also invited to the prime minister's house, where Mrs Obama and Samantha Cameron, wife of British leader David Cameron, will host a barbecue for British and American military vets.
The men will 'wear aprons to serve burgers and sausages' writes the Sunday Times.
Security will be heavy throughout the visit, as militants around the world have threatened reprisals for the recent killing of Osama bin Laden.
The Obamas will travel in a heavily armoured limousine called 'The Beast'.
When they visit the queen, they are told not to turn their back on her, and to finish enjoying any snacks or tea as soon as the queen takes her last bite.

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