This news from the State Department: The United States has quietly dropped the use of the term “rogue state” from its foreign policy lexicon, in favor of the broader categorization “state of concern,” to allow greater flexibility in its dealings with those nations. State Department spokesperson Richard Boucher said “rogue state,” a description reserved for the seven countries designated by Washington as state sponsors of terrorism, quote, “has outlived its usefulness.” The change does not affect sanctions that are placed on the seven countries designated terrorism sponsors by Washington. Boucher said the change reflects a recognition that some are progressing in U.S. eyes and could no longer be fairly identified as rogues.