Doesn't "covert" mean "secret"?

WASHINGTON -- Over the past week, the Obama administration has expanded the covert war run by the CIA inside Pakistan, launching attacks against a militant network seeking to topple the Pakistani government.

[From CIA steps up covert war inside Pakistan]

–Noted by our Seattle Bureau

Well, yeah. More or less.

THE RIGHT WORDWhile all of these adjectives describe an attempt to do something without attracting attention or observation, secret is the most general term, implying that something is being concealed or kept from the knowledge of others (: a secret pact; a secret passageway).Covert suggests that something is being done under cover, or concealed as if with a veil or disguise (: a covert attack; a covert threat), while clandestine suggests that something illicit or immoral is being concealed (: a clandestine meeting between the two lovers).Someone who is deliberately sneaking around and trying to do something without attracting notice is best described as stealthy (: the cat moved toward the bird with a slow, stealthy pace), and furtive connotes even more slyness and watchfulness, as revealed not only by movements but by facial expressions (: a furtive glance; a furtive movement toward the door).Surreptitious connotes guilt on the part of the person who is acting in a stealthy or furtive manner (: a surreptitious attempt to hide the book before it was noticed).Underhanded is the strongest of these words, implying fraud, deceit, or unfairness (: underhanded business dealings).

So, take your pick.Or you could say it's secret until everybody knows about it, in which case it pretty much isn't any more. Ain't that wonderful?