Defining the news
December 22, 2006 by William K. Wolfrum
Because sometimes, it’s hard to tell what people mean when they use specific words or phrases, here’s a quick primer on some popular terms floating around these days:
Sectarian violence = Civil War
Surge = Escalation
Immigration control = Muslims are scary
Sanctions against Iran = War on Iran is coming
Adding more troops = The draft will be here soon.
–WKW
Good job, that about clears it up.
Perhaps we could start a new Ambrose Bierce Dictionary. It seems conflict is a foundry for neologisms and euphemisms – collateral damage, blue on blue, call in air support, embedded journalist – sleeping with the army, etc.,
You use Surge as a synonym for escalation – which has two meanings, escalators both ascend and descend but escalation has been hi-jacked to mean increase – a perfectly good word but don’t use it in front of the kids. They are smart enough to realise that it means the draft is coming.
Des Browne (UK defence Secretary) is evidently preparing the UK ground ( I write from Limey Land) for an increase in troop strength in advance of Bob Gates selling an increase in US troops in Iraq and Dubya going to the Congressional ATM to get some more funds to pay for the “Spring surge” – think of it as a “spingboard to victory”.
Expect Fancy Nancy to endorse in a sheer reflexive action and fuck the separation of powers.