Dept. of Euphemisms
Has anyone noticed that, when writing about Bush, MSM reporters don't say "illegal surveillance," they say "warrantless surveillance." This helps to sanitize the activity. In their articles, President Bush doesn't want to legalize hitherto illegal surveillance, he wants to broaden "warrantless surveillance." The latter phrase should only be used when the spying has been approved by a court, or when (within 72 hours of its commencement) after-the-fact approval is sought for the spying pursuant to FISA.
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Yes, I have noticed this and I think your analysis is spot on. Here are a few more of my Bush era euphemisms:
Collateral damage. I don't think Team Bush originated this one, but it was brought back in full force when questions arose from use of the MOAB in the lead up to the invasion of Iraq. Translation: Foreign civilians we didn't bother not to kill.
Non-operative personnel. I don't hear this one often, but it really makes me cringe. Translation: Dead soldier, plain simple. Yeah, it makes me sad, too.
Enhanced interrogation techniques. I hope this one doen't need an explanation. Hey, if Jack Bauer says it's necessary, it's necessary, right? Translation: Do you mind if this car battery asks your testicles a few questions?
Extraordinary Rendition. Would be far less extraordinary if it hadn't happened a few hundred times.. that we know of. Translation: About that car battery.. it's in Germany. Auf Wiedersehen!
Weapons of mass destruction related program activities. Perhaps the mother of them all. Is it a euphemism or just a train wreck of equivocation? The world may never know. Translation: We ain't found shit.
Mistakes were made. This one might not be euphemism but actually truth.. just really, really, really understated truth. And when it's all said and done, perhaps nothing more true (or more understated) could be said of the Bush Administration. If you live in Afghanistan, Iraq or on the Gulf Coast you know exactly what this means. Translation: You're screwed.
February 26, 2008 4:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Much like J. Weisberg's Bushisms - we need a dictionary for this crap.
February 26, 2008 11:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Collateral damage significantly predates the Bush era. Other than that, you're spot on.
February 26, 2008 8:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Enhanced interrogation" is the one that galls me. If you translate the phrase the Nazi's used to justify torture ("Verschärfte Vernehmung") it translates to... enhanced interrogation.
And they used it to justify EXACTLY the same techniques.
February 26, 2008 4:39 PM | Reply | Permalink