Today’s New York Times has an article, “U.S. Officials Retool Slogan for Terror War,” that discusses the changing ways the Bush Administration describes the Iraq debacle. Here are twp particularly telling paragraphs:
“By emphasizing to the public that the effort is not only military, the administration may also be trying to reassure those in uniform who have begun complaining that only members of the armed forces are being asked to sacrifice for the effort.
New opinion polls show that the American public is increasingly pessimistic about the mission in Iraq, with many doubting its link to the counterterrorism mission. So, a new emphasis on reminding the public of the broader, long-term threat to the United States may allow the administration to put into broader perspective the daily mayhem in Iraq and the American casualties.”
What’s really being said is the “war” effort is failing to achieve the easy peace the war was sold on, we’re getting bogged down in Iraq and there’s less and less support among the soldiers and public for the war - so let’s abandon the “war” and call it something else - like “a global struggle against violent extremism.” Perhaps that’s “broad” enough for the Bush Administration - but it’s dishonest. A lot could be said about what the Administration is trying to do with the change in language - but for now I’ll focus my critique. Over a year ago I said America needs to get out of Iraq. The more you hear the other side, the more inescapable the conclusion.
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