Robert Fisk: Semantics can't mask Bush's chicanery

[cal04]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/fisk/robert-fisk-semantics-cant-mask-bushs-chicanery-808171.html

After his latest shenanigans, I've come to the conclusion that George Bush is the first US president to march backwards. First we had weapons of mass destruction. Then, when they proved to be a myth, Bush told us we had stopped Saddam's "programmes" for weapons of mass destruction (which happened to be another lie).

Now he's gone a stage further. After announcing victory in Iraq in 2003 and "mission accomplished" and telling us how this enormous achievement would lead the 21st century into a "shining age of human liberty", George Bush told us this week that "thanks to the surge, we've renewed and revived the prospect of success".

Now let's take a look at this piece of chicanery and subject it to a little linguistic analysis. Five years ago, it was victory – ie success – but this has now been transmogrified into a mere "prospect" of success. And not a "prospect", mark you, that has even been glimpsed. No, we have "renewed" and "revived" this prospect. "Revived", as in "brought back from the dead". Am I the only one to be sickened by this obscene semantics? How on earth can you "renew" a "prospect", let alone a prospect that continues to be bathed in Iraqi blood, a subject Bush wisely chose to avoid?

Note, too, the constant use of words that begin with "re -". Renew. Revive. And – incredibly – Bush also told us that "we actually re-liberated certain communities". This, folks, goes beyond hollow laughter. Since when did armies go around "re-liberating" anything? And what does that credibility-sapping "actually" mean? I suspect it was an attempt by the White House speech writer to suggest – by sleight of hand, of course – that Bush was really – really – telling the truth this time. But by putting "actually" in front of "re-liberate" – as opposed to just "liberate" – the whole grammatical construction falls apart. Rather like Iraq.

[blondie58]

1. the only 're' word that I can think of in association with Bush

is regurgitate!:puke:

[Jackpine Radical]

2. Which brings up an interesting question...

Jusr exactly how does one gurgitate in the first place?

[blondie58]

3. LOL, Jackpine Radical! Good point!

:-)

[RC]

4. Well, gurgitation is -

gur·gi·ta·tion ( gûr”j¹-t³“sh…n) n. 1. A whirling or surging motion, as of water.

[peacetalksforall]

6. How about re-count.

[MissWaverly]

5. this will be known as the Age of Deception

We had the excuse that those who tortured were just a few "bad apples." Low ranking soldiers were thrown to the wolves, now we learn that everything was handed down from the top down to the smallest detail and approved. Still believe that Libby was a "loose cannon" who initiated the outing of a "CIA" agent as payback and the cover-up. Now we hear that Iraq is a success fragile but keep fighting the good fight. Does anyone point out that the 2nd largest Iraqi city is not under government control and that we are paying 91,000 people not to fight us. It cost us 12 million a month just to pay these people. I am sure that George Washington went off to battle the British troops with his checkbook to pay off the Hessian mercenaries. You can't fight a war with a checkbook, sooner or later you will run out of money and you will lose big time. This is a war which is almost like a parody of military strategy yet people are dying and suffering grievous wounds. One hope is that a big dem win will restore oversight of the military and the Executive Branch where it woefully lacking.

[peacetalksforall]

7. The semantics that we have to get straight are those involving who we are war with.

The little people are at war with our dynamically destructive leaders acting on behalf of the international barons who are at war with the Shiites.

Our leaders hold hands with the leaders of the Sunnis and Israelis for they are all together in the war against the Shiites.

Don't let anyone say we are at war with Iraq.

Because -

our leaders say Iraq, but mean Shiites

so say it -

The War Against Shiites.

In the meantime, the hate was planted against all Moslems. Clever. Not moral.

Nothing about this is moral, including the death and maiming, the loss of homes, careers, means of making a living and all the beautiful children who suffer.