Cordon sanitaire

Posted by ESC on September 27, 2001

In Reply to: Cordon sanitaire posted by Bruce Kahl on September 27, 2001

: : Speaking of the U.S. president, veteran reporter Helen Thomas said, "You know he relies on this 'cordon sanitaire' around him." What's that?

: I guess it is George Dubya's cabinet, father's friends and handlers, a buffer zone:

: cor·don sa·ni·taire
: PRONUNCIATION: kôr-dô sä-n-târ
: NOUN: Inflected forms: pl. cor·dons sa·ni·taires ( kôr-dô sä-n-târ)
: 1. A barrier designed to prevent a disease or other undesirable condition from spreading. 2. A chain of buffer states organized around a nation considered ideologically dangerous or potentially hostile.
: ETYMOLOGY: French, quarantine line : cordon, line + sanitaire, sanitary

(See Bruce's post for Web site.)

Thanks.