New words from a wartalker

Posted by Gary on August 21, 2002

No activity can compete in the generation of double talk and euphemism like warfare. Without wishing to offend our American friends, no country is so good at this as the USA. Collatoral damage, friendly fire, liquidation etc. Even shell shock, with it's clear associations with explosives is now 'post-traumatic stress disorder'.

There's a bunch of US governemnt spokespeople, spin doctors and allied trades in Britain at the moment trying to drum up support for their plan to bomb Iraq. I heard a new euphemism to treasure. In a BBC interview a spokeswoman flatly denied there would be a war with Iraq. Apparently it will be a 'regime change'. Sounds almost cosy, like ethnic cleansing.

Mind you the UK spin doctors are catching up fast. In the same broadcast a UK polititian promoted the idea of hanging by saying it would save lives.

• New words from a wartalker Word Camel 08/21/02
  • New words from a wartalker Bob 08/21/02
    • Getting our hair mussed ESC 08/21/02
      • Getting our hair mussed Word Camel 08/21/02
        • Getting our hair mussed Michael Bauer 08/21/02