Writer Robert Fisk discusses the semantics employed by George Bush. In particular, apparently to ‘re-educate’ the public about the truth in Iraq, Bush’s use of words beginning with ‘re’.
Note, too, the constant use of words that begin with “re -â€. Renew. Revive. And – incredibly – Bush also told us that “we actually re-liberated certain communitiesâ€. 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.
For by my reckoning, we have now “re-liberated†Fallujah twice. We have “re-liberated†Mosul three times and “re-liberated†Ramadi four times. The scorecard goes on. My files show that Sadr City may have been “re-liberated†five times, while Baghdad is “re-liberated†on an almost daily basis. General David Petraeus, in his pitiful appearance before the US Senate armed services committee, was bound to admit his disappointment at the military failure of the equally pitiful Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Basra. He had not followed Petraeus’ advice; which was presumably to “re-liberate†the city (for the fourth time, by my calculation but with a bit more planning).
Meanwhile our troops are supposedly re-motivated to die for their country so as not disappoint their commander in chief. Unfortunately GI suicide rates are at an all time high and while veterans comprise only 11% of the American population they account for 25% of the homeless.
