Amy's Robot

Thugs and Assassins

When Bush finds a phrase he likes, he sure likes to use the hell out of it. His latest favorite, "thugs and assassins," a way of describing the resistance in Iraq, is showing up in public comments almost as much as his inappropriate references to 9/11. Cheney's chiming in, too.

• "We will pass sovereignty on June 30. We're not going to be intimidated by thugs and assassins." (Bush 4/6/04)
• "This collection of killers is trying to shake our will. America will never be intimidated by thugs and assassins." (Bush 3/31/04)
• "This collection of killers is trying to shake the will of America. They don't understand our country. America will never be intimidated by thugs and assassins." (Bush 4/05/04, 3/25/04)
• "The thugs and assassins in Iraq are desperately trying to shake our will. They attacked a Baghdad hotel on Wednesday. Their goal is to prevent the rise of a democracy -- but they will fail." (Cheney 3/18/04)
• "The thugs and assassins in Iraq are desperately trying to shake our will. Just this morning, they conducted a murderous attack on a hotel in Baghdad. Their goal is to prevent the rise of a democracy - but they will fail." (Cheney 3/17/04)
• "This collection of killers is trying to shake our will, to shake the will of America. You know, they really don't understand our country. America will never be intimidated by thugs and assassins." (Bush 3/11/04, 3/8/04, 3/3/04)
• "We did not charge hundreds of miles into the heart of Iraq, pay a bitter cost in casualties, defeat a brutal dictator and liberate 25 million people only to retreat before a band of thugs and assassins." (Bush 11/27/03, during Baghdad visit)

It's funny how the thugs and assassins are not going to "shake our will," and "we won't cut and run," but Bush still clings to the June 30 hand-over as if it will solve all the problems we and the Iraqis face over there.

As is often the case with this administration, and perhaps most politicians, Bush is using the mantra-like repetition of this phrase to stifle debate about what's going on over there. By dismissing the opposition as "thugs and assassins," the administration influences the way people talk about the conflict and curtails debate about the underlying political reasons behind it, which in turn influences the way we think about it. (Much like the White House tried to do with its failed efforts to re-brand "suicide bombers" as "homicide bombers" a few years ago.)

Here's a piece about the questionable cultural history of the phrase "thugs and assassins," and the way it recalls earlier East vs. West campaigns.

categories: Politics, War and Security
posted by adm at 4:33 AM | #