New Rovian Terminology I Have Noticed

[Dinger]

Whenever there are casualities in Iraq, they say "X " number of "people" have died, as opposed to the term that tugs at the hearts of many: U.S. soldiers. Even this morning on CNN, they said "military personnel," no "soldiers." This might seem minor, but it is a definite change I have noticed. If you watch and take notice, you will noticed it too.

[Cronus Protagonist]

1. "civilian contractors" too - instead of "mercenaries"

They don't want anyone to think anything ugly is going on either.




http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13
Buttons for brainy people - educate your local freepers today!

[Dinger]

2. Yes, Any Other Euphamisms You Have Noticed?

It's getting worse.

[Cronus Protagonist]

9. Yup, "The Iraqi Government" - that one makes me laugh out loud

:)

[PaganPreacher]

3. Not every "military person" is a "soldier,"

and not every American killed in Iraq is a member of the armed forces.

First, the term "military personnel" is correct.

In the US military, "soldiers" are members of the US Army. Enlisted Navy personnel are "sailors," not "soldiers." Enlisted Air Force personnel are "airmen." US Marines are definitely not "soldiers," and most will take offense to being called by that name. Members of the Coast Guard are also not "soldiers."

Second, there are many American civilians working with the military in Iraq.

Civilian employees of AAFES run the PXs. Civilian mechanics are working night and day, installing the up-armor kits on Humvees and cargo trucks. Civilian armorers are repairing weapons. They are exposed to danger, just as the troops are, but without the benefit of body armor or weapons.



The Pagan Preacher
I don't turn the other cheek.

[Dinger]

4. O.K., I Guess My Main Point Was

that there seems to be a change in terminology, as compared to earlier. . . an overall change. Not hard to figure out why. Istand corrected Pagan preacher.

[PaganPreacher]

6. The biggest reason that "military personnel" has replaced "soldier"....

is that members of different branches are working together (or are at least co-located) more than in the past.

In Iraq, Air Force and Navy combat controllers guide strike aircraft during Army missions. Marine platoons are attached to Army combat batallions, and Army boats work with Coast Guard boats to secure the rivers and transport men and materiel.

At the mess hall in Mosul, there may have been Army combat engineers, USAF medics, SEABEEs, Marine riflemen, and Coast Guard sailors eating lunch. Their lunch may have been prepared and served by American and Iraqi civilians.

The Pagan Preacher
I don't turn the other cheek.

[MarianJack]

5. Hi, PaganPreacher!

I haven't read any of your posts before today, so a belated "Welcome to DU".

I just wanted to tell you how moved I am by the powerful photo in your sig line. I also think that we have to start not turning the other cheek to our rethuglican "friends.

[PaganPreacher]

7. Thanks for the welcome!

I was never any good at turning the other cheek. Probably a good thing that my religion requires me to stand up for myself.

The Pagan Preacher
(you know the rest)



Fort Stewart Garrison Command Sergeant Major, CSM Carl Smith, reads off the names of those killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

[Dinger]

8. I Welcome You Too Pagan Preacher

Good to see you here.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

10. One particularly offensive term now in use by this administration

Personal transfer tube = coffin

They sweep these deaths under the rug anymore and they'll just quit reporting them all together. Everything is sunshine and roses, all day lollipops and rainbows where nothing is bad enough to expect honest reporting. And the MSM is playing along. So far there have been over 1,300 personal transfer tubes secretly shipped to Dover AFB under cover of a media black out. Think this makes those kids any less dead?

[PaganPreacher]

11. "Personal transfer tube?" Source, please.

I can find no reference to official or unofficial public use of the phrase "personal transfer tube" by any member of the Administration or armed forces.

The proper term is "casket," not "coffin." That term is used in all official communication regarding the transport of deceased servicemembers and civilians, except that cremated remains are transported in an "urn" or a "shipping container."

No one is sweeping the deaths of American servicemembers or civilians under the rug. The lead story on every network, every night, is the number of casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with graphic descriptions of the manner of their deaths. The reporting on the messhall bombing in Mosul is an excellent example of that.

Locally: After two Kansas National Guardsmem were killed in Iraq last month, the Governor, Adjutant General (chief of the National Guard for the state), and local officials honored those two men publically in the press. Their hometowns held memorial services, which were reported on extensively. No conspiracy of silence to be found there.



The Pagan Preacher
I don't turn the other cheek.