If Not A Lie, Not Quite The Truth Either

The Orwellian nature of politician speak is perhaps endemic to the animal, but those in power these days are masters at the art. Using the English language is ways President Clinton would have look at with envy, they can literally tell the truth, while basically lying. This requires skill, furthers deniablity, but also requires an audience that basically wants to be lied to. The fact they are telling a form of "truth" can be used to salve their audience's consciences, but the honest among them will have to admit that lie or not, calling what is being tossed around "true" is rather generous. Likewise, no "truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth" stuff here -- half truths are the name of the game. Finally, the leadership does now and again let the cat out of the bag.

One interested observer discusses this "semantic" lie here. The art is also currently be used to try to temper the accusations of wrongdoing in the Abu Ghraib prison. First, we have Rumsfeld arguing that the matter was publicly known for awhile because of vague news reports about prison investigations. [I put aside the one shot and then forgotten or underreported nature of much "news" these days.] Next, there is the idea that it is just the work of a few bad apples, and that it isn't our "policy" to do such a thing. Strand comments and testimony does allow us to be aware that, yes, investigations are ongoing at various prisons and so forth, but the systematic nature of the problem is de-emphasized.

Just how much of the sort of stuff that disgusts us was uncomfortably winked at (e.g. the head of the prison was advised not to enter cells during questioning, calls to "keep up the good work," etc.) or just one step above clear policy (nudity, distasteful ridicule, and so forth) is also not stressed (see, e.g., Talk Left's coverage). Likewise, the dehumanization of the enemy, refusal to allow rules to apply to us, and general degrading of our traditions of fairness makes one question just how atypical this sort of thing truly is. Finally, how about the President being sure to join his voicing of disgust with an assurance that he still basically trusts Rumsfeld. Don't worry, in other words, we aren't going to change TOO much here.

Update: So much can be said about this matter, and a lot is being said, but one particularly troubling isssue I failed to mention is the not too unlikely case that the pictures per se was what the President and others was so mad about. The POTUS knew about the investigations, though one never knows how much in the loop the guy is, but not about the pictures being released. How wrong is it to suggest that such concern was not only a concern (quite valid) over how our enemies (or soon to be) will react? After all, out of sight, out of mind. btw HB Billy Joel. Careful driving!

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Baseball: I know the AL Central will blow a lot of games in which they had a lead, but how about scoring eight in one inning, and giving up ten in the bottom of the frame? The Tigers did this while playing Texas today, managed to get another run, but gave it up, and eventually lost 16-15 in ten. They had three errors and one unearned run. And Soriano thought NYC was exciting.