The Global Struggle Against a Consistent Message
The Global Struggle Against a Consistent Message
Last week, there was a big buzz about a little name change. On Tuesday, the New York Times reported that, after lengthy consideration, the Bush administration would stop referring to the “global war on terror” (GWOT) and start talking about the much cuddlier “global struggle against violent extremism” (GSAVE):
In recent speeches and news conferences, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and the nation’s senior military officer have spoken of “a global struggle against violent extremism” rather than “the global war on terror,” which had been the catchphrase of choice. Administration officials say that phrase may have outlived its usefulness, because it focused attention solely, and incorrectly, on the military campaign.
But then there was this Monday’s Homeland Security Meeting, in which President Bush criticized the switch, going so far as to say that “no one had checked” with him before deciding on the change. (This admission reportedly led to a rather awkward silence.) And now, this morning’s papers report on a speech the president gave yesterday in which he publicly overruled his senior advisers, further distancing himself from the new slogan (he used it zero times) and referring to the GWOT five times. “Make no mistake about it,” Bush insisted; “we are at war.”
Glad to see that the administration is showing a unified front.
– Conor Clarke
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I think he thinks he’s saying “TERRA”, and that he learnt it in “ITELLIGENCE CLASS” (a class DESIGNED to make people intelligenter).
August 4th, 2005 at 10:15 amPresident Bush has reverted back to using the phrase “war on terror” to describe the debacle in Iraq, even after his supporters were told to use the new public-relations-suggested phrase “struggle against global extremism.” Hmmm, could it be that someone did some remedial research and found that in 2003, Bush and Cheney bashed John Kerry for refusing to use the inaccurate and generic term “war on terror.”
August 4th, 2005 at 10:18 amThese guys are tripping over themselves in order to cover their tracks. That’s what happens when you can’t tell the truth from the fabrications — you forget what you said, when you said it why, to whom, etc.
One thing these guys are adept at is spin, redaction, and denial.
it’s hard work when Karl is worrying which soap-on-a-rope he’ll need.
August 4th, 2005 at 10:25 amWhere is your post on the Air America scandal? Anyone… anyone…
August 4th, 2005 at 10:26 amNigel Tufnel: The numbers all go to eleven. Look, right across the board, eleven, eleven, eleven and….
August 4th, 2005 at 10:28 amMarty DiBergi: Oh, I see. And most amps go up to ten?
Nigel Tufnel: Exactly.
Marty DiBergi: Does that mean it’s louder? Is it any louder?
Nigel Tufnel: Well, it’s one louder, isn’t it? It’s not ten. You see, most blokes, you know, will be playing at ten. You’re on ten here, all the way up, all the way up, all the way up, you’re on ten on your guitar. Where can you go from there? Where?
Marty DiBergi: I don’t know.
Nigel Tufnel: Nowhere. Exactly. What we do is, if we need that extra push over the cliff, you know what we do?
Marty DiBergi: Put it up to eleven.
Nigel Tufnel: Eleven. Exactly. One louder.
Marty DiBergi: Why don’t you just make ten louder and make ten be the top number and make that a little louder?
Nigel Tufnel: [Pause.] These go to eleven.
DilEnema, you missed it yesterday. Pay attention or shut up.
August 4th, 2005 at 10:28 amBush has raised the bar, NED. REAL stories involve treason and death.
August 4th, 2005 at 10:30 amBrian – like the treason committed on this site and the death of the Democratic Party?
August 4th, 2005 at 10:31 amGet on your short bus and get to class (don’t forget to check under the seat).
August 4th, 2005 at 10:33 amBrian – I am out of school. Wish I wasn’t, but have been for sometime. Stop pre-judging, it’s very hateful.
August 4th, 2005 at 10:35 amThey should have known it was just too much of a mouthfull for him.
August 4th, 2005 at 10:36 amWe all wish you were still in school, NED.
August 4th, 2005 at 10:39 amHow is Air America doing by the way? I have heard from many people that the media is not liberal biased since it was consolidated. So one would think that AAR should be doing quite well since it is filling a need that is not being met.
August 4th, 2005 at 10:42 amI listen to Franken, the rest are pretty extreme. I believe they are overcompensating. Esp. Randi Rhodes.
August 4th, 2005 at 10:43 amGood to know that Bush has 5 weeks off to think about the best phrase, GWOT or GSAVE.. let him enjoy the LONGEST PRESIDENTIAL VACATION in 36 years.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002417607_crawford03.html
I hope God gives him a painful sunburn for allowing that former Exxon lobbyist to doctor climate change reports…!
August 4th, 2005 at 10:58 amCongrats NED, you got everyone off-subject once again.
Since we are talking about the substantiated, illegal, war on terror, perhaps you’d like to comment on the 19 marines who paid the price for King George’s personal vendeta.
Oh!, while we are digressing to tangents NED, enlighten us on the administration plan for disengagement.
August 4th, 2005 at 10:59 amSorry, that’s unsubstantiated and illegal.
August 4th, 2005 at 11:00 amNo one had checked with him?
The stupid S.O.B. is provided with every word that comes out of his sleezy pie-hole, why should this be any different?
August 4th, 2005 at 11:02 amHa! Looks like someone finally noticed how much “struggle against extremism” sounded like they were targeting their own neocon/theocon base. Oops. :)
August 4th, 2005 at 11:11 amThey’re supposed to check with him on stuff? Oh. That’s why things are so f*cked up, they haven’t been checking with Georgie first. No wonder…
August 4th, 2005 at 11:18 amWar on Terror is much easier to remember then war on violent extremists. However it still does not change that you cannot declare war on a verb.
August 4th, 2005 at 11:20 amThis is like mickey mouse telling Disney animators he doesn’t like the lines he’s been given.
August 4th, 2005 at 11:41 amAir America radio rapes little children and unborn babies! They refuse to allow us to arm the little children and the unborn! Oh! Suffer the little children to come unto us… armed! Why won’t anyone do anything? We fixed the elections dammit!
August 4th, 2005 at 11:47 amA turd by any other name is still a turd.
August 4th, 2005 at 11:48 amNeD
I would suggest some serious mental counciling.
August 4th, 2005 at 11:56 amHuh. The President says we’re at war and the Pentagon reckons we’re not. Sounds like someone just flicked the bird at the commander in chief.
August 4th, 2005 at 11:58 am#26,
They’re just trying to cover all bases so they can look right either way. Its all PR, not facts.
August 4th, 2005 at 12:02 pmTechnically were not at war. War requires a formal declaration, permission from congress, etc. Since we cannot hand a declartion of war on Al-Qaidi we can’t be at war.
On the other hand much like veitnam, the president has to go to congress every few months, don’t remember the exact time and ask for an extension to continue fighting in Iraq, and afghanistan.
August 4th, 2005 at 12:03 pmDon’t you figure that Shrub just woke up from a drug-induced sleep and found out that his vp and secretaries of defense and state were running the office and thought he would try to get a word in edgewise to make it look like he has control (which he doesn’t).
It is amazing to see the wheels are coming off their ride with the plamegate investigation and the war they started to “show daddy” that he could do what daddy couldn’t.
August 4th, 2005 at 12:10 pm#27 – I’m being a bit sarky, but it does strike me Bush was p*ssed that someone declared the “war” over without first speaking to him.
And what a f*cking a*shole. The military is losing what, 40 soldiers a month, and Bush gets stroppy with them because they think GSAVE works better than GWOT and no-one checked with him first. I’m sure that if they could, the Pentagon would have fired their c-in-c already.
August 4th, 2005 at 12:35 pmOh man I’m doubled over laughing here, this one’s like a sitcom.
Rummy:So in our new (say it with me) “Global war on violent extremeism”…
Bush: What? wait? who? global extrermism? I can’t say that! NOBODY CHECKED WITH ME!
(pregnant silence while lapdogs look for a lollypop or colouring book or something shiny to distract Bush)
August 4th, 2005 at 12:41 pmHow about truth in advertising from the White House:
Global Struggle for the Political Opportunity of Terrorism (G-SPOT).
August 4th, 2005 at 12:47 pmThis sounds like a Rove tactic… Put on a charade that the president as clueless about the change and it then looks like he may not be aare of anything that might jeapordize his presidency… Claim ignorance and “abra cadabra” you escape culpability…
August 4th, 2005 at 1:05 pmYea, you cabinet level dudes need to check with King George before you use the mens room. You’re not free to make those important decisions.
August 4th, 2005 at 1:48 pmIf we are at war then fund it properly. Make the funds available for our troops and their needed equipment.
No more funding by supplemental spending bills whose use is to hide the cost of the war from the public at the cost of American lives in Iraq.
August 4th, 2005 at 2:08 pm#13, Christine, Air America is doing quite well especially since it is on a shoestring budget and has limited outlets (the majority being controlled by the corporate right-wing). Franken is funny and always backs up with facts. Schultz is open-mike and is very fair and balanced. Rhodes is funny as hell, outrageous, but has facts and quotes and headlines to back her up.
August 4th, 2005 at 2:54 pm#19,20,21
August 4th, 2005 at 2:56 pmDo you recall how they knocked Kerry when he tried to avaoid saying “War” on terror? And, correctly, it would be war on terrorism (noun) not terror (state of mind). But then again what does Bush know about anything verbal.
Marie,
I agree on the Air America. It’s starting from ground zero, and is 20 years behind its competitors in terms of grooming an audience and building a base of radio stations that are willing to carry it. Considering that the two major radio networks in the country are owned by right wing fascists – it’s remarkable it’s actually doing so well!
August 4th, 2005 at 4:57 pmMarie is correct, ‘terror’ is a state of mind, a feeling, and its synonym is ‘fright.’ How do you have a war on fright? You can’t. So, the guys with all the planes and bombs and guns defined ‘terror’ to suit themselves: ‘Terror’ is when guys without all that stuff kill civilians, whereas when the guys with all that stuff kill civilians it’s ‘defending freedom.’
August 4th, 2005 at 8:15 pmDon, I had to read your comment twice until I saw the words “without” compared to “with” (I skim read too quickly). You are so correct! I will remember that comment and plagiarize it for my personal use if you don’t mind.
August 4th, 2005 at 8:58 pmMarie, get it straight from the source: Noam Chomsky. “If you want to stop terrorism, stop participating in it.” Think Hiroshima, for starters.
By-the-by,
August 4th, 2005 at 10:59 pmyour URL is coming up dry.
Don,
That’s so true. When you consider that Reagan and BushI CREATED, FUNDED AND TRAINED ALQUEDA, you also have to wonder how all of these knee jerk idiots on the right always keep saying we aren’t responsible for 9/11 in some way. If our CIA hadn’t been meddling and inflicting terrorism on countries we didn’t like, it wouldn’t have come back and bit us in the butt!!!
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November 1st, 2005 at 2:33 amhi
January 17th, 2006 at 7:13 pmWhy do not answer my question?
[...] to the decision by the House Armed Services Committee. The Bush administration has itself tried but failed to rename the “global war on terror” as “a global struggle against violent [...]
April 4th, 2007 at 4:16 pmdisney’s mickey mouse
I Googled for something completely different, but found your page…and have to say thanks. nice read.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:06 pm