He criticizes the MSM (Main Stream Media) for accepting the terminology provided by the Bush Administration without pushing behind the words to their actual meaning as compared to what other terms might be more appropriate. The "surge" might better be described as "escalation" and "sectarian violence" is probably really "civil war," though I don't think he is attempting to spin himself.
The strangest example of what he's talking about is the 20,000 "non-surge" troops recently sent into Iraq. "Does this mean the 'non-surge troops' are not in harms way?" he asks.
He is calling on all of us (not just the MSM) to choose the most appropriate word and stick with it, no matter what euphamism is chosen by whatever leader is trying to spin the action being described. He writes, "Please stop being a tool for those who would use words to promote an unjust cause. Get some spine."
All bloggers should take that to heart, myself included. The Administration's setting the word choice means we can be lazy and use their words, knowing what everyone is talking about. But that perpetuates the untruth rather than facilitates full discussion.
Maybe I need a new Thesaurus because it's not easy to find the right words, especially when the Administration provides new spin words every day.
But thanks to Tim Giago for calling us all to the task.
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