I have written professionally since 1983, so words are important to me. More specifically, using the correct words (as well as correct grammar and syntax) mean something to me. For this reason, among others, I find it troubling to read or hear the words the Presidents is transmitting, since so often he gets them wrong.
I could go on for pages as to what I mean, but let’s laser-focus on just a couple of items. First is a word we’ll probably hear repeatedly in his speech tonight: “obliteration.” Here’s the definition, which should surprise none of you:
It doesn’t mean damaged for a few months. It doesn’t mean harmed for a little while. It means completely and totally gone, not to return. So that operation from last summer (Midnight Hammer, baby!) that “obliterated” the Iranian nuclear program? It didn’t. Just like the current “obliteration” isn’t going to change anything in the days, weeks, and months ahead of us.
Now let’s tackle the one that really gets under my skin. Kindly note the definition of the word incursion:
One might correctly describe what Israel and her slave the U.S. are doing in Iran right now is an incursion. I suspect that, since the President didn’t get Congressional approval, Steve Miller hissed at him weeks ago through a tight grin, “Sir, call it an incursion, sir, not a war.“
Of course, the poor oaf couldn’t manage that, and therefore what we’ve instead heard about endlessly is……..
Putting it another way, if someone invites you on an excursion, pack a day bag and cheerfully join them. If they invite you to join them on an incursion, tell them you’re busy.
I mean, you’d think the man would be well acquainted with excursions, since he spends most of his time golfing (which has cost the taxpayers over $100 million over the past year, I might add).
Anyway, I’ll be watching the speech tonight (and, with the other eyeball, the futures markets) with tremendous interest. I’ll try not to grit my teeth too hard at the verbal pratfalls that are bound to be made.
