# Bushspeak: "Terrorist" means "Anyone we kill" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 17, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushspeak-terrorist-means-anyone-we-kill/326599 "2005-10-17T15:16:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushspeak-terrorist-means-anyone-we-kill/326599/1 "2005-10-17T15:16:33Z")
While your shameless lapdogs are wringing their hands about the U.S. slaughter of innocent people overshadowing the elections, don’t let this little effort to move us a little bit closer to Oceania: When the U.S. kills people now, we’ll just report the body count as “terrorists.” Women, children, old people, anyone caught in the fire is presumed a terrorist by the very fact that they were killed. > [@](#): > > BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) – The U.S. military said Monday that coalition forces launched airstrikes Sunday in and around Ramadi, west of Baghdad, killing “an estimated 70 terrorists.” > > But an Iraqi doctor who reported 20 people killed – including six children – and 25 wounded said all those were civilians. [http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/10/17/iraq.main/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/10/17/iraq.main/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushspeak-terrorist-means-anyone-we-kill/326599/2 "2005-10-17T15:41:20Z")
Well duh. If you’re not with us, you’re against us. And if you don’t oppose terrorists, you support terrorists. We’re at war with Iraq, so Iraqis are against us. Ergo… ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushspeak-terrorist-means-anyone-we-kill/326599/3 "2005-10-17T17:11:07Z")
I sure thought that that small rapped body I saw in the news photos was yet another one of those nasty terrorists. Confoundit, they’re even arming the infants I hear! ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushspeak-terrorist-means-anyone-we-kill/326599/4 "2005-10-17T17:31:22Z")
The fact that they were civilians does not mean that some were not terrorists. That said, the thought of. “I bet one out of three is a woman or child” passed through my head as I heard it on the radio this morning. Not surprised to be correct. Just saddened. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushspeak-terrorist-means-anyone-we-kill/326599/5 "2005-10-17T17:34:18Z")
The fact that they were civilians does not mean that some were not terrorists. That said, the thought of. “I bet one out of three is a woman or child” passed through my head as I heard it on the radio this morning. Not surprised to be correct. Just saddened. (My apologies if this posts twice) ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushspeak-terrorist-means-anyone-we-kill/326599/6 "2005-10-17T17:42:04Z")
Apologies accepted. 😉 You’re absolutely right. The fact that civilians were killed does not negate the claim that 70+ terrorists were also killed. Not saying I believe the claim, just that there’s no evidence against it as yet. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushspeak-terrorist-means-anyone-we-kill/326599/7 "2005-10-17T17:51:54Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Apologies accepted. 😉 > > You’re absolutely right. The fact that civilians were killed does not negate the claim that 70+ terrorists were also killed. Not saying I believe the claim, just that there’s no evidence against it as yet. The way I read it is that 70 is merely the number of fatalities, and the US is glibly reporting the body count as “terrorists killed.” ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushspeak-terrorist-means-anyone-we-kill/326599/8 "2005-10-17T17:53:37Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > The fact that they were civilians does not mean that some were not terrorists. Some of the people in the WTC were possibly felons. We didn’t report that 3,000 felons had been killed because one or more victims may or may not have incidentally been felons. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushspeak-terrorist-means-anyone-we-kill/326599/9 "2005-10-17T17:56:08Z")
Not to be any more callous than usual, but…no shit? It’s not like this is new. Maybe **Starving Artist** can swing by and point out how the rest were actually “terrorist sympathizers”. Not that she can define those, it seems. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushspeak-terrorist-means-anyone-we-kill/326599/10 "2005-10-17T18:11:49Z")
“Terrorist” is a meaningless word anyway. The US defines any resistance to the invasion of Iraq as “terrorism.” It’s a stupid word with no coherent definition. By their definition George Washington was a terrorist. Speaking of Bushspeak, “unlawful combatant” is another insane, Orwellian categorization. An “unlawful combatant” is anyone who isn’t wearing a uniform when we attack them. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@The\_Hook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hook)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushspeak-terrorist-means-anyone-we-kill/326599/11 "2005-10-17T18:20:18Z")
Of course they were terrorists. They died in terror and by dying in such a terrorized state, they must have surely terrorized those who were with them with all their screaming and agonizing. Thus, terrorists. That Dubya, I tell you, he’s on to something. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushspeak-terrorist-means-anyone-we-kill/326599/12 "2005-10-17T18:30:57Z")
Creative use of language is not likely to persuade the ordinary Iraqi of the goodwill and intent of US forces. It just emphasises the need to other nations in the are that they must have an effective deterrant, way to go USA. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushspeak-terrorist-means-anyone-we-kill/326599/13 "2005-10-17T18:39:30Z")
They were probably just as guity as those unfortunate persons at the wedding parties that were bombed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Damn them for firing their weapons in the air. Something, incidentaly, that many consider to be a fundamental right of Americans. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushspeak-terrorist-means-anyone-we-kill/326599/14 "2005-10-17T18:40:24Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > Creative use of language is not likely to persuade the ordinary Iraqi of the goodwill and intent of US forces. I don’t think they’re trying to persuade the Iraqis anymore - it’s down to the few people over here who really buy into this mission. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushspeak-terrorist-means-anyone-we-kill/326599/15 "2005-10-17T19:49:26Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > Something, incidentaly, that many consider to be a fundamental right of Americans. To be fair, even the most gun totinist buddies of mine find shooting in the air to be pretty stupid. Since they have a working understanding of gravity and all. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushspeak-terrorist-means-anyone-we-kill/326599/16 "2005-10-17T19:58:58Z")
Did any of these people in the Administration learn anything about body counts from Vietnam? Of course not, they were either getting drunk or “had other priorities”. Pity Westmoreland isn’t still around to give interviews. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushspeak-terrorist-means-anyone-we-kill/326599/17 "2005-10-17T20:40:44Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > To be fair, even the most gun totinist buddies of mine find shooting in the air to be pretty stupid. Since they have a working understanding of gravity and all. …and to be even fairer, all evidence points to the fact that in the Iraq wedding incident, everybody was in bed at the time of the American attack, and noone was shooting in the air at the time at all… ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushspeak-terrorist-means-anyone-we-kill/326599/18 "2005-10-17T20:42:30Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Speaking of Bushspeak, “unlawful combatant” is another insane, Orwellian categorization. An “unlawful combatant” is anyone who isn’t wearing a uniform when we attack them. I dunno if you’re trying to lay the genesis of that term at the foot of Bush and/or his administration, but “unlawful combatant” has been in use since at least 1942. Mebbe you’re just blaming Bush for trying to increase the fuzziness of the definition, but I can’t tell for certain. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushspeak-terrorist-means-anyone-we-kill/326599/19 "2005-10-17T21:35:26Z")
When it’s Coalition soldiers, the term is “undercover soldier.” When it’s the enemy, it’s “unlawful combatant.” ---
**Author:** ![George\_Kaplin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3e96dc/32.png) [@George\_Kaplin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/George_Kaplin)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushspeak-terrorist-means-anyone-we-kill/326599/20 "2005-10-17T21:41:41Z")
[sub]Anyone else find it morbidly ironic that the google ads are now touting ‘Cheap flights to Baghdad’? [/sub] [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushspeak-terrorist-means-anyone-we-kill/326599.md?page=2)