Euphemism Watch

From my friend Caleb comes a link to the Euphemism Watch section of “The New Republic”.r
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The premise of “Euphemism Watch” is that if our cause is just, no euphemisms are needed, while if our cause is not just, euphemisms won’t help us…r
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“Ambush. War colleges teach ambush tactics, which involving luring opposition units into apparent safety or areas they can’t defend, especially areas surrounded by high ground. An honorable soldier might stage an ambush. In hours of listening to CNN and the rest, I’ve heard what the Iraqis do repeatedly described as “ambushes,” while what U.S. and British forces are doing is repeatedly described as “attacks.” In media usage, attack now seems to connote a fair fight after fair warning, while ambush suggests something devious. Hopelessly outgunned, Iraqi commanders have no choice but to be devious. When, during the Revolutionary War, patriot militia units led Redcoats into ambushes, we viewed this as daring strikes against a superior power. From the Iraqi perspective, ambushes make tactical sense. Our side should stop suggesting there is anything unscrupulous about the Iraqis trying to ambush hostile forces on their territory. “r