Rants and Ramblings: random commentary about culture, media, politics, technology and whatnot.

wordplay

Today’s Washington Post notes President Bush’s first use of the word “combat” in referring to U.S. military activity in Iraq since his May 1 announcement of the end of “major combat operations.” Ironically, it came during an interview with the military-run Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. (“Bush Revises Views On ‘Combat’ in Iraq” - 08/19/03)

In an interview with the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service given on Thursday and released by the White House yesterday, Bush interrupted the questioner when asked about his announcement on May 1 of, as the journalist put it, “the end of combat operations.”

“Actually, major military operations,” Bush replied. “Because we still have combat operations going on.” Bush added: “It’s a different kind of combat mission, but, nevertheless, it’s combat, just ask the kids that are over there killing and being shot at.”

In his May 1 speech on the USS Abraham Lincoln, Bush declared: “Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed. And now our coalition is engaged in securing and reconstructing that country.” The headline on the White House site above Bush’s May 1 speech is “President Bush Announces Combat Operations in Iraq Have Ended.” …

A White House spokesman said Bush was not making a distinction between combat and military operations. “What the president declared on May 1 is that major combat operations were over,” he said. “He did not say that combat was over.”

The WP article goes on to note some other semi-significant changes in language in statements Bush made in the interview. I’m curious if the shifts in language indicate a larger shift in administration policy.

Or maybe it’s just Bush.