A veneer of rhetoric masks the hard facts--Asahi Shimbun Vox Populi

[gottaB]

A Veneer of Rhetoric.

Language sometimes blurs reality. The words used in media reports to describe the situation in Iraq are no exception to the rule.

For example, the U.S. military operation in Fallujah is referred to as soto, which means sweeping away the enemy. But in the five days of fighting up to April 9, an estimated 450 residents were killed.

One Japanese report described the reality of the operation this way: "Women and children were caught in the battle as U.S. forces attacked residential areas with missiles launched from helicopters." I don't see what distinguishes this from an indiscriminate attack.

Who is America's enemy? A U.S. soldier, who joined the operation intending to "shake hands with residents and beat the enemy," said in perplexity that he found everyone to be the enemy.

Distinguished service in an operation like this can be performed only at the expense of residents, making the battle all the more tragic.