In this afternoon’s Pentagon briefing, Donald Rumsfeld engaged in a lot of what William Safire has dubbed “tautophrasal evasion.” Here are some excerpts (paraphrased; we don’t have a transcript yet):
“This attack was what it was…”
“If the new Iraqi government has a statement to make, they’ll make it…”
Q: “Should this matter be looked into?”
A: “It it should be, it will be.”Q: “Are the Russians owed an explanation?”
A: “If someone is owed something, they will get it.”
Quips to expect in future briefings: “Suicide bombers will be suicide bombers.” “Insurgents, well, ‘insurge’ — that’s what they do.”
Or maybe Rumsfeld will fall back on an old favorite of his: “Stuff happens.” Who can argue with that?
Stuff Happens: David Hare Enters the Theater of War [NYT]
On Language: It Is What It Is [NYT]
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