Posted 1:29 AM by Paul
Linguistic Shifts

The Madrid bombings haave been dominating the political debate for the last week. I am going to write something in the next couple of days about my feelings on the subject. I have friends in Madrid and have been going to Spain every year since 1976. I want a bit more time to think before I write about something so apalling and so important.

The terrible events in Spain have seen some interesting shifts in political linguistics.

We are now being told that a major terrorist attack in the UK is inevitable. This is an exercise in managing expectations. In the old days politicians might have said something like "It's likely but we are doing everything in our power to stop it. " Now they just say " It's gonna happen. Get used to it".

The word eventually has crept into the political discourse as in, " I believe that getting rid of Saddam will eventually make the world a safer place." This suggests that at the moment the world is a more dangerous place in recognition of the fact that one of Saddam's hobbies was executing Al Quaida members. Also when is eventually ? Next week? Next century?

The Government has taken to employing the tried and tested rhetorical device of refuting the imaginary proposition in an attempt to wrong foot their critics. At least 10 supporters of the Iraq policy have been on radio insisting " There is no exemption from terrorism. Pulling out of Iraq would not make us less of a target." This is true. But no serious person is actually advancing this proposition.