Both sides in the war of information are always looking for the right key phrases to summarise their truths. If you’re aware of these tricks, you’ll likely notice the more clumsy examples of loaded terminology – the opening sentence I used, for example, is positively overloaded with subtextual premises.
A good soundbite is a key tool for spreading information. This is the world we live in, like it or not. So it pleased me when I stumbled across a nice one from the former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Craig Murray (who has of course been in the news of late for his criticisms of the UK’s relationship with the Uzbek regime) that expresses beautifully an analysis I agree with:
“Explain American policy in terms of freedom and democracy and you get a contradiction. Explain it in terms of oil and gas and it’s completely consistent.”
Add this one to your repertoire, people. For extra credit, learn all the arguments in support of it. (And for extra extra credit, learn the arguments *against* it…)
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I’m a complete mess at the moment. Took the day off today with an incredibly nasty headache, that now seems on the wane thankfully cross fingers touch wood. It’s been building for the last few days, and I haven’t really achieved much of anything since the weekend. Incapable of stringing creative thoughts together to write, for one thing. Dammit. I hope I’m recovered tomorrow. I better be, or there’ll be heck to pay!