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Journalism of Courage
He pronounced it right. That8217;s about the only thing commendable about George Bush8217;s newest verbal weapon in the war against terror. 8220;Islamic fascism8221;8212;the Bushism engendered by the thwarted terrorist plan to blow up America-bound passenger jets flying out of Heathrow 8212; is not simply an impossibly confusing term. It is, despite the best intentions of those saying it, no help at all in the fight against terrorists. As demonstrated by British official statements after the Heathrow plot was made public, sensitivity and nuance are extremely important given that many suspects of terror plans are citizens of target countries. Using terms heavy with religious overtones doesn8217;t help the good guys. It helps the bad guys in arguing that their battle for an exclusivist world is justified.
This is not all to suggest that heads of government must be mealy-mouthed when it comes to talking to their citizens and the wider world about terrorism. This newspaper has critiqued many senior members of India8217;s current government for being mealy-mouthed about terrorism, for communalising the fight against terrorists. But to not be Shivraj Patil at his peak ineffectuality doesn8217;t mean one has to be George Bush at the extreme of his rhetorical exuberance. Tony Blair8217;s government has shown more than once where the middle ground in anti-terrorist government-speak lies. Blair, remember, is castigated by his critics for being an unquestioning Bush ally.
