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Episode 193: How Military Jargon and Cliches Make Mass Death Seem Sterile (Part II)

Added 2023-11-15 15:18:33 +0000 UTC

“U.S. shipment of 'lethal aid' reaches Ukraine amid Russia tensions,” NBC News reported in January 2022. “U.S. adopting 'deterrence posture' as aircraft carrier heads towards Israel,” France 24 announced in October 2023. The same month, The Hill warned about “Nutrition: The national security threat no one is talking about.”

This is part two of our two-part episode on the language of war. Last week, we discussed terms like “boots on the ground” and “military footprint;” “precision” or “targeted airstrikes;” “terrorism” and the very Orwellian phrase “enemy noncombatant.”

If you haven’t listened to that episode, we definitely encourage you to do so. On this episode, we examine more of the most insidious terms that U.S. media and government officials use to sanitize military aggression worldwide, how this is affecting coverage of Israel’s nonstop murderous bombing of Gaza, and discuss how we all can and should use clearer, more accurate terms to describe the real human stakes of state violence.

Our guests are Maha Hilal and David Vine.

Guests

Dr. Maha Hilal (@Dr_Maha_Hilal) is a researcher, writer, and organizer. Founder and Executive Director of the Muslim Counterpublics Lab, Maha is also the author of the book, Innocent until Proven Muslim: Islamophobia, The War on Terror and the Muslim Experience Since 9/11, published by Broadleaf Books.

Dr. David Vine (@davidsvine) is Professor of Political Anthropology at American University in Washington, DC. He is the author of a number of books about war and peace, including Base Nation: How U.S. Military Bases Abroad Harm America and the World and Island of Shame: The Secret History of the U.S. Military Base on Diego Garcia. His latest book is The United States of War: A Global History of America's Endless Conflicts, from Columbus to the Islamic State, published by University of California Press.

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Show Notes

Episode 192: How Military Jargon and Cliches Make Mass Death Seem Sterile (Part I)

Adam Johnson & Nima Shirazi | November 8, 2023 | Citations Needed

Words about War Matter: A Language Guide for Discussing War and Foreign Policy

David Vine, et al. | September 2023 | War Prevention Initiative

Language Use about Gaza: Ten Urgent Suggestions

David Vine, et al. | October 2023 | War Prevention Initiative

Let’s Call a Weapon a Weapon

Mat Stieb | January 25, 2022 | New York Magazine Intelligencer

Biden Is Wrong. There Is No Such Thing As “Defensive” Saudi Weapons in the War on Yemen.

Sarah Lazare | November 22, 2021 | In These Times

No Human Being Can Exist

Saree Makdisi | October 25, 2023 | n+1

More than Genocide

A Dirk Moses | November 14, 2023 | Boston Review

In Gaza They Don’t Even Bother to Call It Peace

Amy Wilentz | October 16, 2023 | The Nation

Endless War, Elite Propaganda, And Mass Fear: Drivers Of American Imperial Power

Inderjeet Parmar | February 15, 2023 | The Wire

Inside the Pentagon’s New “Perception Management” Office to Counter Disinformation

Ken Klippenstein | May 17, 2023 | The Intercept

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Transcript

For a full transcript of this episode, go here. You can find transcripts of past episodes and News Briefs here.

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