"Sorry, sir. I'm not trainable."

God help me, that detestable boil on the ass of humanity Donald R*msfeld has done it again. He scales heights of hubris heretofore unscalable by mere shame-faced humans. I mean, I hate him. He's done it. He's rendered me helpless in hate. I don't want to hate him. I don't want to hate anybody. I don't want this throat-constricting feeling of disgust, of pure, visceral antagonism and fury to invade my every pore thinking about his verbal tap-dancing and smirk-faced assholery. I don't want to feel violent. I don't want to be like the object of my detesting. So I hate him for that, too.

Don't Call It an 'Insurgency': Rumsfeld.

Asked at a Pentagon news conference why he did not think the word insurgency applied to enemy forces in Iraq, Rumsfeld said he had "an epiphany."

"I've thought about it. And, over the weekend, I thought to myself, you know, that gives them a greater legitimacy than they seem to merit," Rumsfeld said.

Rumsfeld instead referred to the guerrillas in Iraq as "the terrorists" and "the enemies of the government." U.S. military statements also have referred to insurgents as "anti-Iraqi forces."

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines an insurgent as "a person who revolts against civil authority or an established government."

Well, that's just a dictionary, so what? A definitive (ha) compendium of proper usage? Pfft. Whatev. The Bringer of Death prefers to tapdance on the skulls of the dead. Real Men Love Semantics!

Plus, look over here! Quibbling nonsense! Trifling twaddle! Pusillanimous pap!

[Pay no attention to the dead/lack of planning/war crimes behind the curtain.]

It is not the first time Rumsfeld has quibbled with words describing the enemy in Iraq. In June 2003, for example, Rumsfeld said the conflict was not a "guerrilla war," only to have his top commander in the region two weeks later call it "a classical guerrilla-type campaign."

[snip]

During the briefing, the top U.S. military officer, Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, slipped up twice and said "insurgent." With Rumsfeld standing at his side, Pace told reporters, "I have to use the word 'insurgent' because I can't think of a better word right now."

"'Enemies of the legitimate Iraqi government' -- how's that?" Rumsfeld told Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

How's that? How's that?? Oh, I'll f*cking tell you how's f*cking that, you sick f*cker. Let's compare notes:

The Death Merchant sez: "enemies of the legitimate Iraqi gubmint."
Merriam-Webster sez: "insurgent: a person who revolts against civil authority or an established government."

Mr. Johnson he is not.

Moments later, Pace again referred to "the insurgents," then told his boss, "Sorry, sir. I'm not trainable today."

Pace, I'll kick your ass, too, you toadying twerp. What's worse than being the #1 Asshole? Being the Assistant Asshole.

You know, people are dying while Rummy tries to improve his Scrabble score. Actually dying, think of it, in circumstances more horrible than we can imagine. These are not abstractions, and they're worthy of more respect and serious engagement and burn the candle at both ends-level problem solving than this man (sic) can muster in 10 lifetimes. Where is the Hague when you need it? He is beyond despicable.

Comments

[The Fat Lady Sings]

There was a movie called 'A Guide for the Married Man'. Joey Bishop plays a man caught by his wife in bed with another woman. While she goes, 'Ah Ha!!!' - He just keeps denying the entire thing while he and the other woman get up, get dressed and leave. Every time his wife asks him about the situation he says, 'What girl? What bed? I don't know what you're talking about - there's no girl here.' Whenever I see Rumsfeld so much as open his mouth, I think of that scene. Deny everything - even in the face of truth - deny it until the accuser doubts their own eyes.

[Josef K]

This is one of the most interesting things about the current administration - their problems with and manipulation of words. The Chimperor is your classic example of a thick person trying to sound bright by using words he doesn't understand. As a result, my "Hilarious Sayings" desk calendar has a quote from him at least once a week.

[Alicia]

ae, you are right the f*** on. What it is is the Orwellian/Frank Luntzian use of words to frame and distort and obfuscate a situation, something that is the cornerstone of the Republican strategy. How disgusting, how foul - how typical. 'Legitimate' government? Why? Coz Rummy sez? Imagine our own country invaded by marauders - I'd be an insurgent too.

[Alicia]

...although if someone wanted to come and 'liberate' us from BushCo, I'd probably greet them with sweets and flowers...