Bush Avoids 'War'

You have to think the fix is in for Bush when he makes a major speech on the crucial issue in world affairs and the news media not only notes, but hangs its entire story on one word he didn't use. The headline is "Bush Marks Anniversary, Never Says 'War.' "

And of course the dutiful inside-the-box thinkers follow the bait.

Did they think that no one would notice? Just what do they think Americans think is going on over there? Even if it was a mere oversight (which would be a sign of truly sloppy staffing), it comes across as the administration not wanting to alarm people by using the word "war"

So, in the interest of expanding your awareness of the world, here are some more shockers for you, AP style:

CHURCHILL MAKES MAJOR PROPAGANDA SPEECH; NEVER SAYS 'WAR'

We ask no favours of the enemy. We seek from them no compunction. On the contrary, if tonight our people were asked to cast their vote whether a convention should be entered into to stop the bombing of cities, the overwhelming majority would cry, "No, we will mete out to them the measure, and more than the measure, that they have meted out to us." The people with one voice would say: "You have committed every crime under the sun. Where you have been the least resisted there you have been the most brutal. It was you who began the indiscriminate bombing. We will have no truce or parley with you, or the grisly gang who work your wicked will. You do your worst - and we will do our best." Perhaps it may be our turn soon; perhaps it may be our turn now.

LINCOLN MAKES MAJOR SPEECH TO BATTLE VETERANS, NEVER SAYS 'WAR'

I wish it might be more generally and universally understood what the country is now engaged in. We have, as all will agree, a free Government, where every man has a right to be equal with every other man. In this great struggle, this form of Government and every form of human right is endangered if our enemies succeed. There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one. There is involved in this struggle the question whether your children and my children shall enjoy the privileges we have enjoyed. I say this in order to impress upon you, if you are not already so impressed, that no small matter should divert us from our great purpose.

ROOSEVELT ASKS FOR WAR BUT AVOIDS CALLING IT 'WAR'

The “Date Which Will Live in Infamy” speech, only contains one use of "war" and that is in an abstract sense not refering directly to the conflict which had opened the day before: "... it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack."