Operation Hairy Eyeball

Quote:   “No matter where you run, no matter where you hide, coalition Special Operations forces will find you and bring you to justice.”  Leaflet dropped over Iraq.

Figure of Speech:  anaphora (an-AH-phor-a), the first-words repeater.  From the Greek, meaning “carry back.”

The anaphora is a good zero-tolerance figure.   By repeating the first words in successive clauses, it says, “No exceptions.”  If you don’t like green eggs and ham, for example express your opinion categorically with an anaphora:   “I do not like them in a house.  I do not like them with a mouse.”

You can understand Figaro’s love for the air-dropped psyops leaflet (psychological operations, formerly known as “propaganda”).  Resistance is futile, it says anaphorically.  But while the figuring is great, the leaflet may have done more harm than good, according to a recent Rand Corporation study.  The leaflet reached law-abiding citizens as well as insurgents — a serious kairos malfunction.  (See chapter 21 of Figaro’s book.)  And the creepy graphic?  In Iraqi culture, it gives everyone the evil eye.

Snappy Answer:   “Exactly where is Justice?”

Comments

[Figaro]

I love that the Pentagon paid Rand $400,000 to tell it that its "brand" in Iraq sucks. And check out Bush giving the universal sign of marital infidelity. Go Cuckolds!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2007/07/21/GR2007072100159.html

[Stickler]

So is the president supposed to avoid giving the UT "hook 'em" sign for fear of offending Iraqis?

[Figaro]

No, the university should change its gesture. Figaro suggests crooking the arm while making a fist, simultaneously using the other hand to slap the bicep. It really makes a splash in Italy.

[Maria]

Does dropping leaflets really make insurgents drop their weapons and show the white flag?

[Figaro]

Figaro has no idea. Any professional propagandists out there? But the leaflets may be effective in other ways. They're great for starting a cooking fire when the power goes out.

[Amp]

It wouldve been quite warming if they put, "Here's looking at you, Kid"

I think that wouldve sppoked alot more fugitives.

[Amp]

*spooked

[Figaro]

We'd call that a "bogart," except that "to bogart" is already a colloquialism. (It means to hog something.)

Fig.

[Mel]

I laughed at the craziness of the Pentagon and War Department—it's actual name based on what it does to keep us in perpetual war. I imagine the leaflets fluttered down like dry leaves from autumn trees without leaving any mulch—worthless. But the thing that I found really comic was recalling that Bushie said to Ben Laden, "You can run but you can't hide." It's six years and he's still hiding. Maybe Bushie should apply that to himself. Sometimes we do have justice as with the recent ten big-shot, multimilionaire CEO's that are now imprisoned felons. Of course, Ken Lay's constantly lying lazilly on his back in his cell.

The only thing not comic in the bit is the $400,000.00 wasted on another of Bushie's richions for a $25.OO job.

[Figaro]

A "Bushie," according to Bush confidants, is a supporter of Bush, not W himself. Kenneth Lay is dead. And I'd hesitate to call the Rand Corporation a Bush supporter.

Personally, Figaro is politically independent, and he dislikes tribal language on either right or left.

Fig.

[luis]

The President should avoid the "hook 'em" sign as he is an international personality (I tried to use the word leader but...). UT should keep it; otherwise each and every university must check whether they have globally accepted signs and manners!

As for the leaflet is concerned, this is a strategy used when a war begins... to use a leaflet 4 years and 3k dead US citizens after D-Day? Toilet paper would have been more appropriate!

Cheers!

Luis.

[Jonah]

Snappy Answer: "So, have you found Osama Bin Laden yet?"

[a. vrolijk]

The leaflet is not suited to win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people.

[Lisa who works with Sherry]

This is a classic Bush Administration move - ill-conceived from the get-go and with unintended consequences that are diametrically opposed to the original purpose. The brainiacs in this White House are are nothing if not consistently ridiculous. All hail the SNAFU-ators.

[Figaro]

Sure you want to blame Bush for some functionary's bad Arabic?

Fig.

[a. vrolijk]

Figaro,


You forgot to mention that the leaflet also contains a cataplexis. May I remind you of your own definition: The cataplexis (Greek for "awful menace") warns of catastrophic punishment for ill deeds. The Biblical prophet Jeremiah was a master at it -- hence the jeremiad, which is the more common name for this kind of dire warning.

Figarist for ever,

Arie Vrolijk

[Figaro]

Actually, Arie, it's a PERCLUSIO, not a jeremiad. The jeremiad threatens doom for one's own culture; it's a figure of collective guilt. The perclusio is a more straightforward threat, generally directed at an opponent.

Fig.