May 05, 2004

FROM THE PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT YOU "FREEDOM FIGHTERS"

Reuters discovers another way to avoid using the dread word "terrorism":

Three time-bombs exploded outside a central Athens police station early today but caused no serious injuries, a police official said.

The blasts came before ceremonies to mark 100 days left until the August 13-29 Olympics.

Fears have been running high that the games could be a target of political violence.

Posted by Tim Blair at May 5, 2004 03:27 PM
Comments

We wouldn't want to scare off the tourists, would we?

Posted by: freddyboy at May 5, 2004 at 03:29 PM

I thought political violence is what we do whenever we disagree with Kerry supporters...? Just ask them.

Posted by: Richard McEnroe at May 5, 2004 at 03:51 PM

Even the fucking terrorists are better organised than the fucking Greeks.

Posted by: Razor at May 5, 2004 at 03:51 PM

I saw that too !

The phrase "political violence" stood out like a sore thumb.

STOP SPINNING THE NEWS.

Let us fucking decide if we believe it was political, religious, lunatic-fringe or just accidental violence.

Posted by: Jono at May 5, 2004 at 04:15 PM

"Kerry supporters" are fictional creatures, like bunyips and bigfoots. No one actually supports Kerry so much as they hate the other guy.

Posted by: Sortelli Attacks Kerry's Patriotism with Political Violence at May 5, 2004 at 04:20 PM

The only way Reuters could be certain this was politically motivated is if they were involved in the plot themselves. REUTERS KNEW!

Posted by: Aaron at May 5, 2004 at 04:29 PM

Best to check the O.E.D., just to check the T word is still listed - some-one might have erased it.

Posted by: d at May 5, 2004 at 04:49 PM

Mark Spitz went through it in 72. The Olympic committee would not even stop the games.
We know that the terrorists were aided by neo-nazis.
Is athens any safer ?
The greeks have a notorious reputation for antisemetism and anti Israeli bias.
some repeat of munich is most certainly on the cards.
This time the spectators are far more at risk than in young Arafat's days of terror.
One thing is certain, if it happens we know who they will blame.

Posted by: DAVO at May 5, 2004 at 06:31 PM

Evidently journalists nowadays are required to have the inability to write plainly.

I suggest that Reuters should, from now on, replace the word "terrorism" with "patty-cake"; "terrorists" with "cutey-pies"; and "dismembered victims and anguished survivors" with "silly-billies".

Posted by: lyle at May 5, 2004 at 08:14 PM

Actually, I'm surprised that they even described mindless terrorism as "political violence", the 4th estate weasel-word boosters would probably prefer "so-called political violence" if they thought they could get away with it.

Posted by: tripebuster at May 5, 2004 at 10:16 PM

Don't encourage them.

Posted by: Sortelli at May 5, 2004 at 10:17 PM

And American, British and Israeli officials were worried about the Greek "security" before this happened.

Posted by: Andrew Ian Dodge at May 5, 2004 at 11:12 PM

What? An event at the Greek Olympics happened as planned?

Posted by: Richard McEnroe at May 6, 2004 at 11:28 AM