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What Should The Press Call That Proposed Troop Increase?

By Brian Montopoli

January 9, 2007 / 11:38 AM EST / CBS News

(CBS/AP)

On last night's "Evening News," White House Correspondent Jim Axelrod used two different terms to describe the Bush administration's proposed increase in troop levels in Iraq. First Axelrod said this: "And when the President calls for an escalation in the number of U.S. troops in Iraq, he'll be going against what voters said they wanted last November, and what the new Democratic leaders in Congress say they want right now."

And, later, this: "The President may not see the midterm elections as a call to withdraw troops, but Gordon Smith, the Republican Senator who's critical of a surge, met with President Bush today, and says the President understands exactly what's at stake now."

Notice the difference? In the first sentence, Axelrod talked about an escalation in troop numbers, while in the second he mentioned a surge. The difference is more than just a matter of semantics – the language used to describe an initiative can have a real impact on how it is received by the public. (What would you prefer: A massive tax hike or temporary refund adjustment?)

The term "surge" is favored by Republicans, and it has largely caught on – though when used by outlets like the Washington Post, The New Republic and Salon, it usually comes with scare quotes. (In those outlets, it's a troop "surge," not a troop surge.)

Democrats, meanwhile, are pushing the term "escalation." Check out Nancy Pelosi on Sunday's "Face The Nation": "But escalation of the war is opposed by the Democrats." "What is there for an escalation? What is the justification for that?" "The generals on the ground have said that the escalation, the increased number of troops going into Iraq will not be effective." Needless to say, Pelosi didn't utter the word "surge."

I asked Axelrod about his use of the two terms. He told me he looked both up in the dictionary and found each to be relevant. "I think this is an argument that two political parties can have," said Axelrod. "It's our job to talk to a viewer in a way that doesn't carry anybody's water. An escalation is an increase, correct? A surge would be an increase, correct? Politicians can have all the debates they want, it's our responsibility to talk in clear, understandable, not-loaded language."

He added that he was "not interested in political ramifications" of the two terms. "I'm trying to be as true to the definitions in dictionary as possible," he said. "There's no hidden agenda – no wink and a nod."