Posted on 05/31/2002 5:14:31 AM PDT by Stand Watch Listen
Fictionally, George Orwell described it as doublespeak. Soviet historian Edvard Radzinsky defined it as in-depth language, while American writer Ken Smith has dubbed it "junk English." Call it what you will, the words that don't mean a thing are the bulwark of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's reorganization. The very term "reorganization" is not so much a solution as the very problem.
Ken Smith, from his indispensable guide Junk English, notes that "re-verbs" (like reorganize, rethink, reformulate) "are politically useful in a bureaucratic world." The "re-verb" is safe because it shows a complete lack of the ever-dangerous capacity for independent thought that the leaders of the cubicle drones so fear. Instead, to "re-" a verb means "merely taking something that already exists and change it into something new and wonderful." Is there any surprise that Director Mueller's comments on "reorganizing" the FBI included the notions of a bureau that is "redesigned and refocused"? Of course, Mueller warns that the process is always under "re-evaluation." All of this leads one to think that what Mueller is talking about is anything but remarkable.
The generous peppering of Dilbert-esque "re-verbs" aside, Mueller also indulges in "invisible diminishers." These are subtle words designed to sap the strength out of other words or, metaphorically speaking, they are words specially inserted to keep the bar as low as possible. For example, Director Mueller promises to "fundamentally change the way we [the FBI] do business." Flat out promising a change would mean that observable changes would take place - but that is too ambitious. Instead Mueller falls back on the word "fundamentally." Any sports fan knows that "fundamentals" are the mechanical aspects of the sport that the layman most likely does not know. The average Yankee fan doesn't notice if Derek Jeter's footwork on the pivot to second base is fundamentally sound. Neither might the bleacher bum observe that a hitter might have displayed a fundamental flaw in his swing during a batting slump. If, in baseball, fundamentals are for the experts and not the casual fan, then for Mueller it is much the same. Don't expect the FBI to display any discernible differences, just trust that somewhere deep beneath the surface that things at the bureau are different. Just like a used car salesman Mueller says, "Trust me."
Like any solid piece of bureaucratic prose, Mueller's statements are full of needlessly complex words. Phrases like "analytical capacity," "analytical resources" and "analytical capabilities" that leave one having to parse for meaning. Seemingly the "analytical" functions of the FBI are all about spying, but spying is an impolite word. This means that when the FBI's "key near-term action" item to "[s]ubstantially enhance analytical capabilities with personnel and technology" is translated into vernacular English, it might read: "We want to spy a lot more on everyone with more spies and cooler hi-tech gizmos."
When not proclaiming "new priorities," "new resources," and a "new structure applying a new approach," Mueller warns that the FBI needs a "dramatic departure from the past" which is exemplified by the concept that "in the end our culture [within the FBI] must change . . .".
For anyone who took the time to decipher his words, Mueller tries to ameliorate any fears of beefed-up domestic spying by reminding Americans that the bureau "must never forget that our actions must be undertaken according to a constitutional and statutory framework that protects the rights and privacy of our citizens. That too is part of our culture . . .". Citizens can draw solace from the fact that if we restructure Mueller's concepts, we learn that it is part of the traditional FBI culture to respect people's rights and we have his assurance that the culture is changing.
The real damage done by words like the ones given to us by Robert Mueller is that such empty utterings don't give succor - they only leave the hearer more detached, confused and frustrated. The bureaucrat's solution to a problem is ambiguous speech. But in a nation where disclosure of information and accountability of those in power are the safeguards of democracy, this stultifying crypto-speak is the modern equivalent of a palace coup.
For all his failings, personal and public, J. Edgar Hoover was a man of direct speech and perhaps that is why, when FBI director, he inspired the confidence of the American people. Hoover once said, "Just the minute the FBI begins making recommendations on what should be done with its information, it becomes a Gestapo." Not only can't Mueller say this, he doesn't understand it.
C.T. Rossi comments on contemporary culture for the Free Congress Foundation.
Free Congress Foundation
Tell that to the Branch Dividians or Randy Weaver. The FBI is an out of control executive branch agency without direction or accountability. We are better off without it.
Boonie Rat
MACV SOCOM, PhuBai/Hue '65-'66
I really have lost any possible future sympathy for them and the rest of the sheep who're riding their bandwagon.
Regards
J.R.
Oh my God, the sky is falling and we are all going to die - once again!
Cogent analysis. I take it you have nothing intelligent on the matter?
They're not impotent when you let them sneak up on a Mother and Child and Shoot the Mother in the head. I think that gave them a Viagra High.
Or should I speak the truth and say that the FBI is REPACKAGING the same methods of lying and deceit it has always used to fool the American people into allowing the FBI to spy more on Americans in Churches and with Carnivore and automatic phone taps and violate their civil rights,freedoms and privacy under the Bill of Rights?
The FBI and DOJ are gutting the substance of the Constitution while pretending to stay within the FRAMEWORK of the Constitution under the guise of the Patriot Act. THe right of assembly, petiton of the government, free speech, bear arms, is being abridged by the FBI.
But in the true spirit of "double think" the FBI and DOJ say loss of freedom is necessary to keep freedom in America.
This is utter Bull Excrement on the part of the FBI and DOJ!
Rush Limbaugh devoted his entire show yesterday to his criticisms of the FBI and DOJ wrongfully taking away American freedoms which he said Americans will regret in a few years.
One thing Rush did not mention, is that freedoms when lost to government are not easily RE-INSTATED by just electing someone else who will change the law. History has shown for thousands of years that Freedoms are RE-GAINED sadly with bloodshed and loss of life and over a long period of struggle.
If people realized what the price was that was paid for our freedoms and the price that will have to be paid to get them back, Americans would not be so willing to so easily give their freedoms up to have a few moments of a false sense of security from terrorists who the government is not really protecting them from anyway.
From the article:
Hoover once said, "Just the minute the FBI begins making recommendations on what should be done with its information, it becomes a Gestapo."
If Hoover was correct then the FBI NOW has become a Gestapo.
And the question becomes a Gestapo for whom? World Government socialists in the US and around the world (EU and UN and Communist Countries)?
Senator Orin Hatch, on the Senate Judiciary Committee (has Constitutional oversight of the FBI) helped set up the FBI global school in Budapest Hunagry where he gave the first commencement address in 1996.
Gestapo has a bad habit of making it difficult for the people to criticise and pressure their government leaders to ever change things back to RE-GAIN their lost freedoms.
ENSLAVEMENT
If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever - and remember that it is forever. George Orwell
Please see replies #17 and #18.
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