Newest tactic of those fighting against the DSM

[oxbow]

They're arguing that the meaning of the word "fixed" is different in England! Take this example:

As we have discussed, this is no smoking gun. First and most importantly, the memo does not say that the administrations “was “fixing” intelligence on WMDs to justify the move.” It says “facts were being fixed around the policy.” As Robin Niblett of the Center for Strategic and International Studies noted in a USA Today story, “it would be easy for Americans to misunderstand the reference to intelligence being ‘fixed around’ Iraq policy. 'Fixed around' in British English means 'bolted on' rather than altered to fit the policy.”

How is that different? Because while the Bush administration may have decided war was the right action, they weren’t “fixing” intelligence. They were making sure they had the appropriate facts to back up their decision.
http://theyellowline.blogspot.com/2005/06/moveons-downing-street-memo-petition.html


Inevitably, the owners of this blog are discounted on their very own page by several Brits posting comments:

"I am a Brit. I live in England. I speak the Queen's English. I am also a mechanical engineer. There is no way on this God's earth that 'fixed around' means 'bolted on'. Not by any stretch of the imagination."


This same argument is being used in other places:
http://wizbangblog.com/archives/006138.php
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/005/719ltdun.asp

To me, this is the same thing as when Clinton argued about the meaning of the word "is." Its ridiculous and dishonest.

[Fridays Child]

1. I'm not sure that Robin's niblets are bolted on too tightly.

Maybe he should have them fixed?

[rodeodance]

3. signs of deperation (was that Rummy who said that?)

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

2. If 'fixed around' had a different (i.e., exonerating) meaning in the U.K.

then why is the British press making such a big deal about the DSM?

This issue has got to be kept alive. Eventually the noise will be so loud that even the stenographers in the White House press room won't be able to ignore it!

[oxbow]

5. Exactly! Fixed means fixed, no matter which side of the pond you're on.

And with the release of two new British documents, this thing is definitely picking up steam. Onward to '06, boys and girls. The Fascists shut down our free press, but the British have come to the rescue this time. And the truth shall set you free!

[Spazito]

4. Well, Tony Blair himself accepted the understood term 'fixed'

when he responded to the reporter's question at the recent press conference so that red herring won't fly:


"PRIME MINISTER BLAIR: Well, I can respond to that very easily. No, the facts were not being fixed in any shape or form at all. And let me remind you that that memorandum was written before we then went to the United Nations."

Not only did he confirm, by his response, that 'fixed' means exactly what we know it does, he also authenticated the DSM by saying it had been written before they went to the UN.

[jmatthan]

6. Sorry to disagree

Fixed very clearly representing an illegal act.

A horse race or a football match can be fixed. That means very clearly that the result is being set to be what those who have power make it what they want it to be - nothing about it being bolted ON.

This is colloquial British English in which we are experts with experience from many English Language speaking countries.

Anyone telling it otherwise is "fixing" it to suit their taste!1

Jacob Matthan
http://MoveTheUN.blogspot.com
Oulu, Finland