Time to name The Pre-War Intelligence Scandal: "Iraq-gate"

[npincus]

Every presidential scandal needs a name- it makes it more media-friendly.

"Iraq-gate" refers to (at a minimum) the deliberate exaggeration of pre-war intelligence by the WH to sell the Iraq War; at a maximum it refers to WH manipulation and/or fabrication and/or selective omission of contradictory pre-war intelligence in order to persuade Congress and the American people that Iraq had WMD--that would be used against the US "imminently".

I'm serious, this scandal needs a name. "Watergate" led to Nixon's resignation. Where could "Iraq-gate" lead?

Dare we speak the 'I-word'?

ON EDIT: It was brought to my attention that there was already an Iraq-gate (see posts #2 and #3)... so, can we brainstorm other ideas? Those of you who see a marketing advantage to naming this scandal, any thoughts?

[endarkenment]

1. How about we call it treason instead? eom.

[npincus]

4. "treason"

as a name is an indictment- I'm talking marketing here. Simply marketing, and I'm leaving my own bias out of it. I think something neutral is in order... the mere fact of giving the scandal a name validates it as a matter requiring inquiry and action. Naming it provides momentum for media-repetition in headlines, news captions, etc., and the cable talking heads will be spewing it like there's no tomorrow.

I know these bastards are treasonous, but one step at a time. That is a conclusion will be reached by the mainstream.

[endarkenment]

7. 'gate' as a marketing tool is overused.

So if what you are interested in is soundbytes and catchy phrases, you had better come up with some other jingle to describe the treason committed by this adminstration.

[Al-CIAda]

10. It may be over-used to people like us, but if you want to reach

the American idiots, including the '-gate' is effective still.

Always consider your target audience. The idiots need to be made aware of the crime.

[endarkenment]

11. It isn't a question of how idiotic the population is.

The OP wants an effective catch phrase and *gate has 'jumped the shark' (which has also jumped the shark, presenting a bit of a conundrum.)

If you want to market the treason meme *gate isn't going to do it.

[npincus]

13. I'm with you

but those who disagree with that and find 'gate' over-used and/or boring, can offer up some alternatives. It is always easier to criticize than offer ideas.

[win_in_06]

14. Regarding the American populace as idiots is one thing that has

hurt this party.

[npincus]

15. I don't know about that

marketing sold the war to Americans, why not use marketing strategies to sell the truth? Most Americans are not as tuned-in and passionate about our government as we are; they may spend a few minutes a day reading the newspaper or watching the evening news coverage concerning the issues of the day while we think about them constantly. Perhaps "idiots' is an overstatement, but the majority of the population is much more easily influenced by marketing strategies and propaganda than most of here find acceptable or can relate to. Marketing DOES work- the WH had great success in disseminating the 9-11/Saddaam connection Lie that a substantial number of Americans believed (and some still do). WH marketing using the media (NYT, a case in point) sold this shitty war.

If the 'bad' guys are using marketing to peddle lies, why shouldn't the good guys use that strategy to trump the liars?

Anyway, this is off-subject. I had hoped there would be more positive input and less criticism.

[Al-CIAda]

16. As truth sometimes does (hurt). Call them lazy, uninformed, shallow,

childish, and given to simple-minded mythologies...whatever, a rose is still a rose.

Lets call them geniuses then. Americans are very smart, intelligent, and astute to allow the criminals to run rampant.

You elitists have decided that '-gate' has been over-used or 'jumped the shark' (misapplication of cliche', btw), but the populace has used this suffix in its lexicon and it is immediately understood as 'bad'.

Carry on with your outsmarting yourselves.

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

2. Not to be a dick

but the whole pre Gulf War arms-to-Iraq was called Iraqgate.

I suppose this could be called 'Son of Iraqgate'? :)

[npincus]

5. you're NOT a dick! Don't be so hard on yourself!

Okay, that's valid. let's brain-storm.

[Democrats_win]

3. Sorry, there already is an Iraqgate: U.S. support of Saddam

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/publications/iraqgate/iraqgate.html

Iraqgate: Saddam Hussein, U.S. Policy and the Prelude to the Persian Gulf War, 1980-1994

The scandal includes:

The Reagan administration's decision to improve political and economic relations with Iraq
The U.S. commitment to this policy despite reports of Iraq's use of chemical weapons and Saddam Hussein's nuclear weapons ambitions
Congressional investigations of the financing of Saddam Hussein through U.S. entities, such as the Export-lmport Bank, as well as private concerns
The Bush administration's response to congressional and media investigations of the Iraqgate affair

[npincus]

9. thanks

for the link and info

[zbdent]

6. Enough with the "fill-in-the-blank-gate" scandal names

How about "Iraq-ageddon"?

[win_in_06]

8. Lacks originality. Overused so it won't be taken seriously.

[mmonk]

12. How about "fraud-gate" or "lie-gate"?

[npincus]

17. "Intel-gate"?