Explicitly vague

rumymommy · **Joined:** Tue Aug 06, 2002 12:01 am **Posts:** 138

I know Dubya and Ari and all the talking heads are big on "Saddam's regime" and the "Iraqi regime," but I'm not sure about something. AP has a government, junta, regime entry. Readers Digest would put it like this:A government is an established system of political administration: the U.S. government.The word regime is a synonym for political system: a democratic regime, an authoritarian regime.An administration consists of officials who make up the executive branch of a government: the Reagan administration.Based on that, outside of quotes, shouldn't we be saying Iraqi government, Saddam's government or Saddam's administration? I think the pols want to keep a separation of terms when dealing with the side of the "good guys" and the "enemy." But that doesn't mean we need to play along. And it seems AP already has a rule about it. Thoughts?

SusanV · **Posted:** Sun Mar 30, 2003 5:45 pm

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by 4Jfan:
I know Dubya and Ari and all the talking heads are big on "Saddam's regime" and the "Iraqi regime," but I'm not sure about something. AP has a government, junta, regime entry. Readers Digest would put it like this:A government is an established system of political administration: the U.S. government.The word regime is a synonym for political system: a democratic regime, an authoritarian regime.An administration consists of officials who make up the executive branch of a government: the Reagan administration.Based on that, outside of quotes, shouldn't we be saying Iraqi government, Saddam's government or Saddam's administration? I think the pols want to keep a separation of terms when dealing with the side of the "good guys" and the "enemy." But that doesn't mean we need to play along. And it seems AP already has a rule about it. Thoughts?<hr></blockquote>I don't see any reason to avoid regime. It's a dictatorship, which is certainly a type of political system.

ADKbrown · **Posted:** Mon Mar 31, 2003 6:52 pm

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by SusanV:
I don't see any reason to avoid regime. It's a dictatorship, which is certainly a type of political system.<hr></blockquote>So is a democracy, but we don't say "the Bush regime" or "the American regime." "Iraqi" is not an appropriate adjective for "regime," as I read AP style.

rumymommy · **Joined:** Tue Aug 06, 2002 12:01 am **Posts:** 138

Thank you. That's the way I read it, too.

SusanV · **Posted:** Mon Mar 31, 2003 8:46 pm

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by ADKbrown:
So is a democracy, but we don't say "the Bush regime" or "the American regime." "Iraqi" is not an appropriate adjective for "regime," as I read AP style.<hr></blockquote>I keep forgetting that you guys are subject to AP style. Sorry 'bout that. Snews style has no problem with Iraqi regime.For that matter, some of us refer to a Bush regime, too. Just not in print!

rumymommy · **Joined:** Tue Aug 06, 2002 12:01 am **Posts:** 138

Which is the reason I brought it up. Regime doesn't have a negative connotation in the dictionary, but I think it's gained that, hence the continued usage by the talking heads of Iraqi regime, Saddam's regime, etc. I don't think it's a neutral word anymore and before I go changing things outside of quotes to say Iraqi government I wanted to get some feedback.

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