Another Reason Why Words Matter

On the way in to work this morning I heard Carl Kassell on Morning Edition preface a story about the leaked Red Cross report with the following: "A leaked Red Cross report declares that Al Quaida captives were tortured." Emphasis added.

Here's the problem (if it's not obvious). With a simple sentence, Carl asserts that all detainees are members of Al Quaida. That's demonstrably false. Carl's (or NPR's) spin goes by quickly, but it makes an impression. At best it's lazy. At worst it's something that would make George Orwell shake his head...