Also: weapons of mass destruction, air strikes, “boots on the ground,” genocide, and drones.
On Thursday, President Obama authorized targeted strikes on militants in Iraq.
BuzzFeed analyzed the language used in 5,276 White House press briefings since 1993, the year Bill Clinton took office. Through these transcripts, it's possible to glimpse key shifts in American foreign policy, as spoken by public officials.
"Iraq"
"Iraq" first spikes in 1998, when the United Nations began withdrawing weapons inspectors from the country. The highest peak corresponds to the beginning of the Iraq War. The two smaller spikes in 2010 and 2011 reflect the first drawdown and the final announcement that all troops would be leaving Iraq.
John Templon / BuzzFeed
"Weapons of Mass Destruction"
Mentions of “weapons of mass destruction” closely mirror mentions of Iraq — until the Bush administration couldn’t find them.
John Templon / BuzzFeed
"Air Strikes" / "Boots on the Ground"
President Obama has authorized air strikes against ISIS militanst. The last time “air strikes” were mentioned frequently? Bosnia. In 1999, NATO conducted air strikes as part of the Kosovo War. On the other hand, “boots on the ground,” echoing a different tactic, has become increasingly popular over the past decade.
John Templon / BuzzFeed
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