by Terri Firma

In response to increasing public pressure, the President has announced that he will cease using the word “foment” when describing sectarian violence that escalates throughout Iraq, though he is still does not agree with the position that “civil war” is the term he should use to describe the civil war in the region.

“The words ‘civil war’ are very inflammatory and antagonistic,” he said at a Rose Garden press conference today, “but I am sensitive to the fact that a lot of people find the word ‘foment’ to be a linguistically awkward, and sort of ’stupid-sounding,’ description. I admit I have accused Al Qaeda of fomenting the violence in Iraq. I meant to say ‘fanning’ the violence in Iraq. That’s probably the term I’ll use from now on.”

Press Secretary Tony Snow later clarified by stating that the President and the White House have, for some time, been looking for ways to limit the use of adverbs, pronouns and passive verbs as well.