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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Morning freezes could spell disaster for early blooms Central Point fire sends man to hospital, destroys trailer Asante's physician groups not charities, judge rules 10 things to know for Monday Lost Creek Lake logjam could become hazard for boaters Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Central Point fire sends man to hospital, destroys trailer Medford neighbors take up arms against a sea of graffiti Emergency Services, Feb. 23 Car crashes into new south Medford home Missing teen possibly seen in Florida Politics and Elections Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out Friday Brown's inauguration brings hope to local lawmakers Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Gov. 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Our view: Expulsions hurt students, district, community Our View: Independent Party of Oregon faces obstacles Letters to the Editor Feb. 23: Letters to the editor Feb. 22: Letters to the editor Feb. 20: Letters to the editor Feb. 19: Letters to the editor Letters to the editor, Feb. 18 Columns Parker: Cable news twists the 'war on Islam' Independent Party focuses on the public interest Milbank: Walker's cowardice on view in NY Will: Tweet this: Digital dialogue won't work 'Big' government is not so big after all Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Weed killers should not be sprayed on streams, homes Guest Opinion: Understanding Wes Cooley Guest Opinion: Smokers: Quit before this happens to you Guest Opinion: Our public school system is a stew pot of clashing ingredients Guest Opinion: How long will we look the other way? Lifestyle Latest stories Blog: HAIKU MONDAY: On Sunscreen Steelhead and Flat Earthers Ride & Drive: 2015 VW Golf R Kitchen Call: Baseball, beans and Bob Motley Gail Ciampa: Scrod Francaise fits the bill for Lenten dining It Is What It Is: Girls just wanna have fu-un Food Kitchen Call: Baseball, beans and Bob Motley Gail Ciampa: Scrod Francaise fits the bill for Lenten dining Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Fire and Smoke Tammy Kelly: Comfort food makes cold weather better Home and Garden Home Help: Low-maintenance landscaping ideas Garden Cameos: Winter is the time to prune How to install energy-efficient windows the right way Dear Monty: Nine downsizing tips for seniors Carol Link: Prime time for pruning blueberries approaches Health Community blog: And if I Die Before I Wake Dr. Murray Feingold: Does a sedentary lifestyle make you prone to disease? Dr. Jeff Hersh: Breathe easy - all about lung function Health Watch: Health improvements you can make today that will pay off for a lifetime Runners’ Corner: Helpful winter running hints Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 20 Religion News: Pope makes surprise shantytown visit Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 13 RELIGION BRIEFS, Feb. 6 Religion News: Church of England consecrates first female bishop Milestones and Achievements Anniversary: Hofer New arrivals: Sunday, Feb. 8 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' Live Music in Local Clubs OSF kicks off its 2015 season SOU presents 'The Glass Menagerie' Third Fridays showcases local artists Theater SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' 'The Glass Menagerie' is polished and professional OSF kicks off its 2015 season SOU presents 'The Glass Menagerie' Le Cirque presents 'City Walk' Music Professor Gall plays Oberon's Tavern Live Music in Local Clubs The music that made Paris famous Blues Jam at The Little Brown Jug Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra Community Events Third Fridays showcases local artists Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Dining Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Saigon Xich Lo Vietnamese cuisine The zwickels shall flow Soo Rah Korean Cuisine Stylish shareables are the feature at Brickroom Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Central Point fire sends man to hospital, destroys trailer ... Gold Hill police levy discussions criticized ... Get Up & Go: Monday, Feb. 23 ... Central Point fire sends man to hospital, destroys trailer ... Gold Hill police levy discussions criticized ... Get Up & Go: Monday, Feb. 23 ... ANOTHER VIEW Will: Tweet this: Digital dialogue won't work Comment By George Will Washington Post MailTribune.com By George Will Washington Post Posted Feb. 22, 2015 at 12:01 AM By George Will Washington Post Posted Feb. 22, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News The Obama administration's semantic somersaults to avoid attaching the adjective "Islamic" to the noun "extremism" are as indicative as they are entertaining. Progressives who believe that dialogues, conversations, engagements, conferences and summits are keys to pacifying the world have a peculiar solemnity about using certain words that are potentially insensitive. This mentality is perhaps especially acute in digitally drenched people who believe that Twitter and other social media have the power to tame turbulent reality. The New York Times reports that the Obama administration is preparing to go toe-to-toe with the Islamic State using, among other munitions, "more than 350 State Department Twitter accounts." According to Richard Stengel, undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs, "We're getting beaten on volume, so the only way to compete is by aggregating, curating and amplifying existing content." Stengel, the Times reported, "said the new campaign against the Islamic State would carry out strategies now routinely employed by many businesses and individuals to elevate their digital footprints." As managing editor of Time, Stengel's messaging included the 2006 Person of the Year cover featuring a mirror-like panel, with the word "YOU" written on it, the message being that everyone was Person of the Year. U.S. "countermessaging" against the Islamic State will use up to 140 characters to persuade persons who are tempted to join in its barbarism — beheadings, crucifixions, burning people alive, etc. — that these behaviors are not nice. Stengel is upbeat about beating the Islamic State: "These guys aren't BuzzFeed; they're not invincible in social media." Beyond a coming fusillade of tweets, the administration's arsenal against the Islamic State includes the Atrocities Prevention Board (APB). Its pedigree is better than its accomplishments. After genocides in Rwanda and Bosnia, and a 2008 government task force on the prevention of atrocities, in 2009 President Obama brought into his administration Samantha Power, author of a book on the policy challenge of genocide, "A Problem from Hell." She now is U.S. ambassador to the U.N., where she speaks with a notable absence of the administration's usual mushiness. She propelled Obama's 2012 announcement, at Washington's Holocaust Memorial Museum, of the APB. Obama's words were harbingers of what was to come: "Remembrance without resolve is a hollow gesture. Awareness without action changes nothing. In this sense, 'never again' is a challenge to us all — to pause and to look within." To what ? Launched by this summons to introspection, the APB was therefore from inception in danger of being a hollow gesture, an exercise in right-minded awareness. In addition to the incurable mismatch between the APB's negligible means and its ambitious goals, the board has been wounded by two U.S. atrocity-related decisions. One resulted in what can be called a calamitous success, the other is an ongoing refutation of the APB's relevance. Having declared the prevention of mass atrocities "a core national security interest," in 2011 Obama acted on the "R2P" principle — responsibility to protect. He would protect Libyans, particularly the people of Benghazi, from the government of Moammar Gaddafi. This quickly became a protracted attempt to achieve regime change by assassinating him with NATO fighter bombers. Today Libya is a failed state that imports and exports Islamic extremism, and no one accepts responsibility for protecting the nation's remnants. Never mind. In 2012, a White House press release proclaimed that the administration "has amassed an unprecedented record of actions taken to protect civilians and hold perpetrators of atrocities accountable," specifically citing "leadership of a successful international military effort to protect civilians in Libya." When the APB was created, the Syrian civil war had resulted in approximately 9,000 deaths, one-twenty-third of the total that chemical weapons, barrel bombs and conventional weapons have caused, so far. Decent people differ about what the administration could or should do about this. But surely it should bring its language into conformity with its capabilities and intentions. Specifically, it should stop saying things it does not mean, such as the prevention of atrocities being "a core national security interest." And it should stop the gaseous rhetoric about countering terrorism by elevating digital footprints, and about going "beyond force" by matching the messaging prowess of BuzzFeed. The APB does not even have a Twitter account. Perhaps this the problem. George Will's email address is [email protected]. By George Will Washington Post MailTribune.com By George Will Washington Post Posted Feb. 22, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. 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