KÜMME AASTAT SÕDA TERRORISMI VASTU: IRAAGI- JA AFGANISTANI-DISKURSUSEST 2011. AASTASSE
TEN YEARS OF THE WAR ON TERROR: IRAQI AND AFGHAN DISCOURSE FROM 2003 TO 2011

Summary/Abstract: This article compares the use of military rhetoric in Iraqi discourse (2003– 2008), Afghan discourse (2006–2010) and military discourse in the year 2011, ten years after the September 11 attacks and US intervention in Afghanistan. Regarding Afghan discourse, 26 texts were analysed: 18 published in Postimees Online and 8 in Eesti Päevaleht Online. The research method used in the article is critical discourse analysis. The objective of this article is to fi nd out whether the rhetoric employed in Iraqi and Afghan discourse differs and whether the use of military rhetoric has changed over the last ten years. The study reveals that the rhetoric of the two discourses under analysis is similar. Both of them advocate military missions using the following arguments: international cooperation and security, help for other countries and support in defending their freedom. The rhetoric of reciprocal support also dominates in both discourses. However, Afghan discourse presents fewer arguments against the activities of the US: such arguments appear mainly in articles looking back at the events following 9/11. The “survival of the fittest” argument is evoked, among others, and the motive of US activities is seen to be one of revenge. Moreover, parallels are drawn between historical events, comparing the activities of the US to the activities of the Soviet Union in 1939. There are also notable differences between the two discourses. For example, the world peace argument which appeared both in Iraqi and Afghan discourse is not mentioned very often in 2011. The emphasis is placed on a relationship between allies, pledging that good cooperation will ensure Estonia’s independence. Another remarkable feature is that, when the first Estonian serviceman is killed in Afghanistan, neither opinion texts nor editorials appear in Postimees or Eesti Päevaleht, neither do they present any arguments against the mission. It seems that Estonian society simply receives such news with no accompanying comment. The public attitude towards Estonian servicemen in Afghanistan is expressed mainly in the news which reflects the opinion of the president or politicians. This analysis of the articles demonstrates the dominance of exalting rhetoric emphasising that all deceased servicemen were brave and faithful people who fought for the independence of Estonia. Both newspapers mentioned above published articles dedicated to Aare Viirmaa who, having lost both legs in Afghanistan, committed suicide. Journalists are critical of Estonian politicians who seem to avoid the topic and are slow to present their condolences to the family of this deceased serviceman. The ‘pain threshold’ of Estonian society is brought directly under the spotlight: suicide is a shameful act in Estonia. However, this issue has not triggered any public debate, at least not according to the research material used in this article...

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