Hearsay and Monsters --- 'Hear' is a factive expression and presupposes that the statement that follows is possibly true, namely that half a million children have died. I say 'possibly' because when we use the expression 'we have heard' we are referring to hearsay rather than established fact, so we can plausibly deny having stated it as a fact.

If Albright were to question this source, or the exact number who have died, she would appear heartless. Her priority should be to emphasise the importance of children's lives and assert that the government would never adopt policies that might harm or kill children. Otherwise she comes across as a monster, trading children's lives for political advantage.

Source author: Biljana Scott biscott@diplomacy.edu