It used to be “treason” was used for people who betrayed their country by working with its enemies: Kim Philby, who spied on his native Britain for the USSR; American-born Nazi propagandist Mildred Gillars, AKA Axis Sally; Benedict Arnold, whose name become synonymous with betrayal.
Since 9/11, however, the word has been stretched out of shape to attack people (or more precisely, Democrats and liberals) who do nothing but question Bush’s performance or the chance of success in Iraq.
Then in this morning’s “Spout Off” in the Daily News, a writer announces that Congress passing a resolution stating that Turkey committed genocide against the Armenians a century ago (a charge history backs up) constitutes “treason” because it will alienate an ally in the war on terror.
Certainly it may be a bad strategic decision to bring up the Armenian genocide just now (even though I have no sympathy for Turkish denials), but if anyone can imagine that constitutes treason, the word has completely lost all meaning.

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