A Laudable Use of Scare Quotes

Posted by Jeremy Brown
It’s good to see this self-effacing tactic — in which a headline declares something while gently shaking its head lest you allow yourself to believe it — being used defensibly. Tell me what you think, but for me the truth of this story is well served, for a change, by the scare quotes in the CNN headline:

Iran confirms ‘final’ uranium deal
TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) — Avoiding a date with the U.N. Security Council, Iran has reached an agreement with three European powers to fully suspend its uranium enrichment activities, Tehran’s chief nuclear negotiatior said.
“We have reached a final agreement with the three European powers,” Hussein Moussavian told Iranian state-run television, referring to the 11th-hour understanding with Britain, France and Germany in Vienna on Sunday evening.
The deal enables Iran to avoid possible U.N. sanctions over its nuclear program.

But this time it’s double secret extra final. Sounds good to me.