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#REDIRECT [[Project GAMMA#Soldiers tried]]
{{For|the 1987 film|Extreme Prejudice (film)}}
In military and other covert operations, '''terminate with extreme prejudice''' is a [[euphemism]] for aggressive execution (playing on the expression "[[Termination of employment#Rehire following termination|termination with prejudice]]" of an employment contract). In a military intelligence context, it is generally understood as an order to [[Assassination|assassinate]]. Its meaning was explained in a ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' report on [[Project GAMMA#Green Beret Affair|an incident]] during the [[Vietnam War]].<ref>''Details of [[Project GAMMA#Green Beret Affair|Green Beret Case]] Are Reported in Saigon,'' [[Terence Smith (journalist)|Terence Smith]], ''The New York Times'', August 14, 1969 "suggested that he either be isolated or 'terminated with extreme prejudice.' This term is said to be an intelligence euphemism for execution."</ref>
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According to [[Douglas Valentine]] in his book ''[[Phoenix Program|The Phoenix Program]]'' (1990), the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA) routinely used the term during the [[Vietnam War]] when firing its locally hired operatives. In cases of extreme misconduct, an assassination ("termination with extreme prejudice") was ordered.
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==In popular culture==
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{{wikiquote|Apocalypse Now}}
The term was used in the 1979 film ''[[Apocalypse Now]]'', in which [[Benjamin L. Willard|Captain Willard]] is ordered by Jerry, a man in civilian attire (presumably CIA), to "terminate the command" of the allegedly insane [[Walter E. Kurtz|Colonel Kurtz]] with "extreme prejudice." The full exchange runs:,
:'''Colonel Lucas:''' Your mission is to proceed up the Nung River in a Navy patrol boat. Pick up Colonel Kurtz's path at Nu Mung Bha, follow it, learn what you can along the way. When you find the Colonel, infiltrate his team by whatever means available and ''terminate the Colonel's command.''
:'''Willard:''' Terminate... the Colonel?
:'''General Corman:''' He's out there operating without any decent restraint, totally beyond the pale of any acceptable human conduct. And he is still in the field commanding troops.
:'''Jerry:''' Terminate... with extreme prejudice.
==See also==
{{wiktionary}}
*[[Deadly force]]
*[[Licence to kill (concept)]]
==References==
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[[Category:Euphemisms]]
[[Category:Military terminology]]
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