Terminate with extreme prejudice: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:58, 12 October 2015

Revision as of 06:32, 30 November 2015

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{{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>{{cite news|title=Details of Green Beret Case Are Reported in Saigon|authorlink=Terence Smith (journalist)|first=Terence |last=Smith|newspaper=The New York Times|date= August 14, 1969|pages=1–2|url=http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=9806E5DE1F3AEE34BC4C52DFBE668382679EDE|access-date=November 30, 2015|format=PDF|subscription=yes|quote=His status as a double agent was reportedly confirmed by the Central Intelligence Agency, which, according to the sources, suggested that he either be isolated or 'terminated with extreme prejudice.' This term is said to be an intelligence euphemism for execution.}}</ref>

The expression may also be used as a straight forward statement of intent in some [[jurisdiction]]s to refer to more overt [[summary execution]]s,{{Citation needed|date=August 2015}} i.e. in the context of a ''death warrant'' / ''kill order'' issued as part of a 'shoot on sight' or similar policy.