The Importance of Three Little Words

By Greg Ganske

October 18th, 2026

The phrase “three little words” has deep significance across relationships stretching beyond romance and represents how language can fundamentally alter connections and conduct.

Nowhere is the potency of three little words more important than when the president of the United States speaks. A single word or short phrase from a U.S. President can alter legal frameworks, tank economies, and redefine military boundaries. Minor word changes can cause massive real-world consequences.

Harry Truman deployed U.S. military forces in 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea. By calling this a “police action” under the UN, he bypassed Congress’s constitutional authority to declare war. This set a historical precedent that greatly expanded executive power and led to Vietnam and more recent conflicts including the Iran war.

During the War of Terror, the George W. Bush administration avoided the use of the word “torture”–which is illegal under domestic and international law– and used the phrase “advanced interrogation techniques.” This created a grey area that authorized waterboarding.

More recently calling the U.S. fight against the drug cartels an “armed conflict” and not a “law enforcement” issue allows suspected smugglers can be classified as “unlawful combatants” who can be lethally targeted. This, again, bypasses Congress’s authority to declare war.

Infamously, a president’s impeachment even came down to one word, “is.” Clinton famously defended his truthfulness by uttering, “it depends on what the meaning of the word “is’ is. This legalism meant a present relationship but deeply alienated the public.

This past week we had an example of the President of Communist China visiting Washington seeking a word change from the U.S. President. No formal announcement was made and we don’t know what Trump told Xi in private. The implications of their private and public words are enormous. It brings together the issues of AI, Taiwan independence and which country will be the most powerful in the world.

Two of my previous johnkass.com articles are background to this.

Four years ago, I wrote, “On the Cusp of War with China” and the next year I wrote “Will Artificial Intelligence Benefit or Destroy Us .The first discussed the importance of Taiwan to the free world and its dominance in making the most powerful semiconductor chips. The second article discussed how AI can be good or potentially disastrously bad. Now AI CEOs are warning that AI could result in an existential threat to humanity.

President Xi Jinping was looking for a change in the three little words of the longstanding U.S. position on Taiwan from it “does not support” Taiwan independence. Instead, Mr. Xi  wants Trump to go further and “oppose” Taiwan independence.

This small change in wording makes a huge difference. China would use U.S. “opposition” to independence to sow doubts in Taiwan about American support if China were to blockade or invade it. Xi has told his military to be ready to take over Taiwan next year but, in the meantime, China would use this change to justify further harassment of the island.

Chinese takeover of the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) would be a huge blow to the American economy which runs on AI investment.

The AI revolution is being built with chips manufactured 100 miles from the coast of China. TSMC makes 90% of the world’s most advanced semiconductors and 60% of all semiconductors. If China controlled TSMC it would control the world’s economy.

Taiwanese fears of weakening U.S. commitment to supporting its independence were already aroused when President Trump recently said he was holding “in abeyance” a pending $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan. He called the arms package a “very good negotiating chip.” These few words matter because Trump seems to be suggesting that Taiwan’s weapon purchase could be used to extract trade concessions from Beijing. That undermines the deterrence of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

Recent reports in the Wall Street Journal and the Times of India tell of unusual travel accommodations for 73-year-old President Xi. These reflect heightened international scrutiny of his health. Chinese officials requested a private ‘hold room” in the White House West Wing for Xi to rest. His visit to the National Archives was shortened to ten minutes and public footage shows him walking very slowly holding his wife’s hand. He missed a state dinner in India and there were rumors of his having a stroke.

If Xi is in ill health, will he push an invasion of Taiwan in hopes to cement his legacy as equal to or greater than Mao before he passes away? Is that why he has said he wants Chinese forces to be ready for an invasion of Taiwan in 2027?

If so, we can’t afford to be less supportive of Taiwan and should be shoring up its defenses as soon as possible. It would be a big mistake for President Trump to have indicated to XI that the U.S. “opposes” Taiwan independence. Our own AI revolution self-interest depends on it. As China intensifies its military drills around the island, President Trump must leave no doubt of America’s commitment to Taiwan.

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Greg Ganske, MD, Member of Congress (ret), is a retired plastic surgeon who cared for breast cancer patients, children with birth defects, farmers with hand injuries, and burn patients. He served Iowa in Congress from 1995-2003.

Comments 21

  1. China hasn’t fought a war since 1979, it lost. The Chinese navy hasn’t fought a battle since 1894, it was destroyed. The Chinese do not have enough amphibious lift to move and maintain an army in an attack on Taiwan, even before the inevitable losses.
    China’s ability to prevail in the face of US and Japanese resistance [dozens of submarines and long range bombers plus land-based drones and missiles] is very questionable. The US cannot avoid opposing such an attack, because it could cause Japan, S. Korea, and most of S.E Asia to seek an accommodation with China; thereby threatening our control of the Pacific.
    Xi has just removed and replaced most of his senior military leadership and China’s economy is in real trouble. A defeat could mean the end of the CCP. Given 40 years of a one child policy, so could a victory that’s a bloodbath.
    He’s not going to invade Taiwan next year and if he so orders, it’s likely the end of Xi.

  3. Thank you Mark. The latest public war games on this was by CSIS four years ago. Since then China has significantly increased its aresenal. I am not at all assured that Trump would challenge a Chinese blockade or invasion of Taiwan though he should for reason you mention.
    “CSIS developed a wargame for a Chinese amphibious invasion of Taiwan and ran it 24 times. In most scenarios, the United States/Taiwan/Japan defeated a conventional amphibious invasion by China and maintained an autonomous Taiwan. However, this defense came at high cost. The United States and its allies lost dozens of ships, hundreds of aircraft, and tens of thousands of servicemembers. Taiwan saw its economy devastated. Further, the high losses damaged the U.S. global position for many years. China also lost heavily, and failure to occupy Taiwan might destabilize Chinese Communist Party rule. Victory is therefore not enough. The United States needs to strengthen deterrence immediately.”

    1. You’re most welcome Dr Ganske. Deterrence is not something that can be strengthened immediately. The wheels are in place though. Shipyards, munitions factories, and chip manufacturers are being established or expanding. Key alliances are being strengthened. Secure access to vital resources is being established. New techniques and weapons are being refined and or produced at scale. The Trump administration deserves much credit for serious actions that won’t bear fruit until after it comes to an end.
      So sad, but not altogether surprising, to hear the news about Mr Kass. I’ve enjoyed his writing and insights for decades and this site for years. I was looking forward to enjoying it in my retirement [now 3 months in]. It will be sorely missed, but his first obligations are to himself and his loved ones. I wish him the best, he amply deserves it!

      1. “Deterrence is not something that can be strengthened immediately.”

        It’s my understanding that tactical “battle-field nukes” would immediately end any amphibious assault via surface-level explosions that created violently-rough sea conditions. Taiwan can be as sovereignly-secure as North Korea if they so choose, without standing up an equivalent non-nuclear deterrent (something that would cost several orders of magnitude more).

  4. We need to interrupt this excellent discussion with important breaking Kasso news. John announced two days ago on the Dan Proft show that he will be winding down his show and it will end around Thanksgiving. “Po po po” Yanni, we hardly knew ye.

    1. Mr. Jennings. Heard the news the other day about Kasso. A Chicago Institution going on the injured reserved list.

      John and Betty are in my daily prayers. I hope John recovers just to enjoy life in retirement. No one deserves it more than JK and Mrs.K.

      Patmad

    2. Sorry to hear John Kass is stepping down but it’s expected and understandable given his poor health condition. I have had a triple bypass 20 years ago and have had 3 stents put in during the past 2 years and had been admitted to heart hospitals 4 times. So, I wish Kass a restful life.
      I also suggest Jim Banakis take over with just 2 articles a month since he has his restaurant business and have the guest writers filling in, just like now.
      -Nambi

      2. You will be missed John. But life is short. You have given enough of yourself to the rest of us. Devoting your remaining time to your friends and family is the thing to do, IMHO.
        May God be with you.

  5. I thank John (and Elizabeth) for the opportunity to write a few columns for him over the years. His readership is amazingly well informed, courteous and thoughtful. I am so sorry, John, you are hanging it up, you are a great writer and citizen. Wishing you much future happiness in retirement from writing columns but not from enjoying life. Greg Ganske

    1. I disagree. Putin is a strong, good guy. I would have lodged half a dozen long range missiles into Western Europe the moment they started their military practice close to the borders of Ukraine if I were him! Remember the Cuban Missile Crisis during 1961-62? What was Cuba to USA then, is Ukraine to Russia now.
      It’s the Pelosi-Biden coalition that put this Stand-up comedian in Ukraine so they could have kick-backs of millions from Ukraine which is American $$$ in the first place!
      -Nambi
      PS: Do you remember this Ukraine Joker’s wife had a store employee fired in a New York diamond jewelry where she bought $1 Million worth of necklace, for saying something to her ?

      1. Huh? Putin is a despot on level with Hitler. For Trump whom I have otherwise supported to make a deal to strengthen his death grip on Ukraine is disappointing to say the least. The USA doesn’t need a Russian diesel that badly.

    2. I agree. Taiwan is toast. President’s Trump’s placation of ruthless tyrants is beyond the pale. Sometimes I think he is a Democratic Party plant, as his actions are totally counter to American ideals and interests – and just embolden the DSA – and ultimately hurts the interests of his own party. His recent “love initiative” to Putin – a man who views the fall of the Soviet Union as the major world catastrophe of the 20th century – is a case in point.

  8. 70 is young. I was hoping Kass had extended his reach through editing.

    Certainly understand. This space has been, and is superb and has meant very much to me.

    There is a pretty solid conservative counterpunch growing in Illinois and Chicago and we have to keep it going thanks to Kass.

    JohnKassNews is a great brand. It’s tied to the man, which can make succession planning a challenge.

    Trump is right to strike a deal with Putin. Once again he amazes me in that he accepts accountability for Obamas coup and it’s percussion and acts accordingly.

    He wants peace, and he will achieve it. And with America first, a concept marbled in with our founding everyone wins except the JB Pritzker types, the cowards.

    And everyone wins when we have the best relations possible with China, with all adversaries

  9. A very witty and entertaining historical boat ride, Dr. Ganske! The diminishment of meaning has caused devastating harm to teaching anything these days. Can I say “devastating” or is that too much for our friends in Paris?

  10. Gregg. Your article reminds me of the conversation between Humpty Dumpty and Alice:

    Humpty Dumpty: “When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.”
    Alice: “The question is, whether you can make words mean so many different things.”
    Humpty Dumpty: “The question is, which is to be master — that’s all.”

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