do so on the United States terms

[GoodTaste]

Because Bush was bent on confrontation with Iran, he missed a historic opportunity to mend relations in the early part of the decade and to do so on the United States terms.

Source: The Untold Story of the United States (p537)

Does "do so on the United States terms" mean "do so in a way that most favors the US"?

 

[teechar]

Roughly. It means to do so according to the terms and conditions stipulated/demanded by the US.

 

[emsr2d2]

Am I the only person who thinks it's missing an apostrophe? I would expect "... on the United States' terms".

 

[Tdol]

I would add an apostrophe, which probably makes us members of the AAAAAA, the American Association Against Appalling Apostrophe Abuse.

 

[Amigos4]

I would add an apostrophe, which probably makes us members of the AAAAAA, the American Association Against Appalling Apostrophe Abuse.

I would add an additional two "A"s before I become a member: the American Association Against Appalling Apostrophe Absence and Abuse.

 

[jutfrank]

I would add an apostrophe, which probably makes us members of the AAAAAA, the American Association Against Appalling Apostrophe Abuse.

Better watch out for the AAAAAAA, then: the American Anti-Acronym and Anti-Abbreviation Association.

 

[teechar]

I'll just add another "A" to the start: The All-American ... etc.

 

[Tdol]

It actually began life as the AAAA (Association for the Annihilation of the Aberrant Apostrophe) set up by the British journalist Keith Waterhouse, and author of the brilliant novel Billy Liar. I am sure that Keith would raise at least one glass to every additional A to the list.