"Degradated"???

[Mark Mandel]

Jimmy Mullan <jimmy at JIMMYMULLAN.COM> told us:

>>>>>
I just heard some Major-General, briefing from the Pentagon, and on CNN, use the word:
"Degradated", in reference to bomb damage in Afghanistan.
<<<<<

and Jonathon Green <slang at BLUEYONDER.CO.UK> remarked:

>>>>>
I don't know 'degradated' but it must relate the old nuclear war jargon
'degrade', i.e. to knock out, and its extention 'graceful degradation', [...]
<<<<<

Sounds to me like the same sort of back formation as "administrate"
< "administrat{or/ive/ion}", which seems to flourish in bloviative
bureaucracies. KILL IT! STOMP ON IT!! WIPE IT OUT!!! DON'T LET IT
REPRODUCE!!!!

Uh...  (ahem). Deprecated.

-- Mark A. Mandel