Everyone on Fox news taught themselves to use this euphemism in smooth, everyday punditry. It spread very quickly.
Later, perhaps around the mid 2000s or so, there was some additional talking point added about some prominent Democrat's support for torture after 9/11. Could have been Hilary in a Senate campaign, or Obama, or possibly someone else.
I remember eagerly watching all the Fox punditry shows to see how they squared the circle. It was fascinating-- they'd ramp up using the same kind of red-hot rhetoric one would expect for labeling the "other tribe" a hypocrite. But at the climax of their take they would trip over their words, having to actively think to avoid saying "torture" and instead to use the euphemism, "extended interrogation techniques." You could just feel their brains creating all of these effective smears-- "torture apologist," "fan of torture," or whatever-- and then studdering because they couldn't use any of them without admitting what Bush authorized was indeed torture.
Does anyone have a clip of any of this? I thought it was fascinating.
Anyhow, that initial quote with brackets reminded me of that. I guess the connection is:
1. finding a solution for a narrow problem: obsessively ensuring context and syntax of a quote is always crystal clear, or making oneself feel better about supporting monstrous government crimes
2. being duct taped into a corner when you want to do the thing you care about: write compelling prose, or bark mindlessly into a television camera
Edit: use the word "crimes" instead of "misbehavior" (Damn, that euphemisic propaganda is effective!)