It was intended not only as a statement of fact but as a general affirmation of principle: in this bloody war, in the red zones, there was really no such thing as a civilian.
But it was also an affirmation of core principles.
"In an affirmation of its principles, Radiohead boycotted leading streaming service Spotify," trumpeted the Daily Mail.
Jamie Beagent, the lawyer at Leigh Day & Co representing Mr Rahmatullah, said: "Today's judgment is a resounding affirmation of the principles of habeas corpus and its importance in defending the liberty of the individual from unbridled executive power.
First, Mr. Kim has been the first East Asian leader to make clear that the pursuit of basic human rights is not a surrender to imported Western values but an authentic Asian affirmation of universal principles.
Marc Uyttendaele, a second lawyer acting for the claimant, told the Het Nieuwsblad newspaper: "There is so much evidence that Delphine is the daughter of Albert II … We, Delphine Boël's lawyers, are very pleased with this decision, which is a serene and strong affirmation of the principles that state that the interests of the child should always be given priority.
For such a consensus counts as legitimate only when achieved under conditions of free and authentic affirmation of shared principles.
The deeper worry, which new forms of political violence have made more acute, centres upon achieving a proper balance between the recognition of difference and the affirmation of common principles to which all citizens are required to adhere.
This would mean an affirmation of those principles, setting them apart and above trade negotiations, accompanied by the commitment of sufficient resources to realise their potential.
Special attention is paid to the affirmation of the principle of social and economic cohesion as one of the fundamental principles of Community law.
It is an instance where the most onerous facts imaginable should lead to the durable affirmation of constitutional principle, as Skokie did.
