The meaning of words

Rice vows 'full range' defense of Japan

"Full range"?  Of course we all know what that means.  It means that the U.S. will nuke North Korea into smithereens if it tries anything stupid.  

So why use the euphemism, when everyone knows what it means?  Does it really make a difference?  Would there be a different response if Rice simply said, "Yo, North Korea.  Don't you make us come up in there.  You know we'll nuke yo ass."

I find that people try to euphemize (is that a word?) the truth a lot.  We don't want to hurt people's feelings.  I think ambiguity is worse.  

But in this case, there is no ambiguity either way.  So why bother?