smokescreening

Smokescreening is a tactic used to obscure or conceal something. It typically involves deploying a dense cloud of smoke to block vision. This can be done for a variety of purposes, both legitimate and deceptive.

In military contexts, smokescreening is a common defensive and offensive maneuver. It is used to shield troops, vehicles, or installations from enemy observation or targeting. Smoke grenades or shells are deployed to create artificial fog, allowing for movement, cover, or the deployment of other forces unseen. This can disrupt enemy targeting systems and provide a tactical advantage.

Beyond the military, the term "smokescreen" is often used metaphorically to describe actions taken to distract from or hide a real issue or intention. This could involve releasing misleading information, creating a diversion, or drawing attention to a less important matter to prevent scrutiny of a more significant one. In this figurative sense, smokescreening is a tactic of misdirection and concealment. The effectiveness of a smokescreen, whether literal or figurative, relies on its ability to obscure the truth or the object of interest from those seeking to observe or understand it.