The phrase 'to be sure' reveals an author's awareness of weak arguments, often indicating the writer's struggle between advocating a position and acknowledging its flaws.
When 'to be sure' starts a sentence, it tends to signal that the writer is about to undermine their own argument, creating cognitive dissonance for the reader.
In an opinion piece from the Washington Post, the phrasing suggests a bias toward a two-tiered system of international law, indicating an alarming ideological divide.
Using 'to be sure' often means the author is offering excuses for morally questionable positions, leading to a form of argumentative dishonesty.
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