Your opinions are valid but unfortunately irrelevant when it comes to the "verbing" of nouns. It is happening and it is being accepted by the arbiters of the "official" English language.
As to your issues with the use of the word target, unfortunately imagery and euphemism are only two of the many arrows in a modern day politician's quiver.
It's a big ask to expect people to speak and write properly. I don't foresee it improving any time soon.
In 1973 when I was 6, my grandfather took me to Saltburn for the day and we went on the train. While we were there he bought a tube of Opal Fruits and a Marathon from the corner shop next to the railway station.
In 2016 when I was 49 I took my son to Saltburn for the day and we went in my car. While we were there I bought a tube of Starburst and a Snickers from the convenience store next to the train station.
Not very old English
Q: Where are whales weighed?
A: Whaleweigh stations!
Modern English
Q: Where are whales weighed?
A: Train stations!
New is not always an improvement. The deputy head who is reputed to have said, "After I learned them, they just done it," would surely agree.
PS for those that didn't get it (because some didn't the last time) I was making a point by deliberately using some of my "favourite" examples of bad English. However, I make no claim that my standard of written English is perfect.
While I'm in rant mode, am I the only person that thinks impact should only mean to hit with great force? And that impact is often used when effect or influence would be better? That is, "What will he effects be?" reads better than, "What will the impacts be?" And, "How will this influence future events?" Is better than, "How will this impact upon future events?"
Another one is, "It's a real problem!" Of course a problem is real, because it exists therefore it is real. If it didn't exist it wouldn't be a problem because it wasn't real. If they want to emphasise the importance of the problem then I think it should be, "This really is a problem!" Or, "This is a significant problem?"
The same with worry. "It's a real worry!" Again it if wasn't a worry it wouldn't be real because it wouldn't exist. I think it should be, "It's really worrying!" The same with concern. "It concerns me greatly!" Or, "It's really concerning." Instead of, "It's a real concern."
Then there is the lady in the Trivago adverts who says, "The exact same room," which is a tautology. If she wants to emphasise that it lists all the prices for the same room, she should be saying, "Exactly the same room."
And to finish, is it me or is conflicted used too often instead of concerned, worried, unhappy or undecided?