Opinion Editorials, October 2003, www.aljazeerah.info
Human Price of the Israeli Occupation of Palestine
Israeli daily aggression on the Palestinian people
Mission and meaning of Al-Jazeerah
Cities, localities, and tourist attractions
Spinning the War; Bombs in Baghdad
Mike Whitney
Al-Jazeerah, 11/1/03
The smoke had barely cleared from the Baghdad sky on Iraq’s bloodiest day, before the Bush public relations team was spinning its story about the proof of “foreign fighters” in the country. Apparently, there is no attack so horrific that can’t be used to fuel the ongoing propaganda battle. It’s clear the Bush Administration would prefer that the unsuspecting American public see the recent scourge of suicide bombings as evidence of international terrorism rather than what they are, the signs of a growing and well organized insurgency. In this way they can legitimize their dismal grasp of post war Iraq and the failed policies that are now resulting in chaos. Rather than address those policies in a straightforward and self-critical way, the Administration has chosen to throttle the otherwise servile press for its poor coverage of the many ”positive things “ that are taking in Iraq. But, it’s hard to be too tough on an American media that has willingly abstained from filming any of the carnage being grinded out daily basis in the war zone.
The major networks are in such lockstep collaboration with the Administration that they refuse to even film the flag draped coffins of dead American servicemen, knowing that it may dissuade a tentative American audience from further supporting the war effort. Don’t say the media hasn’t done their job, they’ve done it quite well. No report on the rash of suicides (perhaps, 26 servicemen) has graced the pages of American newspapers, nor has any story about soldiers unable to get medical treatment when they return home from duty. And, whereas, in the foreign press stories abound about the disappearing $4 billion of oil revenue (under Paul Bremer’s authority), the abuses of Halliburton price gouging, the dividing up of Iraq’s public sector businesses to wealthy American corporations, and the 100 plus soldiers who have been evacuated to the US with what looks to be the signs of radiation sickness from the masses of depleted uranium that were used during the conflict stage of the campaign, on these as well as many other issues the American media has remained predictably silent. Still, with 4 bombs going off in one day causing the deaths of 42 people and 200 more injured, it’s doubtful that even the obsequious American press will succeed in painting a rosy picture of progress Baghdad. For one thing, the rocket attack on the al-Rashid Hotel that sent the intrepid deputy defense Secretary, Paul Wolfowitz, scurrying to the Baghdad Airport, occurred within the security barrier, the military cordon that protects America’s highest-ranking dignitaries. This suggests that there are collaborators working from within the system. This is undoubtedly the worst-case scenario for those trying to fend off future attacks. Secondly, the fact that three of the suicide car bombs were used against the new Iraqi Police Force sends the clear message that collaborators with the occupation will be first in line for reprisal. However, cold-blooded, it’s an effective way to deter volunteerism to the American cause. Third, the attack on the Red Crescent sends a chilling message to both the UN and any other NGO’s that any assistance, humanitarian or otherwise, will be considered aid to the enemy.
The Bush Administration is portraying the act as one of irrational barbarity (which it may be) but, the fact is, in capitals around the world where leaders are making the critical decisions of whether to send soldiers or assistance, this attack has probably already changed a few minds. President Bush may be right in assuming that if you can control the narrative you can change the outcome. Certainly, the notion that “you can fool all of the people some of the time” is Gospel to this Administration but, it’s left to be seen whether a public relations gambit can actually change the facts on the ground. The fact is, Mr. Bush finally has the war that he wanted so dearly, that he lied to get it. Let’s see what he does with it now.
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| Earth, a planet hungry for peace |
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| The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03). |
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| The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03). |
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