{"article":{"id":40770,"heading":"The Great Propaganda Spectacle","author":"Gary Sudborough","created":"2003-03-26 17:18:05","modified":"2003-03-27 17:33:52","last_modified":"Fri, 28 Mar 2003 00:33:52","article":"

I have noticed a couple of glaring contradictions in the way the corporate mass media are covering this war. With constant repetition, they portray the missiles and bombs which are striking Baghdad as precise, satellite-guided weapons that invariably strike their targets within a few feet of intended impact, causing very few civilian casualties. If these missiles are so accurate, why did several of them veer way off course and hit Iran?

Now, it is reported that these were Iraqi missiles, but that could be more disinformation to cover up their embarrassment. Remember that the Patriot missiles were depicted as extremely accurate in the first Persian Gulf war, and it was later discovered that this was untrue. Regardless of the accuracy of a Tomahawk cruise missile, they contain depleted uranium as ballast and the warhead also contains this radioactive element, if it is a bunker buster. Due to its density, uranium is one of the best substances known for breaking through armor or concrete, and the United States has tons of it because it is a byproduct of the enrichment of uranium used in nuclear weapons. Those gigantic explosions in Baghdad have undoubtedly lifted a great deal of radioactive dust into the atmosphere, posing a threat to all the civilian population of Baghdad.

Donald Rumsfeld has stated that Iraqi television showing the captured American soldiers is a violation of the Geneva Convention. I noticed that American television is showing pictures of the captured Iraqi soldiers. What's the difference? Also, the United States is really in violation of the Geneva Convention for torturing Afghan prisoners at Bagram air base in Afghanistan and keeping the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba shackled and hooded. Denial of sunlight and sleep leads to severe mental problems and is a terrible form of torture.

CNN, MSNBC, and Fox are treating this war more like a gigantic fireworks display than as something which causes intense human suffering. During the Vietnam War, there were courageous journalists who showed the reality of that war-the children running with napalm burning their flesh, the huts burning, the My Lai massacre and the fear and anger on people's faces. Not any more. Grenada, Panama, the first Persian Gulf war, Yugoslavia and now this war against Iraq have all been very controlled, sanitized versions of the reality of war. One sees maps and discussions with generals and military analysts about strategy and tactics. There are other discussions about the intricacies of all the various weapons systems. No opponents of the war are ever allowed to question its morality or the possible economic and political reasons for it. If pictures of wounded Iraqi children are shown, there are always commentators there questioning whether these aren't fictitious creations of Iraqi propaganda.

Then, there is the rampant lying that always accompanies war. How many times have I heard that Umm Oasr, Nasiriya and Basra have been captured, only to later find out that fierce fighting was still going on there? Neither side tells the truth about casualties. I heard a story that the Republican Guard is using civilians as human shields. Do they really need to do this? Those Iraqi parents who have lost children by the thousands to sanctions and cancers from depleted uranium are certainly angry enough to fight themselves. I am confident that before or after the conclusion of this war, weapons of mass destruction will suddenly be \"discovered\" so that they can adequately justify this mass destruction of Iraqi civilization.

CNN is immediately calling every American soldier who is killed a hero, and they then conduct interviews with family members of soldiers involved in the war, showing their wives and little children. A real heroine is Rachel Corrie who stood in front of the Israeli bulldozer and gave her life to help Palestinians, but the media refused to call her a heroine. They repeatedly ran a quote by the father of a soldier who was killed saying that antiwar demonstrators could better spend their time working for charity or picking up litter. These are blatant propaganda techniques. Are the American people so anesthetized by decades of sophisticated propaganda by the mass media and in school that they simply can't visualize the motivations of the American government as being anything other than noble and protective? If so, we are going to be subject to one war after another on behalf of corporate power and control, which is what really motivates all wars of aggression by capitalist nations.

<\/p>\n","contact":"IconoclastGS@aol.com","link":"","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":"War as a television spectacle filled with lies, distortions and fabrications","numcomment":26,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2003\/03\/40770.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[{"id":40805,"heading":"MSNBC email addresses","article":"I've been thinking on what reasonable actions I can take from within this propaganda machine. This short list of some of the more obnoxious MSNBC anchors' email addresses is a start, I guess:\r\n\r\nLester Holt\r\nLester.Holt@msnbc.com\r\n\r\nBrian Williams\r\nBrian.Williams@msnbc.com\r\n\r\nDan Abrams\r\nDan.Abrams@nbc.com\r\n\r\nChris Matthews\r\nCJMatthews@msnbc.com\r\n\r\nAshleigh Banfield\r\nAshleigh.Banfield@nbc.com","author":"corporate media wage slave","parent_id":40770,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-26 18:25:11","modified":"2003-03-26 18:25:11","fileurl":""},{"id":40808,"heading":"Everything is under control.","article":"Anyone who expects honest reportage from any of the Mainstream Presstitutes is living in a fantasy land.\r\nThese people are not paid to do honest reportage. They are paid to report what their masters tell them to report.\r\nCNN even had PsyOps people working in their "Newsroom" as "Interns". The question of course is who was being "Interned".\r\nAvoid the aggravation. Do not patronize any of the Oil Soaked Monopoly Press "Organs". If you do be aware before you go in that what you will be receiving is carefully crafted PsyOps Propaganda. The only reason to "tune in" is to find out what lies are being sold today.","author":"Diogenes","parent_id":40770,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-26 18:35:43","modified":"2003-03-26 18:35:43","fileurl":""},{"id":40824,"heading":"Notice the Shills","article":"BA does not want you to consider that the Mainstream Presstitutes are Propaganda "Organs" so we immediately get a diversionary post. The purpose of BA's post is as clear as can be - keep them from thinking - disconcert, confuse, divert.\r\n\r\nPSYOPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PROPAGANDA ALERT*************** DISINFORMATION ALERT*****************\r\n\r\nDO NOT BE DIVERTED FROM SEEKING THE TRUTH!","author":"Diogenes","parent_id":40770,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-26 18:45:02","modified":"2003-03-26 18:45:02","fileurl":""},{"id":40839,"heading":"Decide for yourself...","article":"...think for yourself. Arm yourself with the knowledge to not be taken advantage of.\r\n\r\nFor a basic overview of how the public is manipulated read this: \r\n\r\nDeforming Consent: http:\/\/mediafilter.org\/caq\/Caq55.prwar.html \r\n\r\nMore Detailed: \r\n\r\nWhy Americans Will Believe Almost Anything: http:\/\/www.thedoctorwithin.com\/index_fr.html\r\n\r\nBecause of the way the Web Site is set up I could not do a direct link. So, Click on the link and then:\r\n\r\n1. Click on "Chapters"\r\n\r\n2. Click on the Article: "The Doors of Perception: Why Americans Will Believe Just About Anything".\r\n\r\nIt is well worth reading. Much good useful information.\r\n","author":"Diogenes","parent_id":40770,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-26 19:13:59","modified":"2003-03-26 19:13:59","fileurl":""},{"id":40876,"heading":"A good Disinformation Agent...","article":"...will tell the truth most of the time. It makes the BIG LIE more effective when they slip it in.\r\n\r\nAnd that is just PsyOps 101.","author":"Diogenes","parent_id":40770,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-26 20:07:41","modified":"2003-03-26 20:07:41","fileurl":""},{"id":40886,"heading":"What a bunch of bullshit.","article":"I guess from now on, no matter what anyone says, from anywhere, it's suspect. Unless, of course, it fits in with your worldview. \r\n\r\nThe U.S. Government - evil liars.\r\nThe entire U.S. Media - tools\/liars\r\nSaddam - liar, but not as bad a the bigger liars\r\nThe French - small liars, in a diplomatic fashion\r\nThe Peace Movement - good liars\r\n\r\nIt's a conspiracy, I tell you! It's all lies! Lies! Lies! Yeah, that's it! It's not me! It's THEM!!!! ONE GIANT LIE! errrrrrrrrrrrrr............................\r\n\r\nWhat bullshit. Buy a vowel.","author":"Rich","parent_id":40770,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-26 20:16:49","modified":"2003-03-26 20:16:49","fileurl":""},{"id":41179,"heading":"Of course","article":"Everything is a lie. \r\nAnything that is hailed as the 'truth' is just\r\na human's perception.\r\nThinking is hard work best not left to someomne\r\nwho will botch the job for you.\r\n-You got to walk that lonesome valley\r\nyou got to walk it by yourself.-","author":"Sheepdog","parent_id":40770,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-27 03:24:04","modified":"2003-03-27 03:24:04","fileurl":""},{"id":41190,"heading":"An ammendment to my post","article":"Simon - total moron who will believe anything spoon-fed to him by the corporate media.","author":"Rich","parent_id":40770,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-27 03:30:32","modified":"2003-03-27 03:30:32","fileurl":""},{"id":41191,"heading":"An ammendment to my post","article":"Simon - total moron who will believe anything spoon-fed to him by the corporate media.\r\nRich - see above","author":"Rich","parent_id":40770,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-27 03:31:04","modified":"2003-03-27 03:31:04","fileurl":""},{"id":41227,"heading":"I Lust for War..","article":"Do you know I love sitting and watching 24 hour war coverage on TV! It's sooo exciting and literally gets me off. Especially when I see those naughty big missles hit baghdad. I stroke my cock until it's hard to it's full 2 3\/4 inches and right when I hear the loud explosions as the bombs hit...I explode too. BOOM! Thank you FOX and ABC for providing me with my favorite fetish perversions. Your the best!\r\n","author":"hardformissles","parent_id":40770,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-27 04:13:15","modified":"2003-03-27 04:13:15","fileurl":""},{"id":41229,"heading":"Hey","article":"That's what I do, too! Except that my dick is only 1.5" erect. That's why I can't get a woman.","author":"Rich","parent_id":40770,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-27 04:16:07","modified":"2003-03-27 04:16:07","fileurl":""},{"id":41238,"heading":"It's Spring Love in the Air","article":"","author":"Me","parent_id":40770,"mime_type":"image\/gif","created":"2003-03-27 04:38:03","modified":"2005-08-15 01:20:18","fileurl":"\/usr\/local\/www-domains\/la.indymedia.org\/public\/uploads\/2003\/03\/diogenes_kissing_sheepdog.gif","image":{"original":"\/usr\/local\/www-domains\/la.indymedia.org\/public\/uploads\/2003\/03\/diogenes_kissing_sheepdog.gif"}},{"id":41287,"heading":"How to know when you are hitting the mark (or Rich).","article":"When they start on the personal attacks it means you have won the argument.\r\n\r\nHowever, since the Shills are paid to win the argument and create maximum confusion and disorientation. So, if they don't have a factual come back they have to do something to justify their paycheck so, the easiest thing to do is insult.\r\n\r\nI am amused. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!\r\n\r\nP.S. I wouldn't be caught dead in that Suit. Make mine Brooks Bros.","author":"Diogenes","parent_id":40770,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-27 06:21:54","modified":"2003-03-27 06:21:54","fileurl":""},{"id":41302,"heading":"Iraqis gather to receive water","article":"Iraqis gather to receive water handed out by U.S. soldiers in the southern Iraqi town of Umm Qasr, March 24, 2003.","author":"From Reuters","parent_id":40770,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","created":"2003-03-27 06:55:51","modified":"2005-08-15 01:20:18","fileurl":"\/usr\/local\/www-domains\/la.indymedia.org\/public\/uploads\/2003\/03\/iraqis_gather_to_receive_water.jpg","image":{"original":"\/usr\/local\/www-domains\/la.indymedia.org\/public\/uploads\/2003\/03\/iraqis_gather_to_receive_water.jpg"}},{"id":41313,"heading":"MR","article":"Hello,\r\n\r\nI am a former Iraqi citizen who moved to the United States for a better education and free world. I am very concerned with how some of the AMericans are behaving. Saddam has done nothing put put terror in all of us. You seem to like Saddam, Why? How can you not support the USA in taking him out of power. I am prouod that I will soon have my united states citizenship in a few years and look forward to spemding the rest of my live in freedom. Soon, I will go back to Iraq to visit my family and see how happy they are. My father called me the other day and told me that he is overjoyed about the liberattion of Iraq. Please, do not be mad at me for posting this, I just wanted to voice my opinion as it is not a freedom we had in Iraq. Why do you use your freedoms to support such an evil regime? I can't understand it, can someone please explain it tio me?","author":"USA Supporter","parent_id":40770,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-27 07:20:18","modified":"2003-03-27 07:20:18","fileurl":""},{"id":41315,"heading":"To USA Supporter","article":"The Protester's real agenda is to destroy the USA!","author":"Realitycheck","parent_id":40770,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-27 07:25:06","modified":"2003-03-27 07:25:06","fileurl":""},{"id":41325,"heading":"To unReality Check","article":"You've been spending too much time listening to propaganda (or writing it).\r\n\r\nThe Anti-War side of this debate simply believes, based on the repeated string of LIES from the Bush Junta that this war is about something, but that somthing is not liberating the Iraqi People. That Spin only came into play when every other excuse the Warmongers had used to try to justify this War had been discredited.\r\n\r\nThose of us on the Anti-War side simply believe that the War is unjustified. It does not mean we hate our Country. Quite the contrary - many of us are Veterans who have put our money where our mouth is. Many of the loudest supporters of War are people who have never even worn a Uniform.\r\n\r\nNor does it mean we would not like to see Saddam swinging at the end of a rope. It would do wonders for my morale. However, I do not think massive bombing and and a land force invasion was neccessary to depose Saddam. All other means had not been exhausted. Nor is indiscriminate bombing justified even in the conduct of this military operation.\r\n\r\nA short post does not allow a full analysis and presentation. Just be aware that evil alls rebounds against those who espouse it. The bitter ranting bile of the Warmongers shows that they are not happy people.","author":"Diogenes","parent_id":40770,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-27 07:57:26","modified":"2003-03-27 07:57:26","fileurl":""},{"id":41484,"heading":"USA Supporter","article":"You're an Iraqi? Oh yeah, and I'm the queen of England! ","author":"Lush Rimbaugh","parent_id":40770,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-27 17:14:36","modified":"2003-03-27 17:14:36","fileurl":""},{"id":41493,"heading":"Simple","article":"Your Majesty, it's time for your spongebath.","author":"Simple Simon","parent_id":40770,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-27 17:19:08","modified":"2003-03-27 17:19:08","fileurl":""},{"id":41497,"heading":"Simon","article":"Simon, it's time for your golden shower. I've consumed alot of beer, so I know you're going to like this one.","author":"Simon's Lover","parent_id":40770,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-27 17:22:43","modified":"2003-03-27 17:22:43","fileurl":""},{"id":41500,"heading":"For all the "progressives"","article":""Always be leery of these babies with open minds. They are open, all right -- they are open at both ends." --Will Rogers\r\n\r\n","author":"Will Rogers","parent_id":40770,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-27 17:24:56","modified":"2003-03-27 17:24:56","fileurl":""},{"id":41505,"heading":"For all the "progressives"","article":""And I like to eat what comes out at the lower end. I am also very much into scat. Most of us fascists are."--Will Rogers","author":"Will Rogers","parent_id":40770,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-27 17:33:53","modified":"2003-03-27 17:33:53","fileurl":""}]}