-> SNETNEWS Mailing List Members: here we go again...don't panic ! this will only have 2 parts !, ahem, this mail was sent by Scott Dykstra <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ( the same who sent the : analisys: russia prepares, america sleeps mail ) and because of the lenght 38 k I decided to divide it. I don't want to overflow your boxes. Midori Kurai Warrior for peace The Orwellian language of war In times of war, truth is the first casualty Pentagon briefings: An opportunity for doublespeak? By Norman Solomon SPECIAL TO MSNBC When terrorists attack us, they re villains. When we attack them, we re retaliating. That s an easy example of the doublespeak heard from government and the media when a nation goes to war. In this excerpt from The Habits of Highly Deceptive Media, Norman Solomon, takes a lesson from George Orwell to explain the logic of war reporting. +++this is truth and only truth. In our time, political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible. GEORGE ORWELL AFTER U.S. MISSILES hit sites in Sudan and Afghanistan, some Americans seemed uncomfortable. A vocal minority even voiced opposition after the attacks in late August 1998. But approval was routine among those who had learned a few easy Orwellian lessons. When terrorists attack, they re terrorizing. When we attack, we re retaliating. When they respond to our retaliation with further attacks, they re terrorizing again. When we respond with further attacks, we re retaliating again. +++and becomes a media approved never ending circle When people decry civilian deaths caused by the U.S. government, they re aiding propaganda efforts. In sharp contrast, when civilian deaths are caused by bombers who hate America, the perpetrators are evil and those deaths are tragedies. When they put bombs in cars and kill people, they re uncivilized killers. When we put bombs on missiles and kill people, we re upholding civilized values. When they kill, they re terrorists. When we kill, we re striking against terror. +++Goebbels ( Hitler minister of propaganda ) must be happy: his lessons were well learned KEEPING HATREDS STRAIGHT At all times, Americans must be kept fully informed about who to hate and fear. When the United States found Osama bin Laden useful during the 1980s because of his tenacious violence against the Soviet occupiers in Afghanistan, he was good, or at least not bad-but now he s really bad. +++same heppende with Saddam Hussein, when he has with war vs Iran, he was one of the good guys, now, he is a tyrant. No matter how many times they ve lied in the past, U.S. officials are credible in the present. When they vaguely cite evidence that the bombed pharmaceutical factory in Khartoum was making ingredients for nerve gas, that should be good enough for us. +++ I don't know you, members, but it terrifies me , are we really so idiot as they think we are ? Might doesn t make right-except in the real world, when it s American might. +++as always, story is written by the winner. Only someone of dubious political orientation would split hairs about international law. When the mass media in some foreign countries serve as megaphones for the rhetoric of their government, the result is ludicrous propaganda. When the mass media in our country serve as megaphones for the rhetoric of the U.S. government, the result is responsible journalism. +++this paragraph says everything, is the most visible example of US government double standard. Unlike the TV anchors spouting the government line in places like Sudan and Afghanistan, ours don t have to be told what to say. They have the freedom to report as they choose. ++++indeed next LESSONS FROM ORWELL ------------------------------------------------------------------------ eGroups eLerts! Exclusive discounts on small business products and services Join Now! http://clickhere.egroups.com/click/25 eGroup home: http://www.eGroups.com/list/thepentagonguru Free Web-based e-mail groups by eGroups.com -> Send "subscribe snetnews " to [EMAIL PROTECTED] -> Posted by: Midori Kurai <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
