Just to point you towards this estimable article about 'guilt' at ZMag.org -
Omission vs. Repitition
Cause and Effect in Israel's Wars
by Kaminer Ray
All the best!
PS
Michael -
- did you know it was the 16th anniversary of Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait yesterday?
http://www.defenselink.mil/
It's amazing what you can learn at Ronald Dumsfeld's DoD site - and remember to report any suspicious activity - and the 'Threat Advisory' is 'ELEVATED' and is at yellow at the moment, a colour that somehow seems to suit the neo-cons, Bush and Cheney
Thanks for the link joe, I hadn't read that one.
The point about 'who started it' is true. It's a rare event when someone claims to be responsible for the precipitating event. I think Israel understands it all too well.
Not only that, they go beyond the simple recognition of that fact and have put in place a veritable army of PR spokespeople, that's not much less formidable than their other army. This army is the GPO. Their understanding of how journalists, editors, and the media in general, work means that the are giving out exactly what is required. Need a sound grab, talking head, video-footage, stills, eye-witness, teary relative?, it's all there in an instant. Shortly after missiles hit Israel the GPO is emailing and texting journalists with a list of witneses and their mobile numbers!
It's not just the "who started it' that matters, but also getting your version in right from the start to help 'frame' the story in the way you'd like to see. This shows a good understanding of the editorial process. Editors act like filters and sheep simultaneously. They are looking at how others are reporting and framing their stories and what is being covered. It takes some courage on an editors part, and persistant arguing on the reporters, to push a storyline that seems to go against the established frame, eg. Hizballah started it with the kidnapping of 2 soldiers or Hamas started it on July 25 etc. Reporters have deadlines amd ego's, so quick access to info (and even storylines, which the GPO provides daily to the media scrum) is great for them.
The framing on a story starts quite early, but once it's established it's much harder to change than it was to set.
I don't think there is a great awareness of these processes. I can't recall any of the big media groups informing their viewers that the news reports coming out of Israel are made under military censorship and that the Israeli GPO drives them around, feeds them etc.
Your work Micheal,
is among some of the best I have ever came across in a blogger - a joy to read mate!
I would easily put you in the same class as the great Lawrence of Cyberia
http://lawrenceofcyberia.blogs.com/
The great thing about bloggers is the democracy, which I am sure you'd agree with - so it isn't all about ridiculously well informed, well read and lots of hard work as your blog most evidently shows you guilty of -
I say that, just in case any other blogger read this and thinks there is some kind of pecking order being worked out here by me - there isn't - I love all the different voices and people should never be put off doing what they want to do in their own voice and in their own good time, is my sentiments
It certainly doesn't put me off, as I don't have a blog anyway!
All the best Michael!
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