Terrorists read the papers too

[tramper]

Is the media following the war or the war following the media, we had "shock and awe" now it looks like we have "wash and go". Political statements blow hot and cold, the media report it public opinion reacts to the headlines just as political policy go's off in a whole new direction, we say will do this and that by that date, we criticize our allies in the press, left bash the right and right the left ect. terrorists read the papers too, what conclusions would they draw " The yanks are going the yanks are going " " Or man they are serious, we can't win this "

 

[Tricky]

Is the media following the war or the war following the media, we had "shock and awe" now it looks like we have "wash and go". Political statements blow hot and cold, the media report it public opinion reacts to the headlines just as political policy go's off in a whole new direction, we say will do this and that by that date, we criticize our allies in the press, left bash the right and right the left ect. terrorists read the papers too, what conclusions would they draw " The yanks are going the yanks are going " " Or man they are serious, we can't win this "

Are you suggesting that we should censor the media? Frankly, I think it is good that the terrorists see how a true democracy operates with the free exchange of ideas.

 

[rikzilla]

Re: Re: Terrorists read the papers too

Are you suggesting that we should censor the media? Frankly, I think it is good that the terrorists see how a true democracy operates with the free exchange of ideas.

Well Tricky, you are also assuming that "terrorists" would rationally look at the big picture of freedom and be positively influenced by it. Sorry, but I doubt it. "Terrorists" are in reality just religious fanatics attempting to spread their fanaticism. They may view the western media as a tool they can manipulate,..but outside of that I doubt they think of it at all.

-z

 

[tramper]

Of course I am not recommending any kind of censorship and what the US thinks writes or believes is not my business as I am not an American but I can see the image the country presents to the outside world, and it’s not too impressive the job of the American media and anyone else who gives a toss is to try and correct any false perceptions and present their country as best they can after all the U S is the home of the slick ad and the sound bite they should be professional enough to phrase speeches, statements and public information it such a way that they give the same message without the comeback factor. Where are the ad-men, professors of English, scriptwriters, lawyers and wordsmiths in this war?

Who is pushing the values espoused by the great philosophical thinkers the country has produced Americans are a polyglot of nations including thousands of Arabic speakers where are the newspapers, TV and radio channels countering the perceptions of the other side. Why should the devil have all the best tunes and score more points in the propaganda war

 

[Mr Manifesto]

They tried an, "America is great" campaign before. The last one I can recall involved one Charlotte Beers. The campaign failed miserably, and Beers was duly blamed, before she fell on her sword. The thinking seemed to be that if she could just spin the product right, the Arabs would buy.

However, it seems that the problem was not so much with the campaign, as the product. The Arab nations just don't seem to trust America, and they know spin when they see it. Now, why wouldn't they trust America?

 

[Grammatron]

They tried an, "America is great" campaign before. The last one I can recall involved one Charlotte Beers. The campaign failed miserably, and Beers was duly blamed, before she fell on her sword. The thinking seemed to be that if she could just spin the product right, the Arabs would buy.

However, it seems that the problem was not so much with the campaign, as the product. The Arab nations just don't seem to trust America, and they know spin when they see it. Now, why wouldn't they trust America?

I don't know, please do enlighten us.

 

[specious_reasons]

They tried an, "America is great" campaign before. The last one I can recall involved one Charlotte Beers. The campaign failed miserably, and Beers was duly blamed, before she fell on her sword. The thinking seemed to be that if she could just spin the product right, the Arabs would buy.

However, it seems that the problem was not so much with the campaign, as the product. The Arab nations just don't seem to trust America, and they know spin when they see it. Now, why wouldn't they trust America?

I disagree. The product is just fine. America is great. Not perfect, mind you, and I certainly don't like GWB's foreign policies, but that can be changed... hopefully this year.

The way I think about it, your average Arab living in the Middle East thinks of us as the big bully on the block. If your local bully starts posting signs about how nice he really is, and tells you he's really sensitive and only wants to be friends, all the while he's beating up the local nerd.... You gonna beleive him?

Not that I agree with that kind of assesment, but that's how I think they view America. The assumption is that, even if we tell them how great we are, they are inclined not to beleive us, even if it is true.

A better PR strategy should have been made.

 

[Rob Lister]

You are all wrong. They hate us because they are taught from birth to hate us. So the question is why and by whom are they taught such?

Who does the teaching?

Follow the money.

Everyone needs an enemy.

 

[Mr Manifesto]

I disagree. The product is just fine. America is great. Not perfect, mind you, and I certainly don't like GWB's foreign policies, but that can be changed... hopefully this year.

The way I think about it, your average Arab living in the Middle East thinks of us as the big bully on the block. If your local bully starts posting signs about how nice he really is, and tells you he's really sensitive and only wants to be friends, all the while he's beating up the local nerd.... You gonna beleive him?

Not that I agree with that kind of assesment, but that's how I think they view America. The assumption is that, even if we tell them how great we are, they are inclined not to beleive us, even if it is true.

A better PR strategy should have been made.

Let's see...

The US regularly vetoes resolutions that condemn Israel.
She kills civilians every time she enters a theatre of war like a bull in a china shop (at the time Beers was promoting America in Egypt, Afghani civilians were being killed for the sake of a few trucks that could've belonged to Al-Qaeda)
She's helped to overthrow two Middle-East leaders that I can think of off the top of my head (the democratically-elected Mossadegh and Brigadier Abdul Kassem in Iraq, paving the way for you-know-who)

But the problem was the PR strategy wasn't good enough. Right.

 

[Nikk]

You are all wrong. They hate us because they are taught from birth to hate us. So the question is why and by whom are they taught such?

Who does the teaching?

Follow the money.

Everyone needs an enemy.

Really?

Look at Bin Laden. He came from a self made family of immigrants ( to Saudi )who were familiar with Europe and the US. Nevertheless rather than follow a conventional business career he became fascinated by Islam and chose the hard road of fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan rather than the easier paths available to him. Needless to say he received abundant support in that fight from the US and US proxies.

So how does this constitute being "taught from birth to hate us"?

It seems to be more a case of familiarity with western civilisation breeding contempt.

 

[Khalid01]

Terrorists read the papers, but our nation's president doesn't?

I'm just repeating what Bill Maher tells me.