In today’s New York Times report (2/22/12) about Khader Adnan–the Palestinian hunger striker challenging Israeli “administrative detention” practices–reporter Isabel Kershner allows this:
An Israeli official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, called the deal over Mr. Adnan “a workable arrangement” since ultimately he will be almost completing his four-month term of detention.
“We faced a dilemma,” the official said. “On the one hand we did not want any harm to come to him, or the wider danger in that. On the other hand it is not healthy to set a precedent that every time a Palestinian terrorist goes on hunger strike, he gets a get-out-of-jail-free pass.”
The “deal” is a reference to Israel’s offer to free Adnan by mid-April.
The anonymous Israeli official is declaring Adnan a terrorist. If Israeli officials know this to be the case, they need not detain him without charge. They could bring a case against him for being a terrorist.
The Times is granting anonymity to a government official to declare Adnan is a criminal. This violates, among other things, the Times‘ own standards on granting anonymity.
And earlier this month the Times granted anonymity to a U.S. official who equated journalists who report on civilian casualties in Pakistan to Al-Qaeda sympathizers: “Let’s be under no illusions–there are a number of elements who would like nothing more than to malign these efforts and help Al-Qaeda succeed.”
Is the Times‘ new policy on anonymity is that it should be granted rarely, but that a special exception be granted for government officials who want to smear those who challenge their power?
I remember, in 2004 Israeli columnist Uri Avnery wrote that whosoever is on our side, is a statesman – and whosoever is against us is a terrorist.
â┚¬Ã…“The truth is there is no Islamic army or terrorist group called Al-Qaeda. And any informed intelligence officer knows this. But, there is propaganda campaign to make the public believe in the presence of an identified entity representing the â┚¬Ã‹Å“devil’ only in order to drive TV watchers to accept a unified international leadership for a war against terrorism. The country behind this propaganda is the USâ┚¬Ã‚¦.â┚¬Ã‚ Former British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook.
http://rehmat1.wordpress.com/2010/01/06/whose-al-qaeda/
Thanks for that, Rehmat.
The state of Israel conflicts lies,propaganda & partisanship so skillfully I am not interested in any news story that quotes them … I do blame the Bush Administrations and its American followers for creating a war on international terrorists which is mainly used to keep law enforcement budgets high while keeping dissenters on the defensive.
But the Security forces in the U.S. and Israel will one day cry “wolf” and there will be no response.
Way back in 1941 the U.S. Security forces screamed about the security threat of Japanese-Americans and they talked us into interning thousands of patriotic Americans. The loss of freedom and disruption of life by “scaring” the American people was horrendous and remains one of the tragic events in American History.
They are repeating that scenario with terrorists and we will one day read the catastrophic results
of listening to the boys who cry “wolf” every day
Isn’t a War on Terror great? It can go on forever because there’s always something (real or manufactured) to make people afraid. It’s like having a war on dishonesty. There’s no end to it.
To the history buffs out there: Can you name one country in the history of mankind that has ever been able to eradicate “terror?” Yeah, me neither.
I am sorry, weren’t we talking about journalistic ethics and the uproar about going undercover in the Heartland case? If that is a problem: coming up with real information by misrepresenting yourself, shouldn’t this be a major offense?
Rehmat: I think Chomsky had Avnery beat by about 20 years or so. See “Manufacturing Consent” for examples of this very phenomenon.
tishado: I can only speak for myself regarding your thoughts about not commenting specifically on the news article above.
With regard to my comment about a War on Terror, I see a common thread here. The establishment media plays an important role in molding public opinion. In subtle ways (and not so subtle ways), the media (by omission, distortion, jumping to conclusions that are not substantiated, etc.), molds the public to accept a certain point of view. In the above case, it’s skillfully allowing an anonymous source to declare Adnan a terrorist.
What did Bibi Netanyahu say about the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dempsey, when he opposed war with Iran? Netanyahu called him a “servant of Iran.” I never read this disrespectful comment in the establishment media because it might not sit well with the public. I read it on another website. Yet the media allows an anonymous source to equate journalists who report on casualities among Pakistani civilians as being Al-Qaeda sympathizers.
Same with a War on Terror. We need to be kept in a constant state of fear. It softens us up for a war with Iran.
In many ways, public opinion is being manipulated by the news media and the above article is but one example.
History buff here Elaine.
Um yeah how about Nazi Germany?Or the Japanese empire?Lots of terror groups have been thrown down if not the evil in mens hearts.I think what you meant to say is “can you show me today- what terror is worth eradicating”?Well from the lefts point of view no I cant….Unless you count Sarah Palin,Santorum,Rush Limbaugh and people like that.
Michael e: Is your name “tishado?” Sarah Palin, Santorum, Rush Limbaugh, and ‘people like that’ are, indeed, terrifying, in their own way. And don’t be so presumptuous as to tell me what I meant to say. I could respond to your Nazi Germany and Japanese Empire comments but choose not to. It’s simply not worth it.
Thats what i said.To the left……..It simply is not worth it!
Nice work, Elaine. As usual. Don’t feed the trolls. Really.
Or dont feed the fiscal pedifile’s?Really is this the only thing you want Tim?Silly name calling with hands to ears repeating over and over NOT LISTENING- NOT LISTENING?
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