Bin Laden: The story that needs to be told

[Luke Benjamin Weiger]

Perhaps I am "dead wrong."  As others on the list would be happy to inform
you, it wouldn't be a first.  My point wasn't that the connection is
prominently featured in all or even most news accounts (although you're
correct that it should be).  Rather, my limited claim was (and is) that
the omission is far from universal.

My "doting" and "bizarre" words (tepidly) in favor of the mainstream media
may be explained thusly: too often I'm dissapointed by the critiques
emanating from the left that are every bit as slanted and sloppy with the
truth as the worthless cant they intend to deconstruct.  See Chomsky's
"analysis" of the media coverage pertaining to the Khmer Rouge.

-- Luke

On Wed, 12 Sep 2001, Chris Kromm wrote:


> Luke,
>
> In your zeal to make a point, you're dead wrong. Many, many news accounts --
> and I've been watching many -- have omitted the story of bin Laden's CIA
> connection. Stratfor's intelligence briefing on bin Laden -- widely
> circulated, quoted and posted on official news websites -- left out any
> reference of the Cold War context, CIA backing, or U.S. involvement on any
> level.
>
> Your doting words towards mainstream media accounts are bizarre. Media
> coverage has been wrong on this, and other issues. And it's important that
> they are called on it.
>
> Chris
>
>
> Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 17:23:33 -0400
> From: lweiger at umich.edu
> Subject: Re: Bin Laden: The story that needs to be told
>
> > >
> > > You assume that it hasn't already been told loud and clear.  My father
> > > told me that one of the major news anchors was discussing it with an
> > > analyst last night.  Who could forget that just yesterday the Soviets
> > > were fighting the US-backed Taliban?
> > >
> > > -- Luke
> >
> > It certainly hasn't been emphasized in any coverage I've seen.  Plenty of
> > people in the U.S. have forgotten, or never knew.  And when they were
> > fighting the Soviets, they were generally known in the west as the
> > "mujahadeen" or just Afghan rebels.  I don't know how generally it's
> > understood that the "Taliban" are (many of) the same people.  So yes, it
> > is still our job (and anyone's who cares) to make sure this is talked
> > about.
> >
> > Gary Ashwill
>
> And, as I noted, apparently even major news anchors like Dan Rather are
> willing to note the historical context.  There is no "mainstream media"
> demonically attempting to spin reality away (even though, of course, this
> analysis is likely to be more prominently featured in the Nation than
> Newsweek).
>
> - -- Luke
>
>