also saw peter jennings earlier highlighting the need to understand the systemic nature of what happened. he was trying to point out that a military response (alone) would not solve the problem.
i think also that the coverage has changed since yesterday. not scientific, but aside from an appalling (imo) suntimes editorial today (9/12), i believe i haven't seen reports of palestinian celebrations getting the same play--or being deployed as much in the same way--today as they did yesterday. they were slow to blame arabs, but they were very quick to jump on those images, despite oklahoma city.
> From: "Nathan Newman" <nathan at newman.org>
> Reply-To: lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
> Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 20:22:09 -0400
> To: <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com>
> Subject: Re: Bin Laden: The story that needs to be told
>
> On the other hand, ABC ran a tremendously good report noting the bitterness
> of Palestinians because of US support for Israel, our support for their
> dominance of Islamic holy sites, and the use of American weapons in killing
> Palestinians - all with visuals of suffering Palestinians - in noting the
> support at times in the region for the bombing. They combined this with a
> long story on the anti-Arab and anti-Islam threats against Americans from
> the region and noted that there were doubtless many Arab and Islamic
> Americans who died in the bombing, just like other Americans.
>
> Frankly, the media has been quite good in repeatedly condemning any hint of
> backlash against Arab and Islamic Americans. They've given lots of play to
> Guiliani's surprisingly moving defense of tolerance and refusal to give into
> hate (it makes you think he should have gotten cancer years ago; he's become
> such a liberal softie.)
>
> I think at least some of the media are doing penance for their wrong racist
> reactions to the Oklahoma City bombings.
>
> Nathan
> nathan at newman.org
> http://www.nathannewman.org
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Chris Kromm" <ckromm at mindspring.com>
> To: <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2001 8:09 PM
> Subject: Re: Bin Laden: The story that needs to be told
>
>
> 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
>
>
>
>