One theme of the coverage of the NATO bombing of Libya is that the Libyan government is lousy at propaganda.
It was somewhat jarring, though, to see all of these headlines in the space of two days this week. It’s worth pointing out– as some of these stories (and others) do– that the NATO bombing has intensified over the past few days, making these ‘no dead civilians here’ pieces seem curiously timed.
I guess this could be seen as a message to the Libyan government: This is how the professionals do it.
New York Times (6/7/11):
“Libya Stokes Its Machine Generating Propaganda”
Sightings of civilian casualties have been rare, though not for want of official endeavor. But 11 weeks into the airstrikes, the government minders’ credibility, at least among foreign reporters, has worn perilously thin.
Visits to bombing sites, hospitals and funerals have produced a succession of blunders, including patients identified as bombing victims who turned out not to be, empty coffins at funerals and burials where some of those interred turned out not to be airstrike victims at all.
Wall Street Journal (6/7/11):
“Libya’s PR Efforts Are Falling Short”
Libya’s government says more than 700 civilians have been killed and more than 4,000 wounded in NATO airstrikes. But officials haven’t shown foreign reporters in Tripoli evidence of large numbers of civilian casualties.
Los Angeles Times (6/7/11):
“Libya Officials Put a Spin on Conflict”
Moammar Gadafi’s government alleges a mounting civilian toll and massive damage amid a punishing NATO-led bombing campaign. Foreign journalists learn that what officials say happened may not necessarily be the case.
Washington Post (6/6/11):
“Libya Government Fails to Prove Claims of NATO Casualties”
Nearly three months into NATO’s bombing campaign, Moammar Gadhafi’s government churns out daily propaganda about the alliance supposedly inflicting civilian casualties. Last week, it said that 718 people had died from mid-March to late May and that 4,067 had suffered significant injuries.
But it has failed to show foreign journalists more than a handful of dead or wounded people. Indeed, when reporters are taken on official trips, what they see suggests that NATO is being accurate and careful.
Hmmm.
Let’s see if that can be countered. Here’s a good place to start (I’d suggest my place but others tell it better) –
http://alexandravaliente.wordpress.com/
INDEPENDENT PEACE MISSION CONFIRMS THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY NO SIGNS GADDAFI HAS BOMBED CIVILIANS: WAR CRIMES ARE BEING COMMITTED BY NATO COALITION
LIBYA: TEAM OF BRITISH OBSERVERS SAY NATO IS LYING
JUSTICE FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE NATO BOMBING OF LIBYA
THE CLUSTER BOMBING OF MISRATA: THE CASE AGAINST THE U.S.A.
Here’s my take considering my extensive reading of foreign journals and blogs:
So with Namibia initiating the Africa campaign against NATO, France holding out the begging bowl for their blitz bombers, the US congress getting uppity about Obama ignoring the law and investing multi-millions a day in countries to help demolish Tripoli centre, UK parliament becoming discordant, Berlusconi on the ropes, other NATO members refusing to participate (share the guilt), the Spanish banker gov’t looky decidedly shaky, EU borders being re-established, US funded Saudi having domestic issues suppressing protestors despite helicoptering US beneficence by the $millions, Egypt turning sharia and looking to Iran and Palestine, Yemen’s US puppet gov’t down and out, the Swiss going theatrical over bilderberk war criminals, Syria, even the Syrians don’t know what is happening there, things aren’t looking good for Goldman Sachs-Sarkozy. Will the cartel families step in and fund NATO directly? It is after all a corporation war. Is it not? And GSachs is one of their own. No doubt Mr Moon can supply a piece of paper to say its ok, given the right incentives.
In some ways I don’t want the NATO campaign to end. The skeltons aren’t just coming out of the closet, they’re stampeding.
Check out Stop NATO too, daily updates.
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2011/06/10/libyan-war-updatesstop-nato-news-june-10-2011/
There you go, you just have to look a bit further than the end of Pinnochio’s nose.
:)
The problem is with who is reporting. Every quote is from USA media which is not necessarily the most truthful and independent reporters of facts.
Therefore if you are really going to be fair you need to check out RT.com and PressTV. I haven’t watch AlJazeera lately since they are, like the USA/EU, ignoring the brutality in Bahrain & Saudi Arabia. But they had been showing the dead bloody bodies as well.
If you look at the fact you might come to the conclusion that Libya has more in common with the Orange Revolution 2004 that Arab Spring.
Every Libyan of working age receives the USA equivalent of $1000/month regardless of work status or sex. Health care,education, infrastructure, military are all funded by oil & foreign investment profits. Libya is not a debtor nation its currency is backed by gold. Gaddafi had also been using profits to repair the ancient aqueduct system turning the desert into a sea of wheat.
What is the real problem? Gaddafi’s has been considering requiring products purchased from Libya to be paid for with gold or other mineral backed currency rather than the international reserve currency, the $. The USA will not allow anyone to do that. Iraq was the last country to consider that. They ended up with their country destroyed millions dead, their entire government assassinated by puppet courts and under occupation for 8 yrs, And even with sign treaty saying USA to completely withdraw by end of 2011 the Iraqis are having to fight daily to make USA realize they want their country back.
So after the USA/EU takes control of Libya natural resources how long do you thing the average man, not the bribed revolutionary counsel, but the average Libya before they revolt? It has only been 30 yrs since they had a bloody revolt to get rid of France they aren’t beyond doing it again.
NATO Making Libya a Failed State
http://members.beforeitsnews.com/story/707/207/NATO_Making_Libya_a_Failed_State.html
Gaddafi Bitch-Slaps Arab Leaders
http://members.beforeitsnews.com/story/713/499/Gaddafi_Bitch-Slaps_Arab_Leaders.html
Why R we there again?I cant even work Libya into our national interest
Gee, Mike, I thought even you could spell O-I-L.
Of course there’s much more to it than than, but petroleum is a good start.