Alexander Cockburn’s latest piece at CounterPunch (2/10/12) included this from a tipster:
I was visiting ABC News the other day to see a friend who works on graphics. When I went to his room, he showed me all the graphics he was making in anticipation of the Israeli attack on Iran; not just maps, but flight patterns, trajectories and 3-D models of U.S. aircraft carrier fleets.
But what was most disturbing–was that ABC, and presumably other networks, have been rehearsing these scenarios for over two weeks, with newscasters and retired generals in front of maps talking about missiles and delivery systems, and at their newsdesks–the screens are emblazoned with “This Is a Drill” to assure they don’t go out on air (like War of the Worlds).
Then reports of counter-attacks by Hezbollah in Lebanon with rockets on Israeli cities–it was mind-numbing. Very disturbing–when pre-visualization becomes real.
Does that kind of thing actually happen? Well, yeah.
CBS “practiced” covering a U.S. bombing of Iraq back in 1998–and the footage was apparently fed to a satellite (L.A. Times, 2/20/98):
CBS jumped the gun Friday on a possible U.S. attack on Iraq: The network inadvertently transmitted a practice news report via satellite that could be picked up by television stations and viewers with special equipment.
To try out new graphics for combat coverage in the event the U.S. goes forward with the threatened bombing of Iraq, CBS anchor Dan Rather was rehearsing with Pentagon correspondent David Martin over a closed line between CBS‘s New York headquarters and its Washington news bureau. The report was mistakenly sent up to a communications satellite.
You know what they say …
Practice makes perfect propaganda.
And while I’m sure this is all great fun, when it comes to that honest to Mars adrenaline rush these mavens of mayhem jones for …
Ain’t nothin’ like the real thing.
Why is anyone surprised? News stories that create a climate to engage the American people into a false war are part of the historical record.
I can’t believe how easy it was for President Obama to propagandize a nuclear threat by Iran, just as George W. Bush did with Iraq. You would think that more people would remember how they were fooled by Bush, and think twice about Obama’s assertions. But no. It really destroys my faith in people, that they would just take it at face value -again.-
The U.S. has enough nuclear weapons to destroy all life on the planet dozens and dozens of times over, and Iran scares US? That’s ridiculous, especially since the U.S. has admitted that Iran doesn’t even HAVE a nuclear weapons program.
I feel the same way, Jeff. The U.S. with perhaps thousands of nuclear warheads is scared of Iran? Cut me a break! Iran is perfectly aware that a nuclear attack (if they had a nuclear weapon at all) on another country would result in retaliation that would be akin to national suicide for Iran. As Hillary once said, “We’d obliterate them.”
My question to the warhawks and news media: How does the U.S. intend to pay for another war?
Why is the US at perpetual war? When the war against communism ended there seemed to be a rush to find someone else – war against drugs, war against terrorism, war against the middle east, war against China or N. Korea. Why do we have to be at perpetual war? Shouldn’t the most powerful nation be strong enough to END perpetual war, not continue it endlessly? Today the media is talking about cyber war. Add that to the list of perpetual wars that can never be resolved. This leads more and more to the ideas from George Orwell’s 1984 Ministry of Peace that is always at war, and ministry of Truth that always tells lies. Frighteningly relevant and Orwellian.
For some inexplicable reason we seem to always have to have an enemy? When communism fell we jumped to find a new threat. the real NPR show should be, why does America, the strongest nation in the world, always have to be afraid – and live at war fear level?
War doesn’t help our country, it saps our resources and kills our young people. The benefits of these endless wars in no way compare with the cost. Those who want war are against the country they say they are trying to protect.
Tom, what you say makes too much sense. You see, American jihad against terror can never end. It can never be won or lost. This guarantees perpetual war. We have a war industry that needs war to perpetuate itself, with some getting rich off of it.
Keep getting the word out… the public does not have any idea of how serious this is and what it means and it is our job to put a stop to it before it starts or at least place limits on elite policy options.
When I vigil with the Central Jersey Coalition Against Endless War, one of my signs says, “Endless War=More Deaths, Destruction, Deep Debt and Retribution” (in the form of preventable catastrophes lacking funds to stop them, like stronger levees for Katrina) and another, “TurmOIL of War for Troops; SpOILs of war for profiteers–End War.” If you see us in Highland Park, join us!
I always wonder & heavylly disturbed if, we can not really achieve peace in the world but, of cause we can &, it’s easy as far as i’m concerned. The only way is for world leaders to please, always have good intention in whatever they do or plan. America, China & Russia among others are too influential so much that they can always have their ways in a cool peacefull manner anytime. Everybody LOVES America & wants to come to America, they love d country. If world leaders have handled Libya’s case properly by 1st speaking with one voice by ensurig that, the rebels should lay down arms for peaceful talk & soft landing for Ghadafi, the nos of lifes lost & total destruction of their cities could have been prevented but, instead, they were supplying arms & encouraging them raise arms against their country same for Egypt & now Syria. Yet, what is the situation in Libya & Egypt now? Are they better off &, who’s helping them now? Same is happening in Syria now. The truth is, Iran will not & can not attack America or Isreal if, they dont attack them. Leaders should be very careful of who are those writing d security reports for them &, what are their true motives. Did they eventually find any weapon of mass destruction in Iraq after destroying the nation they call a member of UN & wasting unnecessarily, so many lives of both American soldiers & civillians in Iraq? Consider the about $900b wasted, which could have been used for better purposes. All of these so called terrorists are not muslims in whatever way, they’re just been used & brainwashed the same way some military & Security Intellegence leaders are misleading various leaders with their security reports. Let leaders take time to read the Quran in english & tell me or the world where God ask anybody to carry out any terrorist attack on antbody or, where HE says muslims should destroy Isreal. Let our leaders please fear GOD & remember with certainty that, there’s truely JUDGEMENT after DEATH. When you’re fortunate in life to be in a position of authority & power, you have more burden on you. PEACE TO US ALL.
I have read that 4-6 people own all of the media in this country. It would be more than interesting to see how many of these media corporations have stocks in munitions, aircraft, drones. etc. Maybe personal investmnets should be vetted before a talking head is hired, or too, how many military advisers on the air have significant investments in these industries?
Maybe, like the Supreme Court Justices, that have to step off of a decision, because of conflicts, the media, to have any credibility, should have to do that too. I also read that the military has film of Hiroshima that has never been seen. Maybe if the networks showed those films, we might be able to very quickly, become a more peaceful and rational planet.
In ancient time, leaders went to war if they declared one. That would be helpful too with those in Congress that seem to want war so badly. THEY, the hawks, could go to war and the doves could stay behind and manage the country, because that’s not happening now.
Even worse, we are federalizing civilians in local governments via DHS programs to “train” them for “an emergency” in which on very short notice, workers are dispatched to remote locations away from home to follow orders from DHS command posts which assume complete authority, presumably to “prevent chaos”, and of course, to provide for “reasonable necessities”. Choice, and freedom to choose, are not factors in these plans, nor are concerns about one’s other members of one’s family. Remember the good old days, when civilians controlled the military instead of vice versa?
To pronounce the obvious here. Doesn’t this imply, with what room for doubt I have not a clue, that such activities must be sanctioned, even guided by that invisible hand we call our corporate run government & it’s other head, the military industrial complex, or Pentagon INC? And by guided the implication is fore-knowledge.
Hey wait a minute here. Weren’t there some similar broadcasts on 9/11/2001? Like someone forgot to put the “This is only a drill” sign up? Like someone had prior knowledge of a cataclysmic event that was supposed to have no prior knowledge on any level of government?
Wait, I know. Rupert Murdock is really Osama bin Laden.
This is like when Cheney used to go on the Sunday talk shows and proclaim “it must be true if the Post says it”, after having leaked to the Post whahat to print during the previous days before the Sunday talk shows?
Let’s all the progressives go liberate the Maldives and call it home. It’ll be fun until high tide anyway…
I know it’s not really funny, but I’ve been practicing for my some-time-in-the-future-possible-rendition for how I will defend myself mentally. I figure if I scramble my brains before they get me…
Is anyone really surprised? Most of the comments are right to the point. From the “Military Industrial Complex” to “Endless
War=…. so obvious to many of us, secular or otherwise. Very discouraging because those of us who believe these statements
are calledl “unAmerican” and so on.
Thomas “most of the comments may be right to the point” but……..none take the threat seriously.Im quite sure if “Ah my needs a Job” cared to read these blogs he would laugh and say if only we had more dumb ass Americans like this we would not have so much fuss.They would just roll over and go to sleep.Most of the comments here HAVE a point.Just not any that have been thought through.
Elaine my perpetual optimist.Don’t walk down dark allies late at night believing because you are a good and caring person you are safe.There really are “lions and Tigers and bears” out there.And don’t believe even if you do get caught by them in that dark alley that you can talk your way out(because your a good and reasonable person).This week Obama said he would cut our nuclear arsenal to 300 weapons.Russia will retain 1500.China about 700(and growing)Unilateral disarmament.I kinda thought he was getting it that we have real enemies out there.Maybe not so much.
You all talk of Iran’s fear of us.Afghanistan and her Taliban were not so fearful were they..They were willing to pay the ultimate price.What gives you such absolute faith Iran is not?How about the man just caught who wanted to blow up the capital.He seemed willing.You gamble with all our lives for your liberal beliefs.Beliefs rooted in the idea that america IS the problem.
michael e, if you rub someone (nations or individuals) the wrong way over and over, day in and day out for weeks, months and years on end, why would you expect them not to become somewhat angry with you, suspicious of your motives, even threatening to you in response? And worse than that, how can you even begin to justify yourself as the innocent victim?
Blowback anyone?
When was the last time that one of these vaporous bogey man, woman or child killed an American civilian? Or even tried? All I ever hear is how “active” the terrorists are, while most of the deaths end up being innocent civilians from countries other than the USA. Or any other Anglo-Saxon western nation f that matter.
Your sponge-bob brain is so full of corporate media pundit mud, you must really believe the reality-view is normally that obscure, as clear as it gets.
How lucky you must think you are to be so Exceptionally Amerikan.
How lucky I think I am not to be you!
You’re wasting your time, J. Really. But, there but for the grace of God I used to go . . . .
J “Rollin” Im willing to grant you that IF a country is threatened by another she has every right to defend herself.In this case there is no reason for Iran to arm in a nuclear fashion.Israel will not invade her.United States will not.As far as I know Russia and China have no plans.If she gains weaponization it is a complete negative to her national security.If not war than destabilization..endless sanctions….She will loose whatever friendship status she would ever hope to gain among a lot of the world.So from a strategic point of view it is stupid.The loss would far outweigh the gains.As far as Iran’s history of supporting terrorist factions Im surprised you are denying that.Is that even an argument?So you believe we are that big ol bogey man,and countries like Iran and I suppose North Korea just innocent bystanders looking on -eating lemon gumdrops and cotton candy.Well thats a belief system and I suppose that make spongebob here your antagonist(and Tims).Does it never occur to you that you have been so well trained in that lib mindset of blame America first that you can’t even agree with your own leader in such a mindset(Obama)when he tells you that he has read the intel and we have a serious problem here.No you are actually more likely to believe he has been co-opted by those vaporous bogey men.You really can’t see the forrest for the trees.
And another thing(said like a conservative)…..Who on these blogs other than me ,actually reads the words as said by the Iranian leadership on a daily basis?What they say in their world press releases is far different than the Farsi pronouncements they vomit forth on a daily basis.In real time you people are quite literally not hearing ,or ignoring what one of the players in this little game is saying.You hear Obama and you judge his words as worthy of truth or not(on this subject usually not).Yet no matter what threat Iran makes,no matter what insanity comes out of that dark leadership you either don’t hear it…..refuse to hear it……or dismiss what you do hear because after all they don’t REALLY mean they want to light the jewish state on a sea of fire praise be allah.Im starting to think you lot do not really have the right to contribute here till you at least listen to both sides.Or contribute and say…”Of course I have not heard the Iranian side,but I am still judging America in spite of not knowing what the hell Im talking about”.