History News Network

Breaking News

Departments

Deja vu — Judith Apter Klinghoffer

Judith Apter Klinghoffer

RUMSFELD: TO WIN WE MUST CREATE AN ALTERNATIVE TO MSM

Last night Donald Rumsfeld went on Charlie Rose show and told him in as straight forward a manner as he could that Al Qaeda, with its highly coordinated and sophisticated media apparatus, has been successful in getting MSM to help them fight their war against the West. As the current war on Islamism is asymmetric, Rumsfeld further argued, it cannot be won on the ground by soldiers, but must be won in the hearts and minds of the soldiers' homeland. Hence, unless the US government and its allies find an effective way to counter Al Qaeda's successful use MSM, the West will lose the war with Islamism.

Rose retorted that there was nothing new in Al Qaeda's attempt to use MSM. The Nazis did the same thing. Nor was he concerned by the prospect of Islamist victory or by the possibility that the media may be helping make such a victory possible. What caught his attention was Rumsfeld's argument that to secure victory the American government must find a way to compete, if not totally supplant, MSM as a source of public information.

"Do you believe the American media is doing a bad job?" he asked waxing lyrical about reporters risking their lives to tell the story. "Isn't this simply a case, as Pulitzer Prize winner David Halberstam argues, of shooting the messenger?" After all, how could a mere American Secretary of Defense have the gall to argue with a Pulitzer prize winner?!

Trying to deliver a message while doing as little to antagonize as possible, Rumsfeld did not bother to remind him that Walter Duranty also won a Pulitzer for misreporting on both the Moscow Trials and the Ukrainian famine. Nor did Rumsfeld remind him of the less than glorious media record in exposing Nazi atrocities or its role in stalking the fires of isolationism in the US. Instead, Rumsfeld reminded Rose of the more recent CNN admission of its deliberate decision not to report the truth about the vile nature of Saddam's regime. That was wrong, Rose admitted but, he added, Jordan has since left CNN. Of course, Jordan was no exception and the recent CNN failure to show the controversial Muhammad cartoons for fear of endangering its reporters in the Muslim world demonstrates just how easy it is to terrorize the media. Of course, CNN is far from unique. Just read the open letter sent by the Malaysian investigative reporter to the Australian SBS TV which chose to add fuel to the ongoing Islamist stalked fire by airing additional photos of the old Abu Ghraib atrocity but failed to show the Muhammad cartoons. Terrorism, as Rumsfeld explained, aims at getting one to change his/her behavior.

But can you point to an actual military harm done by MSM? Charlie asked. Yes. Rumsfeld retorted. The recent publication of the American ability to monitor Al Qaeda communications with its American contact caused real damage. This Rose tried to dismiss with a knowing smile: "Surely, they knew we were listening?" Not really, Rumsfeld replied, the reporting led Al Qaeda operatives to change their behavior. You mean in the manner the reporting about our ability to listen in on Bin Laden's satellite phone did? Rose asked. Precisely, Rumsfeld answered. Rose Quickly changed the subject.

Do I believe this interview will alter Rose's reporting or the behavior of the MSM? Not a chance. Still, this interview is important. Along with Socrates and Rumsfeld, I believe that questions are more important than answers. Once posed, answers are invariably found. Rumsfeld asks how can Western governments bypass MSM and thereby secure victory in the war with Islamists. I trust somebody will come up with the appropriate answer. Clearly the sooner it's done, the shorter this 'long war" will be. In the meantime, we, members of the alternative media, must double our efforts. Luckily, we have Jihadists own mistakes to help us hold the line.

For MSM response, click here.

Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 at 5:56 PM | Comments (8) | Return

Home Newsletter Submissions Advertising Donations Archives Internships About Us FAQs Contact Us All Articles