Propaganda 101

The analysis at the end of the article defines why it is believed to be Iraq that is country of origin of the manual.
Click to expand...

Yes it does. But it does not prove it. It doesn't even come close to proving it. It proves that an unknown Arab country, most likely Iraq or Syria, made these manuals. And even if it definitely was Iraq, making manuals for people providing assistance to the Taliban and (it is *suspected*) Al Qaeda is a far stretch to call a "link".
Remember that
#1 A much more solid link can be drawn between our own government and AlQaeda
#2 A much more solid link can be drawn between our own government and Saddam
and of course,
#3 Saddam wanted BinLaden dead.

All this is neither here nor there. Point is the headline makes a statement of fact "Iraq". Not "Maybe Iraq", not "Possibly Iraq". Not "Probably Iraq".
The article completely fails to justify this assertion.
 
I think poor journalism like this is rampant. I just don't know why you decided to pick Fox News to use as an example. Oh, wait. Yes I do.:p
 
JohnBT,
Yes, completely. They either prove their claim or they do not.

I just don't know why you decided to pick Fox News to use as an example. Oh, wait. Yes I do.
Click to expand...
I'd be willing to bet that you don't.
 
Maybe you're reading too much into the headline, GoSlash27.

I think we can all agree that it is clear from the translation in the article that there was a manual that gave tips to Arab military operatives who would be operating in Afghanistan. So the "How-to Manual Directed Arab Military Operatives In Afghanistan" part of the headline would seem accurate.

That leaves the word "Iraq" as the bone of contention in the headline. You are apparently reading the headline as saying the manual was produced by or in Iraq. You could as easily read the headline as saying the manual was found in Iraq.
 
gc70,
True. Was the vagueness intentional or accidental? Going by the first 2 paragraphs I'm thinkin' intentional. After all, a manual 'found' in Iraq does not justify the war, but a manual 'made' in Iraq....well, it wouldn't justify the war, but would lend credence to the claim of a link.
 
I would hope that a working-with-terrorists manual, or a few chemical weapons shells, or any of a variety of other trivial things, would not be the deciding factors in anyone's view on whether the war in Iraq is justified or not.

In many respects, I assess whether the war in Iraq is justified or not on the same basis that I assess a major consumer purchase - on the basis of cost versus benefits. I try to ignore slick advertising... and political propaganda. :)
 
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