Re: CNN responds to false footage charge

In a message dated 9/19/01 5:09:33 PM Pacific Daylight Time, Jay@Fenello.com 
writes:

<< At the BBC here, we have these footages on videotapes recorded in 1991


So why hasn't the BBC posted anything about this on their website?  I'm 
beginning to think the people circulating these stories (in this case, not 
even backed up by a faked BBC e-mail address) are more interested in keeping 
this story alive than the mass media...

I am not convinced by claims that this bombing is some sort of gift to Israel 
(which, incidentally, reports that 110 of its citizens are missing at the WTC 
(reported on NPR)).  Ariel Sharon thinks so, but he is an idiot.  On 
September 10, Bush was still acting (against the advice of his father) as if 
Israel was the only friend the US needed in the Middle East.  Today, they are 
going on and on about how important it is to have Arab allies on board for 
this fight.  I suspect there are people in the US government  who are aware 
that this war will be unpopular with many Arabs.  The most logical thing to 
do is to toss them some concession, in this case perhaps some progress on the 
Palestinian/Israeli situation.  It is also worth noting that Bush has 
pointedly denounced attacks on Arab Americans (I suspect this follows the 
same logic, as well as his hopes to get their votes in 2004).  History is 
loaded with cases where states, seeking to strengthen themselves internally, 
have made important concessions to subaltern classes.  This is what I think 
may happen in this case as well, both on a local and a global scale.  
Concessions may also be made to China and Russia, although progressives may 
not be particularly enthusiastic about those (namely, that the US will back 
off from what China and Russia consider internal problems--Chechnya, Tibet, 
etc).  Meanwhile, Japan is offerring to join the forces gathering 
militarilly, which certainly sounds like the end of some sort of era...

Boris--Does Kagarlitsky seriously believe that American right 
wingers--generally quite parochial and often racist--could 'easily' recruit 
19 Arabs or Arab Americans willing to commit suicide for their ruse?  I have 
seen no evidence that Bin Laden is behind this, nor that Iraq is involved 
(this too is a rising theme in the US media and government statements).  But 
I don't think one should try to contort what we do know to fit what might 
sound more convenient for some political perspectives.

Steven Sherman

 >>>
 >>>with the very same images. But now, think for a moment about the impact of
 >>>such images. Your people are  hurt, emotionally fragile, and this kind of
 >>>broadcast has very high possiblity of causing waves of anger and rage 
against 
 >>>the Palestinians. >>