December 08, 2008
Chesler: Political Pornography and The Electronic Intifada
Phyllis Chesler today posts an article on terrorists' use of the internet.
In addition to expert combat training and isolation, Lashkar-e-Taiba, (LeT), brainwashed the Mumbai Ten by having them watch video footage of “Hindu extremists demolishing the Babri Masjid (mosque) and Hindu mobs killing Muslims in the aftermath of the burning of a train full of Hindu pilgrims passing through Godhra (Gujarat) in 2002.” A former LeT recruit said he had been shown photos of Muslim women raped and killed and dumped in mass graves in Bosnia.I might add a couple points, one other part of this enemy propaganda is where "righteous murder" or "Allah's punishment" is carried out on some poor individual. This death porn is also used to warp the minds of "believers", desensitize and incite them to approving of or performing the same types of heinous acts.Why do I describe the footage of real events as “propaganda” films?
Unlike the Palestinian faux-tography which depicts fake massacres in Jenin and the fake murder of children, these are, presumably, true depictions of anti-Muslim atrocities. But, they may still be viewed as “propaganda” because the footage is not presented right alongside other, opposite, horrific photos in which Muslims commit atrocities nor are the terrorist recruits guided to more ethical and less barbaric responses to barbarism. On the contrary, these films and photos are used to inflame and incite soldiers to hate as well as to kill.
Another angle often seen is the same event or battle portrayed both as a "victory of the Mujahadeen against the crusaders" and the same event described elsewhere as "great atrocity against innocent Muslims by invaders of Muslim lands".
I read this entry over the weekend. It gives a good overview of the disinformation strategies used by the terrorists, some of it comes directly from the al-Qaeda field manual, other portions from various conflicts.
I think our readers will find it interesting because some arguments discussed came up in comments here. And also because it explains the "show me the evidence" taqiyya. Where one might know exactly what happened, but asks for "proof" anyway. It is really a strategy to cause your opponent to reveal his intelligence capabilities.
