[iwar] [fc:CNN.should.be.renamed]

From: Fred Cohen (fc@all.net)
Date: 2001-09-27 06:48:27

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From: Fred Cohen <fc@all.net>
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Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2001 06:48:27 -0700 (PDT)
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Subject: [iwar] [fc:CNN.should.be.renamed]
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September 27, 2001
CNN should be renamed
by Ivan Orozco

When the hostilities began in Kuwait Americans hardly knew where that
country was much less what kind of people and of what culture, religion
or ethno-linguistic group they were.  The same applied to the operation
in Somalia; who knew what the Horn of Africa was? The Balkans were no
different.  All these places had one thing in common: they were hard to
find in the map and in reality, as an American, who cared to begin with?

CNN brought us the aerial lights display over Baghdad, the (intended)
covert beach landing in Somalia followed by the dragging bodies of U.S. 
soldiers, the sniper "shows" of Sarajevo and the U.S.  bombing of Serbia
with follow-on massive intervention in Kosovo.  All this in places that
raised our eyebrows not because of the incredible brutality of which we
were witnessing but because we could see it live and in full color. 
With endless "experts", maps, charts, U.N.  spokesman briefings and, of
course, the much lauded Christian Amanpour...many Americans began to see
the world as a smaller place.  CNN's coverage of all these places began
and still is one gigantic THE LEARNING CHANNEL (TLC); one big educator
of the masses on geography.  culture, history and religions.  Even if
the information is from the libertarian point of view, the important
part is that it's being disseminated to the U.S.  general public.  At
least now a greater number of people in this country can point to
Yugoslavia and tell you that it broke up in the 90's...  according to
CNN. 

The same situation is upon us with Central Asia.  Possibly one of the
most obscure and enigmatic areas of the globe.  We are about to embark
on another marathon of televised geography lessons laden with a plethora
of information that we never knew existed.  Why? Because we don't see it
in a movie, on an MTV video or on CNN.  Americans are addicted to
television [an average 10 year old child watches between 8-10 hours a
day].  However, CNN is educating (at least marginally) our T.V. 
watching minds. 

The flood gates are open with information, as foreign as it may be,
about Pashtoons or Hazara ethnic groups, the Punjabi language, ancient
tribal laws and maps, maps endless maps.  As if it wasn't enough that we
are being bombarded with the imfamous name OSAMA BIN LADEN.  Soon we
will be able to follow the current events of the "War On Terror" from
our living room set without difficulty.  Not simply because it's on T.V. 
but because it affects America in a very personal way. 

Because we are starting to see that the fit of passion that we felt in
the days after the attacks on N.Y.  and the Pentagon are starting to
diminish, analtytical warfare has begun.  We are not a nation of
monsters similar to those who carried out these attacks...even though
many acted that way by attacking Arabs, Muslims and anybody that
"looked" foreign...we are a superpower with rights, laws and principles
for all its citizenry.  We will not act rashly and murder as we have
been murdered, we will not launch as war on Islam (as many have feared)
and we will not launch a war that will bring a backlash so immense that
it won't be worth it.  Why? because CNN, or shall I say TLC, will show
us the images, yet again, of our servicemen being dragged through the
streets of Pakistan or Afghanistan and that we do not want to see again. 

So if CNN was renamed TLC I would make those three letters represent To
Look Closer. 

The writer is a veteran military intelligence analyst. 

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