“Fox Attacks: Iran” is a bold effort to provide Americans with a different view of our policy toward Iran than the one Fox News keeps pushing on us. While Fox beats the drums for war, Robert Greenwald has produced documentary evidence that unmasks the ‘coverage’ for what it is: propaganda to get Americans ready for a Bush administration attack on yet another Middle Eastern nation. Robert has done something remarkable. He has used his extraordinary media skills to make a short video - only three minutes - to educate the American people, using the Internet as a way to connect us.
The issue here is pretty simple. The war in Iraq, which Bush misled us into, has been a disaster. It caused us, and the Iraqi people, a great deal of suffering: more than 3,700 American casualties, more than 70,000 Iraqi casualties, 2 million Iraqis displaced within Iraq by violence fear, and another 2 million Iraqis living as refugees in Syria and Jordan. It has cost our nation a great deal of money, money which could have been better used in educating our children, providing health care to every American, rebuilding our bridges and infrastructure, and helping us move toward a new green economy.
And, ironically, it has made us less safe from the very serious problem of international terrorism.
Osama bin Laden is alive and well and, according to the National Intelligence Estimate, Al Quada is growing stronger throughout the world.
In Afghanistan, the Taliban is reemerging as a powerful adversary, using terrorist skills they learned in Iraq, and the situation there is becoming more difficult. One of the reasons for the reemergence of the Taliban is, in my view, that in order to fight the war in Iraq, the Bush administration has diverted military, intelligence and reconstruction resources away from Afghanistan.
In the midst of all this, the United States, because of Bush’s actions, is held in lower regard by the international community than at any time in the modern history of our country.
And, now, there are increasing rumblings that Bush and Cheney are thinking of waging an attack on Iran. They are considering the possibility of bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities, and are also considering the possibility of cross-border raids into Iraqi territory.
I believe that the American people understand that with all our problems in Iraq and Afghanistan, and with our active duty military and National Guard significantly over-extended, the last thing in the world that we want is a war in Iran. That is why I introduced S. Con Res. 13 - which would express the sense of Congress that the president should not initiate military action against Iran without first obtaining authorization from Congress.
A war with Iran, combined with what’s going on in Iraq and Afghanistan, would be an horrendous disaster. Here’s what Zbigniew Brzezinski, former National Security Advisor, wrote recently: “An attack on Iran would be an act of political folly, setting in motion a progressive upheaval in world affairs.”
A major military action against Iran would almost certainly unleash a lengthy war with the Muslim world which would significantly increase the threat of attacks against the U.S. and our allies, as well as compound difficulties for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It would also strengthen President Ahmadinejad’s position in Iran against the moderates there.
It would further isolate us with regard to world affairs.
It would likely dramatically increase the cost of oil, and throw the world economy into a recession.
And, if President Bush embarks on military action against Iran without consulting with Congress, it is likely to create a constitutional crisis in the United States.
Nonetheless, Fox News continues to beat the drums for war, war, war, against Iran.
Every American should watch Robert Greenwald’s short video, for it shows us that the current Fox drumbeat for war is almost exactly the same as what Fox did, and most of the American media did, in the days before we invaded Iraq.
We know that most of what we were told then in that very loud and determined campaign about the dangers of Iraq turned out to be false. We need to be very, very careful that we don’t follow another loud and determined campaign into another disastrous war.
Bernie Sanders is US Senator from Vermont.
© 2007 HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.
As I see it, Fox does not have the power to declare war on another country. I think you’re giving the republican tool too much credit.
Congress declares war, and Congress can defund BushCo, any time it desires. So far, it has chosen to not defund BushCo.
Stop the whining, do your job Senator Sanders, and don’t blame Fox News or BushCo if Iran is invaded. It’s not up to them: It’s up to you.
Death to the Vichy democrats.
They’ve probably laid out a gameplan based on American demographics, and a solution for each one, to bring everyone onboard:
1) Politically/historically illiterate -> Fox propaganda.
2) Fundamentalists -> Defend Israel, holy war, etc.
3) Middle America -> False flag or psyop.
We’re already seeing the gameplan for #1-2 above. The question is how they’ll get the remaining 25-50% of America onboard, or whether they’ll gamble and go ahead anyway.
On Thom Hartmann’s Brunch with Bernie segment today (heard every Friday) on Air America radio, Senator Sanders recommended we all call the other TV networks and urge them to be independent and NOT follow FOX’s lead in beating the drums of war against Iran. Do your own investigation! (I would only add to Senator Sanders’ suggestion that we also call Fox and tell them we’re shutting off their network’s programming.)
[Currently a typo in paragraph 9 reads, “A major military action against Iraq would almost certainly unleash…” Hopefully this typo will be changed as the day goes on.]
It’s quite unfortunate that Senator Sanders refrained from saying that an attack on Iran would be a monstorous terroristic crime against humanity, as is the ongoing attack against Iraqis. His choice to underreport the number of Iraqi deaths as a result of the US now 17-year-old Iraqi War also reflects his timidity in doing what he asks us to do–talk truth to power. His omissions constitute propaganda of the same sort Fox produces.
Let’s not shot the messanger here. At least Bernie, unlike many of our congress critters, is at least awake to the fact that BushCo is planning an attack on Iran.
Another point is that Bush isn’t going to need a war declaration from Congress to attack Iran. He will just do it as an extension of his authorization to attack Iraq that Congress already gave him. Just look at how the issue is being framed: Iran is the problem in Iraq, so to be “successful” in Iraq, he HAS to attack Iran. Get it?
Congress can’t stop Bush based on the fact that Congress has to declare war before Bush can attack Iran. Period. They have to take direct action and tell Bush that he cannot attack Iran under ANY circumstances! Loud and clear! NOW!
By the way, go here if you want to send a message to the MSM to fight the FOX noise in the run-up to another war:
Message to networks: http://foxattacks.com/iran
The National Intelligence Estimate released yesterday expresses that a) we must stay the course and b) Iran and Syria are “to blame”. Oh, how convenient for Bush and Cheney and the other warmongers. A group that unfortunately seems to include the Democrats.
It amazes me that anyone of the Very Serious Foreign Policy Scholars (not!) would believe ANYTHING in any NIE after the previous ones were so obviously “dodgy”.
The New York Times (ptui!) and all the MSM almost choke on this stuff, they’re sucking it down so fast.
Despicable.
I would politely disagree with dover. Senator Sanders is addressing the primary cause for the ongoing war. We still have large numbers of Americans that simply do not know and or are misinformed of the facts (in the case of Fox viewers, purposefully misinformed). Something along the lines of 30 percent believe WMD were found, more so for established links with Al Qaeda (pre war) and on and on. No one in all of Congress has been more instrumental in addressing media issues (conglomeration, propaganda, etc) while promoting the importance of real journalism (along the likes of Izzy Stone). He and Greenwald are taking ACTION. Lets recognize this for what it is. Can Sanders do more, of course he could, could you do more Dover? of course you could.
The MSM needs to understand it SHOULD NOT travel back down the same path it did pre-Iraq. If you haven’t seen the Democracy Now DVD featuring Amy Goodman addressing the lack of anti-war voices in the lead in to Iraq, the lies that were unquestionably relayed, I highly recommend it.
I would say we are in marginally better shape in the MSM at the moment with the emergence of Olberman with the Stewart and Colbert (if you can count them as MSM?) Lets not forget though that MSN removed Donahue and brought in what they at the time (Olberman) believed would be a witty, fast talking, entertaining x sports caster. So, I have little faith that when additional pressure comes from the admin in a new propaganda campaign for Iran (as it appears it may) that the MSM will again become lapdogs as opposed to watch dogs. Sanders/Greenwald are getting out in front of that potential and likeley collapse and are attempting to provide a vehicle (as well as information) to communicate our concerns to the MSM.
Karlof, I disagree, I don’t think Sanders is afraid of anything. The question is, what is the best way to recruit support for this initiative. Most Americans are still WAY to misinformed to digest the fact that we are taking part in state sponsored terrorism, and Bernie knows that. Have you ever heard him talk???
Here we go again (and after Iran, Uzbekistan, Tadzikistan, etc).
Bernie Sanders is not a fuck up. He’s a brilliant guy and the only thing we have to an ally in congress. Some of these posters are unbelievable. Here he is pointing out specific evidence that fox is beating the drums for war, in an effort to moblize us to recognize and stop it, and you start blasting his credentials.
My opinon of the people I thought were representing the paradigm of truth has gone to the crapper, especially after reading all the shit that people wrote attacking the 7 soliders who risked their career, and perhaps their life, to tell how they really saw Iraq. Instead of discussing the implications of these points and how they could impact the world - as well as what we are citizens can do about it - many of you chose to attack like dogs, making you no better than O’Reilly, Rush, or Hannity. Different sides of the same dangerous extreme. The lack of intellegent dialouge is what gets us into these shitty situations and you’re not helping.
And I’m not saying buy an right wing asshole an ice cream every time he calls you a pussy, just keep your cool and keep to the facts. You don’t need to attack to win arguments when truth is on your side. You’ll actually notice that facts and calmness will expose fools for what they are, fools.
please correct me if i’m wrong about your hero sanders: did he not, along w/96 other senators, vote in favor of the recent resolution stating that iran is already committing acts of war against the US?
congress is legislating itself into irrelevance. your vote doesn’t matter, and the way congress is acting, pretty soon its vote won’t either.
Let’s not forget, we are ruled by the Lords of Chaos. Vice President Halliburton gets very rich when his company is hired to put things back together. The oilhead make record profits when there’s chaos in the oil market. And don’t forget, President Bubble Boy is a CHristian fanatic who thinks it is his destiny to precipitate Armageddon. No, crazy as it is, they ARE going to do this.
The shocking thing for me about this article is that it might even be necessary to convince some Americans that war with Iran is a bad idea.
If, as a result of Iraq, an American is not reflexively repulsed by the notion of war with another Middle Eastern power — then in my mind that American is beyond hope and this article is not going to accomplish anything.
But, I agree with those here that are accusing Sanders of some measure of timidity. The rhetoric of the article is far too restrained.
Democrats are in power in Congress. All that should be required is to simply say “there will be no funds made available for war with Iran.”
Or, better yet, to denounce the idea as utter insanity and not discuss it until the funding request is rejected. Or, go on offense.
The absolute refusal to go on the attack against these ideas and expose them as laughable and contemptible is really astounding. Really makes one wonder.
Ummm…
Cpotts, right on. WTF???
Some of you need to remove the stick. Quit nit-picking. The bottom line is that the guy is trying to expose the fact that there is a conscious line of propaganda coming from, more than any other source Fox. If you can’t grasp that concept then you simply don’t understand how the process works. You need to read up on some basic psychology/ marketing/media/propaganda Edward Bernays? Edward Herman? Chomsky?
Unfortunately, Sanders is about as liberal a senator that we will EVER get (before the empire crumbles). It was clear some of you didn’t even bother to read the entire article:
“That is why I introduced S. Con Res. 13 - which would express the sense of Congress that the president should not initiate military action against Iran without first obtaining authorization from Congress.”
I’m done sticking up for him, but seriously, what the hell is the problem here? If he can’t get support from a community such as ours where in the hell will he. Get with the program people.
The guys is using his position and ATTEMPTING! (little help?) to inform others which will in turn (one hopes) influence their thinking and place political pressure on other members of Congress to oppose an Iranian attack/invasion. That is really our only hope because, as others have noted, they will do it–if Congress will not stop them. So now…how will exactly will Congress do that when there is a lack of understanding in the American populace because it has been inundated with propaganda?
here is the THOMAS link to bill (Introduced by Sanders)
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c110:28:./temp/~c110W0eGjk::
Blah. Blah. And blah. BS knows - as does the rest of the world - that if Cheney wants to nuke Iran, he will. And with Rove and Snow heading for the bunker, it would appear something very, very bad is, indeed, on the way…
I listen to Sanders on Hartmann’s show every Friday, too. However, he’s being wimpy in this article, and he’s been wimpy on other issues.
As I said above, only Congress has the power to defund the occupation (I mistakenly called it a “war” above, but as we all know, The Idiot President declared the war was over several years ago, aboard a ship).
So far, Congress has given the Idiot everything he wants.
And telling listeners on Hartmann’s show to call the networks is just plain silly. How many times have we all said, the networks are owned by republican conglomerates, some of which (or perhaps all of which) have a profit motive in war? THEY DON’T CARE WHAT WE THINK. Congress should be looking into breaking up these media monopolies and reinstating the Fairness Doctrine: THEN the bastards will listen to us.
Senator Sanders may sound like the peoples’ choice sometimes, because he does the radio show each week, but he also engages in rhetoric.
And don’t forget: Not too long ago, he flatly refused to support impeachment (I’m guessing that this is still the case, but don’t know for sure). There is a long list of crimes and treason with BushCo, and Sanders refused to support impeachment. Make sense out of that one, and share it with us.
We have very few heros in Congress, for sure. When I read articles like this one, I’m not prepared to label Sanders one of them. He’s significantly better than most of them, I’ll grant, but he’s part of Congress, and Congress–not the media–controls the spending.
While I appreciate Mr. Sanders efforts to educate the people about propaganda from the repug affiliate FOX his account of the situation is underwhelming. The American populace doesn’t believe all the lies and bullshit that led us into war on Iraq because the propaganda machine pussy-footed around with trying to be nice. They believe it because it was relentlessly hammered into them. Mr. Sanders must embrace the whole ugly truth. Until the writers of these Articles are willing to to be as unrelenting in the pursuit of truth as their adversaries are in the pursuit of lies I’m afraid they will not make much of an impact on the brainwashed masses. Tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth and do it as loud and often as you can. Maybe then you’ll change minds, but if not at least you’ll have my respect.
Just suppose, since we are being told that Iran is a great threat to our country by all of these warmongers, that they decide it is imperative for their national security to make a pre-emtive strike on the USA. If that were to happen, where could they have gotten the idea? Would the rest of the world think that maybe we had asked for it and side with Iran or would they feel sorry for us as was the case with 9-11? I am afraid we are either going to start WWIII or push Iraq to do it as Bush and Cheny must see that as the only way to regain their former glory and power. Another MISSION to ACCOMPLISH!
I should have typed that we might push Iran to start war in previous post
Does ANY Democrat have ANY credibility whatsoever?
Didn’t the Senate vote 97-0 on July 11 to approve an amendment introduced by Lieberman confronting the Islamic Republic of Iran over unproved attacks on American soldiers in Iraq?
Where were you Sanders? Now he wants to blame Fox and Bush? How about blaming the Democrats for bending over once again, Mr. Sanders?
Since investigating http://foxattacks.com/iran a couple of days of ago I’m becoming more convinced that this is the worlds best hope. Seriously. It isn’t much, but it’s real. (Dover’s comments sure aren’t gonna fix much.)
FOX churned out the Simpson’s, with it’s relentless anti-authoritian undercurrents. Micheal Moore was right about corporate entities being stupid to the point of paying for the production and distribution of his documentaries.
OF COURSE THE MSM SUCKS AND IS OWNED AND RUN BY CORPORATISTS. THAT IS WHY THIS INITIATIVE MATTERS.
If you think we can just write off the MSM and save the world just by wearing our self-righteouness on our sleeves you deserve to go down with rest.
The media can sacrifice integrity but not the image of professionalism, and that is what is at stake here. Since having changed their tune on the wisdom of invading Iraq and largely blaming FOX for the ringleading the folly, they are now backed into a tight corner. Last time they could pretend to be unbiased, reasonable etc. This time the most fundamental credibility of their guild is openly at stake. That weighs in on the financial bottom line, since they are competing for the attention of the public. That is why we need to get on this wagon and help drive the point home to them. The non-FOX networks are teetering when it comes to supporting war on Iran. We need to nudge them in the right direction. If they fall the wrong way, the whole world falls with them (congress just goes with the tide of propaganda). But there is a real chance that they won’t.
Thank God Bernie Sanders saw this chance. It needs attention, it needs noise, it needs your support. Let the networks know that you expect better than FOX’s reputation for nonsense. They know this unprofessional reputation. They can see Olberman exemplifying the opposite and they can see his excellent ratings. They like ratings; it equals profit. And you should be glad if saves your planet, as it might just do if you get on board.
tetti tatti & jedediah springfield are right. BS has already put the nation on a war footing w/Iran, along w/the left’s other super saint, Feingold. and what does it cost BS to take on Fox News? why not the NYTimes or WaPo, who are surely far more influential in circles that matter, and who are beating the war drums just as loudly as Fox? (e.g., when cheney goes on tim russert to make the case for war, he does not appeal to Fox).
if sanders had some testes, he’d be calling for work-stoppage or something more radical. we are talking about starting ww3 here, and you are supposed to call up rupert and tell him to play nice?
well said witness.
I would really rather have a conversation about media as oppossed to whether or not Bernie balls have dropped or not. While some of you are pointing to some specifics (Dover and unwillingness to support impeachment–I’ll trust that is the case, but I am surprised)that I tend to agree with I still have to say “WTF!!!???”
Someone mentioned that because of profit motive/corporate ownership, we have no hope of influence. You couldn’t be more mistaken. BECAUSE of profit motive, we have an opportunity to influence their programming–eg above, the Moore quote.
Specifically, lets analyze the CHANCE that a mass outcry to the networks (first initiated by the Greenwald clip) for real journalism in the MSM. I absolutely believe it is possible. Fortunately we have some allies in place which we did not in the lead into Iraq. Secondly, the “general populace” I’ll call them (not people who read CD, etc) will be slightly more skeptical this time around (slightly). Lastly, TV “journalists” will also be slightly more skeptical in their acceptance of official statements. That is, if they are reminded (consistently and forcefully) of their earlier blind acceptance, they (the individual journalists–affecting their behavior and, executives (looking at the bottom line)on a programming level. Olberman, as mentioned, has put for th a successful model which others may want to emulate $$$.
“Let the networks know that you expect better than FOX’s reputation for nonsense. They know this unprofessional reputation. They can see Olberman exemplifying the opposite and they can see his excellent ratings. They like ratings; it equals profit. And you should be glad if saves your planet, as it might just do if you get on board.”
You are delusional, still living in a bubble. All of the networks have been emulating Fox for years now.
If you think ratings/profit are the goals then explain why we haven’t gotten real news while BushCo has been dictator.
The ‘cons bought up the media for reasons that couldn’t be clearer: To kill news. There is more value in spreading propaganda, because the real profit–enormous, unbelievable profit–is in the WAR wing of these conglomerates.
So congratulate yourself all you want, pat Sanders on his back and tell him how swell he is, and continue to live your delusion.
Until Sanders and the rest of Congress do something to break up the monopolies that Congress enabled, people like you will continue to believe that writing a letter to a republican-dominated corporatocracy is going to accomplish a change of behavior.
This isn’t the olden days, witness: everything has changed right under your nose.
And by the way…
Thom Hartmann’s home-base radio station in Portland Oregon, the one from which he broadcasts (and interviews Sanders from) and has a local morning show, has ABC as its “news” source. When Air America news went belly-up recently, apparently, ABC was deemed the best of all choices, by Thom’s station.
This is the same network that brought us the propaganda crap, The Path to 9/11. Utter propaganda crap.
I don’t remember Hartmann and Sanders talking about this during their weekly sessions.
DOVER your points are strong and legitimate, but I prefer the analysis of WITNESS because it offers HOPE. Is any system incapable of being altered from the inside out? IF it’s “about the $” then viewers do have at least SOME influence on content. I think we should use every crack in Darth’s death star to force the light of truth into any and all dialogs. Support Bernie’s initiative!
WOWL!!! Some of you people are being total assholes. You have a guy that’s on your side 90+% of the time and you slam him the way you do!?! Now that’s a real good way to win over his support on your personal issues. NOT. Is he perfect? No. But neither are any other person on this board. There’s not any 2 on this board that’s going to totally agree with the other and vote 100% on issues if in his place. I’d bet that the people of Vermont haven’t kept him in office because he’s on target 100% of the time on their issues. BUT, its because when they have issues he listens. He helps/supports his people get to Canada for medical issues when they can’t get help here. His people answer more emails and calls then probably most elected officials. You know folks, we have to start somewhere here. I don’t like the fact that at the moment he won’t back impeachment. But I do see how and why the people in Vermont like him and the good he does for this nation as a whole. He hasn’t been where he’s been for so long for a bad reason. You got to look at the whole picture. Not just a self serving picture. Ok, I’m wrong, just some repukelican mentality where we all agree to vote on issues the same way has now been enforced.
Dover
Your way out of line! I’ve heard Thom bring up that very point on countless occasions. He is just thankful for them to give him airtime. Your beating a brown dried up bush with few leaves with a stick. Unable to see its already dead.
Ok, last post to this bullshit. Work stoppage, ha! That’s just as fucking stupid as a no gas day. So fucking what, you go buy it the next fucking day. I hope they’re smart enough to raise the prices on you. You now doubled that days profits because you didn’t buy it yesterday. WOWL what a help you were to us. Fine, do me a favor then. Choose a Friday, the busiest day to do it on. And get your dumb fucking asses fired so I can get a better job. Same concept as with the gas. You’ll get nothing done but a chance to loose your job. Who the hell are you people working for? The neo-cons. Go ahead folks, follow that plan. You’ll all probably end up on the list as terrorist suspects and problem childs.
kinkygntlmn, we’re engaging in DISCUSSION here, and if you don’t like what you read or hear, labeling people “assholes” is about as kindergarten as it gets.
Jesus, if there’s one thing I’ve learned about some progressives, it’s that they can be as intolerant and my-way-or-the-highway as neo-cons.
Not really all that “progressive”, is it? You perfectly illustrate why one side is as bad as the other.
1st post, I added my opinion, that is now part of the discussion.
labeling people “assholes” is about as kindergarten as it gets.
With that said, ditto. We now are in the same grade.
Jesus, if there’s one thing I’ve learned about some progressives, it’s that they can be as intolerant and my-way-or-the-highway as neo-cons.
I don’t believe Jesus wants anything to do with this!!! It was a rhetoric question for crying out loud. But if it makes you feel as though you a better person then me by trying to belittle my post, amen.
Not really all that “progressive”, is it? You perfectly illustrate why one side is as bad as Not really all that “progressive”, is it? You perfectly illustrate why one side is as bad as the other.
You got one thing right. I think they both suck.
Its sad that every response you directed towards me to belittle me, you used the same tactics you accussed me of. And all I did was post my opinion, other then a rhetoric question. I attacked the issues and opinions at hand rather then any individual. Can you say the same?
Have I said ” Your beating a brown dried up bush with few leaves with a stick. Unable to see its already dead.” yet? My only mistake that I can see is that I allowed myself to be drawn into your nightmare of stating one above would be my last post to this none sense. Which I’ll keep this time.
kinkygntlmn, you’re the same joke who infests Crooks and Liars. I recognize the infantile approach that weak-minded people use: taking somebody’s post and dissecting it a sentence at a time.
Weak. Very weak.
Bernie wrote: ”
The issue here is pretty simple. The war in Iraq, which Bush misled us into,…”
“Misled”??? If you can’t get even a socialist to call Bush a liar, what’s the world coming to? This politeness, the fear of being direct, is surely part of the problem. To discuss the issue with any accuracy, it’s essential to point out that Bush is, over and over in regard to the war in Iraq, a serial liar of the first order.