Death by rumour
The death of over a thousand people in Bagdad after a stampede provoked by rumours of a suicide bomber is an extremely important, sad event.
That words alone can result in the deaths of more people than in any single suicide bombing is a salutary lesson, and one that should be studied closely. A deeply held fear that is shared by a population provides opportunities for manipulation not just by apparent agents of terror, but also by political and social operators. The Iraqis claim the rumour was deliberately started, however there is no evidence for this rhetoric. 'The terrorist pointed a finger at another person saying that he was carrying explosives... and that led to the panic' the Interior Minister told Iraqia television. It was 'Saddamists and Zarqawists' who spread rumours on the bridge, a 'national security adviser' alleged - however, it seems unlikely that this would have been initially a deliberate strategy, given that the effects of rumour are unpredictable compared to the known effects of a bombing. Claims of deliberate action allow the state to maintain the focus on an 'enemy' rather than human nature. 'Death by rumour' is a perfect merging of propaganda and uncoventional warfare.
Item posted by AutoEditor at 10:19 am ::
