Pixelated Semantics

A schizotypical inventory

A propaganda machine for generating radicals

An article in the Observer strives to cement the notion of 'al-Qaeda the idea' or "al-Qaeda-ism"', (completing the media push away from 'AQ - terrorist central'). The writer, like others recently, also stretches to tie radical islam to radical socialism or anarchism. This kind of writing attempts to centralise different kinds of anti-capitalist, anti-western ideas into the same notions of threat. The author cautions over

'...the clear influence of al-Zawahiri, who himself was heavily influenced by extremist European left wing revolutionary doctrines. Shortly after 9/11, al-Zawahiri cautioned militants of "the vanguard" against "getting killed in silence" and railed against "the false consciousness' created by the media among the masses that ensured extremists remained a minority. In last week's tape Khan spoke of the "propaganda machine" which aimed to "scare the masses into conforming to their power and wealth-obsessed objectives". And in talking about giving his words "life with blood" Khan hinted at the influence of earlier secular activists, reformulating the concept of "propaganda by deed" which guided the anarchist terrorists who struck all over Europe at the end of the 19th century.'

Note that the ideas of symmetry are unconfirmed, that he 'hinted at the influence' and was 'heavily influenced', and with liberal doses of the description 'extremist' added, the picture of revolutionists with a common cause could be coloured-in by willing readers. How secular ideas may impact a religious Islamist cause is an unexplained contradiction - the article itself shifts focus from the media's role in 'propaganda' towards blaming the Left (almost becoming conspiracy theory, rather than reportage) at every possible opportunity. The Independant's coverage is more realistic, or at least definite. To their writer, the tape '...gives the appearance that al-Qa'ida did mastermind the bombings, while officially the security forces are saying there is no evidence...', and the 'video was put together by the same production house that did the 9/11 hijackers' statements'. The reason for the diverging interpretations is clearly highlighted by a telling admission by one interviewee that 'Iraq is a machine generating Islamist radicals'.

Item posted by AutoEditor at 9:19 am ::