Saturday, July 5, 2008

Garbage In, Garbage Out

Traditionally, anti-Israel letters are filled not just with bias and hatred, but false information. This is to be expected, since it's difficult to build a case against Israel based on facts.

Primerprez sometimes enjoys looking at anti-Israel diatribes and analyzing them. The Day, a New London newspaper, published a candidate for such an analysis on July 3.

We include the text of the letter and then analyze it, virtually sentence by sentence.

Anyone wishing to write to The Day may address a letter to letters@theday.com.



The Letter


Congress seems content to endorse war against Iran



The American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) does not represent the American people. It doesn't even represent the majority of Jews in America or the majority of Jews in Israel. Yet many U.S. representatives apparently take orders directly from AIPAC (and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi).

On AIPAC's instructions, half the members of the House dutifully signed on as cosponsors of a new anti-Iran resolution. The resolution (HCR 362) begins with the sort of lies used by the Bush administration to justify attacking Iraq. Then it calls for "stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains and cargo entering or departing Iran."

This, of course, would be an act of war.

Haven't our representatives learned anything from the human and financial disaster of the Iraq war - also promoted by AIPAC? Do they think that another war based on lies - but this time against a country more than three times the size - will be better.?

Rod Driver
Richmond, R.I.


Analysis



Driver: "The American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) does not represent the American people."

[Analysis: The writer falsely implies AIPAC claims to represent the American people. It doesn't claim to, any more than the NRA claims to represent the American people, or the AARP claims to represent the American people.]



Driver: "It doesn't even represent the majority of Jews in America or the majority of Jews in Israel."

[Analysis: See above.

AIPAC represents its members, a cross-section of Americans who recognize the importance to America of maintaining a strong relationship with Israel, which is unfortunately still the only democracy in the Middle East and the only true friend we have in that region.]



Driver: "Yet many U.S. representatives apparently take orders directly from AIPAC (and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi)."

[Analysis: This is and insult to the intelligence and patriotism of our Congressional representatives.]



Driver: "On AIPAC's instructions, half the members of the House dutifully signed on as cosponsors of a new anti-Iran resolution."

[Analysis: See above.

Iran is an irresponsible theocracy which presents the greatest threat to world peace today. It is developing nuclear weapons along with the means to launch them not only against Israel, but against our friends in Europe and even directly against us in the continental United States.

Members of Congress are rightfully concerned.

Our efforts to date, inadequate as they are, stem from the recognition of the Iranian threat, one which was brought to our attention largely through the efforts of AIPAC. We, indeed the entire world, should be indebted to AIPAC for being among the first, if not the first, to recognize that threat. Were it not for the efforts of AIPAC, Iran would probably already possess nuclear weapons and the world would be in a much more volatile state.]



Driver: "The resolution (HCR 362) begins with the sort of lies used by the Bush administration to justify attacking Iraq."

[Analysis: The text of HCR 362 contains simple statements of reality.

While many question whether the information on which the Bush Administration based its policies regarding Iraq was accurate, at the time that information was judged to be accurate even by most who opposed those policies. It is both inaccurate and irresponsible to label information given in good faith as "lies."]



Driver: "Then it calls for 'stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains and cargo entering or departing Iran.'

"This, of course, would be an act of war."

[Analysis: The resolution is actually an attempt to prevent the disastaer, almost certainly including war, which would ensue were Iran to succeed in its drive to obtain nuclear weapons.

In reality, we are already in a low-level war with Iran and its proxies. Iran is providing not only supplies but personnel for those fighting us, and the Iraqis themselves, in Iraq.]



Driver: "Haven't our representatives learned anything from the human and financial disaster of the Iraq war - also promoted by AIPAC?"

[Analysis: It's ironic that a writer who complains about alleged lies of others would include such a blatantly false assertion.

AIPAC in no way promoted the war in Iraq.

Only the writer knows whether his assertion is a deliberate lie or he is unaware of the fact that his assertion is blatantly false.

It is further ironic that we now know that the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, was counseling President Bush against invading Iraq!]



Driver: "Do they think that another war based on lies - but this time against a country more than three times the size - will be better?"

[Analysis: Who are "they?" The American government? The Israeli government? AIPAC?

Once again, the writer who made blatantly false assertions also falsely accuses others of "lies."

He also falsely implies "they" are itching for war, while what "they" are really trying to do is prevent war.]



Many anti-Israel diatribes intersperse their heavily biased and misleading assertions and false information with some kernels of fact or reasonableness. This particular letter distinguishes itself by never raising itself even to that level.

As they say in the computer biz, garbage in, garbage out.

2 comments:

There is NO Santa Claus said...

It appears that the author of that diatribe is running for Congress.

primerprez said...

He seems to be one of those nuts who always runs for Congress. I'm ashamed to note he's also a mathematician.