1. The words of war
Battles aren’t just won with bullets.
Public relations can change the essence of a battlefield itself, whether it’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy rousing the world to arm Ukraine’s troops or Abu Ghraib prison abuse photos undermining U.S. actions in Iraq. During war, there’s always a fight to control the narrative, to ensure that our side supports freedom fighters, and paint the other guys as immoral marauders.
So far, given the barbaric nature of the Hamas slaughter of civilians, the morality is clear, but will that narrative hold throughout a war where Israel will likely kill thousands?
Here are a few phrases the media is using — or not, depending on their view — that you should keep an eye on:
“Terrorist” vs. “Militant”: Most U.S. stations I’ve seen are calling the attackers from Hamas terrorists. It makes sense – terrorists are those who attack unprotected civilians in order to create fear and, well, terror within a group.
Hamas presents a complex challenge. While unmistakably a hub of terrorists—as evidenced by the recent attack where every assailant played the role of a terrorist—it’s more than that. It also operates as the governing and ruling entity for Gaza.
When the U.S. went into WWII, we didn’t just go to war against Nazis, we went to war against the country of Germany. In a similar vein, while not all Gazans are responsible for Hamas, the population voted it into power, worked with it, is complicit in the ongoing indoctrination of youths and adults to wage war on Israel, and regularly provide it material support. Israel will need to make that point in the upcoming PR battle.
“Colonialism”: It’s a term often bandied about when talking about Gaza. It also falls apart the second you give it a second look. Colonizing another country happens when a stronger country takes over a weaker area to use its resources for the motherland. Israel had none of those elements. The Jewish people have had ties to the region since Abraham, and, beyond that, where else could they go? There is no motherland for them besides Israel. And the concept that they’re somehow enriching themselves off the Palestinians holds no import at all.
“Proportionality”: There will also be calls for proportionality in this war. I think Noah Rothman rebuts that well in The National Review.
“There will be calls for Israelis to observe proportionality. But what would that look like? What is a proportionate response to the deliberate slaughter of civilians and hostage-taking designed to free more terrorists who would soon be returned to the fight against Israel? The very notion is preposterous. Moreover, a doctrine that prescribes proportionality is the one to which Jerusalem has adhered, and this attack has demonstrated that it is a failure. The Israeli people deserve reciprocity in the form of a response to this event that has the capacity to either restore deterrence or degrade and neutralize Hamas.”
“Occupation”: Israel hasn’t occupied Gaza for nearly 20 years. It has an outsized influence, especially given its not-successful-enough weapons blockade, but the concept that Gaza needs to be “freed” is a stretch. To be clear, Israel still occupies the West Bank and they may soon need to occupy Gaza again, but those who cite “occupation” as the driving force for Hamas retribution are playing word games.
Over the next weeks and months, pay attention to the words. It’s the first way you can spot a news organizations underlying bias, on either side of this war.
2. Fox, CNN ratings are up while MSNBC plummets
Fox News ratings are up 42% since the Hamas attacks, while CNN’s are up 17%. MSNBC’s ratings dropped by 33%. It’s an interesting study in who’s interested in information about this war, and what kind of news they want.
3. From the “kids are stupid” files
Students at Clemson University are marching on campus after tampon dispensers were quietly removed from the library men’s room. “Today, we are marching for the reinstatement of the menstrual products in the men’s restrooms in Cooper Library and throughout campus,” Pan Tankersley demanded.
I actually feel a bit sorry for kids in the digital age. College was a safer halfway house for students when youthful stupidity wasn’t beamed throughout the country and memorialized forever. I consider myself fortunate.
–Ken
"Got to college," they said. "It will enlarge your mind," they said.
Ken, you’re succinct and I really appreciate that... just getting to the point.