More Toxic Media

The facts are simple, terrorists plotted to kidnap a UK soldier and use him to extort Britian into pulling troops out of Iraq.

But I'm more struck by the Sun's "reporting" than the terrorists' plot:

"EVIL Muslim terrorists were to kidnap a British soldier on UK streets and force him to plead with Tony Blair for his life in return for a pull-out of troops from Iraq, The Sun can reveal."

Note the use of "Evil" here. Why? Are they differentiating among types of terrorists? Are some NOT evil? Or are they just editorializing unnecessarily?

"It would also have sent shockwaves through the entire British Armed Forces - putting the fear of God into every man and woman in uniform on or off duty."

This is not a very nice reflection on the British Soldier. Is he a timid school girl? Wouldn't he, instead, be outraged, get furious, resolved, motivated? Are they not Men?

"And there would have been a knock-on effect in terms of military morale."

Morale is lowered by lack of support by fellow citizens. They are trained to fight the enemy. Attacks by the enemy do not undermine morale. Lack of support by the people for their mission and no appreciation of their sacrifice undermines morale.

"The cunning plot represents a huge change in tactics by al Qaeda and its supporters."

The use of "cunning" feels unpleasantly admiring. And the statement is factually wrong. Kidnap and murder is hardly a new tactic for al Qaeda...which the Sun makes perfectly clear three sentences later:

"The kidnap and subsequent killing of engineer Mr Bigley two-and-a-half years ago was watched around the globe."

In closing, the Sun concludes:

"And it demonstrates how sophisticated the al Qaeda cells in our midst have become.

They understand the power and importance of the media and the influence it can bring around the world on governments."

Yes, well, the Left has successfully used the toxic media to spread their propaganda far and wide. And at the moment, those same nasty little Liberals in both the UK and the US are doing a splendid job of undermining support for the war. If the Islamists were actually intelligent, they'd just wait, support the protesters, join the Democrat and Labor parties in their unceasing howling and whining about Iraq, and without the loss of a single terrorist, their goal of British and American withdrawal from Iraq would be accomplished. So I'm not sure just how sophisticated they are. Blowing their cover and going to jail when others are happily advancing their agenda for free seems rather less than brilliant.

And Al Qaeda getting caught red-handed plotting to kidnap Brits on the streets of their own country might just open an eye or two to the danger they represent. (I'm forever hopeful.)

Personally, "Cunning" and "Sophisticated" is not what I'd call this behavior. "Unnecessary and Redundant" or "Typical Criminal Stupidity" seem more appropriate.

The overall thrust of the Sun story seems to be to lionize the Terrorists...their brilliance, cunning and sophistication..and belittle the British troops...their fear, their terror, their trampled morale.

Who the hell does the Sun think they are, the New York Times?

The Gunslinger