Newsweek's Jonathan Alter Uses Propaganda to Attack Propaganda!!!

NewsBusters ^ | 12/5/05 | Noel Sheppard

[Only Waxing]

Newsweek’s senior editor Jonathan Alter wrote an article for this week’s issue entitled “The Real Price of Propaganda” wherein he came down strongly against recent revelations that the Pentagon might be “buying” articles to be placed in Iraqi newspapers. On the one hand, there is some delicious irony in seeing an anti-propaganda column in an American periodical that is periodically so full of it. Yet, maybe more curious is how Alter seemed mostly disgusted by the amount of money the Pentagon might be paying for such an exercise without recognizing how inexpensive this is compared to the cost of waging a war measured in both dollars and lives. This is made even more hypocritical given Newsweek’s antagonism to this war. However, none of these glaring holes seemed to deter Alter from making his argument:

[Gordongekko909]

Well, at least he acknowledged that Jayson Blair made stuff up.

[OpusatFR]

Jonathan Alter? Isn't he the chap whose left testicle was grabbed by a 92 year old Queens grandmother when he shoved her on the subway?

Or was it his head? I just can't tell the difference...

Anyone know?

[VeniVidiVici]

propaganda
One entry found for propaganda.

Main Entry: pro·pa·gan·da
Pronunciation: "prä-p&-'gan-d&, "prO-

Function: noun

Etymology: New Latin, from Congregatio de propaganda fide Congregation for propagating the faith, organization established by Pope Gregory XV died 1623

1 capitalized : a congregation of the Roman curia having jurisdiction over missionary territories and related institutions

2 : the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person

3 : ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one's cause or to damage an opposing cause; also : a public action having such an effect
- pro·pa·gan·dist /-dist/ noun or adjective
- pro·pa·gan·dis·tic /-"gan-'dis-tik/ adjective
- pro·pa·gan·dis·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb
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As usual, I guess Ms Alter is against the spreading of facts.

[Ax]

Does anyone wonder why I cancelled my subscription to Time (and Newsweek too)?

[BadAndy]

What option does the administration have to get out good news about Iraq when the so called "news outlets" refuse to report it? If the news organizations were fair and not actively hostile to the administration this would not be a problem.

[Loyal Buckeye]

Jonathon Alter. Saw him on the t.v. recently and he looked like Joe Biden, Jr. Lots and lots of plugs.

[CBart95]

War involves propaganda.
In this case, these are accurate accounts of verifiable progress in-country aimed at informing the general populace of the true state of affairs in the aftermath of repatriation and to counter the "wall" of counter propaganda bought and paid for by nearby nation-states supporting and funding world terror operations in Iraq.
Excuse me Mr. Alter, go out and play in the traffic.

[kublia khan]

Money is the mothers milk of battle, propaganda is a part of any war effort and it is purchased with ...money.

I know that it must be painful to most to read the obvious. I state it only to clarify why we "Stupid" red necks from those backward red states don't read "intellectual Giants" like Jonathan Alter senior editor of Newsweek.

[Lancey Howard]

Notice how it's only the liberal Democrat columnists who are furious about the Pentagon's efforts to get "factual" reports published in Iraqi newspapers? There is an obvious reason for that.

Alter and his ilk make me sick to my stomach.