By Douglas J. Hagmann
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Whether it's 30 pieces of silver or $300 million in cash, it seems that since the beginning of time, an unfortunately large number of people can be bought. That sad fact often conjures up thoughts of a line in the old joke, “We've already established what you are, madam, now we're just negotiating the price.” People on the receiving end of questionable monetary transactions often mentally legitimize their actions through a skewed sense of moral relativism, using a “sliding scale” of morality to justify their transaction and the prospects of newly found wealth. In most cases, the recipients justify the upward adjustment of their bank account by denying that the influx of legal tender will result in any compromise of their principles. Perhaps that makes it easier for them to face themselves in a mirror. They are quick with public assurances that “business is business,” and whatever the transaction, it will most certainly serve the greater good of the people.
From where I sit, there seems to be little shame with those at the higher echelons of the corporate media, even in times of war. To be clear, america is at war – the entire West is at war against an enemy who is insidiously adept at manipulating an already biased, anti-american media. The longstanding mantra “if it bleeds, it leads” now comes with certain caveats, especially when the word “Muslim” is involved. In the case of my once favorite news channel, Fox News, the scales measuring “fair and balanced” has been replaced by a gold plated scales courtesy of Saudi Prince alwaleed bin Talal who purchased about 5.46 percent of its parent company in September 2005. This is the very same Saudi Prince who on October 11, 2001, while the bodies of american citizens were still buried deep in the rubble of the World Trade Center, handed then New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani a check for $10 million. The Saudi sultan then had the audacity to insult every american and sully the memory of those who perished by suggesting that U.S. policies in the Middle East contributed to the September 11 attacks. Mr. Giuliani illustrated his character and integrity by rejecting the oil-soaked blood money.
The Saudi prince of propaganda was undeterred by the 2001 rebuke and found a better investment within the corporate media. assurances by Fox media giant Rupert Murdoch that their approach to and delivery of the news would be unaffected by the presence of the Saudi prince were well received by those on the far right of the political spectrum, and by others who feel the threat of Islamic terrorism is overblown anyway.
For those who have been paying attention, however, it should come as no surprise that at the recent annual meeting of News Corporation (Fox News parent company), chairman Rupert Murdoch actually confirmed that partner alwaleed bin Talal indeed influenced how the Fox News Channel reported on the 2005 Muslim riots in France. The pro-Islamic and anti-Semitic Sunni prince objected to the mention that the Muslim riots were being perpetrated by Muslims. So influential was the deep-pocketed prince that within record time, the Fox News anchors relabeled “Muslim riots” to “civil riots,” thereby redirecting any blame from the Muslim perpetrators. as a further illustration that those who influence the direction of the news have no boundaries to their shame, they even pointed to “Catholic role” in the Muslim-led riots. apparently, the Saudi prince must have received intelligence that caches of weapons are being stored in catholic churches that have otherwise gone unnoticed.
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