"The great masses of the people…will more easily fall victim to a big lie than to a small one." (Adolf Hitler)
R.T. Naylor, is an economics professor at McGill. His book "Satanic Purses: Money, Myth and Misinformation in the War on Terror" was published in 2006. This is an important book. It hasn't had as much exposure stateside as it deserves, due in part to prevailing media thinking that buys into the official War on Terror line.
Naylor draws on his extensive knowledge of international black markets, money laundering, terrorist financing and smuggling to challenge the Bush administration's global-fantasy-network of terrorists and financiers, all allegedly weaving a diabolical scheme to bring the West to its knees.
"Satanic Purses" presents a convincing argument that far from there being a monolithic terror organization of the Al Qaeda variety, in fact terrorist attacks are most often locally initiated and financed. The common driving force behind these acts is poverty, alienation, a sense of oppression and powerlessness.
"There are lots of people in the world willing to do awful things but there's no financial connection that links extremists together — the only thing that binds them is a sense of injustice and commitment." (R.T. Naylor)
Messages and images in the media re-enforce the idea of a global terror network. A favorite of some outlets is the dated video from Afghanistan of mujahideen in-training. This video has been played and replayed for years. It conveys the impression that the West is facing a coordinated and financed enemy with global reach. This is a neo-con fantasy and it serves their interests in a number of ways. Propaganda of this sort justifies Western expansionism and the build-up of the military. It justifies the existence of a huge arms industry. It validates the often illegal activities of so-called contractors - paramilitary security organizations both at home and abroad. It justifies the increasingly intrusive domestic crackdown, that has led to erosion of privacy rights and due process.
Naylor describes the Al Qaeda legend as "one of the most useful political fantasies in history." Local groups operating around the world are given the "Al Qaeda" brand name as part of the propaganda effort. Disparate groups with no link to each other at all are presented as part of a global terror organization.
Acts of terror, far from being funded by a web of sinister financiers, are most often carried out with local funding. The 1993 World Trade Center attack only cost 400 bucks to organize and execute. Even 9/11 cost less to implement than many believe.
The terror war and the propaganda that accompanies it is in large part smoke and mirrors. The roles of players with links to localized terror cells are routinely exaggerated by those who are eager to make the connection with bin Laden and his alleged affiliates.
Next time you watch FOX news, keep in mind the title of the Public Enemy tune - "Don't Believe the Hype."
R.T. Naylor, is an economics professor at McGill. His book "Satanic Purses: Money, Myth and Misinformation in the War on Terror" was published in 2006. This is an important book. It hasn't had as much exposure stateside as it deserves, due in part to prevailing media thinking that buys into the official War on Terror line.
Naylor draws on his extensive knowledge of international black markets, money laundering, terrorist financing and smuggling to challenge the Bush administration's global-fantasy-network of terrorists and financiers, all allegedly weaving a diabolical scheme to bring the West to its knees.
"Satanic Purses" presents a convincing argument that far from there being a monolithic terror organization of the Al Qaeda variety, in fact terrorist attacks are most often locally initiated and financed. The common driving force behind these acts is poverty, alienation, a sense of oppression and powerlessness.
"There are lots of people in the world willing to do awful things but there's no financial connection that links extremists together — the only thing that binds them is a sense of injustice and commitment." (R.T. Naylor)
Messages and images in the media re-enforce the idea of a global terror network. A favorite of some outlets is the dated video from Afghanistan of mujahideen in-training. This video has been played and replayed for years. It conveys the impression that the West is facing a coordinated and financed enemy with global reach. This is a neo-con fantasy and it serves their interests in a number of ways. Propaganda of this sort justifies Western expansionism and the build-up of the military. It justifies the existence of a huge arms industry. It validates the often illegal activities of so-called contractors - paramilitary security organizations both at home and abroad. It justifies the increasingly intrusive domestic crackdown, that has led to erosion of privacy rights and due process.
Naylor describes the Al Qaeda legend as "one of the most useful political fantasies in history." Local groups operating around the world are given the "Al Qaeda" brand name as part of the propaganda effort. Disparate groups with no link to each other at all are presented as part of a global terror organization.
Acts of terror, far from being funded by a web of sinister financiers, are most often carried out with local funding. The 1993 World Trade Center attack only cost 400 bucks to organize and execute. Even 9/11 cost less to implement than many believe.
The terror war and the propaganda that accompanies it is in large part smoke and mirrors. The roles of players with links to localized terror cells are routinely exaggerated by those who are eager to make the connection with bin Laden and his alleged affiliates.
Next time you watch FOX news, keep in mind the title of the Public Enemy tune - "Don't Believe the Hype."
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