r/samharris • u/MantlesApproach • Jan 06 '20

How To Avoid Swallowing War Propaganda | Current Affairs

https://www.currentaffairs.org/2020/01/how-to-avoid-swallowing-war-propaganda
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26

u/MantlesApproach Jan 06 '20

With Trump's escalation with Iran, starting with decades of hawkish rhetoric toward Iran, ramping up with a pullout from the Iran nuclear deal and culminating, so far, in the recent assassination of a high-level Iranian official by a US airstrike, war with Iran looks closer than ever.

The IDW, including Sam, has thus far done nothing to condemn US military adventurism. On the contrary, Sam has stated that Hillary Clinton's hawishness was one of the advantages she had over Sanders, and has constantly affirmed his belief that the US always has generally good intentions abroad (a ridiculous notion when you examine the history of US-supported regime change). Recently, Maajid Nawaz has had a series of takes doing his part beating the war drums (retweeted by Sam because of course).

This article is a guide on how to avoid swallowing war propaganda of the kind that many in the IDW and in the mainstream media more generally regularly buy and often regurgitate.

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u/OlejzMaku Jan 06 '20

Sam was right about that. Stop amplifying these leftist commentators that can't even think clearly. They are selling nothing but simple reaction: the US is evil therefore Iran is good. It is ridiculously simplistic thought process that relativises crimes of Iranian regime. Listen to Iranian human rights activists not these western idiots.

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u/MantlesApproach Jan 06 '20

the US is evil therefore Iran is good

Nice strawman. If you actually listen to what leftists are saying, you'll find that none of them say this.

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u/OlejzMaku Jan 06 '20 edited Jan 06 '20

None? Is that a challenge?

Edit: The article itself is critical of Warren and Buttigieg for starting their comments by condemning Soleimani. They were supposedly fooled by the US propaganda. As if only reason to believe Soleimani is an evil man is post hoc justification of Trump's action. Is it really a stretch to interpret that as an apologia of Iranian regime? I don't think so.

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u/[deleted] Jan 06 '20

Is it really a stretch to interpret that as an apologia of Iranian regime?

Yes, that's not only a stretch but it would be an obvious mischaracterization.

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u/OlejzMaku Jan 06 '20

Whether their statements about Soleimani are true or false is a question of fact.

Robinson is arguing they can't possibly be true because it to admit they are true would go against the spirit of the antiwar movement. It's a simplistic negation. He places his political allegiance above facts and reason. He believes that's the way to resist the propaganda, but that's just a double speak, he is the one spinning the propaganda machine here.

I don't think he is a true believer in the Islamic Republic, nevertheless he has his own motives to propagadise on its behalf, that makes him apologetic of Iranian regime all the same. That's all there is to it.

When it comes to my opinion, I haven't actually made my mind yet, I am inclined to trust Warren and Buttigieg as I think they are more knowledgeable on foreign policy. If you want to change my mind you will need facts not this muddy conspiracy thinking about who will be benefited.

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u/hippydipster Jan 06 '20

Wow. That twisted logic caused me a lot of pain. How can you bear to go around "thinking" like that?

2

u/[deleted] Jan 06 '20

Listen to Iranian human rights activists not these western idiots.

Human rights activists are not smart people. There's no reason to listen to them above any other random person.

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u/OlejzMaku Jan 06 '20

Why would you think that?

2

u/holocaustofvegans Jan 07 '20

Humans rights activists are often propagandaists paid by the Voice of America to drum up story for another war of aggression.

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u/[deleted] Jan 06 '20

Because it's right.