|
April
26 / 27, 2003
Elaine
Cassel
The Other War: Bush, Ashcroft and
the End of Civil Liberties
Saul
Landau
Iraq War: a Policy of Christian and Jewish Fundamentalism
William
A. Cook
Sharon Recruits US as Mercenaries Against Syria
William
S. Lind
Now the Real War Starts
John Chuckman
In Jesus's Name:
Franklin Graham's Christian Empire
David
MacMichael and Ray McGovern
Ex-CIA Analysts on WMD: Where? Find?
Plant?
Gary Leupp
Why the War on Iraq was (and Remains) Wrong
Robert
Sandels
Cuba Crackdown: a Revolt Against Bush's National Security Strategy?
CounterPunch
Wire
An Open Letter to Jerry Brown on Oakland Police Violence Against
Peace Activists and Dock Workers
Mickey
Z.
Our Ba'athists
Anthony
Gancarski
Nader Plays Pullman
Scott
Handleman
The Mumia Abu-Jamal Case in Its True Colors
Claud Cockburn
Evelyn Waugh's Ear Trumpet
Poets'
Basement
Matt Simon, Sam Hamod, Hammond Guthrie and Stew Albert
Steve
Perry
Bush's War Web Log 4/26
April
25, 2003
David
Vest
It's Not the Oil; It's the Art!
Steven
Higgs
All About Tucker Carlson
Walt
Brasch
The Shock and Awe of American Ignorance
Alexander
Cockburn
The Decline of American Journalism:
the Case of Judy Miller
Zeynep
Toufe
A Letter to the People of Iraq from an Anti-War Activist
CounterPunch
Wire
Season of the Witch: Jeane Kirkpatrick Unbound
Hammond
Guthrie
Springtime in Iraq
Steve
Perry
Bush's War Web Log 4/25
Website
of the Day
Having
a Great Time, Wish You Were Here: Postcards from a War
April
24, 2003
Lois
Whitman
An Open Letter to Rumsfeld on the
Child Detainees at Guantanamo
Uri
Avnery
Abu vs. Abu: It's Not About Egos
David
Lindorff
Day Care in the Name of National Security? About Those Kids in
Camp X-Ray
John Grebe
Rev. Pat Robertson's Message in the Temple
Dokhi
Fassihian
Monster.Com: Ethnic Cleansing on the Web?
CounterPunch
Wire
Israeli Army Chief Threatens Peace Activists
Sam
Hamod
Our Man in Baghdad
Annie
C. Higgins
Do You Regret Being an American?
Harold
A. Gould
Will They Hate Us Forever?
Stew Albert
Big Brother in Bed
Steve
Perry
Bush's War Web Log 4/24
Website
of the Day
Muscles
Abroad
Hot Stories
Elaine
Cassel
Civil Liberties
Watch
Michel
Guerrin
Embedded Photographer Says: "I
Saw Marines Kill Civilians"
Uzma
Aslam Khan
The Unbearably Grim Aftermath of War:
What America Says Does Not Go
Paul de Rooij
Arrogant
Propaganda
Gore Vidal
The
Erosion of the American Dream
Francis Boyle
Impeach
Bush: A Draft Resolution
Click Here
for More Stories.
|
April 29,
2003
Spinning
Israeli Policy on the Hill
Internal Documents
Show the Way
by COUNTERPUNCH WIRE
The Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee got its hands on this document,
entitled Wexner Analysis: Israeli Communications Priorities 2003,
was prepared for the Wexner Foundation, which operates leadership
training programs such as theirthright Israel project which offers
free trips for young Jewish Americans to Israel, by the public
relations firm the Luntz Research Companies and the Israel Project.
WEXNER ANALYSIS:
ISRAELI COMMUNICATION PRIORITIES 2003
Author's note: This is not a policy document.
This document is strictly a communications manual. As with every
memo we provide, we have used the same scientific methodology
to isolate specific words, phrases, themes and messages that
will resonate with at least 70% of the American audience. There
will certainly be some people, particularly those on the political
left, who will oppose whatever words you use, but the language
that follows will help you secure support from a large majority
of Americans. These recommendations are based on two "dial
test" sessions in Chicago and Los Angeles conducted during
the first ten days of the Iraqi war for the Wexner Foundation.
ESSENTIAL CONCLUSIONS
1) Iraq colors all. Saddam is your best
defense, even if he is dead. The worldview Americans is entirely
dominated by developments in Iraq. This is a unique opportunity
for Israelis to deliver a message of support and unity at a time
of great international anxiety and opposition from some of our
European "allies." For a year - a SOLID YEAR - you
should be invoking the name of Saddam Hussein and how Israel
was always behind American efforts to rid the world of this ruthless
dictator and liberate their people. Saddam will remain a powerful
symbol of terror to Americans for a long time to come. A pro-Israeli
expression of solidarity with the American people in their successful
effort to remove Saddam will be appreciated.
2) Stick to your message but don't say
it the same way twice. We have seen this in the past but never
so starkly as today. Americans are paying very close attention
to international developments and are particularly sensitive
to any kind of apparent dogma or canned presentations. If they
hear you repeating the exact same words over and over again,
they will come to distrust your message. If your speakers can't
find different ways to express similar principles, keep them
off the air.
3) It DOES NOT HELP when you compliment
President Bush. When you want to identify with and align yourself
with America, just say it. Don't use George Bush as a synonym
for the United States. Even with the destruction of the Hussein
regime and all the positive reactions from the Iraqi people,
there still remains about 20% of America that opposes the Iraqi
war, and they are overwhelmingly Democrat. That leaves about
half the Democrats who support the war even if they don't support
George Bush. You antagonize the latter half unnecessarily every
time you compliment the President. Don't do it.
4) Conveying sensitivity and a sense
of values is a must. Most of the best-performing sound bites
mention children, families, and democratic values. Don't just
say that Israel is morally aligned with the U.S. Show it in your
language. The children component is particularly important. It
is essential that you talk about "the day, not long from
now, when Palestinian children and Israeli children will play
side-by-side as their parents watch approvingly."
5) "SECURITY" sells. Security
has become the key fundamental principle for all Americans. Security
is the context by which you should explain Israeli need for loan
guarantees and military aid, as well as why Israel can't just
give up land. The settlements are our Achilles heel, and the
best response (which is still quite weak) is the need for security
that this buffer creates.
6) The language in this document will
work, but it will work best when it is accompanied with passion
and compassion. Too many supporters of Israel speak out of anger
or shout when faced with opposition. Listeners are more likely
to accept your arguments if they like how you express them. They
will bless these words but they will truly accept them if and
only if they accept you.
7) Find yourself a good female spokesperson.
In all our testing, women are found to be more credible than
men. And if the woman has children, that's even better.
8) Link Iraqi liberation with the plight
of the Palestinian people. It is likely that the most effective
argument(s) you have right now are those that link the right
of the Iraqi people to live in freedom with the right of the
Palestinian people to be governed by those who truly represent
them. If you express your concern for the plight of the Palestinian
people and how it is unfair, unjust and immoral that they should
be forced to accept leaders who steal and kill in their name,
you will be building credibility for your support of the average
Palestinian while undermining the credibility of their leadership.
9) A little humility goes a long way.
You saw this with your own eyes. You need to talk continually
about your understanding of "the plight of the Palestinians"
and a commitment to helping them. Yes, this IS a double standard
(no one expects anything pro-Israeli from the Palestinians) but
that's just the way things are. Humility is a bitter pill to
swallow, but it will inoculate you against critiques that you
have not done enough for peace. Admit mistakes, but then show
how Israel is the partner always working for peace.
10) Of course rhetorical questions work,
don't they? Ask a question to which there is only one answer
is hard to lose. It is essential that your communication be laced
with rhetorical questions, which is how Jews talk anyway.
11) Mahmoud Abbas is still a question
mark. Leave him that way. You stand much more to lose by attacking
him now. But similarly, he is not worthy of praise. Talk about
your hopes for the future, but lay out the principles you expect
him to uphold: an end to violence, a recognition of Israel, reform
of his own government, etc.
THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT WORDS: SADDAM
HUSSEIN (STILL)
This document is about language, so let
me be blunt. "Saddam Hussein" are the two words that
tie Israel to America and are most likely to deliver support
in Congress. They also just happen to be two of the most hated
words in the English language right now.
Yesterday's
Features
Elaine
Cassel
The Other War: Bush, Ashcroft and
the End of Civil Liberties
Saul
Landau
Iraq War: a Policy of Christian and Jewish Fundamentalism
William
A. Cook
Sharon Recruits US as Mercenaries Against Syria
William
S. Lind
Now the Real War Starts
John Chuckman
In Jesus's Name:
Franklin Graham's Christian Empire
David
MacMichael and Ray McGovern
Ex-CIA Analysts on WMD: Where? Find?
Plant?
Gary Leupp
Why the War on Iraq was (and Remains) Wrong
Robert
Sandels
Cuba Crackdown: a Revolt Against Bush's National Security Strategy?
CounterPunch
Wire
An Open Letter to Jerry Brown on Oakland Police Violence Against
Peace Activists and Dock Workers
Mickey
Z.
Our Ba'athists
Anthony
Gancarski
Nader Plays Pullman
Scott
Handleman
The Mumia Abu-Jamal Case in Its True Colors
Claud Cockburn
Evelyn Waugh's Ear Trumpet
Poets'
Basement
Matt Simon, Sam Hamod, Hammond Guthrie and Stew Albert
Steve
Perry
Bush's War Web Log 4/26
Keep CounterPunch
Alive:
Make
a Tax-Deductible Donation Today Online!
home / subscribe
/ about us / books
/ archives / search
/ links /
|