In an attempt at balance, Butters does quote significantly from Bilal Saab, "a Lebanon expert at the Brookings Institute". One of his quotes is interesting as a matter of context and comparison, "They're [Hezbollah] in control in Lebanon without having to actually run the state," as if the U.S. does not apply the same policy in its imperial militancy around the world. The Israeli Vice Premier is also quoted, using the expected language of "terrorist organization" to describe Hezbollah's control of Lebanon, saying as well "its government has become irrelevant." Some observers might think he was talking about the Israeli occupation of Palestine. The final quote comes from a Lebanese 'survivor' Walid Jumblatt, initially in opposition to Nasrallah. What is missing for context and a true balance is a spokesperson from Hezbollah, not Nasrallah, and not one of the more intense street fighters, but someone from the organizational level within Hezbollah.
Read critically
If Klein and Butters were attempting to truly place their stories within the proper context, they did not succeed. Their opinions represent for the most part the standard view of the Washington consensus that in simplest terms sees Israel as a heroic and brave victim, under attack from Hamas and Hezbollah as full on terrorist organizations. Neither recognizes American financial aid and armaments aid to Israel; neither recognizes the severity of the Israeli occupation of Palestine or previously of Lebanon; and neither recognizes the civic structures and organization that created both groups under Israeli occupation, an occupation illegal under the UN Charter and the Geneva Conventions.
It might be asking the average reader a bit much to read through TIME with a critical thought process, especially if all other news sources carry the same bias, as they tend to do with the American media conglomerates. The use of language, the consideration of context, the appearance of balance, the comparisons that can be made against the U.S.'s own actions and foreign policy should all be part of a reader's active engagement in reading the news from any source.
[1] see Noam Chomsky/Edward S. Herman, Manufacturing Consent (1988); Richard Falk/Howard Friel,Israel-Palestine On Record (2007); and Marda Dunsky, Pens and Swords (2008).
[2] Joe Klein. "Hamas Hysteria," TIME Canadian Edition, May 26, 2008. p.12.
[3] see Mishal and Sela, The Palestinian Hamas (2006) and Tamimi, Hamas, A History From Withi (2007) for further background material on this topic.
[4] Lee Butters. "Welcome to Hizballahstan," TIME Canadian Edition, May 26, 2008. pp. 20-21.
[5] see Miles, Entangled Insurgencies – Hezbollah and Hamas, Palestine Chronicle, June 18, 2007.
Jim Miles is a Canadian educator and a regular contributor/columnist of opinion pieces and book reviews to Palestine Chronicles.His interest in this topic stems originally from an environmental perspective, which encompasses the militarization and economic subjugation of the global community and its commodification by corporate governance and by the American government. Jim Miles' work is distributed globally in print and on alternative news websites. Published articles and book reviews may be viewed on the Palestine Chronicle website:www.palestinechronicle.com
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