Metaphor and War, Again: One of the most central metaphors in our foreign policy is that A Nation Is A Person. It is used hundreds of times a day, every time the nation of Iraq is conceptualized in terms of a single person, Saddam Hussein. The war, we are told, is not being waged against the Iraqi people, but only against this one person. Ordinary American citizens are using this metaphor when they say things like, “Saddam is a tyrant. He must be stopped.” What the metaphor hides, of course, is that the 3000 bombs to be dropped in the first two days will not be dropped on that one person. They will kill many thousands of the people hidden by the metaphor, people that according to the metaphor we are not going to war against.
Media giant’s rally sponsorship raises questions: In a move that has raised eyebrows in some legal and journalistic circles, Clear Channel radio stations in Atlanta, Cleveland, San Antonio, Cincinnati and other cities have sponsored rallies attended by up to 20,000 people. The events have served as a loud rebuttal to the more numerous but generally smaller anti-war rallies.
The sponsorship of large rallies by Clear Channel stations is unique among major media companies, which have confined their activities in the war debate to reporting and occasionally commenting on the news. The San Antonio-based broadcaster owns more than 1,200 stations in 50 states and the District of Columbia.
US warns Turkey to stay out of Iraq: The White House has publicly warned the Turkish Government not to let its troops enter Iraq, amid growing concerns that Turkey may try to confront pro-US Kurdish rebels in the opening stages of the Iraqi war. Any move by Turkey at that point would be a big complication for President George Bush. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer confirmed the US warning to the Turkish Government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “It has been made clear that no outside forces other than coalition command should enter Iraq,” Mr Fleischer said.
Fighting near Basra: British and American troops were involved in fierce fighting near Iraq’s main port today as the war to topple Saddam Hussein began. The firefight broke out near Basra as men of the Special Boat Service targeted the strategically vital city and the oilfields in southern Iraq. At the same time allied troops were flooding into the demilitarised zone on the Iraqi border with Kuwait 40 miles away to take up positions for an all-out invasion.
Turkey exerts right to put troops in Iraq: Any Turkish measure allowing a U.S. deployment in Turkey would almost certainly authorize Turkish troops to enter northern Iraq as well. But in a three-hour meeting Tuesday, U.S. and Kurdish officials warned that a unilateral Turkish incursion could lead to fighting between Turkish troops and their own and could prompt other neighboring countries, such as Iran and Syria, to send forces into Iraq, according to officials who participated in the talks. But Turkey was unmoved, and continued to reserve its right to enter northern Iraq to protect its national security.
EU investigates mystery buggings: European Union officials have launched an investigation after bugging devices were found at offices used by several delegations – including those of France, Germany and the UK.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 19th, 2003 at 1:05 pm and is filed under General.
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