Propaganda 911
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Propaganda 911
An exploration of propaganda in Fahrenheit 9/11
Michael Moore unleashes a barrage of propagandistic techniques in his movie, Fahrenheit 9/11. Moore uses card-stacking, omission, manipulation, insinuation, and virtually throws everything but the kitchen sink at President Bush. Although at times, it feels as if the kitchen sink is on its way. Moore uses these techniques to push his theme:
George Bush + war = Bad;
Michael Moore + Democrats = Good.
Okay, the message is slightly less obvious than that, but not by much. Moore hammers down that the spoiled rich cowboy (Bush) led the American people into an unjustifiable, immoral war, so he and his dads friends (Cheney, Bin Laden family, and Saudis) could reap serious oil profit. Oh yeah, and Moore is the only one who knows the truth. Strap on your boots as we are about to wade through Moores film and expose it for the propaganda twaddle that it really isÐ
Moore does a sensational job of stacking the deck against Bush by omitting relevant and truthful information. If there were an award for omission, Moore would be the “omission master.” He could put the trophy right next to his Academy Award. Omission is a powerful propaganda technique, which allows Moore to ignore facts that undermine his thesis while the audience is none the wiser.
Let the card stacking beginÐ…
Moore first shows us Al Gore, with an American flag flying behind his head, rocking out with famous people on stage. “And little Stevie Wonder, he seemed so happy, like a miracle had taken place,” Moore narrates. Moore paints a picture as if Al Gore is celebrating his Florida Victory. What the audience is unaware of is that the actual event had taken place earlier that day before the polls opened1. The film then continues to show CBS and CNN calling Florida for Al Gore. Moore narrates again, “then something called the Fox News Channel called the election in favor of the other guyÐ….All of a sudden the other networks said, ÐHey if Fox said it, it must be true.” Moore never lets his audience know that Fox, along with CBS and CNN, had also called the election for Gore early in the evening as well. At 10:00 p.m. CNN and CBS retracted their win for Gore. Fox news did not retract theirs until 2:00 a.m. four hours after all networks had withdrawn the call2. Perhaps an oversight on Moores part or just simply a blatant omission?
Moore continues down the path of omission by using an interview with retired FBI agent Cloonan. Cloonan expresses his disgust that the Saudis were not interviewed before the White House let them fly out of the country. However, according to the 9/11 commission reports, 30 of the passengers were thoroughly interviewed by the FBI3. In addition, Richard Clark admitted in his 9/11 testimony that it was he that made the decision alone to let the Saudis fly, not the White House4. I must have gotten up for popcorn during that part where Moore explained the correction and missed it.
In one of Moores proclaimed favorite film moments, he interviews congressmen and asks if they would send their children to fight in Iraq. Moore ambushes Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy who looks utterly confused. What the audience is, again, unaware of is that Kennedy had a response: “I have a nephew on his way to Afghanistan5.” Kennedy also has two nephews in the military, and a son considering a career in the Navy5. Republican Michael Castle is shown walking and talking on his cell phone desperately avoiding Moore. One would wonder why Congressman Castle would not answer the questionÐ…could it be because he does not have any kids6? Once again, using the power of omission, Moore suggests that even our congressmen, well the Republican ones anyway, would not send their kids to Iraq. Moore states that of all the people in congress “only one had an enlisted son in Iraq.” That is oddÐ…the Associated Press counts at least seven7. Either Mr. Moore needs to return to grade school and repeat math, or simply stick to the facts. Here is another fact for Mr. Moore: Representative Steve Buyer, a Republican, served active duty in the Gulf. Moore also chooses to ignore the fact that there are currently over 130 veterans in Congress8.
Moore continues stacking by using an Air National Guard report to tie Bush to James Bath, money manager for one of the many Bin Laden brothers. Moore flashes an Air National Guard document, released by the White House in 2003 that shows a blacked out name. The blacked out name is none other than James Bath. Moore boasts to his audience that through his “investigative skills” he has obtained a copy of the report in 2000. He suggests that Bush later conceals the evidence so not everyone will know that he has ties to the Bin Laden family. However, what Moore does not tell you, or possibly bother to learn himself, is that the copy he obtained was released in 2000, before the privacy law of 2003 requiring that the National Guard release medical records pertaining to other Guardsmen in a requested report9. In other words, the only person concealing anything is Moore. Law requires the White House to black out Baths name.
It is highly appalling that Moore does not utter one word regarding any of the UN resolutions that Saddam broke which ultimately led to the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Equally disturbing is the blatant omission of the two planes hitting the twin towers. After all the title of his “documentary” is Fahrenheit 9/11. How can you not show the planes? The answer to that question is simple; it does not fit into his theme. If your propaganda alert alarm just sounded, you are not alone. Moore wants to evoke a sense of anger and sorrow. If Moore had shown the two planes hitting the twin towers, we would feel that the war was justifiable. The need for justice does not accompany Moores theme of becoming involved in unnecessary, unjustified, and immoral warfare.
Can we say manipulation boys and girls?
If you thought Moores use of omission was good, no need to worry he has other propagandistic tricks up his sleeve. One of which is good old fashion manipulation, especially when it comes to statistics. Moore, early on in the film, establishes Bush as a president who has spent 42% of his time during his first 229 days on vacation. According to the Washington Post10 Bush spent his “vacation” time at Camp