June 12, 2006: The recent Canadian raids that netted 17 suspected terrorists, who were reportedly planning to behead the Canadian Prime Minister, have once again shown how the media really does not seem to understand what is at stake. In the media, the plot the suspects are accused of trying to carry out is downplayed, with far more concern shown for the suspected terrorists than their victims.
How might the media have portrayed an effort that caught the 911 bombers before they were able to carry out their operation? Well, the 19 hijackers would probably be reported in a similar fashion to the Canadian 17. For instance, there would be an effort to dismiss the possibility that ringleader Mohammed Atta would be a terrorist motivated by Islamic fundamentalism, due to his fondness for strip clubs. Other incriminating reports, like Zacarias Moussaoui's request to learn how to fly an airliner - but not learn how to take off or land - would probably be used to portray these people as dunces not capable of harming anyone.
Next would come the criticism of the intelligence and law enforcement communities for monitoring what was said on public forums. There would be complaints and moaning about privacy - and the inevitable press releases would soon come from the ACLU and other groups. There would even be complaints about whether these people had just been mouthing off or venting, some from lawyers, others from the press.
Of course, some of the information and reports that emerged about the 911 plotters would emerge in this case as well, including the debate about Czech reports that Mohammed Atta met an Iraqi intelligence officer by the name of Ahmed al-Ani in Prague (the Czechs have stood by these reports), which would result in some of the more hawkish media outlets arguing for an attack on Iraq . There would also be reports leaking details of some of the operations (as has been the case with the New York Times reporting about the National Security Agency's efforts to listen in on terrorist conversations).
Finally, the trial would have developed into a major media circus, as was the case with the trail of Zacarias Moussaoui. The trial would probably have grabbed a great deal of attention, even including the terrorists' trip to the federal supermax prison facility in Colorado. It seems that for the media to view terrorists as bad guys, who need to be stopped, the terrorists need to actually carry out their attacks - and then the media will complain how intelligence and law enforcement agencies for not stopping them. - Harold C. Hutchison (haroldc.hutchison@gmail.com)
