Empowering Lies

Barry Rubin
January 12, 2008

What if a major news story is completely made up? What if it is basically Hamas propaganda without any basis in truth? And what if this story is repeated around the world? Of course, nowadays it is not hard to imagine such things happening on debatable issues. When one gets to specific statistics, however, it should not be too easy to lie and get away with it. But it is.

The story in question here is by Ibrahim Barzak, "Israel cuts fuel, electricity to Gaza," January 7, 2008. Like all individual articles it might be of limited importance by itself but it is an example of a phenomenon which has grown to be almost daily.

In the version run by the Philadelphia Inquirer it carries the following subheadline: "People have only a third of winter needs, said an official. The intent is to halt rocket attacks."

It is important to emphasize--do a computer search if you like--that this article has been published and broadcast around the world by huge media outlets, not to mention websites.

And the main point--and impact--of the story is a fabrication. <snip>

http://www.gloriacenter.org/index.asp?pname=submenus/articles/2008/rubin/1_12.asp">more

This the same Barry Rubin who made this claim:



?

But if you think it's bogus why didn't you state just what was bogus about it and provided some proof? I notice the story does provide reasoning behind its assertions that could be checked.