Tom Friedmand Smells...PROPAGANDA!

Iraq-invasion-supporter and flat-worlder Tom Friedman is amazed to discover that jihaddis have a thing for PR!

In today's column, he discovers that jihadist web-sites are extolling the virtues of propaganda to the killers in Iraqi streets and movement leaders. I was pretty sure we were facing a sophisticated propaganda operation when OBL launched the 9/11 attacks during the second hour of the Today Show, and was convinced when they beheaded a Wall Street Journal reporter on broadcast quality beta tape.

But Tom apparently is just catching on now, which aside from being silly, also shows the ongoing blindness of main stream media to the real challenges faced in Iraq and the "GWOT."

Now, in all fairness, Friedman seems to be pointing out the propaganda uses of violence as a means for Islamists to expedite their ends and influence public opinion in the US and other western countries. However, he seems to overstate the importance of such "strategy."

If his point is that the violence is being perpetrated primarily to influence opinion, he's just plain wrong, at least with regard to Iraqi violence. It's clearly vicious, profound sectarian hatred with a strong insurgent overall. They are doing it to advance a specific agenda, which of course includes getting US troops to withdraw, but so much more.

If his point is that the violence is providing a strong propaganda platform for Jihaddis to shape opinion...well, duh! Has there ever been a conflict that didn't use violence as a propaganda tool?

Mostly though, why does it still shock the brains of 43rd Street that this enemy is smart, sophisticated and profoundly good at impacting public opinion. They got the Republicans elected twice, after all. Much more efficacious in meeting their ends than a pitch call to Tom Friedman.