Master Story Tellers

The problem with Anthony Shadid's piece on the way the United States' role in Iraq is disasterously radicalizing at least Lebanon can be summed up in one line:

By any account, his journey was larger than life:

Except that Shadid isn't relying on "any" account, he's relying on the man's own account for the amazing story of the particular man's story -- hours to get there! hundreds of others dead all around him! a week's journey! his own guide killed!

And that's pretty much the basis for every other piece of information in the piece.

Can we come away from the piece certain that United States' policy has further radicalized the radicals? I think one's a safe bet, although in truth all we really know is that that's what they want an American reporter to believe.

But as far as their numbers, strength, power are concerned, why in the world should Shadid -- or we -- take their word for it? Shadid does yeoman's work reporting on what they have to say, but where are the confirmations from experts, from independent politicians, from journalists in the area, from anyone who doesn't have a vested interest in pumping up the perception of these guys as big as life and twice as ugly? What insurance is there, in other words, that Shadid isn't being fed a huge pile of propaganda?

None.

The fact that Shadid speaks Arabic gives the Post a powerful tool other outlets don't have -- but it isn't infallible, and it still requires other checks.

Comments

[Wayne]

In WWII there was plenty of evidence that the U.S. success in fighting the Axis resulted in "more radicalization of the radicals." The Germans and Japanese even went to using suicide attacks. There were Greman U-boats that fled to Argentina rather than surrender to the allies. In Japan, following the Nagasaki nulear attack, a group of Imperial Army officers even tried to stage a coup when the Emperor decided to surrender.
In short, this is normal. The defintion of a fanatic is one who redoubles his efforts when he loses sight of his goal. We are fighting fanatics.