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This Has Got to Change
12/16/2002

Some articles that I've read about the extent of smug stupidity among those who make important decisions for our country simply cross the line into disbelief. Radio broadcasts meant to undermine the Iranian government were succeeding until Jennifer Lopez made her entrance:

The "people back in Washington" Fairbanks referred to are led by Norman Pattiz, a Los Angeles-based commercial radio mogul and generous Democratic contributor who was rewarded by President Clinton with an appointment to the broadcasting board. As the chairman of the board's Middle East committee, Pattiz initially focused on the Voice of America's Arabic service, which he deemed out of touch in a region where there is growing popular hostility to the United States. His solution was to replace what he called the "old-style propaganda" of VOA with Radio Sawa, a pop-music station that debuted last March. Sawa broadcasts five minutes of news twice each hour, along with Whitney, Britney and a few Arabic balladeers.

Of course, this is conjecture, but I can't help but suspect that there's some deliberate market expansion on the public dime going on here. Glenn Reynolds is right, President Bush should make a point of taking on the music industry. It ain't just a monopoly issue now; it's a national security problem.

Posted by Justin Katz @ 10:33 AM EST

4 comments

You think maybe they realized that "Freedom" was politically incorrect? It might offend those who don't believe in it!

Mitch Mitchell @ 12/16/2002 12:27 PM EST

Well, yes, it would seem that it sucks. But who appointed the guy is NOT of consequence: Bush has been here for two $%$$#%! years. This is of his doing, or not doing, one way or the other.
The system was working when Clinton was in. Its getting broken under the watch of George Bush.
The issue may be as much exporting American consumerism (can you say 'McDonalds')as much as corporate greed and the mapping of everythingthateverwasofvalue into some pop venue for gain.

gerald berke @ 12/16/2002 12:28 PM EST

But who appointed the guy is NOT of consequence: Bush has been here for two $%$$#%! years. This is of his doing, or not doing, one way or the other.

Dude, take it to the indymedia boards. At most Bush can be blamed for not replacing the guy, but I expect that's going to change now that someone is calling attention to what's going on.

rosignol @ 12/16/2002 01:09 PM EST

I can't shake the feeling that we're being sold out by George Bush, and that he's not really going to deal with Saddam. I hope it's just misdirection.

If Bush fails to take out Saddam, he will be merely preserving the status quo in the Middle East, which gave us 9/11.

Michael Levy @ 12/16/2002 01:13 PM EST