Doubt Foreclosed: U.S. Mainstream Media and the Attacks of
September 11, 2001.
Abstract
The paper discusses seven dimensions of State-media 9-11 propaganda: (1) public war mobilization,
slogans and icons; (2) simplistic vilification of culprits; (3) omitting alternative agents of culpability;
(4) uncritical support for Administration; marginalization of criminality, racism in 2000 election; (5)
marginalization of historical events or processes that might undermine war support. This includes (a)
ignoring U.S. state sponsored terrorism; (b) superficial analysis of non-US perceptions; (c) sparing
references to U.S. energy interests in Central Asia and previous Taliban support; (d) downplaying pre
9-11 U.S. anti-Taliban attack plans; (e) omission of previous U.S. “war by provocation,”, e.g. at the
Gulf of Tonkin; (f) underplaying Administration interests in defense, oil and energy; (g) passive
treatment of Administration undermining of international agreements; (6) abandonment of journalistic
curiosity, including issues related to air security irregularities on 9-11 and pre 9-1l speculative
financial bets; and (7) strategies of censorship, self-censorship and intimidation of media dissenters.