*THE HEAT THAT CLOGS THE MIND*

*IN PRAISE OF “THIS AMERICAN LIFE”*

*WHERE DID “HOMELAND SECURITY” COME FROM?*

We have been roasting here in New York for what seems to be weeks without relief. On Friday, a young man said to be a mystic was up on the roof a building in Soho near the old Globalvision offices dancing in the rain until a bolt of lightning took his life away. Reality has a way of catching up with you if you ignore it, but in the heat of summer, it is not always easy to focus on reality. Down in Louisiana, there been more deaths attributed to West Nile virus, a disease unknown in this country a decade ago. That infestation is now in 30 states. Yet no one seems to be letting those verboten words “global warming” slip through the lips of newscasters who remain fixated on missing children and beached whales. (This morning, CNN took us all the way to the beaches of South Africa for the latest footage of misbegotten mammals.)

GOLF ANYONE?

As violence in the Middle East escalates — with more bombings and another twelve Israelis and we are not sure how many Palestinians –die, I found this sentence which needs no dissection in today’s Daily News: “Before starting a game of golf in Maine, the vacationing Bush pleaded for the violence to stop “for the sake of humanity.” FORE! On MSNBC, the odious Imus in the Morning listens to the latest litany of wrecked lives in Israel and says: “Well I guess nothing can be done.” He is corrected by an NBC News correspondent, who points out that negotiations are what are needed, but there is no political will on both sides. No one cites the role or non-role in all of this of the leader on the links up at the family spread in Kennebunkport.

(The President will soon be doing a photo-op to salute America’s newest heroes, the nine miners rescued in Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, that traumatized mine town was invaded by Hollywood agents all scurrying for the rights to exploit the tragedy one more time. The Mouse was fastest off the mark, as VARIETY reports: “The Walt Disney Co. has locked up a nearly $1.5 million deal for the exclusive book and TV movie rights to the personal stories of the nine Pennsylvania miners whose miraculous rescue riveted the nation last month.”

One unexpected development that shows the power of solidarity: the miners bargained collectively and each made $150,000 in the deal. Will the licensing opportunities be next?)

RADIO TRUMPS TV

The best coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis that I “saw” this weekend was on the radio. NPR’s always excellent “This American Life” show managed to be more visual, evocative and explanatory that any of the TV reports which tend to focus on the carnage and not what is behind it. Ira Glass and his team reported from Israel and the Palestinian territories on the attitudes behind the conflict and the growing gap between Israelis who think the Palestinians have been propagandized to hate, and Palestinians who see the Israel’s as colonialists and worse.

We heard some Palestinians criticizing the corruption of the Palestinian Authority, and got to feel what it is like to live under curfews you can get shot for violating. You get the sense that both populations live under terror, and both populations have conflicting perceptions and political judgments.

The Israelis support Sharon, but they also want peace, even though none trust Arafat — a sign of how well they have been propagandized by a campaign that focuses on his walking away from a proposed deal at Camp David. Nary a mention was made of subsequent talks at Taba in Egypt where both sides were very close to an agreement on all the basic issues. The Palestinians also seem to be of one mind on many issues — also a function of their media focus. Some of the Palestinians who were interviewed see Arafat as a father figure for the nation but acknowledge his corruption. One Palestinian from New Jersey complained about how the PA simply took over the phone company he started.

In Israel meanwhile, it seems clear that most of the ideals that gave birth to the Israeli state have been shattered and replaced by individuals that still recognize the duty to defend the country but have little good to say about its leaders. In one scene, the show documented the way some Likud politicians on the far right kowtowed to visiting right wing political figures from the US like Gary Bauer, the “pro-family” presidential candidate of the fanatical fringe of the Republican Party. It was just shameless pandering by a political force which puts lobbying in Washington as one of its top priorities.

DUMPING CNN

It was a wonderful show filled with the nuances, background and context that is missing in most TV and print news coverage. And this was by a show that does not pretend at offering news. And speaking of news from Israel and Palestine, the European Journalism Center reports: “three Israeli cable companies have received permission from Israel’s cable television commission to remove CNN International from theirservices.

“The cable stations point to financial difficulty as the primary reason to drop the service, saying the prices they have been paying CNN have become untenable. While the stations have not made a decision on dropping CNN, they recently started offering Fox News Channel as an alternative. The recent negotiations have been affected byIsraeli government claims that CNN coverage is biased towards Palestinians.”

Meanwhile Gush Shalom, the peace group in Israel is petitioning that CNN stays:

“On our website - http://www.gush-shalom.org - (Hebrew) a petition against the decision to ban CNN from the Israeli cable television can be signed. The ban which brings our society still closer to the regimes it doesn’t like to be compared with, is the culmination of a government-sponsored right-wing campaign against the so-called pro-Palestinian bias of CNN. Fact is that also from the Palestinian side there is a lot of criticism on CNN for being too pro-Israel. We consider the combination a sign that CNN is an important forum and that it is intolerable that the Israeli cable subscribers would be deprived of it altogether:

DRUGS IN WAR OR WAR ON DRUGS

On other fronts of the war on terror today, The Toronto Star’s William Walker is reporting.

“U.S. jet fighter pilots, responsible for at least 10 deadly “friendly fire” accidents in the Afghanistan war, have regularly been given amphetamines to fly longer hours. Then when they return to base, the pilots are given sedatives by air force doctors to help them sleep before beginning the whole cycle again on the next mission, often less than 12 hours later…”

BURNS: THE ORIGINS OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Congress is off on vacation without acting on the new Homeland Security Bill. One mediachannel reader sent in tantalizing article about an aspect of this story that has gone unreported. Here is an excerpt from an unpublished report by writer Margie Burns. Comments and additional info are welcome. This is a story that deserves media pickup:

” The odd phrase ‘homeland security’ appeared to come out of nowhere, just days - or was it minutes - after the attacks of September 11. But actually, the Institute for Homeland Security was formed in the northern Virginia suburbs of DC, in October 1999.

“The Institute’s mission, stated in www.homelandsecurity.org, is ‘To provide executive education and public awareness of the challenges to homeland security in the 21st century.’ As ‘a nonprofit public-service research organization examining a new set of national security challenges,’ it produces workshops, programs for executive-level policy makers, a weekly Homeland Security Newsletter, a Homeland Security opinion poll on its web site, and the Journal of Homeland Security, established October 2000 and featuring ‘articles by senior government leaders and leading homeland security experts.’

“The well-supported entity is part of ANSER, Incorporated, also known as Analytic Services, Inc., headquartered in Arlington VA with ‘field offices and operating locations throughout the world,’ according to its 1999 annual report.

“Analytic Services was a research center for the Air Force, closed as a federal entity in 1977, and has garnered federal contracts and patents ever since. In FY 1998, the Department of Defense ranked ANSER 58th among its top contractors for ‘Research, Test, Intelligence, and Evaluation.; In FY 1999, its contracts included a $56M increase to an existing contract with the Air Force, to provide analytical and technical services through December 2000.

“As of March 2002, the federal government listed ANSER as a ‘cognizant agency’: Any State, Local, or Non-Profit agency expending more then [sic] $25,000,000 in total federal awards in a single Fiscal year” (based on FY 2000: $74,456,395 for ANSER).

“Among other contracts, ANSER has cooperative agreements with the National Institute of Justice regarding “intelligent search agent” software in law enforcement; it also received $1.7M from the COPS law enforcement discretionary fund, for ‘face recognition and intelligent software development,’ under the Virginia Office of Justice programs.

“The Institute for Homeland Security itself was formally established in April 2001, following a month of buzz, assisted by its ties with the military and the intelligence community.

“On March 13, a mini-symposium entitled ‘homeland security’ was held by the Military Operations Research Society in Laurel, MD.

“Also on March 13, by coincidence, President Bush released his first National Security Presidential Directive, expanding the National Security Council and adding eleven new coordinating committees. It directs the Deputy National Security Adviser - Bush appointee Stephen J. Hadley, formerly on ANSER’s Board of Trustees - to attend NSC meetings, and makes him Executive Secretary of the NSC…” Have you hard about this? I hadn’t. Thanks Mary.

INDONESIA TO GET US MILITARY AID-BUT FOR WHAT?

Here’s how Robin Wright reported the story in the LA TIMES:

“JAKARTA, Indonesia — In a bid to prevent the world’s most populous Muslim country from becoming a thriving haven for extremists, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell announced Friday that the United States will begin restoring military ties and provide more than $50 million to improve Indonesia’s ability to wage war on terrorism.

“The two measures will open a new chapter in U.S.-Indonesian relations after a decade of restricted contact and aid. They are also a major boon to a country vulnerable to Islamic militancy in a region, Southeast Asia, known as the second front in the war on terrorism….’ Etc.

WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING

Meanwhile The JAKARTA EYE was more interested in finding out where the money was going. While the Times was talking about $50 million, back at the Pentagon reporters were pressing press flack Virginia Clarke for details on $15 million. They published this exchange that illustrates the difficulty of getting real information on this “war” on terror:

“Question: Secretary Powell in Indonesia was talking about a $15 million counter-terror program that he said would sort of start moving us back to better mil-to-mil relations with them. Can you talk about that package and how it does relate to that? I know it’s police, but –

Ms. Clarke: I cannot talk much about the specific package.

Question: How does that [off mike]?

Ms. Clarke: Well, we–the administration’s made it clear they’d like to find ways to improve and increase the mil-to-mil relationships with Indonesia, working closely with Congress to make sure that works through those channels up there. The specifics on that package, I don’t know.

Question: What ?

Question: …sort of anything to do with what you’re looking forward to doing in the future with the [militaries?]?

Ms. Clarke: I just don’t know enough about that specific package. We can… I can try to find out.

Question: So will our US military be doing this? Or will…?

Ms. Clarke: I don’t know enough about the specific package he’s asking. But we can find out.

Question: “Police training,” but it didn’t say who would do it.

Ms. Clarke: Yeah. We’ll try to find out. Thanks, everybody.

Question: Have a nice weekend.

Question: Nice weekend!

Ms. Clarke: You too.

OUR MEDIA WRAP UP

On the media beat today, David Bauder of the AP looks into an ethical issue in TV coverage:

“First, their pictures blanketed TV screens, and then they virtually disappeared. The abduction and rape of two California girls proved an intriguing test of news media policies on identifying sexual assault victims.

“Hours after the girls were abducted at gunpoint Thursday, it became the top story on CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC, which repeatedly flashed their names and pictures.

“It was news, but it also complemented a law enforcement strategy of giving as much attention as possible to the case in the hope of finding the girls alive.

‘The girls’ ordeal ended when sheriff’s deputies shot and killed their kidnapper, Roy Dean Ratliff.

“For news outlets, the case suddenly turned when Kern County Sheriff Carl Sparks revealed on CNN’s “Larry King Live'’ that the girls had been raped. Most news organizations make it a policy not to reveal the names of sexual assault victims, with some exceptions, such as when the victim wants to be identified….”

CONGRESS EXAMINES MEDIA CONSOLIDATION — SORT OF

Meanwhile in Congress, they had a hearing or at least a briefing on media consolidation, and almost no one in the media covered it save Rick Mercier of the Free Lance Star.

“Perhaps it was appropriate for a congressional symposium on corporate control of the media to be held in the basement of the Capitol.

“After all, most members of Congress–loyal minions of Big Money that they are–would prefer that the topic never see the light of day. That’s because if people became better informed about our media system, they might begin formulating tough questions.Questions such as ones posed at the July 11 symposium by communications scholar Robert McChesney, who wondered aloud: ‘Why do we let one company [Clear Channel] own 1,400 radio stations? In whose interests is that?’

“It’s probably not in your interests; in fact, the extreme concentration of media outlets in a few corporate hands is hardly in anyone’s interests. Hence a deafening silence in the corporate media that has made media reform “one of the least visible issues” even though it may be one of the most important, said Rep. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who joined Rep. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, in organizing the symposium…”

DOES MACY’S TELL GIMBELS? ABC TAPS HBO

In some other news: VARIETY reports that “ABC and HBO are expected to announce a partnership intended to bring new HBO-created shows to ABC’s prime-timeschedule. The Guardian in England reveals that “The Express Newspapers owner, Richard Desmond, has awarded himself and four other directors a 7.6m-pound fee package while cutting staff numbers by almost half.” And finally this item from the other side of the pond: “The Big Ben’s famous bongs, as played at the start of News At Ten, have made the playlist of popular music for funerals, according to the front page of the Independent and page three of the Daily Star.”

IN THE HAMPTONS WITH PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY

I was pleased that some media execs like Josh Sapan of Rainbow Holdings (Bravo, IFC etc) and the head of Court TV were on hand for a benefit in the Hamptons for People for the American Way. The event was also funded in part by Barry Diller and the now Fomer TimeWarner AOL exec Bob Pittman. The best speech was given by New York Pol Mark Green who called himself “formerly the next Mayor of New York.” Michael Moore was supposed to come but he had to cancel because of a death in his family. A funny clip from his new movie on Amerca’s love of guns (that was feted in Cannes) was shown.

The good news was that People For helped fund and win the lawsuit that led a US judge to demand that the government reveal the names of the people in detention without charge since the aftermath of 9/11. The bad news was that not as many people turned out as did last year. (Although actor Alec Baldwin, East Hampton’s favorite son, was front and center.) One amusing moment was when a couple of my acquaintance bid against each other in the fundraising auction. They won a luncheon with artist Chuck Close.

THE EMAIL: KILL THE CEOS

And in our email today: Larry Houghteling writes:

“Your Scandinavian scoop (Anna Kaca’s letter from Finaland: today about Saddam and the weapons inspectors was excellent. Scott Ritter, the big former U.S. Marine who was the top UN inspector in Iraq, used to live in this little NYC’burb, and I’d see him in places like the hardware store. One time I even had a chance to burble like a rock fan, that I thought he was doing a great job. He gave me a big “Aw, shucks, t’weren’t nothin” smile.

“It’s crucial to note that he, who is more familiar with Saddam’s shifty ways than anyone, is a “Go Real Slow (If At All)” guy on pushing Iraq around militarily. (And notice today’s new offer by Saddam to accept UN weapons inspectors once again.)

“I wrote you last week and you printed the first half of my missive and ignored the second part, which was the opposite of what I would have suggested. Maybe you thought my remarks were stupid and jejune, but let me repeat them in an updated form:

“Now Congress has passed a ‘corporate reform’ bill, and real bad guys can expect to be punished. Yesterday a couple of multimillionaire sharpies from WorldCom were even forced to do the perp walk (which should of course be illegal even for shitbums).

“So what can we look forward to? The worst miscreants will be slapped with totally inadequate fines, and a few corporate wrongdoers may even be asked to do some time in a minimum-nastiness federal pen.

“Of course, none of it will make the slightest bit of difference. But I have a modest proposal that might.

“The death penalty — unfair, racist, and a useless deterrent for those who have traditionally received it — is obviously on the way out (and about time). Yet many Americans are almost preternaturally fond of the idea of snuffing bad guys, and these folks would be saddened if legal killings were eliminated.

“Why not keep the death penalty, but use it against a class of criminals who might actually be deterred by the possibility of dying for their sins — the Napoleonic CEOs and slicker accountants and Wall Street smoothies who poison the air and water we depend on, ruin great corporations and nations, and abscond with the life savings of widows and orphans?

” Death is said to settle the mind powerfully. I’d bet an occasional execution of one of these self-styled masters of the universe would serve to fix the thoughts of those they leave behind on Doing Good. And President Bush, who professes to know a thing or two about the deterrent effect of the death penalty, would surely sign our toughened Corporate Responsibilty Act into law.

” I need hardly mention that as soon as the bill is signed, I have a little list.”

FROM AUSTRALIA ON THE UN AND JENIN

David Cameron Staples writes in on that UN report ostensibly “clearing” Israel of crimes in Jenin:

“Its watered-down account of the very serious violations in Jenin exposes the risk of compiling a report without any first-hand information.

“Does anyone else remember the *reason* why the report was second-hand?

“To refresh memories, it was because the Israeli government and army (churlishly, IMHO) flat-blank refused to let the UN investigation team into the country, let alone into Jenin.

“And yet, after the publication of the report, which Israeliintransigance /caused/to be unreliable, especially in particulars, that very same government is now using it as evidence that they were right all along! Is this a case of forgetfulness, incompetence [sic] or just uncaring cynicism?

“(As a side note, is there any mention in this document of theIsraeli obstructionism? I would have thought it an important factor to note in a report of this type. If there is no mention, why not? And if there *is* mention, then why has it not been reported?)

“What was that about Orwellian Memory Holes?

SINGING WELCOME TO A NEW SINGH

My word count is going through the roof and the news hole is closing. I had lots more to share but will hold it for tomorrow. Join me then, same time, same station. And I am reachable as always at dissector@mediachanel.org.

On a personal note, and on behalf of all of us at Globalvision, congrats to our friend and partner, film producer Anant Singh in Durban, South Africa, who advises that his wife Anashree gave birth to a 3.32 kgs (7.3 pounds) baby boy at 7.00 pm last night (Sunday, 4th August ) Our love to the family and, especially, to their delightful daughter, Gayana, who now has a long awaited brother.