We are at the point in the course now where we need to seriously consider whether all the "facts" we read are actually true. Most media sources are controlled by a handful of powerful people - people who have agendas. Tell me the flaws that you can spot with the following articles - if any. Ask yourself who stands to benefit by printing that type of news story. As well, if you see the need to support the article then feel free. I will start with this article here. Of course I encourage you to skim user comments on the article, but please do not plagarize ideas that others have posted on that news media's website. Be sure to reference where you get an idea from, but read through them first and make your own decision first.
Get your critical thinking hats on...
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/ap-exclusive-graph-suggests-iran-working-bomb-17818491#.ULVd3xxlMX0
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ReplyDeleteThis is my weekly post:
ReplyDeleteFirst I would like to begin by saying that Iran has always had a tendency to buck the trends of the UN, and has spoken openly about any disagreements with Israel in the past. Between countries like Russia, China, Pakistan, including a handful of others have enough nuclear weaponry to destroy the world 1000 times over. As well, the more you possess of weaponry, the more likely you are to want to use it.
In the second paragraph of the article, it is apparent that this statement was brought by a member of state TV, which as we know would be a topic censored by the Iranian Government. Though at the same time, Iran always wants some kind of leverage in negotiation with Israel. It is also important to note that Iran says it only seeks to make fuel for energy and research reactors. [1] This requires a much lower grade of Uranium than that being discussed. [2] Though since there is no evidence seeing as no one has access to such a thing , an estimated graph showing how powerful we “think” this bomb will be tells us nothing.
What I would like to draw everyones attention to though, is the article’s author, George Jahn, of the Associated Press in Tehran. I found extensive articles specifically about Jahn by other Journalists, one interesting opinion by Muhammad Sahimi in his article: AP, George Jahn, and the Fake Diagram for Iran’s Bomb. [3] A tid-bit I would like to take out of this and show is when Sahimi exclaims: “Every time there is a flicker of a diplomatic solution to the crisis over Iran’s nuclear program, Jahn reports an “exclusive” revelation of a "dire" nature, always provided to him by “an official of a country tracking Iran’s nuclear program”. What Sahimi is trying to acknowledge is that Jahn always writes with some evidence from an official associated with Iran. What this could indicate is that he is being used by Iran’s government, almost like a puppet, if you will, to publish exactly what they want him to.
In the words of a Persian proverb, “The fox was asked who his witness is, and he responded, my tail.” So who are Jahn’s “witnesses” for his latest "exclusive"?
1) http://news.yahoo.com/iran-uranium-enrichment-speeded-164043288--finance.html
2) http://rt.com/news/iran-nuclear-diagram-gaffe-029/
3) http://original.antiwar.com/sahimi/2012/11/29/ap-george-jahn-and-the-fake-diagram-for-irans-bomb/