“They say we’re committing atrocities…”

JVL Introduction

The ICJ ordered Israel to cease its operation in Rafah because they may  result in a genocide. Not a worry, says Israel: the IDF simply doesn’t do that kind of thing.

This is merely one of a number of possible strategies to bend reality, as Michael Rosen’s Tutor shows in his latest guidance to the King.

Careful Michael, your Tutor seems to do it better than so many of the hasbara apologists you hear on the tele!

RK

“They say we’re committing atrocities…”

‘They say we’re committing atrocities,’ said the King to his tutor, ‘how should we reply?’

‘There are several possibilities,’ said the tutor, ‘and we should consider any or all of them, depending on who’s saying that about us.’

‘Go on,’ said the King.

‘We can say, “No, we’re not”,’ said the tutor.

‘Yes,’ said the King, ‘straight denial. Does that work?’

‘It gives our followers hope and courage,’ said the tutor.

‘I see,’ said the King. ‘Any others?’

‘We can say, “We’re doing all we can to prevent such things happening”, said the tutor.

‘Are we?’ said the King.

‘That’s besides the point,’ said the tutor, ‘the important thing is to say it. Please try to keep up.’

‘Yes, of course,’ said the King, ‘any more?’

‘”Other people did stuff like this”,’ said the tutor.

‘Do we have to say who these other people are?’ said the King.

‘Ideally, you should pick on a heroic conflict where the winners were justified and right,’ said the tutor.

‘But what if some nit-picking historian comes along and says that even though that war was justified and right, they or we committed atrocities?’ said the King.

‘That’s a good point but no one will hear the nit-picking historian. They will just hear that it’s what had to be done in the heroic, justified and right war,’ said the tutor.

‘You’re very good at this, aren’t you?’ said the King.

‘I like to think so,’ said the tutor.

‘Any more?’ said the King.

‘”It’s not an atrocity”,’ said the tutor.

‘Oh, but won’t people argue that it is?’ said the King.

‘Ahah, but that’s the point,’ said the tutor.

‘Mm?’ said the King.

‘They’ll spend hours and hours and hours arguing over whether it was or was not an atrocity,’ said the tutor. ‘They’ll have inquiries and trials. There’ll be hour and hours of TV programmes and radio shows arguing over whether it’s an atrocity.’

‘That’s bad for us though,’ said the King.

‘Sir, please listen,’ said the tutor. ‘Don’t you get it? They’ll be arguing over whether the word ‘atrocity’ is the right word to use and not over whether something bad has happened.  This is all good.’

‘I’m not comfortable with this,’ said the King.

‘Just ask yourself this: do their arguments about the meaning of the word ‘atrocity’ stop us doing what we’re doing?’ said the tutor.

‘No, I suppose not,’ said the King.

‘There’s your answer,’ said the tutor.

‘Thank you,’ said the King, ‘on we go.’

‘Exactly,’ said the tutor.