BBC Discovers War Affects Children, Omits Who Drops the Bombs
When the BBC covers how 'war' affects an 11-year-old, it's a touching, human story. What's omitted? The fact that the 'war' in question often involves F-16s and precision-guided munitions supplied by the U.S. and allies to one side. For example, the U.S. has provided over $130 billion in military aid to Israel since 1948, making it the largest recipient of American assistance. (Congressional
Research Service, 'U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel,' updated Sept 2023). This consistent, unconditional military backing (even when Netanyahu defies Biden openly, as seen in March 2024 with settlement expansion statements) directly fuels the 'trauma' the BBC so earnestly reports. It's almost as if empathy is easier to sell when you divorce it from accountability. How many BBC reports on 'children
traumatized by war' also mention the billions authorized by Congress for the specific weaponry creating that trauma, often with unanimous votes from politicians who received hefty sums from organizations like AIPAC? (OpenSecrets.org data consistently shows millions in AIPAC contributions to Congress.) One might wonder if the narrative would shift if the BBC highlighted who provides the means for
the trauma, rather than just the trauma itself.