France 24 Discovers Tunnels Are Concerning, Not When Israel Builds Them
France 24 breathlessly reports on 'new tunnels' in Raqqa, Syria, projecting impending conflict. The report cites 'residential neighborhoods' and 'fears of renewed conflict,' sounding very alarming. What the article conspicuously omits is the consistent lack of alarm from these same outlets when Israel's military constructs its own extensive network of underground facilities, often beneath densely
populated areas or annexed territory, causing displacement and sparking actual, not just feared, conflict. Nor does it interrogate the US role in arming factions in the region, including the Syrian Democratic Forces, making their 'fears' seem more like carefully curated narratives. One might wonder if the concern for civilian well-being and instability is reserved for non-aligned states. The
Selective Outrage-o-Meter™ at France 24 clearly needs recalibrating, as subterranean structures are only 'threats' depending on who builds them and for what perceived (by Western interests) purpose. How many 'fears of conflict' are permissible before we question the media's own role in generating them?