By Naveed Alam
May 13 2013
When a C.I.A employee fires a missile from an auto driven drone into a compound in Pakistani jurisdiction, he certainly doesn’t know for sure whom he’s shooting at. However, when Pakistani news Channels report that 8 civilians were killed in that drone attack, it is certainly gospel truth.
Drone attacks carried out by the American military are an important and sensitive political issue in Pakistan. It is believed that there have been at least 330 drone strikes on its territory since 2004. Records shows that more than 3500 deaths had been caused by drone strikes and between 474 and 881 were civilians.
The question is that Is U.S media treat drone attacks story the same way the Pakistani media do?
We are first going to take a look at different viewpoint on this issue.
United Nations
The British UN Special reporter on counter-terrorism, Ben Emmerson has echoed calls from Pakistan for the Americans to stop drone attacks in the country. Ben’s statement claimed that during a three day visit, Pakistani officials had told him that as many as 400 civilians were killed by the US drones.
Pakistani Perspective
Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar in on record to say, “Drone missiles cause collateral damage. A few militants are killed, but the majority of victims are innocent civilians”. “On drones, the stand is clear: a clear cessation of drone strikes,” “I maintain the position that we’d told them categorically before. But they did not listen. I hope their listening will improve,” she said. At the same time, the Pakistani government feels that their sovereignty is being violated.
U.S Point of view
CIA director John Brennan has said that only in “exceedingly rare” cases have civilians been “accidentally injured, or worse, killed in these strikes.” At the time, White House spokesman Jay Carneysaid: “These strikes are legal, they are ethical and they are wise.”
News in the eyes of beholder
In the Pakistani media, the drone attacks are portrayed in a negative light. The news stories usually contain reference to the number of casualties caused by the drones, any protests that are taking place against drone attacks and any court notices regarding the issue. On the other hand, in the American media, there might be a mentioning of the casualties or the other negative consequences of drone attacks, however, the focus will be on the positive effects of drone attacks and there is little or no mention of any protests against the drone attacks and the negative consequences are shown to outweigh the positive consequences.
There is even a difference in the type of headlines the two media use. An eminent Pakistani Newspaper The Express Tribune, published headlines in the month of February 2013 such as, “Unmanned war: Seven killed in drone strike” , “Drone strike in South Waziristan kills eight” and Drone Attacks: ‘The court must protect lives’
While the American and world’s top media giants , New York times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal use headlines such as “Drone Kills a Pakistani Militant Behind Attacks on U.S. Forces” , Drone Strike Kills 8 Militants and Pakistan Drone Takes Out a Militant.
The Pakistani media tries to appeal to the emotions of the people, giving very frequent reports of drone attacks in the media, focusing on the negative consequences of the drone attacks, telling people how it is harming the country and how innocents are dying due to drone attacks. The Media also highlights various protests that take place against drone attacks.
On the other hand, in the American media, restricting the access of information, only telling the people about the positive effects that the drone attacks are having and educating the people how drone attacks are important for both America’s, and the world’s, safety and security. For Instance, The American public is not told about any negative consequences that drone attacks may have, and if any negative consequences are ever mentioned, they are always shown to be outweighed by the positive consequences. At the same time, the American media hardly ever makes any mention of the ‘innocent civilians’ that also become casualties of drone attacks. They hardly mention any protests against drone attacks.
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism found that 176 children have been killed in drone attacks in Pakistan. Will these killings be deemed worthy of U.S public thoughts and prayers, or even make headlines in U.S media? The U.S media is very keen to cover negative stories about Pakistan and does not waste a single opportunity to press Pakistan Army and government. But who will inform U.S public that drone attacks in Pakistani or other states are illegal? And innocent civilians are victim of drone attacks. It is very important to inform the U.S public that when a C.I.A employee fires a missile from an auto driven drone into a compound in Pakistani jurisdiction, he certainly doesn’t know for sure whom he’s shooting at. However, when Pakistani news Channels report that 8 civilians were killed in that drone attack, it is certainly gospel truth.
By Naveed Alam
May 13 2013
When a C.I.A employee fires a missile from an auto driven drone into a compound in Pakistani jurisdiction, he certainly doesn’t know for sure whom he’s shooting at. However, when Pakistani news Channels report that 8 civilians were killed in that drone attack, it is certainly gospel truth.
Drone attacks carried out by the American military are an important and sensitive political issue in Pakistan. It is believed that there have been at least 330 drone strikes on its territory since 2004. Records shows that more than 3500 deaths had been caused by drone strikes and between 474 and 881 were civilians.
The question is that Is U.S media treat drone attacks story the same way the Pakistani media do?
We are first going to take a look at different viewpoint on this issue.
United Nations
The British UN Special reporter on counter-terrorism, Ben Emmerson has echoed calls from Pakistan for the Americans to stop drone attacks in the country. Ben’s statement claimed that during a three day visit, Pakistani officials had told him that as many as 400 civilians were killed by the US drones.
Pakistani Perspective
Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar in on record to say, “Drone missiles cause collateral damage. A few militants are killed, but the majority of victims are innocent civilians”. “On drones, the stand is clear: a clear cessation of drone strikes,” “I maintain the position that we’d told them categorically before. But they did not listen. I hope their listening will improve,” she said. At the same time, the Pakistani government feels that their sovereignty is being violated.
U.S Point of view
CIA director John Brennan has said that only in “exceedingly rare” cases have civilians been “accidentally injured, or worse, killed in these strikes.” At the time, White House spokesman Jay Carneysaid: “These strikes are legal, they are ethical and they are wise.”
News in the eyes of beholder
In the Pakistani media, the drone attacks are portrayed in a negative light. The news stories usually contain reference to the number of casualties caused by the drones, any protests that are taking place against drone attacks and any court notices regarding the issue. On the other hand, in the American media, there might be a mentioning of the casualties or the other negative consequences of drone attacks, however, the focus will be on the positive effects of drone attacks and there is little or no mention of any protests against the drone attacks and the negative consequences are shown to outweigh the positive consequences.
There is even a difference in the type of headlines the two media use. An eminent Pakistani Newspaper The Express Tribune, published headlines in the month of February 2013 such as, “Unmanned war: Seven killed in drone strike” , “Drone strike in South Waziristan kills eight” and Drone Attacks: ‘The court must protect lives’
While the American and world’s top media giants , New York times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal use headlines such as “Drone Kills a Pakistani Militant Behind Attacks on U.S. Forces” , Drone Strike Kills 8 Militants and Pakistan Drone Takes Out a Militant.
The Pakistani media tries to appeal to the emotions of the people, giving very frequent reports of drone attacks in the media, focusing on the negative consequences of the drone attacks, telling people how it is harming the country and how innocents are dying due to drone attacks. The Media also highlights various protests that take place against drone attacks.
On the other hand, in the American media, restricting the access of information, only telling the people about the positive effects that the drone attacks are having and educating the people how drone attacks are important for both America’s, and the world’s, safety and security. For Instance, The American public is not told about any negative consequences that drone attacks may have, and if any negative consequences are ever mentioned, they are always shown to be outweighed by the positive consequences. At the same time, the American media hardly ever makes any mention of the ‘innocent civilians’ that also become casualties of drone attacks. They hardly mention any protests against drone attacks.
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism found that 176 children have been killed in drone attacks in Pakistan. Will these killings be deemed worthy of U.S public thoughts and prayers, or even make headlines in U.S media? The U.S media is very keen to cover negative stories about Pakistan and does not waste a single opportunity to press Pakistan Army and government. But who will inform U.S public that drone attacks in Pakistani or other states are illegal? And innocent civilians are victim of drone attacks. It is very important to inform the U.S public that when a C.I.A employee fires a missile from an auto driven drone into a compound in Pakistani jurisdiction, he certainly doesn’t know for sure whom he’s shooting at. However, when Pakistani news Channels report that 8 civilians were killed in that drone attack, it is certainly gospel truth.