Headline-grabbing islamopobia exposed as propaganda
Tom | 24.11.2003 18:53 | Analysis
The day after non-president Bush flew out of the UK the headlines were not about the larger than expected demonstrations, or indeed the closure of parts of Sedgefield to its own residents on the grounds of their dissenting beliefs. The headlines were "UK 'deadly poison attack' exposed" (1) . . . a story that, if not a total fabrication, bent the truth far more liberally than the soon to be whitewashed WMD-gate affair.
The story focussed on the alleged attempt by a group funded by "the Islamic community" (2) to purchase 500kg of Saponin, a purportedly deadly chemical. OK, so far we have a slander of an entire religious group coupled with the toxic-chemical nobody's ever heard of scare (remember the ricin scare; 'traces' were found. Traces of ricin occur naturally in castor bean oil (3)).
A quick Internet search shed some light on this would be WMD . . .
"Saponin
These are naturally or synthetically occurring products derived from sugar. They commonly foam in water, and are often used in shaving creams or shampoos" (4)
Not sounding particularly deadly so far then, although half a ton would certainly shave a lot of hair (maybe its Osama bin Laden's cunning disguise?). A little further investigation revealed some more interesting facts about the terrifying Saponin. It's found naturally in grapes and wine, and some scientists even believe it to be beneficial (5).
Sensing a lack of credibility to the story, ‘experts’ clarified that Saponin is only dangerous when mixed with toxic chemicals (1). I would imagine the same could be said for water, or cheese for that matter. Even if Saponin was mixed with Ricin, there was still doubt over whether this would be dangerous as Ricin cannot be absorbed through the skin (1).
In summary, the drip-drip of Islamophobic pro-war-on-terror propaganda continues with about as much credibility as those who peddle it. The warriors-on-terror need these lies to become received truths if they are to succeed. We need to see them as the fabrications they are if we are not to be caught between the two fascisms of Bush and bin Laden.
(1)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3228822.stm
(2) http://www.news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1292792003
(3) http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/castorbean.html
(4) http://www.totalskincare.com/library/totalskincare_s_saponin.html
(5) http://www.bbr.com/GB/db/news-item/525?ID=null&first_news_F=1
A quick Internet search shed some light on this would be WMD . . .
"Saponin
These are naturally or synthetically occurring products derived from sugar. They commonly foam in water, and are often used in shaving creams or shampoos" (4)
Not sounding particularly deadly so far then, although half a ton would certainly shave a lot of hair (maybe its Osama bin Laden's cunning disguise?). A little further investigation revealed some more interesting facts about the terrifying Saponin. It's found naturally in grapes and wine, and some scientists even believe it to be beneficial (5).
Sensing a lack of credibility to the story, ‘experts’ clarified that Saponin is only dangerous when mixed with toxic chemicals (1). I would imagine the same could be said for water, or cheese for that matter. Even if Saponin was mixed with Ricin, there was still doubt over whether this would be dangerous as Ricin cannot be absorbed through the skin (1).
In summary, the drip-drip of Islamophobic pro-war-on-terror propaganda continues with about as much credibility as those who peddle it. The warriors-on-terror need these lies to become received truths if they are to succeed. We need to see them as the fabrications they are if we are not to be caught between the two fascisms of Bush and bin Laden.
(1)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3228822.stm (2)
http://www.news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1292792003 (3)
http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/castorbean.html (4)
http://www.totalskincare.com/library/totalskincare_s_saponin.html (5)
http://www.bbr.com/GB/db/news-item/525?ID=null&first_news_F=1
Tom