Propaganda and the 9/11 ‘Global War on Terror'
Inaugural Webinar Event:- Sunday 10 October, 1pm-5.30pm (British Summer Time)
Presented by the Working Group on Propaganda and the 9/11 Global ‘War on Terror’
The ‘Global War on Terror’ instigated after the events of 9/11 led directly to war in Afghanistan and the manufactured pre-emptive invasion of Iraq. It also set the conditions for conflicts in Libya, Syria, and Yemen, among others. Indeed, the ‘Global War on Terror’ has, in multiple ways, defined the political conditions of Western military action for 20 years now. Millions of lives have been lost as a result of these military campaigns; countless more irreparably damaged on all sides of these conflicts, and the ‘War on Terror’ has both eroded civil rights and deflected attention and resources away from more pressing political issues. As with all military campaigns throughout history, the ‘Global War on Terror’ has been enabled through a massive and concerted propaganda drive. From the initial promotion of al-Qaeda as the sole actor responsible for the events of 9/11, to the demonstrable lies and distortions about the ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction’ that precipitated the invasion of Iraq, through to misleading “narratives” regarding Libya and Syria, the manipulation of public opinion via techniques of propaganda has been commonplace across Western public spheres.
This Webinar presents a range of analyses developed by researchers who have explored key aspects surrounding the propaganda campaigns that serve to support the ‘Global War on Terror.’ This ranges from controversies over the events of 9/11 itself, through to the wars which followed – including Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. Implicit to this will be issues surrounding Academia and the study of controversial issues. The line-up is as follows:-
1-1.15 BST Introduction:- With Patrick Henningsen and Matt Campbell
SECTION ONE - 9/11 and PROPAGANDA
1.15-1.40 Dr David Hughes: Questions Not Asked: 9/11 and the Academy
1.40-2.05 Dr Richard Ellefritz: State crimes against democracy and conspiracy theories
5 min break
2.10-2.35 Dr Piers Robinson: Understanding the ‘War on Terror’ as a Propaganda event: the formative years 2001-2003.
2.35-3.00 Professor Daniel Broudy: Munitions, Microbes and Messaging in the 9/11 & Covid-19 Terror Wars.
5 min break
SECTION TWO - THE 9/11 WARS AND BEYOND
3.05-3.30 Professor Jeremy Keenan: Creating a 'Second Front' in the War on Terror, and its consequences for the Sahara-Sahel.
3.30-3.55 Dr Lucy Morgan Edwards: How ‘Women’s Rights’ were instrumentalised to promote the post 9/11 War in Afghanistan.
5 min break
4.00-4.25 Professor Oliver Boyd-Barrett: GWOT (Dis)Information War: Iran and Syria
4.25-5.00 Roundtable Discussion/Debate