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Would public opinion have been different for the War in Iraq had Iraqi civilians had access to smartphones? (hexbear.net)

submitted 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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There’s no doubt a key driver behind opposition to the Gaza massacre, especially among normie types, has been the footage from smartphones showing the mass destruction and casualties.

Hypothetically, if the War in Iraq occurred with 2023 smartphone technology, how would this have impacted public opinion?

Would Bush have been re-elected in 2004?

Also, for historians of the war, is there a particular atrocity during the war that has been documented by activists or watchdogs but has limited photographic evidence, that had it been recorded by smartphone, could have single-handedly turned the tide of public opinion?

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[–] [email protected] 24 points 10 months ago (3 children)

Over two-thirds of Americans think the US should actively support Israel. A lot of people just have more "nuanced" aka incoherent opinions, like supporting both ceasefires and Israeli military strikes. To most yanks, this is just a complicated war between foreign countries, where Israel are "the good guys who sometimes go too far" (America, however, can only go too far 10+ years in the past)

And consider the context of 9/11. Pro-Palestinian voices tend to have a stronger presence from being shamed less than anti-war voices in Iraq. If Hamas did October 6th with thousands of deaths in the US, I'd bet half the country would be calling to wipe Palestinian blood off the face of earth. Even now, a solid majority of Americans support Israeli warcrimes. When I see polls like this, I have zero faith in the basic morality of your average American:

[–] [email protected] 9 points 10 months ago

God that's a depressing graph. Please Xi.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago

2/3 Americans support genocide.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago

jesus christ