’7/11’: Another day at the office

I am writing this as I watch the news come in from Mumbai. I got home and turned the TV on and it was 4 bombs, then 5, 6 and it is at 7 at the moment.

This isn’t a considered opinion on anything, I am writing this as I watch the chaos and the horror unfold.

They have just started calling it 7/11.

Where I am in the world at the moment I get CNN international, but they have joined up with CNN/IBM so I am listening to Indian responses to it. Or Indian-CNN responses to it.

There is a pattern, the Indian announcer is saying. They just cut him.

He said there is a pattern 9/11, 7/7 and now 7/11. I am not quite sure what he is getting at, sounds like some sort of numerology nonsense to me. They cut him off before he could explain himself.

It is all becoming such a familiar narrative.

The bombs go off and no one knows what is happening. Another bomb, more mayhem, another bomb, more mayhem.

Then the bombs stop.

Then the propaganda kicks in. While the people are still bleeding.

We tune in to find out what is happening. They tell us some of that, but they also don’t miss a spare second in beginning the process of telling us what to think about what it happening.

It seems it is most likely to be a Pakistani terrorist group.

Almost immediately it seemed, they had someone called Brahma Chellaney from the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi to tell the Indian people what to think.

This reminded me so much of the De Menezes killing, when in a very short space of time the BBC managed to find a commentator to come on and say that he felt that after the London bombings he was certain that the British Public would be happy in the knowledge that, given recent events, the British police were doing such things.

After (some of) the details of the De Menezes killing came out I never spotted an apology for, or a retraction of this on the BBC.

Back in India, even amongst the carnage the TV channel in question is slapping itself on the back for “always being on the spot.”

They have rightly been praising the people who quickly carted the injured off in taxis and rickshaws. This may have saved a lot of lives as it seemed to be a slow response from the police.

Through it all they are running ads for “citizen journalists” to send in their home movies of the bombings. Citizen Journalists...hmmm... should there be any other kind? Is the only other option “military journalists?” Are they openly admitting it now?

People are sending in their phone and video clips.

The narrative now is the familiar one about “everyone has to continue going about their business.” Jeez, can’t they wait till they know how many people are dead?

It seems the next most important thing is if the stock market will be open tomorrow. When Mumbai was bombed before it seems they got the business district going again the next day, how comforting that is to know.

The Indian authorities make the usual speech... “go about your business as normal”, “don’ let the bastards grind you down.”

It cuts back and forth from CNN international and CNN/IBN.

We go back to CNN international.

And now they are trying to put it all in helpful context. Musharraf, whom Indian TV is blaming, is mentioned as saying the scourge of the world is terrorism.

Then, when they stop talking about India they show us Iraqi terrorists (followed by a lingering shot of bin Laden with absolutely no reason for him to be there). Then Afghanistan, then North Korea. All in order. Reminding everyone of who is the good the bad and the ugly. The power of association.

Cut to commercials.

I want to finish this short article before Bush or Blair come on and say their piece. We already know what they are going to say.

The strange thing is that as they come back from commercials both the CNN presenters have big smiles and perfect make-up.

“Welcome back”, he says with a smile and a genial nod. The woman tries to smoulder ever so imperceptibly, just enough to make you think she is upset, but still a little bit flirtatious to get you through this difficult news. Isn’t she nice?

“I’m Michael Holmes” he says. “Thanks for watching.”

Cut to commercials.

There are some interesting shots of those helping the wounded abusing journalists as they make their way to hospitals or home. These air, but without comment.

Its another despicable day, and another few hundred lives gone, another few thousand ruined. More senseless and horrific violence.

For CNN, it is just another day in make-up.