Lecture 10: Distinctiveness (II): Shockwave Effect & the Virtual War 26th February 2003 (Wednesday) Structure of Lecture 10: Concept of a “Psychological War” Stage Setting of 911 “Military-Industrial-Media-Entertainment Network” (MIME-NET) (I): Osama Bin Laden’s Side MIME-NET (II): Its Psychological Meanings The American Side Conclusion: Metamorphism of 911 by MIME-NET PART I Concept of a Psychological War Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) Founder of Modern Psychology “Ancient Psychology” at Temple Street The Interpretation of Dreams The Observation of Human Consciousness The Hidden Concept of Human Sub-consciousness The World of Sex Psychological Studies of International Relations Theorizing the International Relations by Psychology Abnormal Psychology: Chairman Mao Prospect Theory: Gambling Behaviors of Risktaking and Risk-aversion Generational Politics Direct Psychological Assault on your Enemies: 911 Ronald Rumsfeld (US Defense Minister) Pearl Harbor Incident Rumsfeld Sr. in the Pacific Army Against any “Rogue States” Fans of President Theodore Roosevelt “The best prize life offers is to work hard at work worth doing.” – President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09) Rumsfeld: eradicating rogue states is the work worth doing Generational Politics http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/bh/1773951.stm PART II Symbolic Meanings of 911 “911” in the American Mindset Emergency number (= 999 in HK) First numerical sequence to be taught in childhood Concept of Generational Politics The most secured number the most insecure number Upside-down of the Concept of Security No more safe havens in the World?! Numerical Scary Magical Values of Numbers The 666 Analogy The Gipsy Culture and the fortune-tellers Crystal Ball and Taro Cards “Story” of Bill Gates and Microsoft The 1999 End of World Prophecy “Y2K” Numerical Problems 911…911…911… Ability of the enemy to understand the numerical importance to the Americans Ability of the enemy to demonstrate their CONTROL over the magical numbers Symbolic Meanings of “Twin Towers” Twin Towers, World Trade Centers Bible: The Tower of Babel Build 1966-1977 Height: 110 stories Signal of contempt against the Heaven “Twin Towers” ~ “Twin of Rome”?! Legendary Twin-Founder of Rome: Romulus and Remus Comparison between “Pax Americana” and the Roman Empire Armageddon?! Christian Prophecy: Armageddon, Final Judgment by Jesus 2000: the Millennium Menace 2001-911: technical delay only? Flooding of Ghost Stories… The Nostradamus Prophecy Nostradamus (1503-1566): French Astrologer The Centuries (1553): Prophecy of 10 centuries Distortion of Original Order “Successful” Foretold: French Revolution, American Revolution, WWI, WWII, JFK Murder, Gulf War… 1999 as the end of the world? Nostradamus Prophecy on 911? “The sky will burn at forty-five degrees latitude, Fire approaches the great new city Immediately a huge, scattered flame leaps up When they want to have verification from the Normans.” (45 degrees/ “the great new city” – New York ) "In the City of God there will be a great thunder, Two brothers torn apart by Chaos, while the fortress endures, the great leader will succumb,” “The third big war will begin when the big city is burning.” – Author: College student named Neil Marshall Messages from the Psychological Attack Expecting Armageddon: Essential Readings in Failed Prophecy (Jon Stone Ed.) 911世紀恐慌末日解構 (雲海) Implications: Radical American Response after 911 The American Psychology is Vulnerable Next Attack against USA Might be More Psychologically Planned and Executed PART III “MIME-NET”: American Side Assigned Readings Main Text: James Der Derian: “In Terrorem: Before and After 9/11” (B&D P.118-127) Supplementary Text: Brian Jerkins: “The Organization Men – Anatomy of a Terrorist Attack” (H&R P.1-14) James Der Derian’s Argument Professor, Institute of International Studies, Brown University Military-Industrial-Media-Entertainment Network (MIMENET) 911 fully revealed MIME-NET’s Modern Capacity. MIME-NET as real shaper of the world order. Information Technology, War and Peace Project http://www.watsoninstitute.org/infopeace/ Bias: Only emphasized MIME-NET on the American side MIME-NET on the Muslim side of 911 was equally significant Iron Triangle President Eisenhower (1960): Military (the Producer) – to make weapons for war Industrial (the Rich People) – Military-Industrial-Executive = “Iron Triangle” to earn money from selling new weapons Executive (the Eagles) – to receive donations and gain support from the military and industrial MIME-NET = “Iron Pentagon” Iron Triangle + Media (CNN; Silicon Valley) CNN War Against Terror http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/trade. center Setting 911 in the HEAVIEST Tone Division of Labor in the “Iron Pentagon” Media: Political Role Entertainment: Social Role Hollywood and 911 Hollywood and International Politics What can you tell from “Dr. Evil” and “Mini Me” in the Hollywood Series of Austin Powers? Hollywood and 911: Parallels of 911 Patriotism and Everyday Life and Entertainments Echoed the CNN Theme in the SOFTEST Tone American History in Patriotic Sound and Music http://www.wavethemes.org/%7Eusa/index.html “God Bless America” by Celine Dion American Battles against MIME-NETs of its Enemies In addition to the Propaganda War… War against Taliban (2001) NATO War against Yugoslavia (1999) America Attack of Al-Jazerra (Qatar Gulf TV)’s Television Station “Accidental Bombing” of Chinese Belgrade Embassy Xinhua Agency Reporters and their “Neutral” Reports on the Yugoslavian Reactions Chinese hackers Vs American official websites PART IV MIME-NET: Osama Bin Laden’s Side Qatar’s Gulf TV Al-Jazeera Television Network of Qatar “Arab World’s CNN” 35 million daily watchers in the Middle East Only media established direct conversation with Osama Bin Laden Report on the “Truths” against American Perspectives and anti-war protests in the West Expansion in the CNN-way http://www.aljazeera.net/ English Channel 2002 Beijing Office 2002 PR Gimmicks of Al-Qaeda Osama Bin Laden and his colleagues inside Al-Qaeda assumed the roles of the Executive, Industrial, Military and Entertainer already… Image of Simplicity Mullah Omar of Taliban: “Standard Photo” of Mingling with Fellow Followers Osama Bin Laden: Arabic Clothing and Horses Caves of Afghanistan Tapes of Osama Bin Laden Osama Bin Laden’s Speeches after 911 October 7, 2001 (before USA bombed Afghanistan) November 3, 2001 (midst of Afg. War) December 13, 2001 (after Taliban collapsed) December 26, 2001 (rumors of his death) November 12, 2002 (East African Terrorism) February 11, 2003 (on Iraqi Crisis) http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/trade.cent er/interactives.html Bin Laden’s Messages: “Terror on Tape” Laden’s Message from the Videos and Tapes Prophecy? Order and Instruction? “America will fall,” etc, etc… Signal Al-Qaeda and Followers to Launch New Attack? Secret Codes: Precedence of WWII Western Censorship of Laden’s Videos Itself as an Attack? Dash rumors of his death; proved inability of Bush; showed infallibility of the American enemies… PART V Conclusion – Metamorphism of the Original 911 Development? Significance of the Psychological Nature of the 911 Attack Muslims’ Embrace of MIME-NET Paradox: Previous Bias against Modern Technology Previous Inability to Infiltrate into Western World Against Islamic Preference of Non-propaganda Against Fundamentalist Aspiration of Simplicity Media: Leakage of American Dominance: Relatively Competitive among Various Spheres (political, economical, cultural…) The Mimetic War of Images Wars and Conflicts of the Post-911 World Order: Not Something that we can actually see, understand, or even prove their existence Wars and Conflicts on Cloned “Images” of Both Sides: “Images” in international news forged by MIMENET of different sides “Images” influence back the decision-making process “Images” further reinstated in the psychological mindsets of fellow people The Future… Before 21st century: statecentric wars Since 21st century: networkcentric wars Computer War Games Simulation RPG Networking Virtual Reality influencing back the Reality ~~The End~~ Thank you for attending