echoes of lynndie england and the banality of evil… ?”Doing terrible things in an organized and systematic way rests on “normalization.” This is the process whereby ugly, degrading, murderous, and unspeakable acts become routine and are accepted as “the way things are done.” There is usually a division of labor in doing and rationalizing the unthinkable, with the direct brutalizing and killing done by one set of individuals; others keeping the machinery of death in order; still others producing the implements of killing, or working on improving technology. It is the function of defense intellectuals and other experts, and the mainstream media, to normalize the unthinkable for the general public. (Edward S. Herman)
Former Israeli soldier Eden Abergil’s Facebook photos of her posing with Palestinian prisoners has sparked accusations that ‘souvenir photos’ are widespread in the army. Veterans’ group Breaking the Silence has released a number of soldiers’ pictures, some showing dead Palestinians. The pictures were released with the soldiers’ faces obscured, apart from the image of Abergil. The Guardian has pixellated the faces of the Palestinians. More here.