Media and Political Process

Media devices are particularly influential when considering the way that they can manipulate the masses in developing thinking that they would not otherwise put across. The International Crisis Group online article "Deja Vu All Over Again? Iraq's Escalating Political Crisis" relates to one of the hottest topics currently under discussion in international circles. Similarly, Bradley Burston's article "Romney, a subdued pilgrim, walks a wary line in Jerusalem" induces intense feelings in the general public as the U.S. presidential elections are closing. When analyzing both of these articles, one is likely to observe that they have a tendency to induce particular sentiments into their readers.

Conditions are critical in Iraq and there are very little people around the world who are not acquainted with this subject. It is difficult for an outsider to assess the problem accurately and to come up with an effective solution because both Prime Minister Maliki and his opponents have a tendency to use immoral attitudes in an attempt to secure their position in the country. By simply reading the article, a reader is probable to express confusion regarding conditions in the country and is even more likely to consider that it would be essential for the international authorities to support an intervention in the country with the purpose of stabilizing the situation.

Even with the fact that this article appears to be meant to inform people regarding conditions in Iraq, it is very difficult for someone to simply stand aside as he or she observes the gravity of the matter. It appears that this article is meant to reach out to people to form an united front meant to assist individuals in Iraq and to prevent another Civil War from commencing in the region. By relating to the fact that things are probable to return to the state that they were before U.S. intervention, the writer puts across mixed messages. It is actually difficult to determine whether he calls for another U.S. intervention in the area or if he is actually interested in criticizing the last intervention because of its failure to stabilize the situation.

By relating to how "there is no question that Maliki has added to his powers during his six-year tenure, but there also can be no question that a large part of his success comes from his rivals' incapacity to thwart him via institutional means" (Deja Vu All Over Again? Iraq's Escalating Political Crisis) the article puts across the feeling that it would be irrational for the international public to believe that people within the Iraqi borders are able to control the situation. Moreover, the writer appears to want his readers to get actively engaged in supporting a united offensive against Iraq with the purpose of installing a foreign individual as the country's president.

As the U.S. presidential elections are closing in more and more individuals start to express their opinion concerning the nominees. Bradley Burston's article relates to Mitt Romney, a person who, from the writer's perspective, seems much more qualified to be a president in comparison to the present U.S. leader, Barack Obama. This particular article is influential because it emphasizes a series of Romney's abilities with the purpose of having readers understand that they are facing a future president who is actually capable to put across behavior characteristic to an U.S. leader.

Romney's interaction with Israel was rather different from collaborations between former U.S. presidents and the state. It appears that his feelings were more genuine and that he was hesitant about putting across the feeling that he was fully committed to assisting Israel. His attitude was most probably owed to the fact that he did not want people to think that he had the tendency to put across propaganda with the purpose of influencing people in appreciating him. Although the article paints a perfect picture of Romney as a president, it is difficult for readers to understand whether they should support this candidate or not. People in the contemporary society are in search of perfection and are often inclined to support unjust individuals simply because they have what it takes to make the masses feel that they are perfect.