Executions

Abstract

In this chapter I cover executions in the war on terror, another outlet of powerful image munitions. This discussion includes an examination of three related though distinctive terrorist tactics (hijackings, hostage-takings and hostage executions) which are each symbolically powerful and as such are the source of a number of powerful image munitions. Attention then shifts to discuss the hunt for Uday, Qusay and Saddam Hussein. In turning these into image munitions, the Pentagon and the new Iraqi government made serious misjudgements in their attempts to win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi public. The airing of the Uday and Qusay Hussein death images produced a number of damaging image munitions that have since been picked up and used by al-Qaeda and also by new media actors with intentions that are distinct from both the Bush administration and al-Qaeda. Similarly, the transformation of the capture, trial and execution of Saddam Hussein into a series of media spectacles also produced a range of damaging image munitions which have been redeployed by al-Qaeda against the Bush administration and the new Iraqi government, and have also been reused by various new media actors whose intentions are, again, distinct from those of both the Bush administration and al-Qaeda.