TheTrumpet.com has written on how Hezbollah has already won a psychological victory in its war on Israel. But there is also another victory within its grasp: Hezbollah is winning the pr war. In this contest for the hearts and minds—public opinion—it has extremely powerful allies all around the world. With political support of the populace being a primary factor determining policy decisions of Western leaders, the battle fought in the pr arena could prove to be one of the decisive factors influencing the outcome of the current hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

The liberal Western media have taken to emphasizing and elaborating on Israel’s bombings of Hezbollah targets in Lebanon—framing them as an attack on the Lebanese people—while minimizing Hezbollah’s continued attacks on Israel. The anti-Israel slant comes through in news report after news report—whether it’s in the pictures shown, the individuals interviewed, the questions asked; it’s all largely projected through an anti-Israel lens.

Hezbollah, of course, would be thrilled at this. But, more than passively letting world media project its cause, Hezbollah has a deliberate strategy of using the Western media to help it in the battle for world opinion. The media, of course, play into its hands perfectly.

Large areas of southern Lebanon are under the control of Hezbollah. Parts of south Beirut—which contain Hezbollah operations—are sealed by Hezbollah, with journalists only allowed entry with its permission. Hezbollah is taking Western correspondents on guided tours of bombed areas purporting that Israel is hitting civilians. American networks such as cnn, nbc and cbs then broadcast this around the world—sometimes without even a disclaimer.

Newsbusters.org called attention to a July 18 piece by cnn correspondent Nic Robertson where he had essentially served as a vehicle for broadcasting Hezbollah propaganda.

Last night (Tuesday) on cnn’s Anderson Cooper 360, senior international correspondent Nic Robertson touted his “exclusive” exchange with a Hezbollah propagandist who led Robertson on a tour of a bombed-out block of southern Beirut. Hezbollah claimed to show that Israeli bombs had struck civilian areas of the city, not the terrorist group’s headquarters.The Hezbollah “press officer,” Hussein Nabulsi, even directed cnn’s camera: “Just look. Shoot. Look at this building. Is it a military base? Is it a military base, or just civilians living in this building?” …Robertson seemed to endorse Hezbollah’s claims: “As we run past the rubble, we see much that points to civilian life, no evidence apparent of military equipment.”

Several days later, on July 23, cnn’s Reliable Sources ran a live interview with Robertson, who, when challenged, “added all of the caveats and disclaimers” that were patently missing in his original story. Of course, by that time, Hezbollah had already got its message and pictures out to tens of thousands.

Here are portions of that interview exposing Hezbollah’s methodology in using Western media:

Howard Kurtz: “… Isn’t it difficult for you as a journalist to independently verify any claims made by Hezbollah, because you’re not able to go into the buildings and see whether or not there is any military activity or any weapons being hidden there?”Nic Robertson: “Well, Howard, there’s no doubt about it: Hezbollah has a very, very sophisticated and slick media operations. In fact, beyond that, it has very, very good control over its areas in the south of Beirut. They deny journalists access into those areas. They can turn on and off access to hospitals in those areas. They have a lot of power and influence. You don’t get in there without their permission. And when I went in, we were given about 10 or 15 minutes, quite literally running through a number of neighborhoods that they directed and they took us to.”[T]here were Hezbollah security officials around us at the time with walkie-talkie radios. … [T]here’s no doubt about it. They had control of the situation. They designated the places that we went to, and we certainly didn’t have time to go into the houses or lift up the rubble to see what was underneath.”So what we did see today in a similar excursion, and Hezbollah is now running a number of these every day, taking journalists into this area. They realize that this is a good way for them to get their message out, taking journalists on a regular basis. …Kurtz: “To what extent do you feel like you’re being used to put up the pictures that they want … without any ability, as you just outlined, to verify, because—to verify Hezbollah’s role, because this is a fighting force that is known to blend in among the civilian population and keep some of its weapons there?”Robertson: “Absolutely.”

The question begs: Just which side are such journalists on? Whatever their motivation (most likely to do whatever it takes to get an “exclusive” or breaking story), these personalities and the networks that air Hezbollah propaganda are knowingly and willingly fighting Hezbollah’s war.

Even with disclaimers, as the saying goes: A picture says a thousand words. By putting the precise pictures to the world that Hezbollah wants it to see (would we expect them to show journalists anything that would actually verify that Israel is hitting the right targets?), these media outlets are fighting on Hezbollah’s side.

Largely as a result of such pictures, propaganda and one-sided reporting, Hezbollah is already winning the pr war. Notice what Stratfor reported July 25:

There is … a public relations shift taking place. In the early days of the air campaign, there was a surprising amount of international support for Israel. As the air campaign wears on and the pictures of civilian casualties beam around the world, that support is deteriorating. Israel is coming under greater political pressure. Shortly, the United States will be experiencing it. … [T]he Bush administration is politically weak in the United States and is fighting to recover its balance. An extended Israeli air campaign … will generate pressure inside the United States and might force Washington to pressure Israel to terminate the campaign. … Bush, with his poll numbers and increasing problems in Iraq, cannot resist indefinitely ….

As the media campaign accelerates, as it is sure to do, pressure will be extended to the U.S. to compel Israel to come to some sort of cease-fire agreement coming short of eradicating the Hezbollah threat.

The power of the media in swaying—or actually determining—public opinion, and the effect that has on vote-dependant administrations, should not be underestimated. The media is a powerful tool—and right now, it is Hezbollah that is using it with the most expertise.