Middle East Studies

      War In Iran?

      Chan Lowe

      September 19, 2008

      Link: http://cagle.msnbc.com/news/WarwithIran/1.asp

      What issue, event or idea does the cartoon address?

      The cartoon addresses the issue of the U.S. not having an exit strategy for U.S. soldiers.

      What key people or groups are part of the cartoon’s message?

      The U.S. forces, Iraq, and Iran are part of the cartoon’s message.

      Choose one technique (symbolism, exaggeration, labeling, humor/irony, or stereotype) and briefly explain how the artist used it in the cartoon.

      Lowe effectively uses labeling to capture the fact that the US didn’t have a strategy for the US forces in Iraq. Since Congress can’t decide on a timeline, the cartoonist is saying that the US’s exit strategy is to put the US forces in Iran, where the next conflict is arising.  The labeling makes the meaning clearer because most people can’t find Iraq or Iran on the map.

What is the message of the cartoon? What do you think is the cartoonist’s opinion or point of view on this issue?

            The message of the cartoon is that the exit strategy is to put the US forces in Iran. This would move the soldiers out of Iraq, where they have spend a long time there.

Filed under: Emma, Week of September 19