LEO HOLHMANN

In the realm of geopolitical events, things are almost never as they appear.

The messaging being sent by the media is no longer mere "news." What we receive from them are carefully crafted narratives meant to advance certain agendas. The same event, in fact, can carry multiple narratives often diametrically opposed to each other because the narratives are tailored to specific audiences and loaded with explosive words and images meant to trigger emotions in those audiences depending on their prior conditioning.

And the devastating attack on Israel Friday night was no exception.

The "what" cannot be debated – over 600 Israeli citizens were slaughtered and more than 2,000 injured in a brazen and brutal attack by Hamas terrorists. More than 100 other Israelis, including an Israeli military general, were captured and are being held as hostages.

But the "why" and the "how" – as in why now and how did they get away with it – will be less understood by the average American who's more interested in who wins the Packers' game this Sunday or how long Taylor Swift will retain her latest boyfriend.