This clip is more than just a cartoon. At one level it exposes Peter's ignorance about the origins of the hijackers and his obsession with Iraq. The Bush-Cheney Government were keen to invade Iraq and were happy to promote this confusion in the run-up to the Iraq war. So Peter as a typical 'average' American male, who relies on limited sources for his knowledge is fixated on Iran and Iraq which had nothing to do with the attacks on New York. (Watch Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 911" which shows there was no conspiracy but the American Government worked hard to avoid embarrassment to the government of Saudi Arabia - from which 15 of the hijackers originated. The hijackers were acting independently, they were not acting for any Arab Government and the the Saudi Government condemned the 9/11 attacks.)
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This cartoon also reminds us how popular culture has changed from the 'innocent' patriarchal cartoons like "The Flinstones" to the more satirical and intellectual commentary represented by Lisa in "The Simpsons" to a truly postmodern and subversive programme in "Family Guy".
The final joke is that the audience includes smart people like Bryan the dog or Lisa but many more people like Homer Simplson and Peter Griffin. Modern cartoons contain social commentary for those smart enough to realise what's going on there but many people miss it and just assume 'its a cartoon, right?"
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