Evaluation of Example 1: U.S. Iran Discord
Passage
“The U.S. secretary of state has called for a
‘very strong message’ to be sent to Iran, after
allegations of a plot to kill the Saudi ambassador to the
US. … But Iranian officials condemned the allegations
as a diversionary tactic[:] ‘ These are cheap claims.
By giving it a wide media coverage, it was evident that they
are trying to cover up their own problems.’”
“US to Pressure Iran Over ‘Plot to Kill
Saudi Envoy’” BBC News 12 October 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15269348 (accessed 13 Oct. 2011).
Analsyis
Ad hominem tu quoque fallacy occurs. Rather
than responding to the U.S. secretary's allegations, Iranian officials drop
the issue and accuse the U.S. government of covering up their own problems.
U.S. secretary of state calls for rebuke of Iran.
Iranian officials state U.S. rebuke is a diversionary tactic.
U.S. rebuke is a cover-up.