The New York Times: America’s Unofficial Propaganda Ministry
by Stephen Lendman
For over a century, The Times played America’s lead role disseminating state/corporate propaganda duplicitously.
Its daily diet features managed, not real, news, information and analysis. Readers don’t get what they pay for. They’re cheated on what matters most.
What it reports, other major media scoundrels regurgitate. Readers and viewers are left misinformed and uninformed in the dark.
Wealth and power support defines its agenda, especially when America goes to war or plans to. In the lead, The Times cheerleads supportively.
Last year, it backed NATO’s killing machine in Libya. It sanitized mass killing, destruction, and human misery. Now it’s waging war on Syria and Iran. It vilifies regimes Washington opposes. It defends sabotage and targeted assassinations.
It blames both countries for defending their sovereign rights. It turns victims into villains. It ignores lawless Western intervention. It brazenly justifies the unjustifiable. It backs the worst of imperial lawlessness. It cheerleads war, the more the better. It denigrates leaders supporting diplomatic solutions.
Its February 1 editorial headlined, “Russia’s Bad Bet on Syria,” saying:
“Since the largely peaceful revolt (erupted) last March, security forces have killed nearly 6,000 protesters and the toll is rising. Yet the (Security Council) is paralyzed, unable (to stop Assad from) killing or leave power.”
“….Russia, supported by China and India, (defends) Assad and block(s) constructive action.”
“The Russians, Chinese and Indians – invoking Libya – insist that they will not abide foreign military intervention in Syria or let a resolution be exploited to permit the use of force. That complaint loses credibility….”
Fact check
Since March, Western backed insurgent killings wracked Syrian cities. Washington, key NATO partners, and regional despots support them. Assad’s defending Syria’s sovereignty. Russia and China oppose replicating Libya’s model. They support diplomacy, not war.
Washington unsuccessfully tried pressuring their support for resolution power to intervene and force Assad to step down. The Times quoted notorious war goddess Hillary Clinton, saying:
“(T)here is no intention to seek any authority or to pursue any kind of military intervention.” Like Obama, she’s a serial liar. They backed Libyan responsibility to protect authority as Trojan Horse deception for war.
Popular support’s enlisted by fear, misinformation and deceit. Major media scoundrels feature it. Public opinion’s manipulated to believe wrong is right. A nation of morons lets America get away with murder.
The New York Times supports Washington’s permanent war policy. Its agenda suppresses truth and full disclosure. It accuses Russia and China of “playing games.” It urges Syrians “abandon their government” for pro-Western rule.
“(T)here is no doubt where the world stands,” it claims: “with the Syrian people and against the Assad butchery.”
Washington, NATO, and regional despots recruited, funded, and armed insurgent “butchery.” The Times ignored mass slaughter and destruction in Libya. It backs America’s Afghan and Iraq wars. It turns a blind eye to rogue policies of Egyptian, Saudi Arabian, Bahraini, Yemeni, and other regional despots. It’s silent on their daily violence and repression.
It backs the worst of Israeli crimes. It spurns Palestinian rights. It ignored heroic hunger striker Khader Adnan’s struggle for justice and death sentence, as well as thousands of other Palestinian political prisoners tortured by Israeli authorities. It misreports on America’s Somalia war and others it wages lawlessly, including at home by repressive police state laws.
Since March, insurgent gangs killed most Syrians. Assad confronted them responsibly. He’s obligated to protect his people. Yet he’s blamed for doing his job.
A February 14 Times editorial headlined, “The Enablers,” saying:
“China, Russia and India see themselves as global leaders. So why have they been enabling two dangerous regimes, Syria and Iran, to continue on destructive paths?”
Fact check
Syrians had peace until Western-backed killer gangs arrived. Iran hasn’t attacked another country in over 200 years and threatens none now. Times reports substitute misinformation and lies for facts. Its mandate excludes truth and full disclosure.
“The violence has gotten worse in the 11 days since Russia and China vetoed a (Security Council) resolution, sponsored by the Arab League, calling for a peaceful transfer of power.”
Fact check
Killer gangs, not Assad, escalated violence. Arab League duplicity backed NATO’s Libya war. It condoned mass slaughter too horrific to ignore. It recognized illegitimate National Transitional Council (NTC) authority.
It now endorses its equivalent – the Syrian National Council (SNC). It’s silent on Western imperialism and Washington’s plan to control and plunder regional states. The Times ignores their longstanding brutality, especially against social justice protesters.
“China and India are also hampering the effort to ratchet up sanctions on Iran.” Both countries still buy Iranian oil. “We do not know if sanctions can force Iran to give up its nuclear program or force it to negotiate a compromise deal….”
“It’s time for Russia, China and India (to) meet the test of leadership. That means all three need to work to find ways to limit Iran’s nuclear ambitions. For Russia and China, it means standing against Mr. Assad’s siege on his people.”
Fact check
Iran’s nuclear program complies fully with Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty provisions. Its program is peaceful, not military. US intelligence and IAEA inspections confirm it.
In contrast, Israel is nuclear armed and dangerous, and Washington maintains a nuclear first-strike policy against perceived or manufactured threats. Responsible policy requires supporting right over wrong. It includes independent regimes Washington wants replaced with client ones.
Claiming Iran and Syria pose regional threats inverts truth. Both countries confront provocations defensively. It’s their right and responsibility to do so. Both endure illegitimate sanctions. They’re embargoes criminally close to war.
Ordinary people in both countries suffer most. That’s, in fact, the whole idea to fuel discontent and opposition. It hasn’t worked and won’t.
When external intervention harms populations, most often they rally supportively behind sitting governments for help. Syrians and Iranians know what happens when Washington and NATO partners show up.
They’re resolutely firm against them, and no wonder. Mass slaughter and destruction come with them. Expect strong resistance in both countries against replicating Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya.
Given Washington’s imperial agenda, succeeding won’t be easy or even possible. Either way, expect protracted instability, turmoil, and perhaps war. America thrives on it.
A Final Comment
With or without Security Council resolutions, America often hijacks the UN as cover for its own purposes. Stooges like Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon act supportively. On February 6, his spokesperson, Martin Nesirky, said the following:
“The Secretary-General is appalled by the escalating violence in Syria, particularly at the mounting death toll and continued onslaught on the city of Homs involving the use of heavy artillery and the shelling of civilian areas.”
“The Secretary-General strongly condemns these attacks….No government can commit such acts against its people without its legitimacy being eroded.”
These and similar comments show which side Ban supports. Blaming Assad for Western-backed killer gangs is unconscionable. Throughout his tenure, he backed Western imperial wars and other crimes.
In June 2009, he was silent when Washington ousted democratically elected Honduran President Manuel Zelaya. He also ignored its militarization and exploitation of Haiti.
He backed lawless Ivory Coast regime change and Washington’s war on Gaddafi. Shamelessly pro-Israel, he turns a blind eye to Palestinian rights. An imperial tool, his deplorable record violates his sworn mandate to serve all people equitably and oppose war. Like his predecessors, history won’t let him forget his bloodstained legacy.
Addressing the General Assembly on February 13, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay also made shameful comments, saying:
“Each and every member of the international community must act now to urgently protect the Syrian population. I am outraged by these serious violations.”
“The failure of the Security Council to agree on firm collective action appears to have emboldened the Syrian Government to launch an all-out assault in an effort to crush dissent with overwhelming force.”
“According to credible reports, the Syrian army has shelled densely populated neighborhoods of Homs in what appears to be an indiscriminate attack on civilian areas.”
Pillay lost credibility with these and similar remarks. Blaming Assad for Western-backed killer gang violence is unconscionable. It also violates her human rights mandate.
A legitimate successor should replace her, one honest enough to name names and point fingers the right way. It requires holding Washington, rogue NATO partners, Israel, and regional despots responsible for thousands of deaths and planned war.
Instead, the UN gives them cover. As a result, millions suffer and die. Daily the toll increases. The Middle East’s wracked by violence. Unless stopped, perhaps Armageddon’s next.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/.
