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
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