by Shiu Hung (2005)


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Inculcating stupidity: Syria and Edward Snowden

by Toni Solo, 26 August 2013



Only the most foolish, thoughtless and inexperienced could possibly believe the latest propaganda warfare lie about chemical weapons in Syria, hardly different from the blatant lies justifying the war against Iraq. The main reason to consult Western news media now is to find out what the enemies of humanity have to say about their latest crimes. For readers in English, the most prestigious, quasi-plausible media tend to be NATO psychological warfare outlets like the New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN, Fox News, the Wall Street Journal, the BBC, Independent Television News, the Daily Telegraph, the Guardian, the Independent, the Irish Times and the main corporate owned news agencies.

Anyone interested in the spin applied by NATO country governments to their crimes against humanity has only to quickly scan these media to see what the latest propaganda line happens to be. In fact, it is absolutely true that chemical weapons have been used in Syria. But they have been used by the cruel, sadistic terrorists 100% supported by the wretched time-serving mephistophiles currently leading the main NATO powers, US President Barack Obama, UK Prime Minister David Cameron and French President François Hollande.

So well-oiled is the NATO propaganda machinery that the merest tip of a wink from these governments' officials triggers a global pyschological warfare campaign to justify total war against the people of the latest NATO target, in this case of Syria. Before, it was Iraq, then Ivory Coast and Libya. Now it is Syria and later, if the NATO leaders can generate enough aggressive momentum, Iran. Only systematic media induced stupidity explains the carnivorous complacency of North American and European taxpayers who sheepishly pay out huge sums of money to fund their oligarchies' overseas wars while accepting damaging cuts in their own public services like health care and education.

At the same time, the Punch and Judy pantomime sideshow of the Snowden-Greenwald theatre ("Oh, he betrayed us!" – "Oh no he didn't!") allows the Western media to pretend they are defenders of fundamental human rights. The Snowden smokescreen serves to conceal a deep policy disagreement among the North American and European elites about how to handle their countries' relative economic decline. The briefest look at the Snowden case should be enough for any rational person outside the NATO media bubble to understand that it is a massive non-sequitur. Western populations gave up most of their fundamental rights long before the attacks of September 11th 2001 which served as a perfect pretext for the NATO oligarchs to consolidate repressive practices already in place.

NATO camp follower Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger has posed as victim and defender of universal civil and political rights. That pose could hardly be more absurd given his own deep personal involvement in and clear commitment to the structures of influence and power that have sanctioned the categorical abuse of those rights around the world for decades. As a media institution the Guardian is obviously commited in the same way. That is why an individual like Rusbridger is its editor. How could it be otherwise? Similarly, journalists Glenn Geenwald's and Laura Poitras' careers have advanced through their association with the Freedom of the Press Foundation and the Working Assets NGO supported by Wall Street financier George Soros and the Rockefeller Foundation.

Nothing by way of anti-imperialism emanates from Snowden himself, because as an individual he too is very clearly committed to the NATO imperialist system. Snowden has offered no anti-imperialist Philip Agee-like epiphany to explain his actions, sticking hard to conventional Western rhetoric advocating freedom and democracy. Snowden's embrace of Russia or one of the progressive Latin American ALBA countries as a potential refuge is certainly based on humanitarian need rather than any positive political affinity. The same is true of Julian Assange whose Wikileaks party in Australia is negotiating first preference votes in the approaching elections for Australia's Senate with the racist Australia First party.

The Edward Snowden affair and the subsequent media campaign in the Guardian and the Washington Post and other NATO psy-warfare media outlets coincide with the shamelessly deceitful media campaign justifying a military assault against the government of Syria and thus too against the Resistance alliance of Syria, Iran and Hizbollah contesting the Occupation of Palestine. Obviously, it is too much to suggest that the Edward Snowden affair was deliberately contrived so as to provide a progressive propaganda alibi to corporate and alternative media advocating yet another imperialist aggression – this time against Syria.

It is a fact however that the Wikileaks/Snowden freedom of expression and civil liberties debate is promoted by a media network almost entirely funded by the US financial elites through institutions like the Rockefeller, Macarthur and Ford Foundations as well as the various funding channels made available by George Soros and his backers. The network's beneficiaries include, for example, The Nation, Mother Jones, Z Communications, The Progressive, Democracy Now and FAIR. Those outfits' funders are part of the same corporate network backing the Guardian and Glenn Greenwald.

So it is small surprise that while individuals like Alan Rusbridger and Glenn Greenwald pose as defenders of fundamental rights, their media outlets and the network of which they are leading protagonists promote imperialist aggression against Syria and the Resistance alliance of Syria, Iran and Hezbollah. The foreign affairs motifs promoted by that network have included long standing hostility to the Iranian government, to the Sandinista FSLN in Nicaragua and support for the war against Libya.

For people outside North America and Europe, the internal spat within the West's ruling élites offers little of interest. Very clearly, almost the entire Western corporate and alternative media network operates on the basis of psychological warfare criteria ultimately at the service of the imperialist tendencies of their countries' societies and the aggressive élites that control them. Like that of their corporate counterparts, the role of the West's supposedly alternative or progressive media, and the similarly funded non-governmental sector, is to provide a moral alibi for their countries' imperialist crimes against humanity.

It's a breakdown by the 911 truth movement.

http://911review.com/denial/gatekeepers.html

The connections in the chart seem flimsy to me. The arguments on the page seem to be focused on only finding the links between publications that criticized or denounced 9/11 Truth.

It's thinking like this that gets the truthers marginalized. There probably is some level of media consensus on the left that is leaning pro-US or imperialist. There's definitely one that doesn't like 9/11 Truth. But to say that this is due to their funding may or may not be correct.

They could come to these positions largely independent of their funding sources.

A simpler explanation would be that foundations give money to try and smooth over relations for the foundation's funders, which are specific corporations. Part of this might involve hiring people who are acceptable to these funders, or hiring people who have past experience fundraising from these specific funders. Having that person around would influence the organization. They are the human face that is within the group, who goes to get the money from the rich foundations.

That ignores other influences, like the fact we're in a capitalist system, and the people who write the news tend to be upper middle class, or come from the middle class. There are very few working class writers and journalists. We're also in a state, and states use nationalism and patriotism to reduce or silence dissent.

And, consider their backgrounds. Amy Goodman is pretty awesome, but she was a journalist at CBS. She had to be pretty mainstream in the first place to get that job. It's great that she's a class and race traitor. It's not like any angry person from the ghetto is going to be given a chance to work at CBS.

Finally, at least regarding 9/11 Truth, there are some styles of thinking that are just extremely speculative, and when people get that speculative, it starts to sound like speculative fiction. It's one thing to question whether the towers could fall the way they did. It's one thing to consider that the wars following 9/11 didn't seem to have anything to do with 9/11. It's something else to state so conclusively that the tower was rigged with explosives, and that it was Bush's inside job. That's extremely speculative.

It's almost like that conclusion is driving the finding of evidence to support it, and the search is basically around the towers falling. It's like the belief comes first, then the evidence second. The search should really be wider, and piecing together all the other parts that supported the invasions, and the actions of the US during and after the wars.

Consider: what if the planes actually did destroy the towers... but 9/11 was still an inside job, or maybe they just knew it was going to happen, and did nothing to prevent it, because they wanted it to happen.

These are the kind of secrets that people take to their graves, or tell the truth when they're close to death. Watch that video Fog of War with Robert McNamara. It's like a deathbed confession, how he says the US did terrible things in Vietnam. What the hell? Soldiers coming back were telling us this in the 60s, and scum like McNamara were dropping the bombs and covering for all the hell they were creating. But, look at him as an example: he kept his mouth shut until he was almost dead. It'll be the same with 9/11 and the invasions.

The corporate-foundation backed quasi alternative media.



Without looking at foundation funding and it's role in assuring people chase their own tails or run around like headless chickens thinking they are engaged in some kind of active citizenry, things will continue to get worse.

Some groups exhaust themselves by futilely targeting elected officials, from the White House or Congress, down to local councilpersons. Other groups burn out chasing after corporate-run media. And other people stumble upon each other protesting and screaming about mini scandals as they pop up at a bewildering rate. While the _real culprits_ continue to put out these mock targets for people to waste their time chasing, targeting, and attempting to shoot.

The real culprits, the megas, hand pick political candidates and finance their election campaigns.

They own the media.

They fund and take control of any grassroots or watchdog NGOs that exhibit the tiniest sign of success, visibility and or viability. They foresee we the people's easily foreseeable reaction and possible restlessness or dissent, and make sure it is properly misinformed, misguided, channeled, and diverted.

Thus, the small minority of active citizens continue to become exhausted, burned out, and never get anywhere.

Then, the cycle repeats itself; again, again, and again.







Independent media - a true story.



Once upon a time there was a passionate and visionary person. This person came across a major government corruption or fraud case. He took it upon himself to research and investigate the case; most likely after his daytime work was finished, after his children's bedtime, while sitting behind his computer in the basement of his home. He was driven by his strong sense of justice and honesty, and his feverish passion to expose and hopefully put an end to the injustice and corruption he had discovered.

Along the way he found a couple of comrades who shared his vision, and they too kept working, researching and investigating. They found sources within the target agency, aka whistleblowers, who provided them with inside information and leads, and they made sure they protected the sources anonymity.

And then, bam! The passionate and visionary group realized they had piled up enough data and smoking guns to fire, and they fired. They published their report, worked hard to disseminate it, and gained attention with their uncovering of a certain government agency's waste and fraud. They earned deserved applause from the general public, even various media publications. It became one of those admired David v. Goliath stories. A 'real' one. A 'genuine' one.



Then came the second chapter in this story: The earning of the attention and wrath of the affected bosses, and their bosses- the megas.

The intermediate bosses, the executive bureaucrats and appointees, were filled with contempt and rage over the exposure of their fraudulent and corrupt practices. They, known to be reactionaries, wanted to exterminate this newly formed idealistic and driven coalition; they wanted to shut them up-shut them down.

If they had their way, they would have collected dirt on this group, or even better, they would have made up dirt. They knew various ways to use the media to marginalize dogs like this. They knew channels that could get them persecuted or prosecuted.





But 'The intermediate bosses' bosses, the megas, known for their shrewd, calculated, and long-term planning capabilities reined them in. Short term solutions could have short and long term negative consequences. Short term solutions, even if good, would have short-lived benefits.

This was not the first time they were facing a tiny little adversary group of dogs with surprisingly well developed testicles, thus, a fairly loud bark, and a pretty good set of sharp teeth. They had nearly a century of experience with little dogs like that, coming along once in a blue moon.

The megas and their long term tentacles in key government agencies had developed a good solution, a well-devised mechanism, to deal with 'dogs' like this. The key component of their long-proven successful method was to emasculate the watch-dogs and turn them into loyal lap-dogs: Reduce the watch-dog's testicles size and functionality by attaching strings to them weighted down by anchors, and afterwards file down the watch-dog's teeth, one-by-one.



Back to the newly formed coalition, high on success, eyes bright with resolve, and ready to take on the intermediate ruler's fraud, abuse, and corruption.

The group, emboldened by their recent success and strengthened by their newly-found public notice and support, was transformed from a loosely formed coalition with a common cause to a Watch-Dog Group.

There were so many cases to tackle, so many corrupt practices to investigate, and way too many abusers to chase after; truly overwhelming. Granted, now they had some visibility that provided more clout, a certain level of public backing, and some experience, making future projects less daunting.

But still. They needed more resources; more time and more manpower. So they scrambled and raised a humble amount of money from their public supporters and true believers. They turned their income-earning full-time jobs into part-time work, and spent more time on this noble cause. It was all good. It was all for the good.

And again, they had another successful round, bringing them more recognition and further public cheering and support, and with it raised expectations-both from themselves and the public in general.







If only they could afford an office and more and better computers. If only they could hire a few researchers to conduct the nitty-gritty research and footwork, leaving them free for the major aspects of the tasks at hand. If only they could afford to travel and meet with some of their out of town sources and whistleblowers. If only they were able to afford legal advice to maneuver the treacherous channels…If only.

This 'if only' would become the major determinant in whether the story would stop right here, or, enter the next chapter, chapter three: when the corporate-foundations guardian angels started arriving.

The megas who had been closely watching the newly formed government Watch-Dog Group (I say closely because the megas have their ways and channels to keep close tab on their enemies, even those perceived as tiny little enemies).

For them now was the right time to slowly make their entry into the Watch-Dog circle and make their way toward getting at these dog's testicles and teeth, and begin the emasculation process.

As the Watch-Dogs pondered ways to expand and strengthen their base and reach, angelic sounding and wisdom-reeking people with excellent connections and sound-sounding ideas began approaching them.

Here are some examples of the dialogue between the Watch-Dogs (WD) and the angelic-sounding advisors (ASA):

ASA: 'You certainly need some savvy PR people and legal advisors, and a few experienced researchers.'

WD: 'Sigh. You think we don't know. The problem is; how do we get the badly-needed funds to accomplish all that?'

ASA: 'Surely you can. Of course, you must organize and set yourself up better, before you can even begin to raise those needed funds - I know a few people and noble foundations who would love to help you out, but you are not ready yet - that is, organizationally speaking.'

WD: 'And how is that?'

ASA: 'Well, I would start with a solid Board of Directors, and after that, a distinguished Board of Advisors for your organization.'

WD: 'That sounds so bureaucratic. Wouldn't that restrict our decision-making process? With all those people on board, wouldn't it be harder and much slower making decisions and getting things done?'

ASA: 'Not at all. The alternative is what? You end up working yourself to exhaustion, and achieve very little if anything. Add to that the size of the enemies-the targets you are after, and you know…Of course, it is your decision.'

WD: 'And what do these foundations and generous people want in return? We pride ourselves on being independent and nonpartisan'

ASA: 'Oh, don't be silly. Just look around you. How many successful and powerful Watch-Dogs do you see out there without big foundation and large donor funding? The ones who didn't make it, the ones you don't see, were the ones that didn't know how to go about getting foundation support and raising funds.'

So the wise and angelic sounding new friends, the mega's messengers and small-level players, made their way into the Watch-Dog group and started planting the seeds of 'Grand NGOs via Grand Grants via Grand Foundations.'

The Watch-Dogs didn't see any harm in putting together a Board of Directors. Of course, the wise and angelic sounding advisors were always there to show them the way:

WD: 'Okay, so the three of us and two of our recently retired whistleblowers-sources will be on our board of directors'

ASA: 'That is so cute. It is simply adorable. BUT, it doesn't work that way. You want a distinguished and experienced group of people. I would say, at least 10-12 distinguished people who are connected to and familiar with the foundations that will be providing you with grants. Maybe a few scholarly academic people who already work with-for these foundations and wealthy individual donors'

WD: 'Hell. How are we going to find and persuade these people to come and sit on our board?!'

ASA: 'Oh, don't be so pessimistic. They would be honored. We'll give you a list. In fact, we would be more than happy to be the conduit'



And slowly but surely the Watch-Dogs began implementing their wise and angelic sounding advisor's to-do list. They established a large and distinguished-sounding Board of Directors. They put together a lengthy list of impressive-looking advisors.

They began frequenting cocktail parties. They made their way into the circle of corporations and foundations which form the corporate-foundations, and of course wealthy individuals and philanthropists.

They had very little time left for their 'real' objectives; the watch-dog-ing, but they considered it a temporary thing. Once they had the needed funds and resources, once they had the dollar guarantees, then, well then they could get busy and do tons of watch-dog-ing.



Months went by, and then years.



The Watch-Dog Group, now Watch-Dog Organization, expanded; that is, in budget size, staff size, and office size. Per their Board of Directors and Board of Advisors instructions, aka advice, they replaced the director, their original founder, with a savvier, aka shrewder, person who knew how to handle and please the entire Board of Directors, Board of Advisors, and of course, the corporate-foundations and individual wealthy donors.



They spent a lot of time in cocktail party circles, at wealthy foundations-grantees retreats, and on legal calculations, tax calculations, public relations..

Of course, they did some Watch-Dog-ing work, or more like Watch-Dog-ish mini projects, and they learned how to make their mini Watch-Dog-ish projects sound like grand Watch-Dog projects.

It was an art, and their board members were all masters of this particular art.

As for the megas, by this time they considered their emasculation project completed and yet another long-term success:

The mega's men and women had penetrated the group as members of the board. They now watched the watch-dogs very closely; every move and every plan. They now ruled the watch-dogs. They reported back on all the anonymous sources within the government agencies that were naively providing information to the watch-dogs, and helped the megas and intermediate government bosses keep tabs on all these insiders-whistleblowers.



The Dogs were placed on a very tight leash. They had built new lives based on highly addictive handsome salaries and benefits: They had bought seven figure houses, enrolled their kids in prep schools, and had grown dependent on high dollars and perks. Their staff's livelihoods were also dependent upon the same high dollars.

The maintenance of their luxury-filled lives and their dozens of staff had become the number one objective, their first priority.

The Watch-Dog's testicles were pulled down and dragged on the ground by the attached multi-strings and weighty anchors - the money from their corporate-foundation's sugar daddies.

With the testicles almost gone, the Watch-Dog's barks became high-pitched and far less audible; more like a wimpy yelp than an actual watch-dog bark.

And they whimpered and yelped only once in a while.

As for the teeth, slowly but surely they were filed and ground down; every one of them; one-after-another.

Basically, in the end, there was not much left of the original Watch-Dogs. Without testicles, with their teeth gone, with an embarrassing yelp rather than a bark, and of course, with their newly acquired lap-dance skills to obtain the highly-addictive foundation grants, they now were officially considered Lap-Dogs- Lap-Dogs of the Corporate-Foundation Sugar Daddies.



..and here we are today (re-posted from boiling frogs)

KBOO

http://2gxxzwnj52jutais.onion/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3#p23

PS - I have twit-er and failbook and google pus blocked at the firewall ..for privacy reasons