The US Media Propaganda Machine Never Rests
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
Collectively in the US, major print and electronic media resemble what Orwell called the Ministry of Truth in his dystopian “1984” novel — the ministry in charge of controlling the message, eliminating whatever conflicts with it, memory holes used for this purpose.
Media in America operate the same way, the closest thing to an official ministry of propaganda, reporting the official narrative exclusively on major world and national issues, suppressing what matters most — truth and full disclosure at all times, no exceptions, what journalism the way it should be is all about.
Since Trump regime hardliners launched all-out war on Venezuela by other means, US media collectively genuflected in support of regime change — reporting state-sponsored propaganda, serving as press agents for what’s going on.
Ignored are unlawful Trump regime actions against sovereign Venezuela, a nation threatening no one, aiming to eliminate the hemisphere’s preeminent democracy for the unwillingness of its leadership to bend to Washington’s will, along with wanting control over the country’s vast oil reserves.
US media have been delivering near-daily propaganda reports on the country, a steady drumbeat of managed news misinformation, disinformation, Big Lies, and fake news.
They consistently substitute fiction for facts, filtering news, information and opinion, marginalizing dissent, abandoning truth-telling in deference to powerful interests.
Wars of aggression and other hostile actions against nations are called humanitarian intervention and democracy building. Human and civil rights are suppressed for our own good. Patriotism means supporting what demands denunciation.
The Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics states: “The duty of the journalist is to further…public enlightenment…by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues.”
“Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist’s credibility.”
The Radio-Television News Directors Association Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct stresses public trust, credibility, accuracy, and truth, adding:
“(R)eporting (must exclude) anything known to be false.” It must stress fairness, integrity, independence, accountability, and “responsibility to the profession of electronic journalism.”
Major media in the US and West fail consistently on all counts. Serving powerful interests, they feature fake news over the real thing, excluding truth and full disclosure.
Readers, viewers, and listeners are fed a daily diet of lies, damn lies, bald-faced Big Lies, and an agenda harming their vital interests.
NYT propaganda war on Venezuela discussed what it called “five things you need to know” about what’s going on. A litany of bald-faced Big Lies and deception followed.
Saying the nation’s “wealth evaporate(d)” ignored illegal US economic, financial and sanctions war on the country, falsely blaming Maduro for Trump regime high crimes.
The Times mocked Hugo Chavez’s legacy, beloved by most Venezuelans until the Obama regime killed him by poisoning or infection with cancer causing substances.
Four major surgeries in 18 months raised suspicions. State-of-the-art care couldn’t save him. The Times lied saying he “seized private factories, mines and fields…”
It lied about President Nicolas Maduro, falsely claiming he “increased the executive branch’s control of the country…dismantle(d) the country’s opposition-led legislature, (and) consolidated power under the presidency, steering the country toward autocracy…quash(ing) all dissenting voices through violence and intimidation.”
All of the above are bald-faced Big Lies, typical Times deception, suppressing hard truths, including the false claim about Maduro’s May 2018 reelection, shamefully calling it “fraudulent,” supporting imposter Guaido at the same time.
More lies and deception followed, falsely claiming “(h)unger is widespread and children are dying of malnutrition (sic).”
“The country’s public health care system has collapsed (sic) and prolonged electricity outages (sic) are common” — ignoring Trump regime electricity war, sabotaging Venezuela’s grid, ignored by the Times.
Virtually everything the Times reported on Venezuela throughout Bolivarian Republic’s history, notably since Trump regime hardliners chose convenient stooge Guaido as a designated puppet/usurper in waiting, has been a litany of bald-faced Big Lies and distortions.
Separately, the Times asked what’s next following Tuesday’s fiasco, a pseudo-uprising designed to fail, not succeed, clear from how things played out, disgracefully saying:
“The armed forces’ continued support for the dictator (sic) remains the opposition’s most formidable obstacle for a regime change,” adding:
“(T)he (so-called) opposition and its international supporters (meaning right-wing regional and EU regimes) (must change) their strategies…”
Everything tried to topple Maduro since January failed. Nor is success likely ahead no matter what actions Trump regime hardliners employ.
Retired US Army Colonel/former Secretary of State Colin Powell’s chief of staff Lawrence Wilkerson explained what’s likely if the US attacks Venezuela militarily, saying “a potentially first-class disaster” will likely follow if things go this far, adding:
“I know the Venezuelan military; I’ve trained some of them…(T)hey are reasonably professional (and) commit(ted) (to preserving and protecting Bolivarian social) democracy…”
“(I)f the US military arrives in Venezuela, (most of them will) take to the hills – very formidable hills, with jungle-like backdrops – and they will harass, kill, take prisoner from time to time, and generally hold out forever or until the ‘gringos’ leave.”
John Pilger earlier made similar comments about Vietnam, calling the lost war “the grand illusion of the American cause.”
In 1965, former Defense Secretary Robert McNamara told Lyndon Johnson that war in Vietnam was unwinnable, saying:
“I don’t believe they’re ever going to quit. And I don’t see…that we have any…plan for victory – militarily or diplomatically.”
In May 1964, Johnson was conflicted about the war, telling his closest Senate friend Richard Russell: “We’re in quicksand up to our necks, and I just don’t know what the hell to do about it.”
War raged for over another decade. Richard Nixon finally ended US aggression after escalating it in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.
If the Trump regime attacks Venezuela militarily, a similar scenario is likely — endless guerrilla war in the hills, neighborhoods, and streets throughout the country.
Millions of Venezuelans are armed, along with the country’s well-trained military, committed to defend Bolivarian social democracy against a foreign aggressor.
Wilkerson added: “Were I looking down from Mars and with no dog in this fight, I might say that it would be suitable comeuppance for the sheer stupidity of the Trump gang.”
“One might shout loudly as the quagmire develops, ‘Get elected now, Mr. Reality-TV man!’ ”
“Keep going, Trumpster. You’ll founder this ship of state soon enough.”
He and gang of thugs surrounding him may kill us all. Their reckless agenda threatens everyone everywhere.
VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home – Stephen Lendman). Contact at [email protected].
My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
