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Stephen Lendman
A previous article called Iran bashing long-standing. It’s been on-going for nearly 35 years. It’s unrelenting. Lies substitute for truth and full disclosure.
The same holds for Syria. Assad’s defending his country responsibly. He’s doing so against foreign invaders. He’s wrongfully blamed for Western-enlisted death squad crimes. It doesn’t matter what’s true of false. Lying for power is longstanding major media practice. Iran is wrongfully accused of secretly developing nuclear weapons. No evidence whatever suggests it. Iranian President Hassan Rohani addressed the issue in New York.
“Iran poses absolutely no threat to the world or the region,” he said.
It’s true. Iran hasn’t attacked another country in centuries. It engages other nations responsibly. It deplores war. It prioritises peace.
“Iran’s nuclear programme (and) that of all other countries must pursue exclusively peaceful purposes,” said Rohani.
“I declare here, openly and unambiguously, that, notwithstanding the positions of others, this has been, and will always be, the objective of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
“Nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction have no place in Iran’s security and defence doctrine, and contradict our fundamental religious and ethical convictions.”
“Our national interests make it imperative that we remove any and all reasonable concerns about Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme.”
Every nation is entitled to pursue peaceful nuclear development, he stressed. Other nations have no right to deny them. Assad’s been interviewed a number of times. He responds forthrightly to questions asked. He does so responsibly. On September 25, Latin America’s TeleSUR TV interviewed him in Damascus. He commented on Obama’s UN speech, saying:
It “was more of the same — full of allegations based on fabrications and lies. In general, most statements made by American officials, whether in the current or previous administrations, do not have the least bit of credibility.”
US policy is “based on lies. The administration has not provided any evidence to support its claims.” Assad agreed to eliminate his chemical weapons. He joined the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). He agreed to comply with its provisions. He’s doing so. On October 1, Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) inspectors begin examining Syria’s CWs, delivery systems and production facilities. He granted them immediate/unfettered access to every site they wish to visit. America’s media are dismissive. They’re relentless. They refuse to take yes for an answer. Iranian/Syrian hostility is visceral. Lies substitute for honest reporting and opinion. On September 26, The New York Times headlined “Some Progress on Syria,” saying:
“The resolution to rid Syria of its chemical weapons is useful, if imperfect.”
It obligates Syria to eliminate its CWs. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov deserves full credit. He brokered an important agreement. The Times extended backhanded praise. On the one hand, it said Moscow “received a lot of credit.” On the other, it said major power haggling suggests “Russia might revert to a more familiar, obstructive role by shielding (Assad) from punishment if he fails to comply.”
Times editors blamed Moscow for vetoing three previous UN resolutions. It did so responsibly. It did it to avoid war. It wants Syria’s conflict resolved diplomatically.
Assad was wrongfully blamed for “brutality against civilians.” Times editors ignore repeated crimes of war and against humanity committed by Western-enlisted death squads. They include appalling atrocities. They’re responsible for multiple instances of chemical weapons use. The August 21 Ghouta attack was the most horrific.
Don’t expect Times editors to explain what’s most important. They repeatedly point fingers the wrong way. They wrongfully condemn Assad. They do it shamelessly. They blamed him for attacking Ghouta. Western governments say so, they claimed. “Russia blames Syrian insurgents but has never offered any proof.” False! Russia submitted plenty to UN inspectors. They ignored it. Their report was biased. It was incomplete. It ignored truth and full disclosure. It wasn’t worth the paper it was written on. Times editors didn’t explain.
On September 27, they headlined “Now the Hard Part.” The title alone shows disdain. It reflects longstanding contempt for Iranian sovereign independence. On Friday, US and Iranian leaders established contact for the first time in decades. President Hassan Rohani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif acted responsibly.
They did so to engage America and other Western states. They did it to end decades of irresponsible anti-Iranian hostility. Times editors called Iran “an adversary.” It continues to reject its sovereign rights. It wants Rohani and other Iranian officials to prove their good intentions. Washington, other Western states, and Israel have all the proving to do. Iran unsuccessfully sought rapprochement for decades. Times editors never explain. Rohani’s good faith outreach is “only words,” they said. Iranians “haven’t done anything to satisfy concerns about their nuclear programme” False! Iran’s programme is the world’s most intensively monitored. It co-operates fully with IAEA inspectors. It’s done so for years. It’s programme is peaceful. No evidence whatever suggests otherwise.
“Rouhani has repeatedly affirmed Iran’s plans to continue enriching uranium,” Times editors said derisively.
Tehran has every right to do so. It complies fully with Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) provisions. Times editors ignored what’s most important to explain. They failed to mention Israel’s formidable nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. It’s a nuclear outlaw. It’s one of only four non-NPT signatories. It violates CWC provisions. It uses banned weapons in all its wars. It tests horrific new ones.
Rohani’s responsible outreach deserves praise. Instead, Times editors said Obama assumed “responsibility to pursue diplomacy.” It’s up to Iran to persuade world leaders it’s not building nuclear weapons, he claims. It’s up to him to end decades of hostility. According to Times editors, “(n)o country feels more threatened by Iran than Israel. In addition to having a nuclear program, Iran is the main backer of Hezbollah and has provided arms and fighters to” Assad.
Israel’s only enemies are ones it invents. Hezbollah is part of Lebanon’s government. Assad’s defending his country against Western-backed foreign invaders. Don’t expect Times editors to explain.They won’t get it from Journal and likeminded editors. They feature all propaganda all the time. They omit what’s most important. It’s longstanding scurrilous practice. — Trinicenter
Online Reporter