The Media are Misleading the Public on Syria
Published on
Monday, February 22, 2016
by
The Boston Globe
The Media are Misleading the Public on Syria
by
Stephen Kinzer
New recruits trained to fight alongside opposition in Aleppo, Syria. (Photo:
AFP/Getty Images)
Coverage of the Syrian war will be remembered as one of the most shameful
episodes in the history of the American press. Reporting about carnage in
the ancient city of Aleppo is the latest reason why.
For three years, violent militants have run Aleppo. Their rule began with a
wave of repression. They posted notices warning residents: "Don't send your
children to school. If you do, we will get the backpack and you will get the
coffin." Then they destroyed factories, hoping that unemployed workers would
have no recourse other than to become fighters. They trucked looted
machinery to Turkey and sold it.
This month, people in Aleppo have finally seen glimmers of hope. The Syrian
army and its allies have been pushing militants out of the city. Last week
they reclaimed the main power plant. Regular electricity may soon be
restored. The militants' hold on the city could be ending.
Militants, true to form, are wreaking havoc as they are pushed out of the
city by Russian and Syrian Army forces. "Turkish-Saudi backed 'moderate
rebels' showered the residential neighborhoods of Aleppo with unguided
rockets and gas jars," one Aleppo resident wrote on social media. The
Beirut-based analyst Marwa Osma asked, "The Syrian Arab Army, which is led
by President Bashar Assad, is the only force on the ground, along with their
allies, who are fighting ISIS - so you want to weaken the only system that
is fighting ISIS?"
This does not fit with Washington's narrative. As a result, much of the
American press is reporting the opposite of what is actually happening. Many
news reports suggest that Aleppo has been a "liberated zone" for three years
but is now being pulled back into misery.
Americans are being told that the virtuous course in Syria is to fight the
Assad regime and its Russian and Iranian partners. We are supposed to hope
that a righteous coalition of Americans, Turks, Saudis, Kurds, and the
"moderate opposition" will win.
This is convoluted nonsense, but Americans cannot be blamed for believing
it. We have almost no real information about the combatants, their goals, or
their tactics. Much blame for this lies with our media.
Under intense financial pressure, most American newspapers, magazines, and
broadcast networks have drastically reduced their corps of foreign
correspondents. Much important news about the world now comes from reporters
based in Washington. In that environment, access and credibility depend on
acceptance of official paradigms. Reporters who cover Syria check with the
Pentagon, the State Department, the White House, and think tank "experts."
After a spin on that soiled carousel, they feel they have covered all sides
of the story. This form of stenography produces the pabulum that passes for
news about Syria.
Inevitably, this kind of disinformation has bled into the American
presidential campaign. At the recent debate in Milwaukee, Hillary Clinton
claimed that United Nations peace efforts in Syria were based on "an
agreement I negotiated in June of 2012 in Geneva." The precise opposite is
true. In 2012 Secretary of State Clinton joined Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and
Israel in a successful effort to kill Kofi Annan's UN peace plan because it
would have accommodated Iran and kept Assad in power, at least temporarily.
No one on the Milwaukee stage knew enough to challenge her.
Politicians may be forgiven for distorting their past actions. Governments
may also be excused for promoting whatever narrative they believe best suits
them. Journalism, however, is supposed to remain apart from the power elite
and its inbred mendacity. In this crisis it has failed miserably.
Americans are said to be ignorant of the world. We are, but so are people in
other countries. If people in Bhutan or Bolivia misunderstand Syria,
however, that has no real effect. Our ignorance is more dangerous, because
we act on it. The United States has the power to decree the death of
nations. It can do so with popular support because many Americans - and many
journalists - are content with the official story. In Syria, it is: "Fight
Assad, Russia, and Iran! Join with our Turkish, Saudi, and Kurdish friends
to support peace!" This is appallingly distant from reality. It is also
likely to prolong the war and condemn more Syrians to suffering and death.
C 2016 The Boston Globe
Stephen Kinzer
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The Media are Misleading the Public on Syria
Published on
Monday, February 22, 2016
by The Boston Globe
The Media are Misleading the Public on Syria
by
Stephen Kinzer
. 12 Comments
.
. New recruits trained to fight alongside opposition in Aleppo, Syria.
(Photo: AFP/Getty Images)
. Coverage of the Syrian war will be remembered as one of the most
shameful episodes in the history of the American press. Reporting about
carnage in the ancient city of Aleppo is the latest reason why.
. For three years, violent militants have run Aleppo. Their rule began
with a wave of repression. They posted notices warning residents: "Don't
send your children to school. If you do, we will get the backpack and you
will get the coffin." Then they destroyed factories, hoping that unemployed
workers would have no recourse other than to become fighters. They trucked
looted machinery to Turkey and sold it.
. This month, people in Aleppo have finally seen glimmers of hope. The
Syrian army and its allies have been pushing militants out of the city. Last
week they reclaimed the main power plant. Regular electricity may soon be
restored. The militants' hold on the city could be ending.
. Militants, true to form, are wreaking havoc as they are pushed out
of the city by Russian and Syrian Army forces. "Turkish-Saudi backed
'moderate rebels' showered the residential neighborhoods of Aleppo with
unguided rockets and gas jars," one Aleppo resident wrote on social media.
The Beirut-based analyst Marwa Osma asked, "The Syrian Arab Army, which is
led by President Bashar Assad, is the only force on the ground, along with
their allies, who are fighting ISIS - so you want to weaken the only system
that is fighting ISIS?"
This does not fit with Washington's narrative. As a result, much of the
American press is reporting the opposite of what is actually happening. Many
news reports suggest that Aleppo has been a "liberated zone" for three years
but is now being pulled back into misery.
http://www.commondreams.org/donatehttp://www.commondreams.org/donate
Americans are being told that the virtuous course in Syria is to fight the
Assad regime and its Russian and Iranian partners. We are supposed to hope
that a righteous coalition of Americans, Turks, Saudis, Kurds, and the
"moderate opposition" will win.
This is convoluted nonsense, but Americans cannot be blamed for believing
it. We have almost no real information about the combatants, their goals, or
their tactics. Much blame for this lies with our media.
Under intense financial pressure, most American newspapers, magazines, and
broadcast networks have drastically reduced their corps of foreign
correspondents. Much important news about the world now comes from reporters
based in Washington. In that environment, access and credibility depend on
acceptance of official paradigms. Reporters who cover Syria check with the
Pentagon, the State Department, the White House, and think tank "experts."
After a spin on that soiled carousel, they feel they have covered all sides
of the story. This form of stenography produces the pabulum that passes for
news about Syria.
Inevitably, this kind of disinformation has bled into the American
presidential campaign. At the recent debate in Milwaukee, Hillary Clinton
claimed that United Nations peace efforts in Syria were based on "an
agreement I negotiated in June of 2012 in Geneva." The precise opposite is
true. In 2012 Secretary of State Clinton joined Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and
Israel in a successful effort to kill Kofi Annan's UN peace plan because it
would have accommodated Iran and kept Assad in power, at least temporarily.
No one on the Milwaukee stage knew enough to challenge her.
Politicians may be forgiven for distorting their past actions. Governments
may also be excused for promoting whatever narrative they believe best suits
them. Journalism, however, is supposed to remain apart from the power elite
and its inbred mendacity. In this crisis it has failed miserably.
Americans are said to be ignorant of the world. We are, but so are people in
other countries. If people in Bhutan or Bolivia misunderstand Syria,
however, that has no real effect. Our ignorance is more dangerous, because
we act on it. The United States has the power to decree the death of
nations. It can do so with popular support because many Americans - and many
journalists - are content with the official story. In Syria, it is: "Fight
Assad, Russia, and Iran! Join with our Turkish, Saudi, and Kurdish friends
to support peace!" This is appallingly distant from reality. It is also
likely to prolong the war and condemn more Syrians to suffering and death.
C 2016 The Boston Globe
