John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY BEN NORTON IN CHECKPOINT ASIA
‘New York Times Admits It Sends Stories to US Government for Approval Before Publication
‘Casually acknowledges that it first sends major scoops to “national security officials” to make sure they have “no concerns"’
Well, that is very interesting, even though anyone who ever read the New York Times for a period understood that it consistently supported the American government in just about everything, including national tragedies like the Kennedy assassination, and especially wars, every single one of them.
I recall a bizarre business back at the time of the invasion of Iraq, an entirely criminal act from beginning to end, when the Times made an effort to bring back the WWII sentimental expression for citizen soldiers,” GIs” in its reports.
It was pure, obvious propaganda, but it was almost laughable, too, because it fit the situation so poorly.
Here were professional mercenary troops involved in an illegal invasion, one that ultimately killed about a million people and saw many atrocities and disgraceful behaviors such as the looting of the precious antiquities’ museum, being referred to as "GIs," like something from a tearful old Jimmy Stewart movie.
That anecdote is very revealing of the Times' traditional imperial bias. There never has been a war or conflict it didn't essentially support. And all of those wars, every one of them since WWII, have been imperial enterprises having absolutely nothing to do with defending the United States.
Also, it was not a terribly long time ago that the Times admitted something many had suspected for years. Every story involving Israel is submitted to the official Israeli censor before being published.
Some journalism. Some brave free speech. Some liberal spirit.
Someone once described the New York Times as the official house organ for America's establishment. No description has ever suited it better.
