Imperial Hubris: How New York Times reports on Russian activity in Syria

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Our colleague Rick Staggenborg, director of SOLDIERS FOR PEACE INTERNATIONAL, has flagged this article by The New York Times, the paper of record for the American ruling class. The excerpt we attach exhibits all the “signatures” of the Times style of imperialist reporting: condescension, imperial arrogance,  and self-righteousness (we can fly anywhere, over any territory, and do what we bloody well like, including destroying entire nations under false pretexts (while claiming it’s for the good of humanity), but when someone else does it without our permission it’s evil by definition; plus the usual quota of gross omissions of context and historical falsifications. Note, among other things, how detachedly the Times notes the US has been “unable to stop the Russians” in their effort to resupply their ally, or get all of its client states to interdict Russia’s flights. Given all this obfuscation, of which this piece is just one example, Rick’s introduction is extremely spot on, so read the whole post and comment, if you like:

“As Russia removes all doubt that it will defend its interests in Syria against the aggression of the US and its allies in the region, things are heating up. That is to be expected when a nation asserts its sovereign rights against an imperialist power.

Though Americans rarely recognize it, the US is the figurehead of an imperial alliance controlled by powerful individuals with no allegiance to any nation, people or humanity itself. Russia, Syria and Iran are the bulwarks of the Axis of Resistance to that Empire. The real rulers of the Empire of the banksters and Wall Street war profiteers who control US foreign policy.

Russian Moves in Syria Widen Role in Mideast

By ERIC SCHMITT and MICHAEL R. GORDON / SEPT. 14, 2015 Published originally by The New York Times, and excerpted here as part of our editorial commentary.

Regional map by The New York Times

WASHINGTON — Russia has sent some of its most modern battle tanks to a new air base in Syria in what American officials said Monday was part of an escalating buildup that could give Moscow its most significant military foothold in the Middle East in decades.

Pentagon officials said that the Russian weapons and equipment that had arrived suggested that the Kremlin’s plan is to turn the airfield south of Latakia in western Syria into a major hub that could be used to bring in military supplies for the government of President Bashar al-Assad. It might also serve as a staging area for airstrikes in support of Syrian government forces.

“We have seen movement of people and things that would suggest the air base south of Latakia could be used as a forward air operating base,” Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said Monday.

An anti-American mural along a street in Tehran. The United States and Iran each face domestic pressures against closer relations, a nuclear deal notwithstanding.
U.S. and Iran Both Conflict and ConvergeSEPT. 13, 2015
Members of Al Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria and its allies at the entrance of an air base in the northern province of Idlib after seizing it Wednesday. It had been the last air base in the province held by the Syrian government.

Russia Defends the Presence of Its Military Advisers in Syria SEPT. 9, 2015

American military specialists analyzing satellite photographs and other information said Russia had about half a dozen T-90 tanks, 15 howitzers, 35 armored personnel carriers, 200 marines and housing for as many as 1,500 personnel at the airfield near the Assad family’s ancestral home. And more is on the way as Russia appears to be trying to increase its influence in Syria amid the civil strife there, the officials said.

Russia has military presences near Latakia and in Tartus. Credit SANA, via Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

“There were military supplies, they are ongoing, and they will continue,” Sergey V. Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies on Sunday. “They are inevitably accompanied by Russian specialists, who help to adjust the equipment, to train Syrian personnel how to use this weaponry.”

The Russians have not sent attack planes to the airfield, and the Kremlin has not said whether they will. But the military buildup by Russia, which has been supporting Mr. Assad throughout the four-and-a-half-year Syrian civil war, adds a new friction point in its relations with the United States.

“I don’t believe Western governments are prepared to do very much to slow down or block the risky course the Russians are going on,” said Andrew S. Weiss, vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He is a former Russia expert for the National Security Council, the State Department and the Pentagon.

Indeed, efforts by the United States to stop the flow of supplies have fallen short. At least 15 giant Russian Condor transport planes have in the past week used an air corridor over Iraq and Iran to ferry military equipment and personnel to the base, said American military officials who agreed to speak about confidential intelligence assessments on the condition of anonymity.

Bulgaria closed its airspace to the Russian flights last week at the request of the United States. But Iraq did not, even though American diplomats raised concerns about the Russian flights with the Iraqi government on Sept. 5.

Although the Obama administration’s warnings to the Russians have been made public, American officials have refused to openly discuss their appeals to the Iraqis. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi of Iraq assumed his post with the support of the United States but is still trying to establish his authority at home, and American officials are wary of undercutting him.

Compounding the difficulties for Mr. Abadi is his effort to maintain good relations with the United States, Iran and Russia all at the same time. While about 3,500 American advisers have been sent to help the Iraqis combat the Islamic State, Iraq has also received military support for that fight from Iran, which like Russia is backing Mr. Assad. Iraq is also buying weapons from Moscow, which Mr. Abadi visited in May.

It’s obvious that Putin does not want to cooperate with the U.S., so either we back off from the rhetoric or be prepared to fight.

With few aircraft, Iraq is extremely limited in its ability to defend its airspace. But it could tell the Russians that they do not have the clearance to fly through its airspace and ask for American help in detecting and discouraging Russian flights.

“Regardless of what air corridor is being used, we’ve been clear about our concerns about continued material support to the Assad regime,” said John Kirby, the State Department spokesman. “We don’t talk about our diplomatic conversations, but we’ve asked our friends and partners in the region to ask tough questions of the Russians.”

A spokesman for Mr. Abadi in Baghdad declined to comment.

(End of New York Times excerpt.)

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