MEDIA SCOUNDRELS

AARON MATE—No one has challenged the authenticity of the documents Corbyn exposed. Instead, the British government and its allies are turning to a familiar tactic: blaming Russia. Within days, a series of news reports on both sides of the Atlantic told audiences that the leaked documents were likely part of a Russian disinformation effort. The social media site Reddit, where the documents first appeared, made that allegation as well.

ED CURTIN—As repugnantly amoral as the profession he literally invented, Edward Bernays saw nothing wrong in promoting bloodsoaked coups to suit the interests of rich transnationals or assorted plutocrats.

ALAN MACLEOD_As FAIR argued previously (FAIR.org, 10/26/19), this disparity in coverage can largely be explained by understanding who is protesting and what they are protesting against. The unrest in Hong Kong flared up in March in response to a proposed extradition treaty between the island city, the Chinese central government and Taiwan, which many residents feared would be used by Beijing authorities to arrest and persecute opponents of the Chinese state. Thus, the target of Hong Kong’s protesting is an official enemy of the US, hence the extent and favorability of the coverage.

PATRICE GREANVILLE—he West’s propagandists can’t fall much deeper that they have already when it comes to demonising Russia or denying her obvious accomplishments, among which, her enormous sacrifice in WW2 will forever stand as  the decisive contribution to the defeat of German fascism across the globe.

PETER KOENIG—he impunity with which the US aggresses Hong Kong is insane. Equally or more insane is western media coverage of what is going on in Hong Kong. Not one word on how the incredible “pro-democracy” vote of the rather unimportant District Council Elections was achieved. Of the 18 District Councils, 452 of 479 seats (71%) went to “pro-democracy” candidates. Such an extreme anti-Beijing vote could only be obtained by massive western propaganda at the cost of millions of dollars, targeted with algorithms, developed on the principles of the now (apparently) defunct Cambridge Analytica. And this with 70% of eligible voters going to the polls.