Alwaght- Award-winning author and journalist Stephen Kinzer paints coverage of the Syrian war as one of the most shameful episodes in the history of the American press.
American foreign correspondent Kinzer, writing an article for The Boston Globe, brings the case of largest Syrian city of Aleppo as crying evidence for his claim.
"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."
Recently, the Syrian army, backed by Hezbollah fighters and Russian air force, scored successive victories in the west of the war-torn country.
Touching on Syria's Army astonishing victory, the veteran journalist says "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."
However terrorists did not withdraw from Aleppo peacefully as they have bombed inhabited districts while fleeing the city.
" 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," Kinzer writes.
American Journalist in his article titled as The media are misleading the public on Syria cites a Lebanon-based analyst Marwa Osma as saying “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?”
But, admitting that the Syrian government has gained ground in the war against terrorism and succeeded where the US-led coalition has failed would pit the West back to square one when it comes to the war on Syria. It basically means that Syria can fight terrorist groups without Western help.
Therefore, Western media has purposefully imposed a blackout on the news as part of psychological warfare.
"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," Kinzer underscores.
According to him, Americans are being told that the virtuous course in Syria is to fight the Assad government 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". However he does not blame American public opining for believing western mainstream media's narration, saying but "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," American author explains.
He goes on saying that voices of brave correspondents in the war zone who seek to counteract Washington-based reporting are lost in the cacophony.
Stephen Kinzer believes that Washington-based reporters try to foist on Americans the idea that al-Nusra terrorist group is one potent force in Syria, made up of rebels or moderates, while the Terror group has officially announced its affiliation to al-Qaeda .
Mr. Kinzer also explains how Western Media do their best to whitewash Washington's regional allies' actions in Syria:
"Saudi Arabia is portrayed as aiding freedom fighters when in fact it is a prime sponsor of ISIS. Turkey has for years been running a “rat line” for foreign fighters wanting to join terror groups in Syria, but because the United States wants to stay on Turkey’s good side, we hear little about it. Nor are we often reminded that although we want to support the secular and battle-hardened Kurds, Turkey wants to kill them."
To save face, and prevent the reality from spreading, politically-motivated media outlets paints Russia and Iran actions as destructive.
"Everything Russia and Iran do in Syria is described as negative and destabilizing, simply because it is they who are doing it — and because that is the official line in Washington".
Finally, freelance journalist concludes that "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".
