Stephen LendmanOpEd News
February 8, 2012
Iran attacked no other country in over 200 years. It threatens none now. It’s neighbors know it. So do Washington and Israel.
Nonetheless, saber rattling warnings continue. At issue is making an independent state a client one. It’s why Washington orchestrated Syria’s insurgency and continues anti-Iranian propaganda.
Tehran won’t tolerate losing its sovereignty, nor should it. It suffered a generation of repression under Washington’s installed Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi after the CIA’s first ever coup ousted democratically elected Mohammad Mosaddegh.
It also knows how America and Israel reign terror throughout the region. As a result, it’s prepared to defend itself if attacked.
America’s business is war, permanent war for unchallenged global dominance. Post-9/11, multiple ones raged and continue. Ordinary people want them stopped.
On February 4, dozens of anti-war organizations held a “Day of Mass Action to Stop a US War on Iran.” Among others, The World Can’t Wait announced it headlining, “NO war! NO sanctions! No intervention! No Assassinations.”
A press release listed dozens of participating US cities, large and small. Other known countries involved included Canada, Britain, India, Ireland, Turkey, Norway, and Bangladesh.
Former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark participated. In 1992, he founded the International Action Center (IAC). Calling itself “anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist,” it’s committed against wars, racism, economic exploitation, and other forms of injustice.
Its web site urged worldwide participation in an “emergency” protest day of action.
Thousands across America alone participated. Follow-up actions are planned. People are fed up and want America’s war machine stopped. Vital resources are squandered while growing needs go unaddressed.
Major media scoundrels misreported about Saturday’s pro and anti-government protests in Moscow, but ignored anti-war ones in their own cities and across America.
In fact, they cheerlead Washington’s wars. For months, they regurgitated hostile Syrian/Iranian propaganda. Their drumbeat continues daily.
Their misinformation promotes war, mass killing, vast destruction, and human misery. Their reports exclude these and other key facts. Instead they feature agitprop and bald-faced lies about a nonbelligerent state, threatening on one, including America and Israel.
Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) on Anti-Iranian Propaganda
On February 2, FAIR’s Peter Hart headlined, “Iran: This is What Propaganda Looks Like,” saying:
Like crabgrass infests lawns, it’s “everywhere, thanks to a Senate appearance yesterday by Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.”
Yet his comments fell far short of justifying heightened anti-Iranian propaganda in response. “His main point was that Iran could launch attacks if it felt threatened.” He also cited falsified claims that should have been condemned, not repeated as alleged facts.
For example, he said:
“The 2011 plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States shows that some Iran officials – probably including (Ayatollah) Ali Khamenei – have changed their calculus and are now more willing to conduct an attack in the United States in response to real or perceived US actions that threaten the regime.”(CONTINUE READING)
