Thursday 22 February 2024

Hidden behind Fact.



Working at the avant garde of national and international 'journalism,' the BBC (15th February) headlined with the shocking news that anti-Semitic incidents in the UK have risen by 589% since the Hamas attack of 7th October 2023. 'Brave journalists' (Harriet Sherwood) at the Guardian went with the same day headline, 'Huge rise in antisemitic abuse in UK since Hamas attack, says charity.' The referenced charity is the Community Security Trust (CST), tasked with monitoring anti-Jewish abuse and attacks and providing security for UK Jewish communities. CST went on to cite the 7th October attack as a "trigger event."

The Guardian reporter dipped a toe, twice referencing 'something' vaguely labelled as 'subsequent war.' We must presume that this aside (subsequent war) is one and the same series of War Crimes, the enabled slaughter of tens of thousands of innocents, the ECJ recently described as "plausible Genocide!' I listened to the BBC Radio 4 'news' report, several times on the day, which repeatedly neglected to draw upon any other possible triggering event, subsequent or prior to 7th October. Listeners were led to conclude that 7th October was, not merely the 'trigger event' but, more specifically, a wholly isolated 'trigger event.' No reference, by either party, was made to the recent ICJ hearing at the Hague.

With headlines contrived to shock the nation one might deduce the sole incident specifically described in the Guardian report to be at the more extreme end of all those 'anti-Semitic incidents.' "A vehicle with a Palestinian flag attached, and with the occupant shaking their fist in the air through an open window, had driven past a synagogue in Hertfordshire." Opting to cite no examples the BBC was content to go with the road-tested, non-specific wording, 'anti-Semitic' incidents. Obediently EHRC compliant.

The day after (16th February) the headline news became the death of Alexei Navalny. Most reports on 16th were pointing the finger at Putin, to which we were likely being invited to sagely nod our agreement. Much has passed, in recent years, to suggest that Navalny's death is unlikely to have occurred 'unprovoked.' He did, after all, presented as a well and fit middle-aged male fewer that 24 hours previously. Deaths inside Russia, or inside of Russian political reach, happen far too often in Putin's favour to always be mere happenstance. Even in the absence of ultimate proof, Putin's regime seems most likely to warrant the blame.

Incontrovertible proof may forever remain elusive yet, most persuasively, one more crime might now be tacked upon Putin's lengthening list of pending War Crimes. Maybe, just maybe, Navalny did die of a heart attack but there are many, many causal interventions that may hasten such an attack, such as Novichok poisoning or sustained beatings- also denied by the Russian leader. (Western) political figures are eager to search out the spotlight and to roundly condemn Putin, to impose sanctions, to pin terms such as 'Genocide.' Maybe we should reserve a place second in line at the ICC, the Hague?

The (Western) message is clear, Putin is neither a leader to be trusted, nor is he likely to be beneficial to Global betterment! What's to be disputed? Well, nothing really...

Two news headline items. If we wanted to labour the point pending, we might next shine a light upon Kemi Bandenoch's condemnation of Henry Staunton. It's not so much that the stories aren't newsworthy, more it's what they're not doing and what they're not saying!

Concerning the 'shocking' news that anti-Semitic incidents in the UK have increased 589%, the story was more shocking by virtue of what the report elected not to cover than what it elected to dwell upon. In May 2022 I walked to Cinema City in Norwich to view Michael Winterbottom and Mohammed Sawaf's gut-wrenching 'Eleven Days in May.' I mention this because the days inside Gaza that the film documents precede 7th October 2023 by almost thirty months. Neither the BBC, which did not even acknowledge the film's existence, nor the Guardian, which did, just, elected to refer to the documented deaths of all the Palestinian children murdered by Israeli targeted missile strikes during those eleven days as a 'trigger event.' Nor has either 'news' team opted to dwell upon the recent ICJ ruling that 'plausible Genocide' is ongoing inside Gaza and the West Bank.

It will be interesting, more horrifying, to see, in the years to come, how the ICJ adjudges the roles of the UK and it's political master, the US of A, in their support for Israeli conducted Genocide. Anyone who has braved the harrowing footage of Israel's attacks, and consequent celebrations inside Gaza's borders (South Africa's collected evidence), will be under no illusions. An Israeli orchestrated Genocide is happening! Take the trouble to find out what has transpired inside of Occupied Palestine and one is given to conclude that 'triggering events'- ongoing since 1948 (or 1967)- occur so frequently as to trace an unbroken history of the lands. In such light "A vehicle with a Palestinian flag attached, and with the occupant shaking their fist in the air through an open window, had driven past a synagogue in Hertfordshire," might be argued to be an understandable reaction, perhaps even an underreaction? At worst, maybe, misdirected. If a similar incident, substituting the Ukrainian flag, was to occur outside of a Russian orthodox church much of the UK's media would report the incident as a natural reaction; these same outlets are eager to bypass international ruling and to name Russia's actions inside Ukraine as War Crimes, maybe even Genocide. This is way beyond inconsistent?

But, that's not even the point here being made. UK's MSM seems eager to jump the gun regarding Putin's Russia. The BBC is asking the question, 'Is Russia committing Genocide?' whilst continuing to pretend that there is not another and far greater crime being orchestrated elsewhere- orchestrated with the aid of £millions in UK weaponry! Where is the consistency?

Upon the second news item, the death- almost certainly the murder- of Alexei Navalny, headlines were proving similarly slippery. Alexei Navalny, with known white supremacist associates, did not wish, nor did he deserve, to die. Russia deserves better and Navalny could have done no worse. MSM rightly mourned his death yet they also sought to work with it. Death is not yet redeemable but reputation, rightly or less so, may yet flourish!

Navalny's Family and the Russian nation may still benefit. But, chief amongst those yet hoping to steer the narrative would be the good ol' US of A and its subject nations. Putin remains both monster and distraction. Globally however, he is not such a stand-alone threat as may be painted. The US of A currently operates something in excess of 1,000 overseas military (capacity) bases. Russia operates maybe a dozen. Overseas military campaigns are similarly skewed in the US's favour- pick a continent and they are there, imposing, dictating! One might go so far as to list the UK as one of the State's more covert projects, certainly its bases imposed or otherwise. One might!

It was not that long past that Alexei Navalny was speculated as yet another potentially, dangerous Russian figure! His outspoken views upon racial supremacy are readily accessible. Yet, similarly 'convenient,' 'skewed' or 'weaponised,' although upon no such immense a scale, Navalny's death has served to yet again further particular narrative. Now, it suits to regard Alexei, even in his absence, as a rallying-focus, a national folk hero. Undeniably the man was brave beyond reason but a folk hero? Again, I was able to listen and re-listen to the BBC news reports of Navalny's death and to read the Guardian's 'canonising' words. Neither source opted to reference the huge elephant in the corner; maybe it was being obscured by the former elephant?

Navalny has been increasingly lionised by UK MSM, his less savoury racial opinions fading from discussion in inverse proportion. Russia's invasion both served his reputation, whilst (as seems highly likely) also hastening his demise. Navalny was serving his questionable imprisonment somewhere in the freezing regions of Siberia- as did Solzhenitsyn in his time- his health worsening. He spoke of fevers, back pains, numbness of legs and severe sleep deprivation. Biden is eager to force greater and greater sanctions upon Russia; "We're looking at whole number of options." Predictably quick to judge. Oh, how Palestinians might benefit from such swift interventions on the part of the US of A! Oh, how Julian Assange's health and future wellbeing might benefit from more honest debate!

What the nation wasn't being reminded of was that Navalny, prior to his death, was but one amongst many political prisoners, some of whom Navalny himself might once have labelled 'cockroaches.' Ally of the UK, Israel, continues to ram its prisons with whomsoever it chooses, ever in contravention of international law. Closer, at home in the UK, Assange is one political prisoner with whom, until very recently, we were most definitely not being encouraged to concern ourselves. Ongoing legislation endeavours to labour the fact. Past master, the BBC, comfortably managed to negate any cross-referencing between Navalny and Julian Assange. Under Katherine Viner's editorship the Guardian had refrained from mentioning Assange for many years, although both 'news' sources, now and far far too late, appear more eager to document the UK's tame surrender to it's overseas landlord. Curious, considering that it was the Guardian that initially helped to platform, thus sought to benefit from, Assange's cutting-edge journalism. Navalny the martyred folk hero: Assange the sacrificial lamb! The narrative speaks!

Assange hidden behind the death of Navalny! Genocide in Gaza and the West Bank hidden behind the UK's 'inexplicable' 589% rise in anti-Semitic incidents! All praise to our great and noble 'free press!'

1 comment:

  1. The BBC is now far more consistently failing in its role of independent, analytical journalism.
    Upon conflict in the Red Sea, the BBC has 'reported,' 'US and UK target Iran-backed Houthis.' Why not, 'Houthis target US-and-UK-backed Israeli-trading vessels'? A not so subtle use of selective detail.
    Evan Davis ('PM' Radio 4) at the absolute cutting edge of impartial journalism. Or not!

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