Nexus - 1802 - New Times Magazine-pages

Page Content (OCR)

statements and beliefs, but that does not imply that —_ military—industrial complex; their political regimes (all they are an accurate representation of reality. of which are dictatorships and dynasties) are propped This is where the media come in to propagandise the —_ up and supported by America. information within the leaks. The above two examples The same goes for Israel, although at least it has the claim that the leaks show there is a "consensus" on Iran, | outward appearance of a democracy, much like the and thus the American and indeed Israeli positions on — United States. Further, Israel itself is left subdued to ran for the past several years have been "vindicated" in American interests as an American proxy. If Israel's hat they fear Iran is making nuclear weapons. This is military financing and hardware come from America nonsense. The media have essentially read and (which they do), then Israel is dependent upon America propagated the documents at face value—meaning tha for its own military power and is in no position to tell because US diplomats and Middle Eastern and Arab _ the US not to arm its other regional proxies. If indeed a eaders all agree that Iran is a "threat" and is trying to regional war against Iran is in the making, and it has make a "nuclear weapon", it therefore must be true. appeared for some time that there is, it is certainly in This is a non sequitur. Just because Middle Eastern and _Israel's interest to have allies against Iran in the region. Arab leaders see Iran as a threat does not make it so. Again, consider the sources. What makes the Arab Is WikiLeaks a Propaganda Effort? eaders trustworthy sources for "unbiased" information? The leaders of Israel have been very adamant that the For example, one "revelation" that made its way around WikiLeaks documents do not embarrass Israel to any he world was the insistence of Saudi Arabia's King extent. Prior to the release, the US government briefed Abdullah that America "cut off sraeli officials on the type of he head of the snake" of Iran documents that would be and launch military strikes.’ : released by WikiLeaks regarding This has largely been This has largely been srael.” Israeli Prime Minister interpreted in the media as interpreted in the media Benjamin Netanyahu s ated: "proof" that there is a " 1 . "There is no disparity between "consensus" on the "threat" as proof" that there sa he public discourse between us posed by Iran to the Middle "consensus" on the "threat" and Washington, and the East and the world. This has mutual understanding of each been the propaganda line toed posed by Iran to the Middle other's positions."® The Israeli by the New York Times, Fox News East and the world. Defence Minister, Ehud Barak, and the Israeli government, claimed that the documents among many others. Yet, we "show a more accurate view of need to contextualise this reality".’. One top Turkish information properly—something which the New York politician stated that looking at which countries are Times has a long record of failing to do (intentionally, | pleased with the releases says a lot, and speculated that might add). I do not doubt the authenticity of these Israel “engineered the release" of documents in an statements or the belief of the Arab leaders that Iranis attempt to advance its interests and to "pressure a "threat". Iran, on the other hand, has claimed that the — Turkey".* eaks are "mischievous", that they serve US interests, Further, the Internet and various alternative news and that Iran is "friends" with its neighbours.‘ This, too, organisations are abuzz with speculation that WikiLeaks is propaganda. Again, we need to contextualise. itself may be a propaganda front, perhaps even a CIA Iran is a Shi'a nation, while the Arab nations, front organisation, a method of "controlling the particularly Saudi Arabia, are predominantly Sunni. opposition" (which we know that, historically, the CIA is This presents a means of division among these nations not unfamiliar with). Yet, this speculation is based in the region, at least on a superficial basis. The reality, | upon the use of the information that is released in the owever, is that Saudi Arabia and Iran are far from cables, and it strikes me as showing a lack of "friendly" and have not been on good terms since 1979 contextualising the documents. when the Shah was deposed. Iran is Saudi Arabia's So, how should one contextualise this? Let's begin primary contender and competitor for power and _ with Israel. When the Israeli Prime Minister states that influence in the region, and thus Iran is inherently a the WikiLeaks releases are not embarrassing to Israel, hreat to Saudi Arabia politically. he is mostly correct. This is not because Israel has Further, the Arab states, such as Saudi Arabia, nothing to hide (remember, the WikiLeaks documents Bahrain, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, are not “top secret" documents but merely diplomatic whose claims against Iran have been widely publicised, | cables), but because the diplomatic exchanges that must be understood in terms of their relationship tothe Israel makes largely reflect the reality of the public United States. The Arab states are American proxies in statements that Israel makes. Israel and its political he region. Their armies are subsidised by the American elite are no strangers to making absurd public military-industrial complex; their political regimes (all of which are dictatorships and dynasties) are propped up and supported by America. The same goes for Israel, although at least it has the outward appearance of a democracy, much like the United States. Further, Israel itself is left subdued to American interests as an American proxy. If Israel's military financing and hardware come from America (which they do), then Israel is dependent upon America for its own military power and is in no position to tell the US not to arm its other regional proxies. If indeed a regional war against Iran is in the making, and it has appeared for some time that there is, it is certainly in Israel's interest to have allies against Iran in the region. This has largely been interpreted in the media as "proof" that there is a 14 * NEXUS "consensus" on the "threat" posed by Iran to the Middle East and the world. FEBRUARY - MARCH 2011 www.nexusmagazine.com