Israel-Palestine on Record: How the New York Times Misreports Conflict in the Middle East

Israel-Palestine on Record: How the New York Times Misreports Conflict in the Middle East

US Backed Israeli Abuse of Palestinians Motivated Bin Laden

US Backed Israeli Abuse of Palestinians Motivated Bin Laden "Very early in his career and very consistently, bin Laden has been outspoken in support of the Palestinians and of course condemning the Israelis, so it's an issue that clearly weighs heavily on his mind and is motivating." - Michael Scheuer former CIA Bin Laden Unit Chief interviewed by Scott Horton on Antiwar Radio Listen to the full interview: Antiwar Radio: Scott Horton Interviews Michael Scheuer

Osama bin Laden Has Been Angry About U.S. Support of Israel for Decades

The New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman has spread the lie that "bin Laden never focused on this issue. He only started talking about "Palestine" after September 11." Friedman put that lie in his best selling book "Longitudes & Attitudes." Friedman claims, "the fact is that bin Laden never focused on this issue. He only started talking about "Palestine" after September 11, when he sensed that he might be losing the support of the Arab street. " (p311 of Longitudes & Attitudes ) and " Osama bin Laden never mentioned the Palestinian cause as motivating his actions until he felt he was losing support in the Arab world. " (p361-362 of Longitudes & Attitudes ) What Friedman has written is a flat out lie. To give just one example that disproves what Friedman wrote: "Your position against Muslims in Palestine is despicable and disgraceful. America has no shame. " - Osama bin Laden May 1998

This canard has been spread by the mainstream media.

Peter Bergen points out that lies have been pushed: "conventional wisdom has it that bin Laden adopted the Palestinians issue only recently. Reading this declaration [the first declaration of war, issued in 1996] SHOULD PUT THAT CANARD TO REST." p164 The Bin Laden I Know, Peter Bergen

A chutzpah award goes to CNN's Anderson Cooper for pushing that canard even after reading Bergen's book. Anderson Cooper's pro-Israel bias is so extreme that even after reading Bergen's book, he still insisted on pushing the same canard. Cooper was actually interviewing Peter Bergen and says to him: "It -- it's interesting, also, to hear them reference Palestinians. As -- as I read in your book "The Osama Bin Laden I Know: The Oral History of Osama bin Laden," I mean, bin Laden wasn't talking about Palestinians from the get-go."

Bergen looked uncomfortable in having to explain to Cooper, "Well, he -- he has always been interested in the Palestinian issue."

Pundits and politicians are deceiving the American people about these foreign policies. Thomas Friedman also LIES when he wrote that terrorists "have no specific ideological program or demands. Rather, they are driven by a generalized hatred of the U.S., Israel and other supposed enemies of Islam." He is a liar, it is not "generalized hatred" it is specific things! It is beyond the pale to feed the public lies about life and death issues. Friedman wrote that in 1998, after years of crystal clear messages from the 1993 letter to the NYT to the 1998 Fatwa which lists 3 specific policies, U.S. occupation of the Arabian Peninsula., U.S. aggression against the Iraqi people, U.S. support of Israel.

Against all Enemies - Richard A. Clarke

Against all Enemies - Richard A. Clarke
In chapter 2, titled "Stumbling into the Islamic World," Clarke writes "to understand why that movement has chosen America as its target and why America failed to see the effects of its actions, we need to remind ourselves of some of the events of the last twenty-five years." Clarke gives the example of Ronald Reagan, "inserting U.S. military influence" into the Middle East. Reagan's foreign policies "created new equations," says Clarke, "by confronting Moscow in Afghanistan, inserting the U.S. military in the Persian Gulf, and by strengthening Israel as a base for a southern flank against the Soviets."

Chairman of the 9/11 Commission ADMITS Whitewash!

SCANDAL: 9/11 Commissioners Bowed to Pressure to Suppress Main Motive for the 9/11 Attacks.

Bin Laden’s Claims Are Straightforward

"Bin Laden’s claims are straightforward.

• The U.S. defiles Islam with military bases on holy land in Saudi Arabia,
• its initiation of war against Iraq, with 12 years of persistent bombing,
• and its dollars and weapons being used against the Palestinians as the Palestinian territory shrinks and Israel’s occupation expands.

There will be no peace in the world for the next 50 years or longer if we refuse to believe why those who are attacking us do it.

To dismiss terrorism as the result of Muslims hating us because we’re rich and free is one of the greatest foreign-policy frauds ever perpetrated on the American people. Because the propaganda machine, the media, and the government have restated this so many times, the majority now accept it at face value. And the administration gets the political cover it needs to pursue a “holy” war for democracy against the infidels who hate us for our goodness."
- Ron Paul in the US House of Representatives, January 29, 2003

Unqualified Support for Israel

Unqualified Support for Israel

convert or die?

"When did Zawahiri or Bin Laden say their policy was “convert or die?”"

Exactly loonz, they haven't said this. Those that claim "it is has nothing to do with our foreign policy" and claim that they insist we "convert or die" must resort to lies and fabrication to backup their claim. For example, the ABC miniseries "The Path to 9-11" fabricated a fatwa quote about "until America converts to Islam" in order to push the lie that the al-Qeada insists we "convert or die." And here is the kicker, NO ONE in mainstream media (I haven't seen a single pundit or reporter) told the American people that "The Path to 9-11" fabricated a fatwa quote about "until America converts to Islam." That includes Media Matters which did do stories on "The Path to 9-11" but did not point out this fabrication.

U.S. Policy On Israel Key Motive for 9/11 Attacks

Video: U.S. Policy On Israel Key Motive for 9/11 Attacks "After he was captured in Pakistan in early 2003, he told his interrogators that although he had developed no special complaint about America in his years here, he [ Khalid Shaikh Mohammed ] felt strongly that U.S. support of Israel was wrong and could be corrected by attacking the United States," reports Los Angeles Times writer Terry McDermott.

The man who conceived and directed the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, was motivated by his strong disagreement with American support for Israel

Vote for Kucinich in the Democratic Primary

Vote for Kucinich in the Democratic Primary

"The Democrats have the power to end the war right now, and that's what we should do. They were under no obligation to give George Bush any money at all. The money's in the pipeline to bring the troops home. And that's exactly what ought to be done, at this moment." - Congressman Dennis Kucinich
Kucinich is Right! Vote for Rep. Kucinich in the Primary

Giuliani is totally wrong and unbelievably ignorant

It should be pointed out that Giuliani is totally wrong and unbelievably ignorant and these clowns act like he knows what he is talking about! Giuliani doesn't know that US crimes against Iraq was indeed one of the grievances spelled out in bin Laden's declaration of war? Giuliani is really THAT ignorant? To say he "owns 9/11" when he is so off the wall ignorant is amazing. All of the reporters and pundits in mainstream media have showed their colors once again. Giuliani is a devious liar when he claims that foreign policies are not what motivates the terrorists. Giuliani has again proven he is NOT qualified to be president. The MSM has proven they are NOT qualified to present the news.

The media is not publicizing Ron Paul's press release: "It is clear from his interruption that former Mayor Giuliani has not read the 9-11 Commission Report and has no clue on how to keep America safe." Guiliani "never heard" that anger at what the US was doing to Iraq was one of the motives?!?! And the mainstream media acts like he is a superstar!?!

The 1998 fatwa specifically lists Iraq as the second grievance: "Second, despite the great devastation inflicted on the Iraqi people by the crusader-Zionist alliance, and despite the huge number of those killed, which has exceeded 1 million... despite all this, the Americans are once against trying to repeat the horrific massacres, as though they are not content with the protracted blockade imposed after the ferocious war or the fragmentation and devastation. So here they come to annihilate what is left of this people and to humiliate their Muslim neighbors "

Ron Paul is Right! Vote for Rep. Ron Paul in the Primary

Ron Paul is Right! Vote for Rep. Ron Paul in the Primary
"Non-intervention was a major contributing factor. Have you ever read about the reasons they attacked us? They attack us because we've been over there. We've been bombing Iraq for 10 years. We've been in the Middle East. I think Reagan was right. We don't understand the irrationality of Middle Eastern politics. Right now, we're building an embassy in Iraq that is bigger than the Vatican. So, right now, we're building 14 permanent bases. What would we say here if China was doing this in our country or in the Gulf of Mexico? We would be objecting. We need to look at what we do from the perspective of what would happen if somebody did it to us.

I believe very sincerely that the CIA is correct when they teach and talk about blowback. When we went into Iran in 1953 and installed the shah, yes, there was blowback. A reaction to that was the taking of our hostages and that persists. And if we ignore that, we ignore that at our own risk. If we think that we can do what we want around the world and not incite hatred, then we have a problem.

They don't come here to attack us because we're rich and we're free. They come and they attack us because we're over there. I mean, what would we think if we were -- if other foreign countries were doing that to us?" - Congressman Ron Paul of Texas

See Motives for the September 11, 2001 Attacks


"The politicians really are at great fault for not squaring with the American people. We're being attacked for what we do in the Islamic world, not for who we are or what we believe in or how we live. And there's a huge burden of guilt to be laid at Mr. Bush, Mr. Clinton, both parties for simply lying to the American people." - Michael Scheuer, Former CIA Bin Laden Unit Chief

who, what, where, when and why and even how

who, what, where, when and why and even how

see 50 sec video: Politicians Simply Lying to the American People about Motive

"I think we have misled ourselves and misled the American people" - Rep. William Delahunt

"The politicians really are at great fault for not squaring with the American people. We're being attacked for what we do in the Islamic world, not for who we are or what we believe in or how we live. And there's a huge burden of guilt to be laid at Mr. Bush, Mr. Clinton, both parties for simply lying to the American people." - Michael Scheuer, Former CIA Bin Laden Unit Chief

I think the lying plays a role in why so many people buy into the 9/11 conspiracy crap. I think people who are reluctant to state clearly that the 9/11 attacks were "in response for the American political, economical, and military support to Israel the state of terrorism and to the rest of the dictator countries in the region." to quote the terrorists' letter from 1993 which spelled out the same motives.

Those who talk about 9/11 but artificially omit mention of the very motive for the crime are doing a disservice to the American people. It isn't just politicians who play this game, it is anyone who decides that the standard questions of "who, what, where, when and why and even how" should be edited to omit "why" because it is "sensitive." Griffin does indeed mock the "hatred of our freedoms" motive AS IF IT WAS THE "OFFICIAL MOTIVE!"

Omiting "why" in the standard "who, what, where, when and why and even how" is an ugly lie of omission. I think a good case can be made for how this lie of omission helps the conspiracy crap and vice versa.

Michael Scheuer, Former CIA Bin Laden Unit Chief

Former CIA Bin Laden Unit Chief Michael Scheuer has bluntly stated that politicians are lying to the American people about the terrorists' motives: "The politicians really are at great fault for not squaring with the American people. We're being attacked for what we do in the Islamic world, not for who we are or what we believe in or how we live. And there's a huge burden of guilt to be laid at Mr. Bush, Mr. Clinton, both parties for simply lying to the American people." - Michael Scheuer, Former CIA Bin Laden Unit Chief The main motive for the 9/11 attacks was Unqualified Support for Israel

Politicians Simply Lying to the American People about Motive

Politicians Simply Lying to the American People about Motive

The enormous injustice perpetrated in 1948 when Israel ethnically cleansed most of the indigenous population

Missing

"It is interesting that in an 11-program series focused largely on the Middle East, no mention is made of the core issue of the region: the enormous injustice perpetrated in 1948 when Israel ethnically cleansed most of the indigenous population, and its ongoing and ruthless efforts in this direction today. While the series focuses on the activities of people who are opposing past and present dispossession, it appears that no mention is made of the oppression they are resisting. It is a little like describing the actions of someone being attacked by wolves without mentioning the wolves.

The issues in the Middle East and 9/11 have far more to do with the usual causes of war, competition over territory and resources, than with religion. Nevertheless, there are religious dimensions to the conflict, and it would certainly be valuable to explicate these. Yet PBS ignores the fact that there are three major religions centered in the Middle East, not just one, and that the major ethnic-cleansing at the region's core was done in the name of one of the two religions ignored in the series. If one of the religions is going to be examined, with much of the focus on its alleged warts, it seems to me that the other two should be exposed to equal scrutiny. Why was this not done?

Fundamentalist Jewish settlers are among the most fanatic and violent populations in the Middle East, and they proclaim that their violence is endorsed, even required, by their religion. Growing numbers of Christians endorse and fund this violent dispossession of the world's original Christians and others, and also claim to base their activities on their religion. Similarly, violent Jewish and Christian extremists operate in the United States, some cells defined, even by the US government, as "terrorist." While at least six out of PBS's eleven programs focus on Muslims and their connections to violence, not a single program focuses on Jewish extremists who torture farmers, attack children regularly, and whose core beliefs include the proposition that a non-Jew is "not worth the fingernail of a Jew." Similarly, there is not a single program examining American Christians who advocate violence at home and abroad, and who eagerly anticipate mass slaughter, in the name, they say, of their religion." - written by Alison Weir. Alison Weir is executive director of If Americans Knew. Her blog is alisonweir.org

Why They Knew WTC 7 Would Collapse and Why They Pulled The Firemen Back:

Why They Knew WTC 7 Would Collapse and Why They Pulled The Firemen Back:

"The major concern at that time at that particular location was number Seven, building number seven, which had taken a big hit from the north tower. When it fell, it ripped steel out from between the third and sixth floors across the facade on Vesey Street. We were concerned that the fires on several floors and the missing steel would result in the building collapsing.

So for the next five or six hours we kept firefighters from working anywhere near that building, which included the whole north side of the World Trade Center complex. Eventually around 5:00 or a little after, building number seven came down." - Chief Frank Fellini

"The biggest decision we had to make on the first day was to clear the area and create a collapse zone around the severely damaged 7 World Trade Center, a 47-story building heavily involved in fire. A number of fire officers and companies assessed the damage to the building. The appraisals indicated that the building's integrity was in serious doubt. I issued the orders to pull back the firefighters and define the collapse zone. It was a critical decision; we could not lose any more firefighters. It took a lot of time to pull everyone out, given the emotionalism of the day, communications difficulties, and the collapse terrain." - Fire Chief Daniel Nigro "Report from the Chief of Department," Fire Engineering, 2002, VOL 155; PART 9, pages 56-59

US Mainstream Media Keeping Americans Ignorant

US Mainstream Media Keeping Americans Ignorant

There are many examples of the US media keeping facts about Israel from the American public, I list some here:

"After three weeks of virtual war in the Israeli-occupied territories, Prime Minister Ehud Barak announced a new plan to determine the final status of the region. During these weeks, over 100 Palestinians were killed, including 30 children, often by "excessive use of lethal force in circumstances in which neither the lives of the security forces nor others were in imminent danger, resulting in unlawful killings," Amnesty International concluded in a detailed report that was scarcely mentioned in the US. The ratio of Palestinian to Israeli dead was then about 15-1, reflecting the resources of force available." - Noam Chomsky, Al-Ahram Weekly, November 2-8, 2000

"Due to the time difference between Israel and New York, reports that Israel had responded to the Hezbollah raid with artillery and tank fire, and that its air force had struck roads and bridges in Lebanon, were posted on the Ha’aretz web site at 4:28 p.m. in Israel-that is, 9:28 a.m. in New York on July 12. The report from the Associated Press that Israeli war planes had hit at least 30 targets in southern Lebanon was also available in New York on July 12. Yet the Times’ editorial page not only supported Israel’s illegal military reprisals against Lebanon as “justifiable,” it misidentified a key sequence of events by reporting on July 13 that Hezbollah’s missile attacks on Israel came before Israel’s airstrikes in Lebanon." - Media Views CommonDreams: The Winograd Report v. the New York Times (5/3/07) by Howard Friel

"On August 14, the New York Times addressed one of the significant worries for U.S. media outlets covering the Israeli bombing and invasion of Lebanon: Civilians in Lebanon were the primary victims, dying in far greater numbers than Israeli military personnel and civilians combined. (Amnesty International estimated that the fighting killed about 1,000 civilians in Lebanon and about 40 in Israel—8/23/06.)

The problem for U.S. media was how to obscure that fact. As the Times put it, "Particularly vexing for many American news organizations is the struggle to determine how and in what proportion images of civilian dead and injured should be displayed in their coverage, when one side’s casualties greatly surpass the other’s." - Lives in the Balance
Media 'vexed' by civilian deaths in Lebanon By Peter Hart

"The next couple of days -- there was no Palestinian fire at this time -- Israel used U.S. helicopters (Israel produces no helicopters) to attack civilian complexes, killing about a dozen people and wounding several dozen.

Clinton reacted to that on October 3, 2000 by making the biggest deal in a decade -- to send Israel new military helicopters which had just been used for the purpose I described and of course would continue to be.

The U.S. press co-operated with that by refusing to publish the story. To this day, they have not published the fact." - Chomsky