by Stephen Lendman

A previous article discussed scoundrel media anti-Iranian propaganda. They also target Syria. They march in lockstep with imperial lawlessness.

Readers and viewers deserve better than misinformation and betrayal. They need alternative sources to avoid it.

Washington has longstanding designs on Iran and Syria. Regime change is planned by any means. War threatens both countries. Obama, the peace candidate, can't wait to start another one. He's already guilty of war crimes multiples times over.

Media scoundrels back him. Peace, equity, justice, human and civil rights, other democratic values, and obeying rule of law principles don't matter. Political Washington abhors them. So do media scoundrels.

America unmasked is loathsome, dangerous and rapacious. Scoundrel media reality reveals rejection of fundamental journalistic principles.

The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) "is dedicated to the perpetuation of a free press as the cornerstone of our nation and our liberty."

Democratic freedom depends on keeping "the American people well informed....It is the role of journalists to provide this information in an accurate, comprehensive, timely and understandable manner."

SPJ's Code of Ethics affirms this responsibility. Scoundrel media members fall way short. Fiction substitutes for fact. News is carefully filtered. Dissent is marginalized, and support for wealth and power is policy.

Aggressive wars are called liberating ones. Civil liberties are suppressed for our own good, and patriotism means going along with government policy no matter how repugnant, lawless or destructive.

On May 26, headlines featured dozens killed in Houla. Fingers pointed the wrong way. The New York Times headlined "Dozens of Children Die in Brutal Attack on Syrian Town," saying:

Over 100 died, "including at least 32 children under the age of 10," according to UN (unnamed) officials. Assad was blamed for "indiscriminate" shelling civilian neighborhoods.

"....Syrian tanks and artillery pounded Houla....during the day, (unidentified) opposition groups said...."

"(S)oldiers and pro-government fighters stormed the village and killed families in their homes late at night."

Sources weren't named or checked. Scoundrel media regurgitate spurious accounts. Headlines scream them. Reports distort, lie, and omit what's most important.

Since early last year, US, UK and perhaps other NATO and regional special forces operated in Syria. So have CIA and MI6 agents. Israel is also involved. So are other regional states.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Jordan, Libya's puppet regime, and Lebanon's March 14 alliance actively aid rogue killers. Washington orchestrates everything. Britain's a willing partner. So are France and other NATO states.

Arms, ammunition, equipment, and funding are supplied. So is training and direction on the ground. It replicates the Libya model. So far it's short of NATO bombing. For how long matters most. Western-generated violence advances the ball closer to war.

Claims about a popular uprising are spurious. At issue is Washington's long-planned insurrection to replace Assad with a pro-US puppet.

In February 2011, US, UK and French special forces together with intelligence operatives actively aided anti- Gaddafi insurgents. Bombing began weeks later. Despite denials, NATO stands ready to intervene in Syria and perhaps Iran.

Washington orchestrated war on Libya. It's directing anti-Assad efforts now. All options are open. Expect war. It's coming, then another post-November against Iran.

Ravaging the world one country at a time is policy. The business of America is war. Permanent ones are planned.

How much more humanity can takes worries independent analysts reflecting on issues this vital. World peace is up for grabs. So is humanity's survival. The threat remains grave and real. Yet it's unaddressed publicly.

On May 27, Syrian Sana State media headlined "Makdissi: Syria Categorically Denies Responsibility of the Syrian Forces for al-Houla Massacre," saying:

Spokesman for Syrian Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister, Jihad Makdissi, denied spurious reports blaming Assad for mass slaughter in Houla.

Western-backed insurgents bear full responsibility. It wasn't the first time and won't be the last.

Pointing fingers the wrong way blames victims. Makdissi held a Sunday press conference. He strongly condemned insurgent killings.

No government tanks or artillery entered Houla. Hundreds of insurgents attacked civilians with Western weapons.

"The law enforcement members never left their positions and were in a state of self-defense."

Makdissi also condemned the "tsumami" of lies naming Assad for what Western-backed insurgents committed.

"We've talked to the Defense Ministry, the Interior Ministry and the authorities concerned in the picture of what happened in Houla."

"It has been confirmed that hundreds of gunmen gathered at 2:00 o'clock on Friday afternoon , using Pick-up cars loaded with up-to-date and heavy weapons, like mortars, machineguns and anti-tank missiles, which are newly used in the confrontation with the state forces.''

"The gunmen headed to al-Houla area which is guarded by the government forces at five points where law-enforcement members and security are positioned, which lie outside the places where the massacres happened."

"The attack lasted from 2:00 pm o'clock until 11:00 pm. 3 law-enforcement members were martyred and 16 injured, some critically, and there were charred bodies.''

Makkissi also mentioned a recent Al-Shoumarieh village massacre. Insurgents burnt homes, crops and a hospital. Both incidents are part of a broader campaign to terrorize Syrian civilians. It's done to turn them against Assad. Instead, his support grows. If war comes, he get much more.

America and other Security Council scoundrels support regime change and lawless killing. Heavy arms reach Syrian insurgents regularly. Women, children and the elderly are targeted. Kofi Annan's sham peace plan was cover to permit it.

Syrian forces provide security as best they can. Assad confronts insurgents responsibly. Doing so draws blame. Fingers point the wrong way. Washington bears most responsibility. So do key NATO partners, Turkey, Israel, and other neighboring states. They're providing arms and safe havens. They're guilty of crimes of war and against humanity.

The Syrian Human Rights Network condemned terrorist killings. One massacre follows another. It called on other human rights group to unite against Western imperialism.

As expected, UN Secretary-General and Kofi Annan blamed the victims. Their disingenuous condemnation said:

"This appalling and brutal crime involving indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force is a flagrant violation of international law and of the commitments of the Syrian government to cease the use of heavy weapons in population centers and violence in all its forms."

A brief White House statement called the attack "a vile testament to an illegitimate regime that responds to peaceful political protest with unspeakable and inhuman brutality."

Hillary Clinton, an unindicted war criminal, said:

"The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms yesterday's massacre in the Syrian village of Haoula. United Nations observers have confirmed that dozens of men, women, and children were killed and hundreds more wounded in a vicious assault that involved a regime artillery and tank barrage on a residential neighborhood."

"Those who perpetrated this atrocity must be identified and held to account. And the United States will work with the international community to intensify our pressure on Asad and his cronies, whose rule by murder and fear must come to an end."

"We stand in solidarity with the Syrian people and the peaceful marchers in cities across Syria who have taken to the streets to denounce the massacre in Haoula."

EU foreign policy head Catherine Ashton also blamed Assad. She accused him of "heinous act(s) perpetrated by (his) regime against (his) civilian population." The European parliament head called Houla killings a war crime. Indeed so but responsible parties weren't named.

France called for a Friends of Syria meeting. Britain summoned Syria's envoy to explain. It also called for and got a Security Council meeting.

On Sunday, a closed door session was held. A statement followed. In part it said:

"The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest possible terms the killings, confirmed by United Nations observers, of dozens of men, women and children and the wounding of hundreds more in the village of El-Houleh, near Homs, in attacks that involved a series of government artillery and tank shellings on a residential neighbourhood."

"The members of the Security Council also condemned the killing of civilians by shooting at close range and by severe physical abuse."

"The members of the Security Council reiterated that all violence in all its forms by all parties must cease. Those responsible for acts of violence must be held accountable."

"The members of the Security Council demanded that the Government of Syria immediately cease the use of heavy weapons in population centres and immediately pullback its troops and its heavy weapons from in and around population centres and return them to their barracks."

What should have been highlighted wasn't stressed. Insurgent killers weren't condemned. Russia and China went along. They'll have to explain why. Condemnation focused largely on Assad. Defending civilians against Western recruited mercenaries wasn't explained.

At the same time, Moscow's Deputy UN ambassador, Alexander Pankin, refused to rule out insurgent responsibility. He also suggested foreign special forces involvement.

Russia knows full well who's responsible. It's time to say so in blunt terms.

UN observer mission head General Robert Mood said "killing innocent children and civilians (must) stop."

He disingenuously claimed responsible parties remain "unclear." He knows full well what's going on. He and other observers have been attacked several times.

In closed Sunday session, he briefed Security Council members. Details are sketchy. He said at least 116 were killed. Many were children. Unofficial reports suggest he blamed Assad.

He knows who's responsible but blamed the victim. Many civilians were killed with knives or shot at close range. Insurgent assassins were responsible. Possibly US and UK special forces directed them. America deploys death squads in dozens of countries. For sure Syria and Iran are targeted.

Nonetheless, victims are blamed for killer gang crimes.

The hypocrisy requires no comment. Expect no end of conflict. War advances closer.

Russia and China are Syria's last line of defense. They've provided firewall protection so far. For how much longer remains unclear. Daily things spin more out of control. Full-blown conflict looms.

The so-call Free Syrian Army said it's no longer committed to Annan's peace plan. It refused its terms all along. Its disingenuous statement said: "We won't allow truce after truce, which prolongs the crisis for years."

It's terrorism bears full responsibility. It committed daily violence since last year. It won't tolerate peace and security. It's mission is death, destruction, turmoil, and toppling Assad in league with Washington, NATO partners, and rogue regional allies.

Kuwait currently heads the 22-member Arab League. It called for a ministerial meeting to "take steps to put an end to the oppressive practices against the Syrian people."

Kuwait and most other League members support Western imperialism. They're part of the problem, not the solution.

On May 27, The New York Times headlined "US Hopes Assad Can Be Eased Out With Russia's Aid," saying:

Obama "will push for the departure of President Bashar al-Assad under a proposal modeled on the transition in another strife-torn Arab country, Yemen."

Yemen's election was illegitimate. Former president Ali Abdullah Saleh's vice president, Mansour Al-Hadi, ran unopposed. New faces representing old policies kept power.

Washington orchestrated everything behind the scenes. Obama wants a similar process replacing Assad with a pro-Western puppet.

"The success of the plan hinges on Russia," said The Times. Obama will press Vladimir Putin to go along. On June 18 and 19, they'll meet at the Mexico G20 summit. Los Cabos, Baja California Sur plays host city.

On May 9, Putin spoke in Moscow's Red Square. His speech commemorated Russia's victory over Nazi Germany. He addressed troops and war veterans.

He promised strength and assertiveness as president, saying:

"Russia has been consistently pursuing a policy of strengthening the world's security and we have a great moral right to take a principled and insistent stand."

He pointed fingers at Washington and NATO. According to Plekhanov Moscow University of Economics vice president Sergei Markov:

Putin "made it clear that such threats that arise from the United States exist today and can eventually lead to a global confrontation."

In early May, Russian Chief of General Staff Nikolai Makarov said Moscow may preemptively strike America's missile shield in neighboring countries.

In November, then President Dmitry Medvedev threatened to withdraw from New START. Washington's installations target Russia. They pose a strategic threat. So do surrounding bases and America's Syria and Iran regime change plans.

America wants unchallenged regional dominance. Putin understands the threat. He appears determined to act. He accused Washington of orchestrating Moscow street protests. He cancelled plans to attend the May G8 summit. He wasn't with NATO states in Chicago.

On May 28, Press TV said "Russia's military intelligence organization (GRU) believes that Washington was behind the crash of a Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100 plane in Indonesia earlier in May."

Forty-five on board were killed. The demonstration flight showed potential buyers the plane's advanced technological capability. A GRU general said:

"We know that (Washington) ha(s) special equipment that can cut communications between an aircraft and the ground or interfere with the parameters on board."

He said electronic jamming the plane's onboard equipment likely caused the crash. The black box cockpit voice recorder indicated "no systemic problem or functional failure" during flight. Alexander Yablontsev was one of Russia's most experienced test pilots.

An unnamed Sukhoi official suggested "industrial sabotage to drive our aircraft from the market." Whether for strategic and/or commercial reasons, America often commits these type acts. Doing it on Putin's watch perhaps heightens his determination to confront Western aggression.

He's unlikely to yield on Syria or Iran. He seems determined to avoid war at all costs.

Given Washington's rage to topple Assad, succeeding may prove out of reach. Events going forward bear watching.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book is titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War"

http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.

http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/.