by Stephen Lendman

The so-called "newspaper of record" is an establishment broadsheet. It represents wealth, power and privilege.

It's America's lead instrument of state propaganda. It marches in lockstep with official US policy.

It's a virtual Washington house organ. A lying machine. A de facto ministry of state misinformation.

Vital truths are buried. Managed news rubbish substitutes. Core journalistic ethics are violated. Readers are systematically lied to.

They deserve better. They're cheated on what matters most. They're betrayed.

It bears repeating what previous articles stressed. All the news fit to print isn't fit to read.

Famed Chicago columnist Mike Royko (1932- 1997) once said "no self-respecting fish would (want to) be wrapped in a Murdoch paper..." Or the NYT he might have added.

Its war on truth persists. It's regular daily fare. It's featured. It's deplorable. It's longstanding. It's fundamental Times policy.

When America wages lawless aggression or plans it, Times correspondents, contributors and editors march in lock step.

When Washington replaces democratic leaders with despots, official Times policy endorses what demands denunciation.

Ukraine is Exhibit A. In February, Washington elevated fascist putschists to power. They replaced democratic leadership.

They did so illegitimately. Times editors cheerled their lawlessness. They continue doing so.

They pretend fascist extremists are democrats. They bury truth in the process. They systematically turn it on its head.

They twist reality to fit US policy. They irresponsibly bash Putin daily.

On May 12, they headlined "What Mr. Putin Can't Control." They claimed legitimate free, fair, open democratic Eastern Ukrainian referendums were "farcical."

They blamed Putin for US-instigated Ukrainian crisis conditions. He's gone all-out to resolve them diplomatically. Not according to Times editors.

They lied claiming his real aim is "to transform Ukraine into a federation under a weak and neutral Kiev government permanently dependent on Russia."

He'll impose "unacceptable demands…Ukraine is broke…(He's) claiming unrealistically large payments to continue supplying natural gas."

His hand isn't "all aces. He must be aware that any Russian military drive into southeastern Ukraine would entail bloody resistance" and much more.

"…Mr. Putin is not immune to the damage done to his reputation, especially in Germany, the European country he seems to care most about."

Fact: Putin has no territorial ambitions.

Fact: He respects Ukrainian sovereignty.

Fact: He does so for all nations.

Fact: He supports real democracy.

Fact: He opposes coup d'etat illegitimacy.

Fact: So should everyone.

Fact: He made no "unacceptable demands."

Fact: He "claim(s) (no) unrealistically large" gas payments.

Fact: In mid-April, he said Ukraine's gas debt reached a "critical" level.

Fact: It was unpaid for three months.

Fact: He wants addressing it prioritized.

Fact: He wants payment for natural gas provided.

Fact: Companies don't supply products and services free of charge.

Fact: Or nations from state enterprises.

Fact: Since Soviet Russia's dissolution, Moscow guaranteed Ukraine cut-rate-priced natural gas.

Fact: Uninterrupted transit through its territory was assured.

Fact: Russia fulfilled all its contractual obligations.

Fact: Ukraine putschists violated theirs systematically.

Fact: Russia continued providing unprecedented natural gas discounts.

Fact: From 2009 to today, they totaled $17 billion. Plus another $18.4 billion incurred by Kiev as a minimal take-or-pay fine.

Fact: Russia subsidized Ukraine's economy generously.

Fact: It went way out of its way doing it.

Fact: Since 2009, it provided $34.4 billion.

Fact: It helped preserve stability and credibility.

Fact: It saved jobs.

Fact: Russia alone showed this type generosity.

Fact: EU nations denied support.

Fact: So did Washington.

Fact: They seek to exploit.

Fact: They're imposing harsh IMF diktats.

Fact: They'll wreck Ukraine's economy.

Fact: They'll hollow it out entirely.

Fact: They'll deeply impoverish millions in the process.

Fact: They want Ukrainian resources plundered.

Fact: They want its state enterprises sold to Western corporate predators and fire sale prices.

Fact: They created a huge Ukrainian trade imbalance.

Fact: It exceeds $10 billion.

Fact: It's two-thirds of Ukraine's 2013 deficit.

Fact: It negatively affects Ukraine's ability to fulfill its contactual obligations for Russian natural gas.

Fact: Moscow alone is forced to bear an unreasonable burden.

Fact: Ukraine's gas debt grows monthly.

Fact: It's done so by hundreds of millions of dollars.

Fact: No longer.

Fact: Beginning mid-May, supplies provided must be pre-paid.

Fact: Overly generous discounts ended.

Fact: They should have long ago.

Fact: Gazprom deserves fair prices.

Fact: What other customers pay.

Fact: It's not in business to be cheated.

Fact: Don't expect Times editors to explain.

"The OSCE must set out its road plan as soon as possible, and the Germans, above all others, must make clear to Mr. Putin that they won't be lulled by more false promises," they said.

"(T)hat unless he clears the way for presidential elections on May 25, gets his minions in southeastern Ukraine in line and really pulls back his armies, the European Union and the United States will impose sanctions that will cut Russia off for a long time from Western sources of technology, arms and finance."

Fact: On May 7, Putin and OSCE head Didier Burkhalter met.

Fact: They discussed roadmap principles.

Fact: They did so to resolve Ukraine's crisis diplomatically.

Fact: They did what Washington deplores.

Fact: Steps proposed include halting hostilities, deescalating tensions, establishing dialogue, and holding free, fair, open democratic elections.

Fact: On the one hand, Putin called planned Ukrainian presidential elections "a movement in the right direction."

Fact: On the other, he said they'll "settle nothing if all Ukrainian citizens will not understand how their rights will be guaranteed after" elections are held.

Fact: Kiev putschists reacted negatively to OSCE principles.

Fact: They scorn diplomacy.

Fact: They abhor responsible national dialogue.

Fact: They want their way imposed.

Fact: They want fascist rule.

Fact: Washington is going all-out to perpetuate conflict.

Fact: Planned May 25 Kiev elections will be farcical when held.

Fact: Obama wants pro-Western stooges running Ukraine.

Fact: He wants ordinary Ukrainians having no say.

Fact: He wants Russian diplomatic conflict resolution efforts scuttled.

Fact: He wants total US control.

Fact: He wants Ukraine made another NATO member state.

Fact: He wants US bases encroaching on Russia's borders.

Fact: He wants long range multiple nuclear armed missiles targeting its heartland.

Fact: He wants Russia eliminated as a major rival.

Fact: He wants pro-Western puppet governance replacing its sovereign independence.

Fact: He wants its resources plundered.

Fact: He wants its people exploited.

Fact: He scorns diplomacy.

Fact: He deplores democracy.

Fact: He tolerates none at home or abroad.

Fact: He prioritizes confrontation.

Fact: He substitutes belligerence for peaceful conflict resolution.

Fact: He's the most ruthless leader in US history.

Fact: He's the most dangerous by far.

Fact: He exceeds the worst of his predecessors.

Fact: He's ideologically over-the-top.

Fact: He's recklessly out-of-control.

Fact: He risks igniting WW III to achieve his objectives.

It bears repeating. Don't expect New York Times editors to explain. Endorsing what demands condemnation matters more.

So does daily Russia bashing. Times policy is on the wrong side of history. World peace hangs in the balance.

A Final Comment

John Pilger's 2003 documentary "Breaking The Silence: Truth And Lies In The War on Terror" exposed US "war on terror" Big Lies.

Washington's actions "have nothing to do with fighting terrorism," he said. They're "part of an opened-ended war" on freedom.

It rages for unchallenged US "global dominance…" It's for plundering world resources. It reflects state terrorism writ large.

Pilger asked:

"What are the real aims of this war and who are the most threatening terrorists?"

"Who is responsible for far greater acts of violence than those committed by the fanatics of Al-Qaeda, crimes that have claimed many more lives than September 11th and always in poor, devastated, faraway places?"

His documentary revealed "rapacious imperial power." It's about "terrorism that never speaks its name." Because it's "our terrorism," he stressed.

It masquerades as humanitarian intervention. Big Lies substitute for truth.

Pilger's latest article headlined "Break the Silence: a World War is Beckoning."

"Why do we tolerate (it) in our name," he asked? Why do we permit such risk?"

Post-WW II, Western enemy names changed over time. They ranged from "communism to Islamism…"

It's "any society independent of western power and occupying strategically useful or resource-rich territory."

It's leaders are systematically eliminated. Pro-Western stooges replace them.

"Washington’s role in Ukraine is ­different only in its implications for the rest of us," said Pilger. It's heading things toward possible world war.

"We in the west are backing neo-Nazis in a country where Ukrainian Nazis backed Hitler."

Like ravaged and destroyed Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, Washington turned Ukraine "into a CIA theme park run by CIA director John Brennan in Kiev, with 'special units' from the CIA and FBI setting up a 'security structure' that oversees savage attacks on those who opposed the February coup."

Russian-speaking Ukrainians are endangered. They're "fighting for survival." Their enemy is headquartered in Washington.

It maintains satellite branches in other Western capitals, Kiev and elsewhere.

Post-911, things changed. They did so horrifically for the worst. Washington bears full responsibility. Rogue EU/Israeli partners share it.

Lunatics make policy. Madness reflects it. "Rampant militarism now rules," said Pilger. Liberty is "hemorrhaging" in plain sight.

War on humanity threatens everyone. Potential nuclear war looms. It begs the question, said Pilger. "W)hy do we tolerate" the unthinkable?

Why does madness prevent responsible policy? Daily events should scare everyone.

Upside down reality threatens humanity. Criminality is rewarded. Doing the right thing is punished.

Warmakers win peace prizes. Peace advocates are scorned. They're targeted for elimination.

Today is the most perilous time in world history. It bears repeating. World peace hangs in the balance.

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

His new book is titled "Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity"

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

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com

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