by Stephen Lendman

Presstitution in America is longstanding. The Brian Williams saga says less about him and more about a corrupted institution proliferating Big Lies on issues mattering most.

Famed journalist George Seldes (1890 - 1995) railed against against "prostitution of the press" in the 1920s and 30s.

He called fourth estate presstitutes "the most powerful force against the general welfare of the majority of the people."

When America goes to war or plans one, media scoundrels march in lockstep. MSM pseudo-journalists operate as "shills, sellouts and media whores," says Gerald Celente.

Managed news misinformation, willful deception, and Big Lies substitute for hard truths and full disclosure on issues mattering most.

Aggressive wars are called liberating ones. Mass slaughter and destruction are called humanitarian intervention.

Carving up continents for profit is called economic development. Turning workers into serfs is called jobs creation.

MSM reports substitute propaganda for honest journalism. Perhaps more than ever in reporting on Ukraine. It's hard stomaching how low MSM sunk.

Hard truths are systematically buried. News reports are little more than administration, congressional and Pentagon press release handouts.

Guests interviewed on television reflect a Noah's arc of scam artists. Reporting on Ukraine gives disinformation, deception and Big Lies new meaning.

A daily propaganda drumbeat heads inexorably toward open confrontation with Russia. What responsible government officials and legitimate journalists would go all out to avoid.

Instead they promote war. Mindless of enormous risks. Ignoring the possibility of life on earth ending nuclear confrontation.

Madness if launched. Daily headlines should denounce war. Promote peace. Explain Washington's full responsibility for Ukrainian crisis conditions.

Russia's all-out efforts to resolve things diplomatically. Demand all US-led NATO military aid to Ukraine stop.

Expose its illegitimate putschist regime run by neo-Nazi thugs. Praise Putin for acting responsibly. Denounce Obama and likeminded lunatics in Washington running things.

That's what a free press is all about. America's government/corporate controlled version mocks the real thing.

Reports like The New York Times headlining "European Leaders Debate Aid to Ukraine, but Not Russia's Transgression" turn truth on its head.

It discussed the myth of Washington only "currently committed to provid(ing Kiev with) training and nonlethal equipment."

Mindless of US heavy weapons supplied throughout months of conflict. Washington directly involved in what's ongoing. Big Lies about "Putin and his aggressive policies…"

The New York Times sounds like Fox News. Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) once called its operation "the most biased name in news."

All Western major media today share the dishonor. Especially on Ukraine reporting. In lockstep against truth. Supporting what demands denunciation.

Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthmmer makes most right-wing ideologues look almost tame by comparison.

On Fox News he repeated the Big Lie about "Russian aggression." Absurdly claimed "the one thing Putin worries about is the morale of a people losing soldiers, having to bury Russians in a war that his own propaganda says doesn't exist."

No one doubts war remains ongoing. Daily headlines scream it. Key is who bears responsibility. Who wants it continued. Who wants it resolved diplomatically. MSM explanations turn truth on it head.

Even so-called liberals like Professor Emeritus Stephen Cohen stop short of explaining Ukrainian crisis conditions accurately.

Days earlier, he said "(a) political dispute in Ukraine became a Ukrainian civil war. Russia backed one side. The United States and NATO the other."

"We're arming Kiev. Russians are arming the eastern fighters. (T)his has the potential to become a new Cuban missile-style confrontation with the risk of war."

Cohen said nothing about last February's US-planned and implemented coup. Nothing about neo-Nazi thugs in Kiev running things.

Nothing about Obama using its military as a proxy force against Donbas freedom fighters and civilians against fascist rule.

Practically nothing about Washington supplying Kiev with heavy weapons throughout months of conflict.

Ukraine's conflict is far more serious than October 1962 Cuban missiles. Kennedy was president. He later admitted he had no intention of going to war.

Things got resolved quickly. Today they're escalating toward possible US-instigated nuclear confrontation. Cohen knows history and today's reality. Why he didn't explain he'll have to say.

Instead he accused Russia of arming rebels despite no evidence proving it. He claimed "a dispute" over which side escalated conflict. "(W)e're in a fog of war," he said.

There's no "dispute" over who bears full responsibility for conflict. Load of evidence leaves no doubt whatever. The only "fog" are Big Lies suppressing hard truths.

Yet Cohen claims it's "almost impossible" to say "who threw the first punch." Donbas rebels didn't initiate conflict. They're victims, not perpetrators.

They reject fascist rule. So should everyone. They're risking their lives fighting for freedom. They deserve universal praise.

Cohen claims he's not "smart enough" to know what drives US policy. It's been clear throughout the post-WW II period.

Especially post-9/11. Waging permanent direct and proxy wars for unchallenged global dominance. Killing millions to achieve imperial aims.

Waging proxy war in Ukraine. Using it as a pretext to target Russia. Risking potential nuclear war on the process.

Instead of saying "I don't know," Cohen should forthrightly denounce Washington's agenda heading toward possible armageddon.

Stopping this monster matters most. Humanity's survival hangs in the balance. Appalling one-sided MSM propaganda makes the unthinkable more possible.

Wall Street Journal deputy editorial page editor Bret Stephens lied claiming "Russian officials (in Munich) did their best Gromyko impressions by denying there were any Russian troops in Ukraine."

Whenever accusers like Stephens are asked for proof, silence follows. There is none. Russia didn't invade Ukraine. Its forces aren't involved.

Stephens absurdly called Joe Biden's litany of Big Lies address in Munich "probably the best speech of his long career."

He called Senator Lindsey Graham's (R. SC) war-mongering diatribe "the most impressive performance of the conference."

Graham may enter the 2016 presidential sweepstakes, said Stephens. Whoever succeeds Obama, war will continue seamlessly.

At risk is Washington targeting Russia. The possibility should scare everyone.

Hawkish editorials and commentaries persist daily. USA Today headlined "Arm Ukraine to deter Putin."

Outrageously saying his "nuclear arms and…czarist ambitions…poses the greatest threat, and it is becoming glaringly obvious that that the West's strategy of deterring (him) with economic sanctions is failing."

"Left undeterred, (he'll) extend Russia's reach…He has already menaced Latvia and Estonia…"

USA editors have things upside down. Their prescription for extinguishing Ukraine's fire is throwing more fuel on it.

Bloomberg editors say "Putin Can't Have the Last Laugh in Ukraine." They mocked Sergey Lavrov's forthright Munich Security Conference address. The most important one delivered.

They called his hard truths "absurd…delusion(al)…warped." They urged a "stronger commitment" to do whatever it takes against Russia. Otherwise, "Putin will get the last laugh."

The editorial page sounds like Col. Robert McCormich's flag-pumping jingoism still controls things.

Headlining "Stop stalling. Arm Ukraine," it ignored US-led NATO supplying heavy weapons throughout months of conflict.

Like other media scoundrels, it blamed rebels for US/Kiev high crimes. It ludicrously claimed Putin "seeks to recapture Soviet glory."

Calls illegitimate Kiev putschists "democrat(s)." Says "(h)e'll stop meddling in Ukraine only when the cost exceeds his ability to pay."

"Strength is a currency (he) respects. The West has to arm Ukraine to punch back." Tribune editors want more war than already. Maybe nothing short of WW III will satisfy them."

Similar commentaries repeat daily. Readers, listeners and viewers are systematically betrayed. Big Lies substitute for hard truths.

It matters most when things head perilously toward East/West confrontation. Ukraine is a potential WW III-igniting flashpoint.

The gravest crisis since Hitler invaded Poland. Appalling one-sided MSM propaganda creates polar opposite truth groupthink.

Big Lies repeated enough get most people to believe US/Kiev naked aggression is self-defense.

America's MSM is a lying machine. An instrument of state propaganda. Spreading Big Lies. Suppressing hard truths.

Supporting Kiev fascists waging war on their own people. Bashing Russia irresponsibly.

Endorsing policies heading things recklessly toward possible global war. Risking humanity's demise.

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

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

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

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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