Corporate Media Whores Strike Again: Panama Leak | Mossack Fonseca Papers

Article SOURCE https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2016/04/corporate-media-gatekeepers-protect-western-1-from-panama-leak/ Corporate Media Whores Strike Again:  Panama Leak | Mossack Fonseca Papers SOURCE https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2016/04/corporate-media-gatekeepers-protect-western-1-from-panama-leak/ Corporate Media Gatekeepers Protect Western 1% From Panama Leak 54 3 Apr, 2016 Whoever leaked the Mossack Fonseca papers appears motivated by a genuine desire to expose the system that enables the ultra wealthy to hide their massive stashes, often corruptly obtained and all involved in tax avoidance. These Panamanian lawyers hide the wealth of a significant proportion of the 1%, and the massive leak of their documents ought to be a wonderful thing. Unfortunately the leaker has made the dreadful mistake of turning to the western corporate media to publicise the results. In consequence the first major story, published today by the Guardian, is all about Vladimir Putin and a cellist on the fiddle. As it happens I believe the story and have no doubt Putin is bent. But why focus on Russia? Russian wealth is only a tiny minority of the money hidden away with the aid of Mossack Fonseca. In fact, it soon becomes obvious that the selective reporting is going to stink. The Suddeutsche Zeitung, which received the leak, gives a detailed explanation of the methodology the corporate media used to search the files. The main search they have done is for names associated with breaking UN sanctions regimes. The Guardian reports this too and helpfully lists those countries as Zimbabwe, North Korea, Russia and Syria. The filtering of this Mossack Fonseca information by the corporate media follows a direct western governmental agenda. There is no mention at all of use of Mossack Fonseca by massive western corporations or western billionaires – the main customers. And the Guardian is quick to reassure that “much of the leaked material will remain private.” What do you expect? The leak is being managed by the grandly but laughably named “International Consortium of Investigative Journalists”, which is funded and organised entirely by the USA’s Center for Public Integrity. Their funders include Ford Foundation Carnegie Endowment Rockefeller Family Fund W K Kellogg Foundation Open Society Foundation (Soros) among many others. Do not expect a genuine expose of western capitalism. The dirty secrets of western corporations will remain unpublished. Expect hits at Russia, Iran and Syria and some tiny “balancing” western country like Iceland. A superannuated UK peer or two will be sacrificed – someone already with dementia.  [Comment:  ... LOL] The corporate media – the Guardian and BBC in the UK – have exclusive access to the database which you and I cannot see. They are protecting themselves from even seeing western corporations’ sensitive information by only looking at those documents which are brought up by specific searches such as UN sanctions busters. Never forget the Guardian smashed its copies of the Snowden files on the instruction of MI6. What if they did Mossack Fonseca database searches on the owners of all the corporate media and their companies, and all the editors and senior corporate media journalists? What if they did Mossack Fonseca searches on all the most senior people at the BBC? What if they did Mossack Fonseca searches on every donor to the Center for Public Integrity and their companies? What if they did Mossack Fonseca searches on every listed company in the western stock exchanges, and on every western millionaire they could trace? That would be much more interesting. I know Russia and China are corrupt, you don’t have to tell me that. What if you look at things that we might, here in the west, be able to rise up and do something about? And what if you corporate lapdogs let the people see the actual data? SOURCE https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2016/04/corporate-media-gatekeepers-protect-western-1-from-panama-leak/ ---------------------- ---------------------- COMMENT Wow, another leak ...  Only we don't get to see this one & the controlled media will cherry pick, just using the information to target the ruling Western oligarchy handmaiden-enforcer governments' official, designated enemies. Vlad can do no wrong in my eyes and neither can Russia. Look at what the Western crooks have been up to over the last 70 years:  exploitative capitalist agenda wars; illegal wars; invasions; murder of millions; enforcing crippling, murderous sanctions; dropping depleted uranium bombs; dropping atomic weapons; serial CIA coups;  serial regime change; serial destruction of entire countries; mass surveillance of entire countries, including their own; decades of CIA collusion with corporate media; CIA funding political parties in sovereign countries; non-stop corporate media & CIA propaganda; Western censorship & political policing violations (including rape of activist women by undercover police, Britain);  Western murder of political dissidents (USA); British government refusal  to execute arrest warrants for (alleged) war criminals allied to the West (Israelis), but politically persecuting Aussie journalist-publisher, Assange, held in arbitrary detention in violation of international laws, and held WITHOUT CHARGE for over five and a half years. I left out the Americans unsigning themselves from the Rome Statute, and therefore out of the reach  of the International Criminal Court, so that they cannot be held to account for the WAR CRIMES THEY AND THEIR ALLIES (YES, THEY'RE COVERED, TOO) HAVE COMMITTED & INTEND TO COMMIT IN FUTURE; the Americans blackmailing aid and trade dependent nations to grant Americans immunity from being held accountable for commission of war crimes; the Americans passing into law that they SHALL USE MILITARY FORCE against any nation that seeks to bring their citizens (or allies!  ... hello?) before international courts of law (meanwhile these same war criminal hypocrites and liars target Serbian politicians, in propaganda spectacles to distract from their own illegal bombings and war crimes -- the scum). The Guardian's pathetic, and so is that phony warmonger US oligarchy funded International Consortium of Whore Journalist. What kind of idiot leaks anything to the mainstream media or its representatives? Hello ... anyone remember what happened to Israeli nukes whistleblower:  Mordechai Vanunu? Bet this isn't even a real leak: it's probably a CIA offering to shape public opinion.

VIDEO - Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media (1992)

(1992, IMDB)   Link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dzufDdQ6uKg      Watched this to the intermission.  Way long for me.  It could have done with some savage editing, or an edited version for people who just want the distilled message. Have notes somewhere.  So disorganised I can't recall where.   Found them.  Didn't number the pages.  Day's later, I can't tell beginning from end. Anyway, here's what I got out of it: The 'elite media' (eg New York Times, Washington Post) is agenda setting media.  What they draw attention to and what they ignore becomes the agenda of the wider news services.  Large media outfits also shape history. Further, NYT was creator of history as it had a massive archive of carefully collated news information. Reed Irvine - insinuates that press agenda-setting is a left-wing conspiracy.   There's appearances of left-wing bias and opposition to power.  If I recall correctly, this is not a genuine left-leaning press or opposition to the establishment:  this press is firmly entrenched in the system and is part of the establishment. Press ignoring atrocities in Timor, the Panama invasion and the Gulf War (ie in step with the US agenda). Bush stating 'aggressors can't be rewarded' seemed to really annoy Chomsky, I think.   If I remember correctly, it may have been the hypocrisy of the US totalitarian war state that was at issue for Chomsky. Anyway, in Panama US actions were ignored (and wherever else around the world), while the actions of those the US war state decides to vilify become hugely overblown and over-reported. 'Official enemy' is the term used for those the US stands against. Column inches were compared and what the US government didn't want you to know about went massively under-reported.  Only a fraction of that topic would even make the news, unlike the overblown news about events concerning those the US was in opposition to. News stories were also censored -- example of a UK article -- information gouged before it hit the press in the US. Pol Pot's 1975-78 genocide in East Timor wasn't deemed newsworthy. Try again: Pol Pot in Cambodia was deemed massively newsworthy (I think the notes should read.  Hard to make them out!  Sorry about this mess.  Don't have time to check or fix).  Khmer Rouge in Cambodia became the 'official enemy' and their actions were blown grossly out of proportion (if I recall correctly). Reporting in respect of the 'official enemy' is subject to: exaggeration outrage falsification (photos) lies frudulence compared to US atrocities. There is an interplay: Government does. Press says. People think. Press is therefore complicit in genocide by suppressing facts. East Timor involved an Indonesian invasion that was ignored.  UN voted against the resolution to invade.   If I recall correctly, it was profitable supplying weapons.  West was selling arms to Indonesians for profit. * Indonesians killed a couple of Australian journalists December 7, 1975. UN response was condemnations and sanctions, but US clearly not allowing intervention. Meantime there was outrage over what was going on in Cambodia (for which the US was responsible). Very hard to make out my scrawl or the order this is in.    ............................................. Democratic process is what violence is to totalitarian society. It is a case of the Big Stick (totalitarian) versus the Big Lie (democracy). Some mention of 'rationalist libertarian socialism', but (days later) I've no idea what this is about.  Might have to watch the video again.  Social action animated by visions of future society | challenge authority and domination. Control/Coercion require justification - there is seldom a justification. Mention made of exceptions - eg war, parent/child relationships Democracy requires free access to information -- including publishing, education --  and press scrutiny. Discussion of origins of democracy:  17th C. revolution - Royalists versus others. Multiple issues:  incl. master/servant Time of radical publishing - disturbed all elites on both sides of the war.  Manufactured consent:  technique of control of special class. View that decision requires cool observation & that stupidity of average man is guided by myth (beliefs). INDOCTRINATION is the essence of democracy. Fear of people not submitting to civil control  -- people contained by manufactured consent / propaganda (versus the totalitarian model of domination by military force). The state becomes the myth-maker. Propaganda targets:  1. Political class - about 20% educated. 2. The 80% that follow orders and pay the costs. Mentioned sports as indoctrination.  So pleased about that because I detest sports and have never understood the point of following who kicks a ball etc. Walter Lippmann got a mention.  Cannot recall why.   Will link him, but its the early hours of the morning and I can't take the time to do more than that. Richard Niebuhr got a mention regarding the 'cool observer' and stupid average man who follows faith.  Not absolutely certain I have the right person.  Guessing I have.  No time to double-check.  Might come back to this over the next few days. (: Thought it was funny that Chomsky referred to NYT as a 'lapdog'.  While discussing how the government doesn't like to be exposed as the 'emperor with no clothes', it reminded me of why the powers that be have targeted WikiLeaks and publisher Julian Assange. Anyway, this is a scrambled and sketchy summary of the first portion of the documentary.   Even though this isn't chronological (I notice I've reversed the order), I'm going to leave it and shut down as soon as I can because I've got Christmas obligations.   Have noticed that if you really push yourself and not sleep normally for extended periods, it seems to have a depressant effect.  Or maybe that's just on me. Have a nice holiday everyone. [In a rush, excuse any typos]

20 DEC 1989 - USA INVASION OF PANAMA

ARTICLE  December 15, 2014 The Proclamation Of A Lone Superpower Above The Law The Invasion Of Panama by MATT PEPPE http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/12/15/the-invasion-of-panama/ .................................... COMMENT / NOTES Thought this was a very good article. Below is what I got out of it: US had large Panama-stationed military force:  18 bases. Occupied Panama Canal Zone territory = sovereign US territory until 1979. Scheduled hand-over of Panama Canal: Partial ... transfer in 1990 Full ......... transfer in 2000 *Control over vital strategic asset at issue.  Military occupier US at advantage. Applicable Panama (& any target) USA modus operandi in pursuit aggressive agenda: 1) disseminate propaganda about “human rights abuses” 2) accuse govt / leader of heinous deed/s 3) provoke the target to elicit pretext for invasion / aggression. 4) on eliciting response, launch planned attack. Note:  as in Panama case, human rights abuse overlooked while US maintains grip. Brutal tyrants are friends ... until they commit the 'crime of independence', when they become US agenda villains. Panama US Invasion: UNSC passed a resolution condemning invasion. US joined by allies #UK & #France – vetoed it. Dangerous precedent set. USA Panama Invasion set stage for:  Iraq (1) Somalia (1) Serbia NATO bombing Iraq (2)  Afghanistan  Iraq (3)  Pakistan  Libya  Somalia (2)  Yemen  Iraq (4)  Syria Human rights language appropriated by USA: “humanitarian intervention” became new propaganda tool to justify military aggression. New humanitarian ethos = ideological weapons to (domestically & internationally) justify & legitimise USA aggressive global strategies. Aggressive War  Panama - USA INVASION 1989 = aggression against SOVEREIGN NATION Nuremberg Trials defined 'aggressive war':  evil punishable by death. USA1989 Invasion of PANAMA - act against sovereign nation, evil punishable by death yet George HW Bush: enjoys a luxurious retirement. considered by mainstream USA political opinion-makers a "foreign policy moderate". Source:  http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/12/15/the-invasion-of-panama/ Wow, that last bit is rather scary.  [*Need to learn to summarise better.  Most of the summary form is the author's words.]

ISRAEL - Miscellaneous

ISRAEL Denmark / EU Trade Agreement #Denmark foreign Minister Martin Lidegaard says time to reconsider Denmark's & EU's Trade Agreements with Israel http://goo.gl/2nMuP8 >> ie Cairo Gaza peace talks - If peace talks don't result in serious concessions from the Israelis “Lidegaard wants to see Israel commit to ending its eight-year blockade of Gaza and stop its “illegal settlements”. The foreign minister is also calling on Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza to lay down their weapons. “ “Opposition parties the Conservatives and the Danish People's Party immediately spoke out against the threat of sanctions, while the trade minister, Mogens Jensen, told Jyllands-Posten that sanctions should only be considered with a broad international backing. “  [ http://www.thelocal.dk/20140922/fm-calls-for-tougher-approach-to-israel ] Mossad #Israel >>> Mossad has it's own YouTube channel ... & is on a recruitment drive >> http://goo.gl/iswOSA   VIDEO >>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&list=UUDRnbEnhND3zNvduaI4ruew&v=qX9ZoKO1H8E … Cybersecurity #Israel / creating new #cybersecurity authority/alleged #Iran attacks / increase in co-op b/w govt agencies, bus. & in civilian sector /RIA Obituary | Mossad  #Israel Mossad spy Mike Harari 87 died in Tel Aviv - http://goo.gl/uz1slD-  Operation Wrath of God - 'Black September' group - 1972 Munich Olympics >> reported to have had close relations with #Panama dictator Manuel Noriega / arms trade Noriega | Panama Manuel Noriega - military dictator of #Panama from 1983 to 1989 / invasion by USA / He's been to COUP SCHOOL! School of the Americas [wiki]  >#Panama > Noriega worked with CIA from the late 1950s until the 1980s/  Medellín Cartel /  Pablo Escobar / 'narcokleptocracy' >> George H. W. Bush, former CIA director / Vice President 1981-89 (President 1989-93 /close friend of Noriega [wikipedia] Reagan bypass Congress / NSC / Iran-Contra Affair of 1986–1987, facilitated contra funding thru proceeds of arms sales to #Iran! >officer Lt. Col. Oliver North in charge "The Enterprise"/+ govt  agencies, esp. from CIA in Central Am./no govt accountability http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contras Hey, there's a #UN watch: "UN Watch, an Israel-linked group that monitors the multinational body for compliance to the UN charter." [Times of Israel] http://www.unwatch.org/site/c.bdKKISNqEmG/b.1313899/k.948D/Issues_in_Focus.htm COMMENT The stuff about Noriega, CIA, bypassing Congress, sale of arms to Iran and secretly financing Contra just blew me away. I've vaguely heard of Black September but didn't know what it was about.  Thought it was related to a foiled airport bombing in Italy. It's cool that there's someone watching the UN.