A couple of days ago I wrote a post on what Emily Thornberry (UK Labour Shadow Foreign Secretary) had said about Iran. In not so many words, I wrote that it was “not permitted” to posit a view or analysis that ran counter to official narratives.
Well yesterday, both The Guardian and the Independent provided nice examples of what I was on about.
After her Radio 4 interview, Emily Thornberry submitted a facebook post that expanded on her basic points. (Here it is here.) The Guardian decided to report on that as her seeking to clarify herself – suggesting she was muddled, or that her position was untenable and she had done somewhat of an “about face” on the whole issue. The Guardian doesn’t link to her facebook post in the piece although that’s what the piece is built around. It (as usual these days) does not allow for comments, applies questionable interpretation to some of her post and, not surprisingly, avails itself of the opportunity to smear Jeremy Corbyn.
The Independent goes further with an editorial running a sub-header accusing Emily Thornberry and anyone with similar views of “appalling moral cowardice”.
The Deputy Political Editor of The Independent wades in with a piece that’s essentially dishonest insofar as it suggests a thoughtful and nuanced approach to another county’s internal affairs is somehow condoning the killing of protesters. Funnily enough, it’s accompanied by a photo of a sizable protest in Tehran – presumably a pro-government rally then. Though, of course, no mention is made of that likely fact. And of course, it also seizes the opportunity to have a go at Jeremy Corbyn – this time, not for speaking at an event marking 30 years since the overthrow of the Shah (as reported in The Guardian), but for appearing on PressTV in the past.
Nothing about the situation in Iran then. Nothing about pre-existing grievances within Iran’s diverse ethnic communities, nor any exploration of any likely historical context of those grievances. No acknowledgement, let alone exploration of the complexities that exist in Iran. Nothing even about sanctions and their likely impact on the country’s economy. Nothing much beyond a reiteration of simple and simplistic official “truths” alongside condemnation and smearing of those who aren’t “toeing the line” because , y’know, it’s black and it’s white.
“Iran Bad.” – and you’re either with us or you’re against us.
And between this current bullshit and other stuff of recent years, I’m concluding that “the powers that be” within western liberalism must be wanting me as an enemy. Which is fine. If I’m to be their enemy, then they can be my enemy too. I’m not alone in having that take.
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