Reader Rant: The Mainstream Media and the Push for Endless War

By Jeff Stone

Why is the mainstream media only in hysterics over ISIS and the “terrorist threats” from Muslims? Could it be that they are being manipulated, or even directed by our government agencies?

Before you accuse this writer of paranoia realize that there are only six corporations that collectively control U.S. media today: Time Warner, Walt Disney, Viacom, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., CBS Corporation and NBC Universal. Together, the “big six” absolutely dominate news and entertainment in the United States. (The OB Rag is not on the list)

And in the not too distance past, the government was admittedly involved in influencing the mainstream media. You may, or may not, have heard of Operation Mockingbird. In case it has eluded you, Operation Mockingbird is a secret campaign by the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to influence media during the Fifties and Sixties. It was exposed and investigated by Congress in the Seventies. Some say it stills exists.

The organization recruited leading American journalists into a network to help present the CIA’s views, and funded some student and cultural organizations, and magazines as fronts. It also worked to influence foreign media and political campaigns, in addition to activities by other operating units of the CIA.

There are a dozens of sites with information on this. Below are just two.

In 1977, journalist Carl Bernstein wrote a cover piece for Rolling Stones about the CIA and mainstream media.

And here is wikipedia on Operation Mockingbird .

A blue-ribbon panel of the Council on Foreign Relations suggested last year that the CIA be freed from some policy constraints on covert operations, like the use of journalists and clergy as cover. This is pretty scary. The folks at CFR are either running the world or they know who does. For 70 years they’ve rarely recommended anything that has not become policy.

After doing some preliminary research here are some interesting facts to mull over.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, nearly twice as many people have been killed by white supremacists, anti-government fanatics and other non-Muslim extremists than by radical Muslims.

Another new study finds white supremacists and other non-Muslim fanatics have killed far more people in the United States since 9/11 than Muslim extremists. According to the research center New America, 26 people have been killed in jihadist violence in the U.S. since 9/11, but 48 people have been killed in attacks by right-wing groups. Despite the intense focus by the Obama administration on Muslim communities, non-Muslims have carried out 19 terrorist attacks since September 11,2001, while Muslims have been responsible for only seven.

I keep wondering why all we hear about are Muslim attacks? Could it have anything to do with pushing an agenda for the endless war on terrorism here and abroad? Remember its’ corporations that benefit, not the dead and wounded fighting for “freedom”. War is business.