When I read over the weekend that Iran-backed Houthis attempted to mount a 12-drone attack on Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia (the world’s) biggest oil port), I wanted to check with the New York Times — but there was nothing to check on. Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal reported the attack, but for the Times it was not “news that’s fit to print.”
I wonder why. Of course, the business publications had to report it because the failed (or repelled) attack made the markets nervous and briefly sent the price of crude to over $70 per barrel. But there are other ramifications to the story, too; after all, Bloomberg filed its report under “Politics” rubric. Is it this “politics” aspect that the Times would rather wish its readers did not know?
Indeed, the attempted attack by an Iranian proxy does not look good for Biden’s attempts to re-establish ties to Iran and to get back into Obama’s Iran deal. Houthis are armed by Iran, world’s worst state supporter of terrorism, and take orders from it. Publicizing Iran’s proxy attack on the major oil supply hub does not exactly help the task of making Iran look not as bad as it is, especially because the attack came shortly after Biden administration removed Houthi designation as a terrorist entity, in a clear signal to Iran of Biden’s desire to lower the temperature and get back into the deal, a goal which the New York Times fully supports.
Clearly, when deciding on what to put into the paper, and what to leave on the cutting floor, the “paper of record” guides itself by the expected impact of what the reader will see reported. In terms of priorities, informing the reader is a distant second to influencing him — a classical modus operandi of a propaganda sheet.
They’re Trying to Shut Us Down
Over the last several months, I’ve lost count of how many times the powers-that-be have tried to shut us down. They’ve sent hackers at us, forcing us to take extreme measures on web security. They sent attorneys after us, but thankfully we’re not easily intimidated by baseless accusations or threats. They’ve even gone so far as to make physical threats. Those can actually be a bit worrisome but Remington has me covered.
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Thank you and God bless!
JD Rucker