-Caveat Lector- ~~~~~~~~~~~~ A<>E<>R The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. -Marcel Proust + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Forwarded as information only; no endorsement to be presumed + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. ---------- From: MER 1998 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: MER 1998 Date: Thursday, December 31, 1998 10:54 PM - M I D - E A S T R E A L I T I E S and 1 9 9 8 THE REAL WORLD OF THE MIDDLE EAST is not the one you read about in newspapers owned or controlled by the "Royal" families and cronies of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the Emirates, and Hashemite Jordan; nor those manipulated by repressive governments in the region, especially in the largest country, Egypt; nor those owned by the numerous groups and individuals associated with the Israeli/Jewish lobby; and certainly not those supported in one way or another by the U.S. government. It is not the world you usually hear about on Network TV or on Saudi- owned "Arab Network of America" where the Uncles Jim, Fouad and Clovis constantly strut their stuff. Nor is it the world of CNN where though one gets wider coverage of events from on-site locales, one is always forced to look through the prism of narrow American perspectives, prejudices, and editors. And this includes CNN's main international correspondent, Christian Amanpour, who gets many of her tips from non other than Madeleine Albright's side-kick, and her own husband, James Rubin at the U.S. State Department. Talk about conflicts of interest! AND THE REAL WORLD OF WASHINGTON, D.C. that now so dominates the affairs of the Middle East is certainly not the one you usually see on PBS (a kind of unofficial State Department TV), or C-Span (with no independent analysis and a growing panoply of front-organizations competing for attention); or CNN (where Larry King and Wolf Blitzer constantly interview their pals and cronies about the "Peace Process", conveniently forgetting to inform all that Blitzer came to Washington to edit the Jewish Lobby newsletter and has never left its protective circles which constantly promote his fortunes, and King who for so long has been intimately involved with leading Israeli and Zionist organizations). Talk about conflicts of interest! NOR CAN ONE TRUST THE major print news sources, however many column inches they devote to Middle East subjects. The Washington Post has been cheerleading the destruction of Iraq for years now, with the publisher's daughter, Laly Weymouth, constantly bashing Arab interests while promoting Israeli ones, and with the editorial pages dominated by more of Israel's devotees, Meg Greenfield and Steve Rosenfeld in charge. Nor is it a big secret that when it comes to the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, all too often their positions seem to come straight from the briefing papers of the multi-tentacled Israeli/Jewish lobby, and even when there are serious news stories with historical depth and perspective there is the constant interminable bias and political spin. INDEED, what is easily available to read and watch these days from the major media comes directly or indirectly from the very same "Power Elite", the very same military-industrial complex, the very same big lobbying operations -- whose ranks, incidentally, the Arab client- regimes have been trying hard to join in recent years -- that bring us the awful policies in the first place. Militarism, jingoistic nationalism, still-escalating arms sales, ever growing repression, rampant destruction, subjugation, distortion, misrepresentation -- these are all widely pervasive forces these days and in their totality immensely powerful. Combine this with the resources of the superpowerful United States, the regional power of Israel which now dwarfs that of all the Arab states combined, the Arab client-regimes and the client-organizations and client-personalities they sponsor -- and one has a world of wall-to-wall political and historical deception coupled with ever-growing public opinion manipulation. Today's world is one dominated by huge multinational corporate interests of big oil and big business intersecting with power lobbyists, arms salesman, and government-for-sale politicians. An occasional glimpse of reality seeps through, but overall everything is severely distorted and powerfully twisted to serve those who dominate through financial and political means, as well as technological and military power. The real world of the Middle East, and what really goes on in Washington relating to the Middle East is rarely discussed honestly and openly in this overall situation. That world is one of still- growing repression and intimidation. That world is one in which basic human rights are terribly and constantly abused, while political rights remain more theoretical than actual, and while justice remains but a distant dream. It is a world where despotic rulers squander the wealth and birthrights of their peoples, their "subjects". A world in which the very name of "peace" is used to mask a new variant of Apartheid descending on the Holy Land with electrified fences, military checkpoints, ethnic "by-pass" roads, "autonomous population centers", and a whole new terminology and methodology of repression and dispossession. And the real world of Washington all too often suffers a similar fate of massive distortion and misreporting. Washington is not the polished world of polite speeches, carefully scripted press conferences, and journalistic independence and integrity. Just under the surface it is a world of messy back-room deals and crafty self- serving arrangements, a world where lobbying groups and big money interests cajole and manipulate political leaders at every turn on every day. It is a world, however distasteful the imagery, of Oval Office blowjobs much more of the political than the sexual kind. It is a world in which an Israeli-lobby official of Australian nationality at the time of the last President's election becomes the Assistant Secretary of State for the Middle East as a payoff for Jewish campaign money and political favors; a world where the President personally spends most of his social time raising huge sums of money; a world in which the Prince Bandars toss about lavish sums to buy up as many voices as our willing while paying more to quiet those who are not; a world in which countries are bombed and cruise missiles unleashed to suit the timing and needs of the American Empire and the politicians who compete to control it. This is the contemporary sociological and political brew which gave rise to MID-EAST REALITIES in the first place; this incessant vortex of deception and manipulation that is omnipresent and at times seemingly all pervasive. And it is in this world that the small but intense and expert voice of MER has already been recognized by so many in so many places as "unique", "excellent", "essential", "unparalleled," "unequaled". "MER is excellent. I don't know of any other publication that so consistently and fearlessly tells the truth about the oppressive order in the Middle East that has long been based on an alliance between Washington, the Israelis, and the Arab client regimes," writes Professor Glenn Perry from the Political Science Department at Indiana State University. "A kudo: I'm one of many U.S. academicians impressed with the oh-so-rare honesty and insightfulness of your analyses." writes Theodore Keller, Professor Emeritus of International Relations at San Franciso State University. "MER is the reason I know the truth and I can never thank you enough for this," writes a reader from the Arab world asking that we keep his name in confidence. "[MER is] an amazing and rare site. Rich in content, information, and facts that so many other organizations would prefer to hide or color for their own personal reasons. You have taken over most of the media's responsibility in this country by becoming the providers of important information, overlooked or purposefully ignored by others, and relaying it an accurate, objective, and fair manner." So writes a Lebanese graduate student in journalism at Columbia University, and a former CNN World Report correspondent. "I am very glad for the information you provide, and accordingly am sending MER a check", writes Professor John Alden Williams at the College of William and Mary today in fact, just as this letter to readers and supporters is being prepared. And many hundreds of similar readers letters and comments can now be read at http://www.MiddleEast.Org/commentsx.htm. But it is also this overall situation which we've just described in macro terms, rather than our usual micro manner, which makes it very difficult for such an independent, irreverent, and politically incorrect organization like MER to keep going against the tide and with growing opposition from those who fear having their deceptiive policies and institutions occasionally unmasked and exposed. In such a situation just launching MER and making it known in many quarters around the world should be considered a noteable success, however inadequate. During the year ending tonight, 1998, we made substantial improvements to the unique MER Web site; we got our cable TV program showing during evening prime-time hours on all the major cable systems throughout the Washington, DC area; and we helped make the serious and historically deep principles of the Committee on the Middle East (COME) known to many. During 1998 Free Speech TV and nearly 100 cable TV channels around the country showed our special program "Peace Process - Real Or Phony". And we were invited to appear on a few of the major media networks including MSNBC, FOX, BBC, Pacifica, and CTV among them. But now it is to the tasks ahead that we need turn, rather than to continue with the real, but admittedly all too small, accomplishments of the past. Tomorrow, MER and 1999. Tonight, a sincere thank you to all of you who have helped, supported, and promoted MER throughout 1998. And best wishes for the New Year ahead, a year we all know is going to be filled with considerable difficulties and many struggles. ********************************************************************** For latest information and to receive MER regularly email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- M I D - E A S T R E A L I T I E S POBOX 18367 - Washington, DC 20036 202 362-5266 Fax: 202 362-6965 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://WWW.MIDDLEEAST.ORG ---------- DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. 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