UK newspaper the Guardian was today strongly
criticised by the Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran
(CASMII) for republishing unsubstantiated Bush Administration propaganda on its
May 22 edition.
It is feared that the front page article which
lacked basic journalistic professionalism, will be used to provide justification
for an escalation of the US military surge in Iraq and possible military action
against Iran.
Under the headline, "Iran's Secret Plan for Summer
Offensive to Force US out of Iraq", the author Simon Tisdall quotes almost
without qualification statements made by an anonymous senior US official in
Baghdad. With no other source cited and no evidence asked for, the Guardian
reported:
"Iran is secretly forging ties with al-Qaida
elements and Sunni Arab militias in Iraq in preparation for a summer showdown
with coalition forces..." He continues, "They [Iran] are behind a lot of
high-profile attacks meant to undermine US will and British will, such as the
rocket attacks on Basra palace and the Green Zone. The attacks are directed by
the Revolutionary Guard who are connected right to the top [of the Iranian
government]... We expect that al-Qaida and
Iran will both attempt to increase the propaganda and increase the violence
prior to [US commander Gen. David] Petraeus's report in September, the official
said."
Professor Abbas Edalat of CASMII UK said today:
"The Guardian has reported, without any challenge or any critical analysis,
highly incriminating but unfounded and unsubstantiated statements by an unnamed
US official in such a way that they appear to the reader as facts. These
malicious accusations, which have been systematically heightened recently, are
designed to cover up the failure of the US in establishing security in Iraq four
years after the criminal and illegal invasion of that country, to blame Iranian
interference and thereby justify a US pre-emptive military attack on
Iran."
By propagating the myth of a link between Iran and
al-Qaida and using the existing legislation in the US which authorizes the white
House to use force against countries and organisations supporting al-Qaida,
President Bush can launch an attack on Iran without any further explicit
approval from the Congress.
Edalat added: "The Guardian article can be
used to pave the way for such a scenario in the public opinion and support the
propaganda interests of the Bush administration by echoing White House smears
that war critics are aiding and abetting terrorist governments and
organizations. We expect this kind of shoddy, biased political journalism from
some of the more right wing publications around the world and are deeply
disappointed about the Guardian's oversight in publishing this report in the way
it has appeared."
... Payvand News - 5/26/07 ...
... Payvand News - 5/26/07 ... --
