Propaganda & Syria: Sculpting Western Minds

For years now, Western powers have been eager to enter the Syrian conflict but have been unable to garner the sufficient support from their populations who have become wary of unending war in the Middle East.

The combination of the 16 year war in Afghanistan, the longest ever for the US, and the disastrous 'liberation' of Iraq, that has deteriorated into ongoing sectarian violence, has rightfully left American and Western societies unwilling to support further escalations in the region.

For whatever reason, Western powers persistently pursue justifications for intervention in Syria. Obama's "red line", referring to the use of chemical weapons, quickly comes to mind. Almost as quickly as the "red line" was drawn in the desert sand it was supposedly crossed and therefore would trigger a response from US and its NATO allies.

There have been several gas attacks in Syria but there's never been any conclusive evidence produced proving the Assad regime and pro-government forces were responsible for the attacks.

Instead, it would appear that the gas attacks are false flag operations designed to trigger intervention. Pulitzer prize winning journalist Seymour Hersh detailed the 'red line' / 'rat line' operations linking the Sarin gas to Libyan weapons stockpiles. Weapons were smuggled by the CIA, MI6 and rebel terrorists operating in Benghazi, through Turkey and Qatar to rebel factions such as the Al Nustra Front in Syria.

The horrific chemical attacks are not aimed at the Syrian people, although they are the ones who suffer unimaginable horrors, the Sarin gas attacks are, effectively, a form of psychological warfare directed at western populaces. The aim is to generate/manufacture emotional responses from western audiences producing fear, horror and outrage. Western media plays a pivotal role here as they converge on the event and broadcast the tragedy 24/7.

The goal is simple. Manufacture consent within the masses to support intervention.

Layer 1 - Chemical Weapon False Flags

Event: Gas Attacks on Syrian civilians

Goal: Generate support for western military intervention / implementation of 'No-Fly' Zones (start of bombing campaigns)
Psychological targets: Western audiences
Media aims: To ignite western outrage, paint pro-gov Syrian forces as baby killers (Trump 'beautiful babies')
Media Coverage: Report event as fact, conclude Assad government is source ASAP
Media Framing: Simplify narrative to Good vs Evil
Media Omissions: US & allied forces use of White Phosphorous chemical weapon in region / Terror campaign against Iraqi and Syrian people
Media Re-frame: The justification and effectiveness of using depleted uranium
2017 Gas Attack
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/04/world/middleeast/syria-gas-attack.html
2013 Gas Attack August 21st – Ghouta?(60 minutes / scott pelley / crime against humanity)
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/syria-sarin-gas-attack-in-2013-60-minutes/

Layer 2 – White Helmets (Syrian Civil Defense) Propaganda

Event: Civilian Rescues

Goal: Generate support for western military intervention / implementation of 'No-Fly' Zones (start of bombing campaigns)
Psychological targets: Western audiences
Media aims: To instill a sense solidarity and sympathy for the brave civilians. Paint White Helmets as heroes and saviors
Media Framing: Simplify narrative to Good vs Evil
Positive Media coverage: Oscar for Best Short Doc 2016 / Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
Media Omissions: White Helmets (SCD) agents = Al Nustra = Al Queda / Western backed and funded

Event: The 'Syrian Boy' - Omran

Goal: Generate support for western military intervention / implementation of 'No-Fly' Zones (start of bombing campaigns)
Psychological targets: Western audiences
Media aims: To ignite western outrage, paint pro-gov Syrian forces as baby killers
Media Framing: Simplify narrative to Good vs Evil
Positive Media Coverage: Paint White Helmets as heroes and humanitarians
Media Omissions: Omran is alive / Omran's family is pro-government and pro-Assad
Media Omissions: Palestinian boy beheaded by White Helmets / Al Nustra

Layer 3 - Clandestine Support for Terror / Overarching Layer

Event: Terrorism

Goal: Generate support for western military intervention / implementation of 'No-Fly' Zones (start of bombing campaigns)
Psychological targets: Syrian civilians / Western audiences
Media aims: Paint terrorists as Freedom fighters
Media Framing: Simplify narrative to Good vs Evil
Media Omissions: Source of weapons/ funding / material support / logistics - western powers and regional allies
Media Omissions: Large numbers of 'rebels' are not Syrian

Financing Terrorism

Funding Terror

US 100 billion dollar arms deal with Saudi Arabia
US 14 billion dollar arms deal with Qatar
US Bahrain ($50 million Humvees)
Wikileaks – Saudi Arabia and Qatar are funding terrorism

Saudi Arabia – Awarded anti terror prize by CIA
Saudi Arabia – Invades Bahrain 2012, Invades Yemen 2015

Funding White Helmets (SCD) - Al Queda

USAID / Chemonix (Int. Aid Agency) $23 million
UK $29 million
Dutch $4.5 million

USAID relies on Chemonics to deliver resources to the White Helmets. The company’s contract with the group is part of the $339.6 million committed by USAID for “supporting activities that pursue a peaceful transition to a democratic and stable Syria.” This whopping sum of money supplements the reported $1 billion the CIA spent in the past year supplying and training the rebel forces attempting to overthrow the Syrian government, fueling a grinding civil war that necessitates the presence of thousands of first responders.

Source: Alternet
Source: Counterpunch

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