Imperialism’s phoney feminism

Laurie Penny has written an interesting and thought-provoking piece on the how the West are arguing women’s rights as a justification for military intervention. Laurie gives examples of Afghanistan and the latest warmongering and sabre rattling against Iran. I agree with Laurie’s arguments. My own opinion is that imperialism and occupation do not liberate women. Over at Carl’s blog, he puts forward a different political narrative one which I fundamentally disagree with. To even start thinking of supporting the imperialists you have to accept what they say as good coin: that they will protect and advance womens’ rights. Well guess what, they won’t. They shafted women in Afghanistan throughout the 80′s and 90′s. They have destroyed the lives and the rights of women in Iraq since the invasion of 2003. They support the Saudi regime the world’s biggest prison for the female population the world has seen. As Laurie points out this is just a cover for waging a vicious colonial war.

Even if you accepted that you would have to consider whether the liberation can be secured by the use of huge amounts of violence to impose imperial dominance. A fortunate by-product of vast oppression. Imagine if someone suggested overthrowing class oppression by the use of extreme violence: the establishment would not have no problem in roundly denouncing the idea from the start. It would not work.

Panorama’s “Death on the Med” …neither investigative nor impartial

I had the misfortune to watch Panorama the other evening regarding the Mavi Marmara (“Death on the Med”….interesting title as it certainly evoke the investigative qualities of “Death on the Rock”) and the death of activists on that boat. I say misfortune because it was utterly biased and came across as propaganda for the Israeli State. There was no political context about the Gaza blockade, instead activists on the flotilla were described as “terrorists” this wasn’t questioned by Jane Corbin. The whole programme was terrible, wasn’t investigative in the least just lazy right-wing journalism.

I mean, how are people expected to respond when confronted with an armed hostile force in international waters? What were people on the Mavi Marmara expected to do?  Rather than concentrating on the behaviour of the activists on the boat what about the behaviour of the Israeli State who committed piracy in international waters, run roughshod over international law and indulged in nothing less than murder and terrorism. That are more like execution style killings at that close range (especially as many were head shots…). But none of this was investigated as the BBC were far more interested in giving the Israeli State an easy time.

But then what do you expect from the BBC who refused to transmit the DEC appeal on Gaza, and initial reports on the attack on the Mavi Marmara the BBC interviewed former Israeli commandos who spouted the line along with a naval officer who defended storming the flotilla. Nothing whatsoever about the mission of the flotilla, or the war crimes and acts of terrorism committed against the Palestinians in Gaza. Instead Mark Thompson (Director-General) capitulated time and time again to the pro-Zionist lobby

Liam has written a post along with the questions PSC  are asking people to include when complaining to the BBC about the programme . And I am certainly in the process of writing my complaint.

Also Pulse has posted an article by Ken O’Keefe who was interviewed by the Panorama programme. I recommend that you read it.

Ken O’Keefe writes: The BBC mentions that we were in international waters at the very end of the story, as if this were an insignificant fact. The fact that Israel stole all the footage that it could, footage that undoubtedly shows them firing 4 bullets to the head of the 19-year-old American passenger, Furkan Dogan. No problem. Executing people at close range, no worries. The fact that the blockade itself is illegal, nah, don’t mention that. 800,000 plus children in Gaza, malnourished, anemic, traumatised… not important.

I would need to review this program many times over to identify every poisoned tactic that the BBC employed in order to do what they do so well, justify murder and war.

Nevertheless BBC’s perversion of the truth will elevate the cause of justice immensely, delegitimizing itself in such grand fashion was indeed a great big gift.

Hats off to ya BBC!