Unless NPR changed their minds, they no longer are National Public
Radio, they are simply, NPR. Bit by bit, piece by piece, and position
after position NPR has quietly been selling us out. It takes money to
run an operation as large as NPR. We have learned that a dollar has
as much right to express itself as does any other First Class
Citizen...we'd better all check to see if our names are on that list.
Anyway, despite all the protests to the contrary by NPR, they are
sounding more and more like all the other Corporate controlled
networks.
I think NPR now stands for, No Public Responsibility.
Carl Jarvis: listening in vain for the old NPR.
On 8/26/19, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Opinion & Analysis
NPR Mocks Cancer Survivor in Drumbeat of Syria Propaganda
While NPR snorts about Asma Assad "sporting a chic blonde pixie cut", Lilly
Martin points out that she was recently bald while fighting for her life.
by Rick Sterling
August 23rd, 2019
By Rick Sterling
It may be a new low in propaganda. National Public Radio (NPR) used the
news
that Syrian First Lady Asma Assad had overcome breast cancer to mock her
and
continue the information war against Syria. They interviewed a Human
Rights
Watch staffer named Lama Fakih who is an American from Michigan now based
in
Beirut.
Do you believe Ms. Fakih in Beirut or do you believe people who live in
Syria who say we are being lied to? Lilly Martin is such a person.
Although
she is American from Fresno California, Lilly has lived in Syria for nearly
25 years. She is married to a Syrian and has two Syrian sons. Dr. Nabil
Antaki is another such person. He is a medical doctor in Aleppo, fluent in
English and French as well as his native Arabic.
While NPR snorts about Asma Assad "sporting a chic blonde pixie cut", Lilly
Martin points out that she was recently bald while fighting for her life.
While Ms. Fakir in Beirut says that there is "quite a lot of anger" because
Asma Assad has conquered cancer, Dr. Antaki says that Syrians are happy at
the news. Asma Assad is First Lady, mother to three children, and known
for
her compassion. Lilly Martin says that even while she battled cancer Mrs.
Assad continued her charitable work.
Asma Assad NPR cancer
While Ms. Fakih says that the "Assad government has been systematically
targeting medical facilities and medical personnel", Dr. Antaki, who has
remained in Aleppo throughout the conflict, says this is not true. While
there are many western accusations that the Syrian government attacks
hospitals, the evidence is remarkably thin. One of the most highly
publicized cases was regarding "Al Quds Hospital" in east Aleppo. In April
2016 there was a media blitz about this hospital having been destroyed by
the Syrian Army. Following the departure of the "rebels", it was discovered
that "Al Quds Hospital" was an unmarked portion of an apartment building,
that it had NOT been bombed and was the LEAST damaged building in the area.
It was determined that the nearby Nusra (Al Qaeda) headquarters and
ammunition depot was the Syrian army target. Accusations that "Al Quds
Hospital" was bombed were false. It was a media stunt.
Ms. Fakih says that "Syrians have not been able to benefit from medical
care
in Syria since the beginning of the uprising in 2012". Lilly Martin
simply
says "This is factually untrue. The Syrian system of national hospitals,
free services to the public, are in every area of Syria and have run
continuously throughout the war." Dr. Antaki is an example; he is one of
THOUSANDS of doctors working at HUNDREDS of hospitals throughout Syria. But
you would never know it from NPR or Ms. Fakih.
It is true that there have been disruption and damage to many hospitals, as
demonstrated in this jihadi assault on Al Kindi Hospital. These are the
"rebels" supported by Ms. Fakih and Human Rights Watch. They effectively
supported them in east Aleppo until they were expelled from the city. Now
Ms. Fakih and HRW is supporting the "rebels" in their last redoubt in
Idlib.
There are countless videos demonstrating the cruelty and fanaticism of the
"rebels". For example, the aftermath of the above assault on Kindi Hospital
and the execution of the Syrian soldiers who defended the hospital. Those
who are cheerleading for the "rebels" and trying to prevent the Syrian
reclaiming Idlib should look at the execution video to see what they are
supporting.
The West has provided weapons and other support to the "rebels". In
parallel, there has been a campaign to whitewash the "rebels" and demonize
the Syrian government. On top of this, the USA has imposed crushing
sanctions on Syria which make it difficult or impossible to get critical
medicines and replacement parts for western medical equipment. Dr. Antaki
says it took him 1.5 years to obtain a replacement part for a Japanese
medical instrument. I had my own experience with the draconian and
inhumane
sanctions. It took one year and endless hassle to send hearing aid
batteries
to help a deaf child in Syria.
This is one among hundreds of Syria "regime change" propaganda pieces
broadcast on NPR. Behind a facade of authority and objectivity, there is
bias and misinformation along with crocodile tears. As Lilly Martin says,
"While the Syrian government medical system has tried to meet all the needs
of Syrian civilians during 8 years of armed conflict, still there are
numerous cases where the needs were not met and Syrians have suffered, and
that blame must be shouldered by every person who held a gun against Syria
and their foreign supporters who have succeeded in bringing the Syrian
people into the depths of destruction and despair."
As to Asma Assad and her integrity, it is best to listen and judge for
yourself. At about 5:30 of the interview she speaks of the families of 100
thousand Syrian martyrs who died defending their country. "On a personal
level, I am humbled by their determination, by their resilience, and by
their love of Syria. They are my biggest source of strength and hope for
the
future."
The sneers, misinformation, unverified accusations and de facto defense of
Nusra/Al Qaeda by NPR and Lama Fakih stand in stark contrast.
Feature photo | Asma al-Assad visits the children of Basma Association,
which cares for children with cancer. Photo | Syrian Presidency
Rick Sterling is an investigative journalist based in the San Francisco Bay
Area. He can be reached at rsterling1@xxxxxxxxx
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not
necessarily reflect MintPress News editorial policy.