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Western War On Truth-Telling Intensifying |
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By
Stephen Lendman |
| Media freedom on air, online and in print is too vital to lose. Without
it, all other fundamental rights are endangered. In America and EU countries, tyranny is fast replacing free societies, heading toward becoming full-blown - WikiLeaks and RT International the latest targets. On October 17, WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange tweeted his “internet link has been intentionally severed by a state party. We have activated the appropriate contingency plans.” Dark forces headquartered in Washington want him silenced, arrested on fabricated rape charges, extradited to America, unjustly prosecuted, convicted and imprisoned longterm or assassinated. Hillary’s State Department asked “(c)an’t we just drone this guy - suggesting he be silenced by targeted killing. He’s releasing important information everyone has a right to know. Hillary and likeminded neocons infesting Washington want it suppressed, so nothing interferes with their imperial project - waging endless wars on humanity. The second Monday shoe to drop targeted RT International, its editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan tweeting “(o)ur (bank) accounts in Britain have been closed. All of them. ‘Decisions not to be discussed.’ Long live freedom of speech.” NatWest Bank is part of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, largely owned by Britain’s government. It’s responsible for targeting RT, suggesting high-level official involvement in what happened. NatWest ignored RT’s request to explain its action, saying only “(w)e have recently undertaken a review of your banking arrangements with us and reached the conclusion that we will no longer provide these facilities.” The Royal Bank of Scotland and its affiliate banks decline to service RT’s account. The decision is final, NatWest saying it’s “not prepared to enter into any discussion in relation to it.” An RT press office statement called the decision “incomprehensible, (made) without warning, (yet) not at odds with” countless other attacks on RT in Britain and other European countries “to ostracize, shout down, or downright impede” its truth-telling mission on vital issues. It won’t work. RT intends “continu(ing) its operations uninterrupted.” Simonyan said its legal department is handling the issue. Perhaps it relates to impending new sanctions, discussed in a same day article. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova blasted NatWest’s move, saying “Britain on its way out of the EU abandoned all its commitments to protect freedom of speech.” Russian lower house State Duma Deputy Chairman Sergey Zheleznyak said Prime Minister Theresa May’s government will be asked to explain this unconscionable act. “We will help RT staff to protect their rights,” he stressed. “We will request that international organizations like the Council of Europe and the UN, as well as international human rights and media professionals communities state their positions on this issue.” Was NatWest’s action ordered by May’s government? Was it a shot across the bow ahead of banning RT in Britain altogether? Will exclusion from America and continental Europe follow? Are independent Western truth-tellers endangered? Will their articles, commentaries and analyses be banned? Are writers like myself endangered species, perhaps subject to arrest, prosecution and imprisonment if we refuse to be silenced? Ongoing events should terrify everyone. The worst of times ahead are likely. If greater war explodes after Hillary’s likely anointment as president, martial law and constitutional suspension may follow, Europe following the same pattern. Does US-dominated NATO’s killing machine doom us all? Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. |
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