The obsessive anti-American spin

I don’t know what to make of the Sunday Times lately. Their editor experiences an intellectual miscarriage every time he comments on Israel. On the other hand, his willingness to take on the ANC, almost extends the voice of opposition politics in SA to the masses. They certainly are the guardians of some exceptional local journalism. But unfortunately they also allow space for ideologically bothered bigots.

Bearing the flagpole for this category is none other than Mohau Pheko.

Pheko’s latest column, entitled “Fighting in Georgia provides clarity on US’s true intention” is a wretched reminder of the mental gymnastics people will play in order to create an anti-Western spin on world events. There is simply no discernible logic in this opinionated trash.

Pheko’s vulgar hatred follows the usual obsessive anti-Western approach. Take the latest conflict: cast the US (or Israel) in the starring role as the greedy aggressor. Minimise the roles played by the actual protagonists: set the pro-Western party as a puppet controlled by the evil American forces and then ascribe to the US the deaths caused by the more revolutionary party. Finally, set a greedy love for oil as the prime factor motivating American behaviour. And always maintain that every conspiracy theory you suggest is “obvious”.

Pheko borrows:

“Washington’s bloody fingerprints are all over the invasion of South Ossetia. It is obvious that Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili could not have launched a massive military attack unless he had received unambiguous orders from his bosses at the White House.”

Pheko clumsily mumbles on about Russia’s vast oil and gas reserves. She doesn’t fill the gap in her logic with anything linking the US to this meddling; she simply suggests that the existence of the resources alone is the link she needs.

Of course, no anti-Western conspiracy theory is complete without the inclusion of Israel:

“It gets even murkier according to an AP press report saying that former Israeli generals serve as advisors to the Georgian military.”

This war has now made many things obviously and unquestionably true.

“It has been said that at times wars provide clarity. This is unquestionably true in this case. After the fighting in Georgia this past week, everyone knows that Washington is willing to sacrifice thousands of innocent civilians and plunge the entire region into chaos to achieve its geopolitical objectives and greed for oil.”

Jean Francois Revel once described ideology as a mechanism for rejecting facts when they threaten to force a re-examination of cherished dogma. He continued, “and it invents facts when necessary to the survival of the dogma.”

Pheko is a slave to obsessive ideology. She doesn’t need facts...just similar articles.

I try to play the ball and not the woman, but take a look at the extensive amount of “borrowing” from other articles, like this one by Mike Whitney entitled (and again note how obvious the conspiracy theory is purported to be) "of course its the oil again, stupid".

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of some excerpts

Pheko 16/08/08	Mike Whitney 11/08/08
Washington’s bloody fingerprints are all over the invasion of South Ossetia. It is obvious that Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili could not have launched a massive military attack unless he had received unambiguous orders from his bosses at the White House. Military experts report that an operation like this takes months of planning and logistical support especially if it was timed to coincide with the opening of the Olympic games in Beijing. Saakashvili owes his political career to American power brokers and US intelligence agencies.	Washington's bloody fingerprints are all over the invasion of South Ossetia. Georgia President Mikhail Saakashvili would never dream of launching a massive military attack unless he got explicit orders from his bosses at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. After all, Saakashvili owes his entire political career to American power-brokers and US intelligence agencies. If he disobeyed them, he'd be gone in a fortnight. Besides an operation like this takes months of planning and logistical support; especially if it's perfectly timed to coincide with the beginning of the Olympic games. (another petty neocon touch) That means Pentagon planners must have been working hand in hand with Georgian generals for months in advance. Nothing was left to chance. (sic)
Where natural resources are concerned, Russia’s hand is very strong: it reportedly holds 6.6% of the world’s proven oil reserves and 26% of the world’s gas reserves. In addition, it accounts for 12% of world oil and 21% of recent world gas production. In May 2007, Russia was the world’s largest oil and gas producer.	As far as natural resources are concerned Russia’s hand is very strong: It holds 6.6 percent of the worlds proven oil reserves and 26 percent of the world’s gas reserves. In addition, it currently accounts for 12 percent of world oil and 21 of recent world gas production. In May 2007, Russia was the world’s largest oil and gas producer.

The Sunday Times readers deserve better.

Comments

[Gary]

Mohau Pheko is a great supporter of Robert Mugabe and Motsau Pheko.
Anti-Western attitudes always lead to support for tyrants and mass murderers- everytime.

[Religious Fundamentalist 1]

Pretty much says it all:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1046576/RICHARD-LITTLEJOHN-Why-havent-Left-got-Georgia-minds.html

[Bigben]

Mohau Pheko must be one of the worst staff writers that the Sunday times has. But at least she makes stupid comments about everyone and doesnt just go after one group only.

I will never forget one classic write up. She accused Halaal food of being a money making racket that is being deliberately used to undermine other south africans access to food.

This women may be many things, but seemingly logical is not one of them.

[Gary]

"she makes stupid comments about everyone and doesnt just go after one group only"

Unlike ZAPIRO and Jane Duncan who would never do nayhting to offend Islamic sensibilites even in their wildest dreams.

[BLACKLISTED DICTATOR]

Steve, Gary and Bigben,

You can bitch about The Sunday Times but the truth is that Mondli has been to the occupied territories. He is a fully paid up memeber of the SAHRD. When he talked at The Chief Rabbi's book launch at Hyde Park a while ago he was also wonderfully interesting. I should know. I was there. I ate the latkes, smoked salmon and cream cheese.

So the truth is that Mondli knows what The Zionists are up to. If his reporter writes that "former Israeli generals serve as advisors to the Georgian military” who are you to disagree?
Mondli knows these things.
You don't.
It is just one of those things.

[Joel Pollak]

Wow. Great comment, and good catch on the plagiarism. That's a firing offense. I wonder if the Sunday Times will pick it up? You ought to write to the editor... if not of the Times, then a competing paper...

Btw, the invasion of Georgia is a big blow to American foreign policy, so Pheko gets credit for being a silly copycat, not just a clumsy one.

[BLACKLISTED DICTATOR]

Joel,
A firing offense?? You have been way too long in the USofA.
This is South Africa! The Sunday Times aint the New York Times.
Have you read The Sunday Times recently ??