Expose Truths Expose Yourselves

Be Not Afraid

Or, rather be afraid. Why? Because prominent establishment thinkers tell us to. For instance, Mitt Romney a man who were it not for the parasitic class of the 47% in the U.S. would have won the Presidential election in 2012. He set the record straight for any social justice warriors who express doubts that the U.S. only kills the most deserving:

  
If we 47% cannot be entrusted to exercise our votes wisely enough to elect him, then hopefully we possess enough brainpower to comprehend his moral clarity here.

For the rest of us obstinate clogs who feel unconvinced by this coiffed venture capitalist, we will see much information worthy of questioning the basis of Romney's moral judgement.

"Putin kills journalists." Mainstream media's constant stating of conjectures so frequently that it monopolizes enough space in public discourse, rendering them into assumed facts. This method of manufacturing enemies works in a society with limited attention spans who focuses more energy on tracking celebrities. You can view more information on 36 journalists murdered in Russia during 1992-2015. Yet we should focus our attention on the plight of journalists working in the undeclared yet very real theater where both World War III and neo-Ottomanism have flared up. Romney hasn't, but neither have the U.S. elites.

Romney and other elites in America show little concern about journalists working in this Syrian war theater ignited by ISIS. Suspicious deaths of journalists reporting in the region suggest the strong possibility they are being silenced to prevent their reporting on Turkey's President Recep Erdogan:

PressTV reporter Serena Shim, a U.S. citizen, had been investigating the flow of anti-Assad militants and weapons from Turkey’s border region into northwestern Syria amidst heavy fighting near the town of Kobanî. During this time, she attracted the attention of Turkish Intelligence (MiT — Millî İstihbarat Teşkilatı). Though locals knew her and the integrity of her reporting, MiT proceeded to question them and requested her whereabouts — under the unfounded guise Shim had been acting as a spy.

In reality, Shim had “uncovered evidence of secret Western assistance to the Islamic State” — a particularly touchy subject for Erdoğan, as seen in the arrests of Dünbar and Gül. Her video evidence of this assistance — reportedly “proof of Islamic State terrorists using United Nations World Food Program vehicles for a convoy” into Syria, likely akin to Dünbar and Gül’s discovery — has never been recovered. Her passport and wedding ring, seized by Turkish authorities sometime after her death, have never been returned to her family.

Serena Shim and her cousin, cameraperson Judy Irish, unlike the arguably more fortunate Dünbar and Gül, were ostensibly “hit by a truck after turning into the opposite lane on a highway access road,” as reported in wtfrly.com. Shim was killed, though discrepancies are plentiful in official reports, including whether she died at the scene or an hour later from heart failure in the hospital. Shim and Irish were inexplicably taken to hospitals over 25 miles apart from each other by Turkish military officials, not police, who ‘investigated’ the wreck. After outrage from Shim’s family, Turkish authorities — who first claimed they were unable to locate the vehicle responsible for hitting Shim and Irish — eventually produced photos of the accident, which they then claimed had been caused by a cement truck driver. [1]

This event that occurred on October 19, 2014 adheres to an established pattern of the Turkish government silencing journalists during the last 23 years. Subsequently, three additional Turkish journalists were arrested. The U.S. State Department spokesman Mark C. Toner said on November 27, 2015 in regard to the Turkey government arresting well respected journalists Can Dundar and Erdum Gul:

We are troubled by the pre-trial arrest yesterday of senior editors of the respected Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet.The investigation, criminal charges, and arrest raise serious concerns about the Turkish government’s commitment to the fundamental principle of media freedom. These events are only the latest in a series of judicial and law enforcement actions taken under questionable circumstances against Turkish media outlets critical of the government. We call on Turkish authorities to ensure that all individuals and organizations – including but not limited to the media – are free to voice a full range of opinions and criticism, in accordance with Turkey’s constitutional guarantees of media freedom and freedom of expression. This will ultimately strengthen Turkey’s democracy. [2]

Both journalists alluded to above were charged with spying. This is justified using the predictable self-serving claim: the subject story was based on illegally obtained state secrets. In the world today apparently the state reserves the right to conceal anything unconditionally whereas it denies any real responsibility to respect our privacy. The State Department's comments include platitudes, but express neither concern nor curiosity about the substance of journalists Can Dundar's and Erdum Gul's claims that Erdogan supports ISIS. Plus, the U.S. State Department's commenting on journalism in general terms and sweeping platitudes creates glossy rhetoric ignoring the implications of what these specific journalists' have revealed.

Next, Erdogan shows how much he heeds the platitudes expressed by the U.S. State Department Spokesperson promising that Can Dundar, editor-in-Chief of Cumhuriyet and Erdum Gul, the publication's Ankara's bureau chief, will pay a "heavy price". Erdogan personally demands, for example, that Dundar serve multiple life sentences.

Those journalists' being in prison for criticizing Erdogan affects Obama less than Boris Nemstov's death whose name cannot be invoked by politicians and the media without including the label "Putin opponent." Yes Nemstov is dead but their story sheds light on whose actions enable the rise and sustenance of ISIS who are destablizing a nation that has suffered over 250,00 deaths. Obama says in reactions to mass gun shootings: "prayers are not enough." His sense of urgency expressed though on gun violence hasn't shifted toward Erdogan's dangerous neo-Ottomanism.

A message was posted on U.S. President Obama's website expressing condolences for the murdered Boris Nemstov and challenging Putin to conduct an investigation to find those responsible:

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

February 27, 2015

Statement by the President on the Murder of Boris Nemtsov

The United States condemns the brutal murder of Boris Nemtsov, and we call upon the Russian government to conduct a prompt, impartial, and transparent investigation into the circumstances of his murder and ensure that those responsible for this vicious killing are brought to justice.  Nemtsov was a tireless advocate for his country, seeking for his fellow Russian citizens the rights to which all people are entitled. I admired Nemtsov’s courageous dedication to the struggle against corruption in Russia and appreciated his willingness to share his candid views with me when we met in Moscow in 2009.  We offer our sincere condolences to Boris Efimovich’s family, and to the Russian people, who have lost one of the most dedicated and eloquent defenders of their rights. [3]

Apparently, Nemstov's legacy deserved more admiration than Turkish journalists. He at least refers to Nemstov by name. Search President Obama's expressing similar condolences for the death of Serena Sharim. So who exactly is silencing journalists and who is supporting terrorists? The heads of state will not answer those questions, but brave journalists are making such noble efforts.

[1] Bernish, Claire. "1 Journalist Dead, 3 More Arrested After Exposing Turkey Arming Syrian Extremists Nov 28, 2015. AntiMedia. http://theantimedia.org/1-journalist-dead-3-more-arrested-after-exposing-turkey-arming-syrian-extremists/

[2] Toner, Mark. Press Statement. Deputy Department Spokesperson. Washington D.C. Nov 27, 2015. "Media Freedom in Turkey." U.S. Department of State. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/11/250128.htm

[3] The White House Office of the Press Secretary. "Statement by the President on the Murder of Boris Nemstov. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/02/27/statement-president-murder-boris-nemtsov