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| 1997, 2011, Grozny |
Eric Draitser is an independent geopolitical analyst based in New York City ~founder StopImperialism.com
How Boston has changed the language
In the last 48 hours, an astounding change has occurred in the
lexicon of the mainstream media in the United States, as Chechen
Islamists are no longer being referred to as “rebels” and “freedom fighters”. In the wake
of the news that Chechens were involved in the Boston bombing (an
assertion that has not actually been proven despite the media
having already convicted the Tsarnaev brothers), the language
immediately shifted. The Associated Press, Reuters, and
countless other media and news outlets have published articles
discussing the “jihadist
threat” from places like Chechnya where “suicide attacks, blood feuds, and hostage
crises” are routine.
Though this description of the terrorist element in Chechnya is quite correct, it seems to be directly in conflict with the language used to describe that same group a matter of weeks ago. In late January 2013, the NY Times carried a story from Reuters entitled “Rebels Killed in Chechnya” in which terrorist leaders Khuseyn and Muslim Gakayev were referred to as“two of the most wanted Islamist rebels.” The use of the word“rebels” is a clever propaganda ploy used to legitimize their cause in the minds of readers, portraying a terrorist war as simply a resistance struggle.
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| A Chechen fighter carrying a machine gun heads for downtown Grosny 17 January, 1995 |
The new 'Chechen terror'
The ACPC has taken the lead in championing the cause of separatism and terrorism directed toward Russia, both tacitly and overtly. After having championed the cause of former Chechen Foreign Minister Ilyas Akhmadov in his quest for asylum in the United States – subsequently granted along with a generous taxpayer-funded stipend – ACPC member and notorious Russia-hater Zbigniew Brzezinski went so far as to write the foreword to Akhmadov’s book The Chechen Struggle. The alliance between political figures such as Akhmadov and terrorist leaders in the region demonstrates conclusively the partnership between the various terror networks and the imperialist ruling class in the West.
As more information comes out regarding the alleged bombers and their ideological leanings, there will undoubtedly be a propaganda assault to shape this narrative in the interests of the United States and the West. Talking heads will be on television twenty four hours a day explaining to Americans why Chechnya is such a hotbed of terrorism, asking how something like this could happen, etc. The truth is however, Washington has perpetuated the conflict through its propaganda machine that will now be employed to once again turn friend to enemy. Perhaps, instead of being the world’s greatest purveyor of terror, using it as a weapon to achieve geostrategic objectives, the United States should actually work with peaceful nations such as Russia to combat terrorism worldwide.
The
statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those
of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.
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