Falsified New York Times Middle East Reports

Falsified New York Times Middle East Reports - by Stephen Lendman

They appear daily like weeds on all topics. As a result, Times reports aren't fit to read, let alone print. August 18 was no exception, publishing lies about Libyan insurgent victories. 

On August 18, headlining, "Libyan Rebels Gain Control of Oil Refinery as Qaddafi Forces Flee," Kareem Fahim's article was pure Pentagon propaganda, duplicitously lying to readers. 

Yet he said "(r)ebel fighters claimed complete control of a sprawling (Zawiyah) oil refinery, seizing one of (Gaddafi's) most important assets after just three days of fighting and delivering the latest in a string of small victories that have suddenly put the rebels at Tripoli's door."

Reporting from Tripoli, independent Middle East/Central Asian analyst, Mahdi Nazemroaya refuted him, telling Progressive Radio News Hour listeners that:

-- Gaddafi forces are winning;

-- rebels are in disarray;

-- the so-called National Transitional Council (NTC) is falling apart;

-- Misrata was liberated from rebels;

-- Tripoli is peaceful and calm, despite daily NATO bombing, willfully targeting civilians and nonmilitary  sites;

-- scattered fighting continues along routes to Tunisia and elsewhere;

-- arteries between the two countries remain open;

-- Intense Western propaganda wants to intimidate Gaddafi supporters to give up hope of prevailing;

-- it's had the opposite effect, in fact, galvanizing Libyans overwhelmingly behind Gaddafi, making him by far the most popular African/Middle East leader; and

-- his forces control Gheryan, Sorman, Sabratha, and Zawiyah, its oil refinery and others; reports saying otherwise are lies; rebels are south of the city, not in it.

In an August 18 morning email, he added:

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