Similarly, key incidents in the Ukraine crisis -- such as responsibility for the lethal sniper fire on Feb. 20, 2014, and for the shoot-down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 on July 17, 2014 -- were pinned on U.S. propaganda targets (Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and Russian President Vladimir Putin, respectively) and U.S. officialdom made no effort to clarify the record even as evidence emerged that suggested a contrary conclusion. [A worthwhile documentary on the sniper mystery is "Maidan Massacre."]
Instead of refining or correcting the record, President Obama has let the hasty early judgments stand -- all the better to smear the adversaries and manipulate the public.
For instance, regarding the MH-17 crash, the office of the Director of National Intelligence told me recently that the U.S. intelligence assessment of that shoot-down, killing 298 people, had not been refined since July 22, 2014, five days after the incident. The statement was not credible. Indeed, I have been told that U.S. analysts have vastly expanded their knowledge of the case and -- at least some analysts -- have broken with the initial conclusions.
But the early rush to judgment had proved useful in demonizing Putin so any contradictions of the storyline were seen as negating a potent propaganda weapon and also would be embarrassing to Secretary of State John Kerry and other senior officials who went off half-cocked. [See Consortiumnews.com's "US Intel Stands Pat on MH-17 Shoot-down."]
Yet, in a healthy democracy, leaders would immediately update the public with relevant information and dispel any misunderstandings in recognition and respect for the people's fundamental right to know, especially on issues of war or peace.
Instead, Obama has joined in keeping the new assessments of all these key moments hidden from the American people. That secrecy suggests that Obama holds the public in contempt and thus he shouldn't be surprised when that contempt is returned to him.
What America needs now more than ever is an old-fashioned presidential speech from the Oval Office with Obama looking directly into the camera and leveling with the nation, much like President Dwight Eisenhower did in his farewell address in 1961 with his famous warning about the influence of the Military-Industrial Complex.
If Obama were to explain the opportunities and the challenges facing the country -- in stark and truthful terms -- there might still be a chance to avert the looming catastrophes ahead.
[For more on the topic of propaganda and manipulation, see Consortiumnews.com's "The Victory of 'Perception Management.'"](Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
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