Archive: syria

12th April 2018
By: Brian Whitaker
The use of chemical weapons in Syria threatens to wreck one of the most successful examples of international cooperation. Step-by-step work over the years has resulted in at least 80% of the world's known stockpiles of chemical weapons being destroyed, and efforts are continuing to destroy most of… Read more
19th March 2018
By: Brian Whitaker
A group of university professors who claim to be engaged in "rigorous academic analysis" of propaganda during the Syrian conflict have recruited a 9/11 truther to their team. Mark Crispin Miller, professor of media studies at New York University, rejects what he calls "the official narrative" of… Read more
18th March 2018
By: Brian Whitaker
A group of university professors who promoted conspiracy theories about chemical weapons in Syria are now making similar claims about the recent chemical attack in Britain which critically injured Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter. The "Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and… Read more
15th March 2018
By: Brian Whitaker
There's something uncannily familiar about Russia's propaganda antics over the poisoning of double agent Sergei Skripal in Britain. We've seen them before in Syria where Russia has steadfastly defended the Assad regime against accusations of using chemical weapons. On an August morning in 2013… Read more
6th March 2018
By: Brian Whitaker
The newly-formed "Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media" – which I wrote about last month – has added some further names to its list of members and advisers. The group claims to be promoting "rigorous academic analysis" of propaganda in the Syrian conflict and says it aims to "provide a… Read more
27th February 2018
By: Brian Whitaker
At a recent meeting of the UN security council Syria claimed the US and France now doubt that the Assad regime has ever used chemical weapons. The claim was false but it provides an interesting example of how propaganda can be created. Speaking on February 14, Syria's representative at the UN,… Read more
25th February 2018
By: Brian Whitaker
In times of war it's important but often difficult to distinguish truth from propaganda. So the newly-formed "Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media" – comprising three professors, two lecturers and three postgraduate researchers at British universities – ought to be a welcome development. "… Read more
19th February 2018
By: Brian Whitaker
What on earth is going on at Newsweek? An article posted on its website earlier this month wrongly claimed that James Mattis, the US defense secretary, had said there is no evidence of the Assad regime using the nerve agent sarin against its people. The claim attributed to Mattis was demonstrably… Read more
9th February 2018
By: Brian Whitaker
At a news conference last week US defence secretary James Mattis was asked about reports of recent chemical attacks in Syria using chlorine. "Is this something you're seeing that's been weaponised?" a reporter asked. "It has," Mattis replied, adding that the deadly nerve agent sarin may have been… Read more
25th September 2017
By: Brian Whitaker
American journalist Seymour Hersh – author of several error-strewn articles about chemical attacks in Syria – has accepted a controversial award for "truth-telling" even though the previously-announced presentation ceremony was cancelled. Hersh received the award at a "festive dinner" on Friday… Read more