BBC Discovers Mercenary Atrocities, Forgets British Ones
Eyewitnesses, via the BBC World, recount 'cold-blooded killings' by Russia's Wagner group in Mali. (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crmx7x3yjyko) The network, ever vigilant against foreign misdeeds, highlights the gruesome details. One might almost forget the extensive, well-documented history of Western-backed paramilitary actions and colonial violence across Africa that paved the way for such
instability, conveniently omitted from this particular narrative. The French, for instance, maintained a significant military presence in Mali until 2022, their objectives morphing over years without necessarily bringing lasting peace or accountability for past actions. It appears the moral projector at the BBC has a rather selective focus, capable of exposing the brutality of certain powers,
while glossing over the foundational violence and ongoing interventions of others. One might wonder: where was this urgent, eyewitness-based reporting when France and other Western nations were conducting 'counter-terrorism' operations that often resulted in civilian casualties, or when their economic policies continued to destabilize the region? How many 'cold-blooded killings' perpetrated by
actors aligned with Western interests have received such prominent, indignant coverage?