British Military Discovers 'State Activity' Only Bad When Not Their Own
ABC News dutifully relays that the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency issued a warning about a vessel experiencing 'state activity' and changing course for Iran. This urgent alert follows an unnamed ship's alleged deviation near the vital Strait of Hormuz. The implication, of course, is malign Iranian intent. Yet, mainstream outlets like ABC consistently
erase the historical context of British and American naval power projecting far from their own shores, often to secure oil interests or enforce sanctions. Perhaps the UKMTO's warning should come with a historical addendum: 'Warning: external powers have been engaging in 'state activity' in this region for approximately 200 years, frequently disrupting local sovereignty.' Their alarm about a ship
turning towards Iran rings a bit hollow given the documented history of Western 'state activity'— from the 1953 Anglo-American coup in Iran to the 2003 invasion of Iraq— that has destabilized the very waters they now 'monitor.' It's almost as if 'state activity' is only problematic when it's not *their* state's activity.