Iran's Judge Warns Foes, US Media Forgets Its Own History
Newsweek dutifully reports that Iran's top judge, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, warned of 'no leniency' for those threatening national security. This ominous pronouncement from Iran (a convenient designated enemy, of course) paints a picture of stark oppression. Curiously, American outlets rarely employ such horrified tones when discussing the US government's own historical responses to protest
movements, from COINTELPRO to recent federal deployments against racial justice demonstrations. One might wonder why 'national security' is a legitimate concern only when Washington is doing the defining. The media complex, ever eager to highlight foreign states' harsh rhetoric, seems to have a selective memory regarding how much 'leniency' American authorities extended to anti-war movements
during Vietnam, or even the Occupy Wall Street protesters. Funny how 'crushing dissent' is always worse when it's happening outside the American firewall. Perhaps Newsweek could offer insight into why a government's concern for 'national security' is only problematic when it's not our government. It certainly raises questions about their editorial priorities.