Rifaat al-Assad's Eulogy: The Media's Selective Memory on 'Butchers'
📰 THE STORY: France 24, like many Western outlets, announced the death of Rifaat al-Assad, uncle of current Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, painting him as the 'butcher of Hama' for his command during the 1982 crackdown in the city. The article notes his exile and his recent conviction in France for illicitly acquired wealth. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: While Rifaat
al-Assad's role in the 1982 Hama massacre (estimated 10,000-40,000 killed) is undeniable, the very architects of modern global conflict rarely face such unambiguous condemnation. Henry Kissinger, for instance, widely implicated in the 1973 coup in Chile that installed Augusto Pinochet (3,000+ killed, 30,000 tortured), and the carpet bombing of Cambodia (up to 150,000 civilian deaths), passed away
lauded by many Western leaders, never facing prosecution. Double Standard: Western media readily assigns the 'butcher' label to adversaries or figures like Rifaat al-Assad after they fall from power and influence a Western-aligned state. Yet, figures like Ariel Sharon, directly responsible for the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre in Lebanon (up to 3,500 Palestinian and Lebanese civilians killed
under his watch as Defense Minister), was later embraced by Western powers and served as Prime Minister of Israel. The selective application of such epithets reveals a clear geopolitical agenda. Follow the Money: Rifaat al-Assad's illicit wealth in France, leading to his conviction, highlights the ease with which figures, even those with blood on their hands, can launder assets and find refuge in