Western Media Discovers 'Security Forces' in Countries They Don’t Control
News outlets like The Independent report on Kenyan security forces firing on crowds, killing three during a memorial for an opposition leader. This is rightly condemned as state violence. Yet, the same media often struggles to apply such clear language to U.S.-backed regimes or allies, where civilian deaths become 'unfortunate incidents' or 'clashes' in the 'fog of war.' One might wonder if the
definition of 'security forces' changes based on Washington's foreign policy objectives. The hypocrisy isn't subtle; it's a deliberate framing. When it's not a direct Western interest, sudden civilian casualties are 'killings' and 'violence.' When it involves allies—especially those receiving billions in U.S. military aid—the narrative pivots to 'self-defense' or 'surgical strikes,' even when
mourning crowds are the target. This selective outrage functions as propaganda, conditioning audiences to accept state violence in some contexts while condemning it in others, always aligning with imperial agendas.