大象传媒

The 大象传媒 has slavishly followed the line of its government paymasters.

Why would the Alawites (a minority) wish to start a sectarian war?

This has all the hallmarks of an Iraq-style deception with our state broadcaster playing its part.

We spent the weekend watching non-stop parades and on the news we're treated to journalists regurgitating government propaganda about regimes they want to overthrow.

In all the experience isn't dissimilar to watching TV in North Korea.

Great to read something that bears a touch of truth to the problems in Syria .. may i ask the question? why havent i seen similar reports on the televised 大象传媒 news? as i to smell a rat at the whole thing in Syria and can clearly see that it looks like NATO want to go in , no matter what ... Funny that Libya isnt mentioned anymore . Maybe its because its a bloody mess (worse than ever)

At last! I have been despairing over how utterly biased the 大象传媒 has been over Syria. I wonder whether Jon Williams will be able to make any difference to the mostly appalling coverage of Syria by the 大象传媒. Once upon a time Russians listened to the 大象传媒 to get the truth, now us Westerners listen to Russia Today to get the truth. How the times have changed!

I was about to say the same thing as you bombus ... i to have recently tuned into RT news to get the truth , the 大象传媒 use to be such a non bias , well documented journalism , i Fear it may have now become a government propaganda machine to try and brainwash the people into how War seems to be the new word for Peace!

In a world where hacking a murdered child's cell phone passes for journalism of the highest order, I apply healthy scepticism to everything labeled as "news" or "official reports". Every report has a motive, be it power or profit. Neither are fully served by the simple truth, if it even exists.

Here Here @ JM72 ... its a disgrace how many innocent women and children are blown to pieces in Drone attacks! why is no one held accountable for all these massacres? While Clinton and Hague are calling for blood of the Syrian regime ,with not as much as even an investigation?? something stinks! and i mean from our side

I'm really encouraged to read this article. For weeks I've waited for concrete evidence that these many heinous crimes were ordered by Assad or his military and thank goodness we finally have a reporter stating that no one really knows who is killing who. I'm waiting to judge Assad and the minute you give me evidence of these alleged crimes, I will do so - but not before.

As far as I know journalists are free to work in the UK. Syria allows no such freedom to journalists other than its own.If free reporting was allowed the world would hopefully learn the truth.Currently all we have is rumour and inuendo,hardly the fault of the 大象传媒 or UK!

"In Houla, and now in Qubair (...). But tragic death toll aside, the facts are few: it's not clear who ordered the killings - or why." What is clear though is that the UN Monitors tried to enter Qubair and the Syrian ARMY did not let them in; they were also SHOT AT with small arms. Perhaps we do not have a full reporting in Syria, but we have a mind that can think?

I wonder why we would all agree that politicians lie through their teeth , yet we take our governments word (and that of clintons) when they say "Its Assad doing the killing , believe us!" we just nod our heads without questions? its not that long ago we were sold the whole WMD programme in Iraq! by none other than "Our Politicians

To "citizenry" would you let social workers into your house if you thought they were going to tell lies about you , so you could lose your children? Im just saying the whole thing stinks to high heaven and we wont get the TRUTH .Personally i think the UN have made their minds up a long time ago , its only a stepping stone to Iran then ww3 .. our leaders love WAR

Thank you Jon Williams for the first objective report on the current situation in Syria from a 大象传媒 journalist. I've never known the 大象传媒 to lose so much credibility in such a short time-frame.

The unsubstantiated and vitriolic language used by the White House and our Mr Hague is extremely worrying. They are not fools, there is a very dark agenda.

Seems to me that NATO wants to drop some of their new toys (in our name and with NO regard for innocent lives) on Syria and the 大象传媒 are doing as they are told!! Im not for Assad nor against!! i just DONT believe Democracy comes by a gathering of nations blowing the hell out of a country , but rather from within its own country . is NATO the new 3rd Reich?

I happen to have friends in Syria;they tell me about constant fear for their lives by the killings of the regime and the shabiha which occur every day;they kill savagely and target sunnis;and they terrorise;a doctor friend says that now in the hospitals they face the shabiha's guns to treat the wounds of their co-criminals;this is a savage regime; it needs to go down and not turn into civil war.

Dear soxaboo; I understand your point; thanks for the comment. But what I say above happens to reflect the syllogism that matches my experience about the horrors I hear from friends that happen in that country. Please anyone having time and willing, see the summary analysis of Jim Muir from Beirut: /news/world-middle-east-18352281, it is accurate.

Jon Williams' article is the first honest piece of work published by the 大象传媒 so far on this sad state of affairs. All else has been laughably one-sided with who knows what motive behind it. Is it just the usual noughties 大象传媒 trying to be politically correct (and getting it hopelessly wrong - again) or something darker? Peter Barry's comment (above) hit the nail on the head.

And please I am not denying that there are layers of power struggles at a both regional and international level over Syria; what I am saying is that with all and despite those, we STILL have to face a fact from a humanity point of view; that the Syrian people are being slaughtered by a savage regime and are now at the brink of slipping into a dreadful civil war.

citizenry said: "I happen to have friends in Syria ..................this is a savage regime; it needs to go down and not turn into civil war."

Maybe you could you describe the scenario your friends in Syria would like to see if President Bashar al-Assad stood down.

And explain how the different factions within Syria can live together in peace following recent events?

citizenry do take the time to read Jon Williams' article more carefully - "In Houla, and now in Qubair, the finger has been pointed at the shabiha, pro-government militia. But tragic death toll aside, the facts are few: it's not clear who ordered the killings - or why." Proper reporting on this conflict demands objective non-partisan journalism, not anecdotes from your friends or anyone else's.

The picture of what is "really" happening in Syria is painted by Western media. I suppose that aim was to create situation that is getting out of control. It is regrettable that Western public can accept such illogical and biased reporting on Syria - on such a massive scale.

Dear Peter;people in Syria die every day for 1,5 years now; and for forming a view on the situation there are scores of sources and evidence about what has been happening.The regime is putting up its own version by exploiting that we cant be there;in fact that is why we cant be there.I recommended a journalist analysis too; in fact of the 大象传媒 itself.And i take full responsibilty for my comments.

Applaud articulating what 'should' happen still, but after Houla or Wisconsin internationally, or Prescott to Guardian to 大象传媒 to Today to Newsnight 'outrage' manufacturing daily, hard to accord much credibility to claims from the 大象传媒 either, much less those it asks its audience to trust have been vetted in a commitment to 'interpreting events' that has become simply too 'unique'.

ps: reducing the character length to its current level is pathetic, truly. As is having a preview with no count to guide, and a system that defaults by erasing all to edit. The 大象传媒 plays silly games too often for its own good.

Regarding Psyops, Sybil Edmonds reported back in Nov 2011 that Col. Riad al-Assad has been working with U.S. & NATO, right inside the US Incirlik Base in Turkey, participating (among other things) in US psychological and information warfare inside Syria with the Information Warfare Division inside Incirlik base. Why has the 大象传媒 NOT checked this out?

I do sympathise with the people of Syria , but when i look at how this is just Libya all over again i wonder what the real agenda is , where is this all going? This is a report (By the 大象传媒) as the Libyan conflict was coming to a close /news/world-africa-15528984 .. the cost of life is frightening, and i believe Libya is STILL in turmoil

"In such circumstances, it's more important than ever that we report what we don't know, not merely what we do." Facts are few: it's not clear who ordered the killings - or why. These statements are essentially all you have to report: There is nothing that can be reported with certainty, and to report without certainty is not news; it is speculation & prejudice.

The problem is that the 大象传媒 is reporting what Hillary Clinton or David Cameron says, and most of the public will assume that to be the truth. The 大象传媒 might have no evidence as to who is behind these massacres, but neither do Clinton et al (well one might suspect they know exactly who is behind it - we've our freedom loving Saudi friends and our special forces doing their things on the ground)

Very well said U12171424 .. Ive heard unconfirmed reports that there were special forces snipping and killing innocent people , to get the whole uprise started . Why will the 大象传媒 not report these UNCONFIRMED stories as well? As Hitler said "Tell the people a lie for long enough and it becomes truth to them"

Key question: 鈥淲ho benefits?鈥�
It was never likely going to benefit Assad Govt - staging something like this right before Kofi Annan's visit. Since then, the 大象传媒 has admitted 鈥淗oula massacre鈥� photo(s) & trying to suppress its own interviews indicating that anti-government forces were responsible for most of the deaths in Houla, & victims were government supporters.

Quick & dirty to figure out truth is to listen to Paul Wolfwowitz & other neocons: Whatever they say, you can bet, it's stretched far beyond anything resembling truth & whoever they support is almost certainly the GREATER EVIL. When Wolfwowitz appeared in 大象传媒 interview calling for INVASION OF SYRIA: it鈥檚 a sure sign that all decent people should be opposing that prospect.

Syria is complex, the underlying dynamic was a process of Turkey seeking to envelop soft control over parts of its former empire, and that policy has been upgraded to an ambition of hard control. Turkey's influence in the Arab world has never been as important since the Ottoman era. Survival for the Alawites and Christians may mean a rump Lebanon sized enclave.

Congratulaions to Jon williams on a balanced piece of reporting. Compare with Hilary Clinton's totally unbalanced accusations. I hope the UK keeps its distance on this. the worst thing for all syrians would be a chaotic breakdown of government. it looks as if we will have to rely on Russia and China to sort out a practical alternative to civil war.

Wow! What a revelation! The real story is more complicated that it seems on the telly! This guy is "world news editor" and he's only just worked that out!

The USA has spent many millions since 2006 training Arab bloggers and funding news outlets, including six million to a UK-based principal source for the 大象传媒. This is called "democracy promtion" and fits their Unconventional Warfare Manual.

The Foreign Office gave the 大象传媒 1.6 million additional for Arabic service and "democracy promotion".

Those seeking facts concerning Syria would do well to follow the postings of the Facebook group "The Syrian Revolution- the untold story".

"The Editiors" limiting comments to two sentences prevents documentation and rebuttal of their claims.

The very reputable newspaper FAZ has today published its investigation of Houla ***

For details, see the Group mentioned above. Essentially, Sunni did it and sought to blame the government.

'36. At 15:51 9th Jun 2012, madmaxtheprof9 -
"The Editors" limiting comments to two sentences prevents documentation and rebuttal of their claims.'
The aim seems to be to get it all on twitter eventually, which for accuracy of sourcing and subsequent re-dissemination has worked soooo well for the 大象传媒 (and trust) so far.