By Hedelberto López Blanch
The mythomaniac Marco Rubio, in his role as head of the State Department, is launching a strong media offensive to try to distort the treacherous kidnapping of Venezuelan constitutional president Nicolás Maduro Moros and make the public believe that what happened was the capture or apprehension of a “drug trafficker.”
To achieve his aims, he is threatening the mainstream media, demanding that under no circumstances, when writing or speaking about the illegal military operation that led to President Maduro’s kidnapping, should that word be used, under penalty of punishment.
Seeking broader support for this disinformation campaign, he demanded the collaboration of right-wing Cuban-American representatives Carlos Giménez, Mario Díaz-Balart, and María Elvira Salazar, who wield influence in Miami’s media, all under the control of the U.S. regime.
In this brazen campaign, the BBC’s digital pages, radio broadcasts, and television programs took the first step by prohibiting its correspondents, journalists, and IT staff from ever using the word “kidnapping” when referring to Maduro.
The BBC, which for years has been a disinformation tool against various sovereign, independent, and democratic governments in the region, has once again bowed to Washington’s dictates and issued an “internal directive” advising its journalists against using the word “kidnapped” when referring to the Venezuelan president.
Owen Jones, a contributor to the Scottish newspaper The National, reported on his Twitter account that he received new editorial guidelines from a BBC staff member, which stated:
“As discussed at the Nine (the daily 9 a.m. editorial meeting), to ensure clarity and consistency in our reporting, please follow these guidelines when describing recent events in Venezuela:
‘CAPTURED’: Please attribute this to the US account’s description of the operation. Example: ‘The US said Maduro was captured during the operation.’
‘APPREHENED’: Acceptable for use in our own reporting where appropriate. AVOID USING ‘KIDNAPPED.’”
Owen Jones shared the new BBC editorial guidelines on his Twitter account.
The BBC’s submission is unfortunate, and as expected, other US-controlled or allied disinformation outlets have faithfully followed the guidelines.
Furthermore, Marco Rubio has demanded an increase in aggressive campaigns against Cuba, Nicaragua, Colombia and Mexico, while simultaneously calling for a decrease in reporting on the bombings carried out against Venezuela and a denial that Maduro was kidnapped.
This is a communications war against all of Latin America launched by the convicted President Donald Trump in his eagerness to impose the nefarious Monroe Doctrine of “America for the Americans,” but it could backfire and bring down the decadent but dangerous Yankee empire.
(*) Hedelberto López Blanch is a renowned Cuban journalist. He writes for the newspaper Juventud Rebelde and the weekly Opciones. He is the author of “Cuban Emigration to the United States,” “Secret Stories of Cuban Doctors in Africa,” and “Miami, Dirty Money,” among others.
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE AUTHOR: Hedelberto López Blanch
[ SOURCE: RESUMEN LATINOAMERICANO Y DEL TERCER MUNDO CUBA / EN RESUMEN ]
