Greg Shupak discusses America’s horrible “maximum pressure” sanctions campaign against Syria, and the media’s total willingness to cheer it along. Shupak reminds us that despite what policymakers claim, sanctions really only hurt the regular citizens of a country, particularly the poorest and most vulnerable, while leaving the wealthy and powerful more or less untouched. In theory, say the Madeleine Albright types, if the U.S. and its international allies can exert enough pressure on a country’s populace—meaning making life miserable enough for them—they will rise up and depose their governments. In reality, of course, the results of sanctions can be thousands of civilian deaths and cruel economic hardship for the rest of the population, while almost never achieving the desired result of regime change anyway. Unfortunately, the corporate media seem totally willing to carry water for the sanctions regime, helping to deceive the American people about inexcusable tragedies like Syria.

Discussed on the show:

• “Media Conceal—or Celebrate—Depriving Syrians of Food and Medicine” (FAIR)
• “Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act” (United States Department of State)
• “Syria’s Brutal Dictatorship Suffers a Severe Setback” (Washington Post)
• “Sanctions on Syria Can Help Stop Assad’s Atrocities” (Foreign Policy)
• Humanitarian Impact of Syria-Related Unilateral Restrictive Measures” (United Nations)
• “Syria: ICRC adapts to combat COVID-19” (The Red Crescent)
• “U.S. Hits Assad Family With ‘Caesar Act’ Sanctions” (Wall Street Journal)
• National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020
• “The United States Used Depleted Uranium in Syria” (Foreign Policy)

Greg Shupak teaches media studies at the University of Guelph in Canada. He is the author of The Wrong Story: Palestine, Israel, and the Media. Find him on Twitter @GregShupak.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download