Reddit is a pile of shit. On my account, where I've said nothing offensive, they banned me from /r/news. What the fuck? I was careful with that account. I didn't say anything racist, or sexist. I didn't support Trump. Yet they found a reason to ban me. The insanity! I deleted my account. Fuck 'em.

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[–]fred_red_beans 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Hi Jesus. Sorry it took me a while to respond. I appreciate your comments and response.

I was not aware (or perhaps I dismissed it at the time) of the anti-Assad rhetoric by Ben Norton and Max Blumenthal in 2012-2013.

We do have a response from Ben Norton in the comments of the MoA article:

My views on Syria evolved over a period of years. I readily admit that I was wrong and misguised early in the conflict.

Isn't is possible that Ben, Rania, and Max just changed their position?

What would be their motivation?

Ben continues:

the exact opposite of opportunism is true: challenging propaganda on Syria contributed to both me and Rania losing our jobs. Max, Rania, and I have been constantly smeared as "Assadists." Major news outlets have regularly refused our submissions because of Syria. My career has only been greatly harmed for speaking out on Syria. But I did it because I am infinitely more concerned with being on the side against imperialism, war, and capitalism than I am with getting bylines.

controlled opposition:

I think you're making a stretch declaring Max as controlled opposition. You've shown evidence that Max has changed his stance on Syria and that his dad Sid supported and even pushed Clinton toward US/NATO hegemony and empire. This does not explicitly demonstrate that Max is controlled though. I think it's fair to say that you suspect him of being controlled opposition as he would be aware of the actions of his father. We should all be skeptical of every information source we encounter. Real truth can only be found from within.

In many ways all opposition is controlled as we live in a controlled society. One that uses currency as a blind trust system where individuals give, receive, and use trust (currency) without consideration or consent to the outcomes that may directly conflict with their own moral beliefs and desires, such as giving tax dollars to a government that drone bombs innocent families.

My read on Max is that he is a passionate man who believes in what he is reporting. I don't believe he is lying or trying to be manipulative. Now, I have seen him do reporting critical of the Clintons, but not of his dad; but I could understand someone not speaking against a family member even if their views or actions are opposed to their own.

Of course, the best controlled opposition does not know they are being controlled, which is again why we should be skeptical of all information sources, do our own research, and draw our own conclusions. Even if you do suspect Max as controlled opposition, I think it would be erroneous from the standpoint of seeking truth to disregard his reporting as it is based on facts and goes directly against the propaganda that is the main stream narrative. He may be withholding information, certainly he's not saying anything against his dad or addressing his past stance and views, but he's one of the few journalists who are critical of the US/NATO actions in Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, etc.

I think he provides worthwhile reporting that should not just be dismissed as "controlled opposition".

[–]Jesus 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

My views on Syria evolved over a period of years. I readily admit that I was wrong and misguised early in the conflict.

He's backpedaling because he knows he was losing credibility and showing his true intentions. After the successful Balkanization of Syria, albeit the state departments inability to oust Assad, Norton was probably, nevertheless, a happy man. I do not trust corporate connected snakes that spew two contradicting narratives, especially when the truth matters most. I remember those things, and although I'll forgive them for their misdeeds, I'll remain skeptical.

Isn't is possible that Ben, Rania, and Max just changed their position?

Studying their views on 9/11, no. They are in it for the money and will only go so far. Max frequently called 9/11 skeptics twoofers and lunatics after people started to realize the ZioCons involved in the planning and orchestration of the false flag.

Fine Max is not a controlled opposition, he is a propagandist with a war hawk father. Look at threads on ChrisRulon's twitter for reference. He sources many links on Blumenthal. That alone shows his true intentions.

Adam Green also provides some truthful reporting and yet he spews 10% disinfo and has connections to DevOps and Viastat. There's people like Max, who being journalists, one can obtain much truth from them; nevertheless, Max holds to their Jewish-ethno-nationalism even though they pretend not to. A few blogs have been written about this and I have seen Max do it often, such as attacking Alison Weirs book on how the 'US helped to find Israel,' telling all his viewers to never read it.

All I'm saying is that to make a job in that kind of industry you need to scratch each others backs.