Western media, a tool of the political, military and commercial establishment, played a role in the deaths of millions in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Libya, writes John Menadue. In turn, the Australian media are a tool of this “American Imperium”. It is the first in White man’s media, a series to appear in Menadue’s Beads and Irritations.

The Australian media don’t just have a problem with being dominated by the old American and British media. We have a particular problem. His name is Rupert Murdoch, an American citizen who owns two-thirds of Australia’s metropolitan dailies, a monopoly pay-TV license to Foxtel, and more.

News Corp was a key supporter of the total disaster of the Iraq War. Of the 173 Murdoch diaries around the world, only one, the Hobart Mercury, opposed this war, a war sometimes described as “Murdoch’s war.”

Murdoch told us in 2003, “I think (George W) Bush acted very morally, very right. American troops will soon be welcomed as liberators ”.

His foreign editor on The Australian Greg Sheridan couldn’t contain himself. “The daring eagle of American power is in the air, high above the humble earth. Because by soaring and sweeping, he sees victory, power and opportunity ”.

Sheridan is still at his job. Murdoch prefers loyalty to the competence of everyone around him, including his family.

Warmongers and profiteers

In wars, Rupert Murdoch and his News Corporation also see “victory, power and opportunity”. Rupert Murdoch himself is still in office.

Even some of the mainstream media have apologized for their support for the illegal war in Iraq. But never Rupert Murdoch or, for that matter, former Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

News Corp in Australia, for over a decade, has also led the climate change denial campaign. This company has become a key part of an American military / commercial / security complex that has wielded destructive power for generations and now demonizes China.

As Alex Lo wrote in August, “It has long been known that the United States Department of Defense and other governments such as the CIA not only support film and cable production in Hollywood, but intervene. also actively and manipulate their content ”.

And in June, Lo described how a long list of former US security chiefs such as John Brennan and James Clapper joined US media – NBC, MSNBC and CNN.

Australian security chiefs have led the demonization of China with the help of the Five Eyes. But we get a double whammy when our spinoff media rely heavily on the old American media which in turn is heavily influenced by the former US security chiefs with their “expert opinions”.

This media legacy frames our vision of the world, a vision that we accept as almost God-given, a Western colonial media mentality with racist overtones.

We must free ourselves from this state of mind if we are to build a secure future in our region and avoid being dragged into one madness after another by the American Imperium.

For the full story of John Menadue, please visit Pearls and Irritations, Australia’s leading public policy journal.

John was formerly the chief executive of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation in Sydney. He has also served as Ambassador to Japan, Managing Director of Qantas and Senior Policy Advisor to Malcolm Fraser and Gough Whitlam.

In the coming days, Pearls will be releasing the White Man’s Media series, featuring stories from some of the region’s top commentators:

Nury Vittachi, Hong Kong-based journalist and author, writes about the dominance of cultural and international news organizations in the United States and Western Europe.

Richard Butler AC, former Ambassador to the United Nations, Executive Chairman of the United Nations Special Commission for the Disarmament of Iraq, Professor of International Affairs, explains how those who control the majority of Australian media in London and New York do it in personal ends, against the national interest.

Cavan Hogue, a former diplomat who has worked in Asia, Europe and the Americas as well as at the UN, writes about the impact of English language exceptionalism on media around the world and in Australia.

Jerry gray, a freelance writer living in southern China’s Guangdong Province, writes about the declining quality and objectivism of Western media coverage of Asia and China.

Bruce dover, award-winning former foreign correspondent, vice president (China) of News Corporation, editor-in-chief of CNN International and managing director of ABC’s international television service, Australia Network, writes about how the Australian media has gradually shifted away from the legitimate coverage of Asian Affairs.