Glenn Greenwald reflexively takes an anti-U.S. position in his reporting vis-a-vis other countries. In other words, it is like false equivalency on steroids where Greenwald will almost always adopt a U.S. government contrarian view. Not surprisingly, Greenwald is frequently quoted on Russia Today, a media outlet that is directly backed by the Russian Government:
https://www.rt.com/usa/368214-greenwald-washington-post-russia/
Of course, if the U.S. government itself directly funded a media outlet, Greenwald would lose his mind. But, since it is Russia, Greenwald gives Russia a free pass.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nikolas-kozloff/a-tale-of-ukraine-crimea_b_5060692.html
What’s wrong with condemning all human rights abuses instead of picking and choosing in a partisan manner? Greenwald however embraces Chomsky dogma with a moralistic fervor, remarking sternly that reporters who report on abuses committed by non-U.S. governments represent “an abdication of one’s primary duty as a journalist.” Going somewhat off the rails, Greenwald adds that such reporters are “cowards.” Here Greenwald seems to be referring to the likes of CNN which to be sure goes easy on U.S. foreign policy. One need not endorse the pro-U.S. bias of the mainstream media, however, to bring independent judgment to bear on world events.
Having bought into the authoritarian left’s dogmatic playbook, Greenwald is ill-equipped and compromised when it comes to discussing anti-U.S. despots. Bizarrely, he criticizes media outlets which attack Bashar al-Assad, whose regime is “said to be slaughtering its own citizens” [emphasis mine]. Come again? Is Greenwald actually questioning whether Assad has launched a genocidal offensive against the Syrian people? Like other axiomatic left commentators, the journalist seems to be soft-pedaling Assad simply because the Syrian leader happens to be on the receiving end of U.S. foreign policy [we’ve been here before with Greenwald, who has also been evasive when it comes to addressing the role of repressive former Soviet satellites like Belarus].
Not surprisingly, Greenwald also hems and haws when it comes to Russia, a nation which has backed up the brutal Assad regime in Syria, not to mention the likes of Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus. In his Guardian column, Greenwald at first condemns Putin for his clamp down on punk rock group Pussy Riot. True to form, however, the journalist cannot help but pivot reflexively once again, remarking that the western media is hypocritical. Even as it condemns repression in Russia, Greenwald writes, the media turns a blind eye to clamp down on the likes of the Occupy movement at home. Committing a key mistake, Greenwald then writes that U.S. abuses are “much more consequential” than violations in Russia. For good measure, Greenwald then seems to venture down a slippery slope, implying that Pussy Riot may have gotten what it deserved since the rock band engaged in culturally provocative acts.
Some of Greenwald’s fellow journalists seem to be growing weary of such somersaults. Take for example reporter Thomas Ricks, who asked Greenwald to comment over Twitter about Vladimir Putin’s aggressive acts. Nonsensically, Greenwald again changed the subject and invited Ricks to denounce Peruvian police corruption and American drone strikes. Exasperated, Ricks remarks “I am no longer going soft on Greenwald,” adding that if his colleague has any moral beliefs, then now would be the time to speak out against Putin.
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