Thousands of U.S. Army paratroopers just arrived in the Middle East as Trump weighs a ground invasion of Iran, threatening to seize Kargh Island, through which 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports pass. This, of course, would be a major escalation with catastrophic consequences across the region. And our mainstream news outlets are spreading propaganda straight from the mouths of Israeli officials to push for escalation!
Last week, The Free Press, which is run by CBS-Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss and owned by Paramount, published an article called "How to Finish the Job in Iran." The title alone is egregious, but it gets even worse. The author of this article is none other than Yoav Gallant, the former Israeli minister of defense and IOF commander. Shortly after October 7th, Gallant famously said, “I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel. Everything is closed. We are fighting human animals, and we are acting accordingly.” A year later, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Instead of being advocates for war, our media should be advocates for peace. Sign the petition here.Â
Dear David Ellison and Paramount Executives,Â
It has come to our attention that the news outlet you own, The Free Press, has just published an article by a wanted criminal, Yoav Gallant. That you published his recent piece, “How to Finish the Job in Iran,” is egregious for a few reasons. Firstly, Gallant is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Shortly after October 7th, Gallant famously said, “I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel. Everything is closed. We are fighting human animals, and we are acting accordingly.”
Secondly, by publishing an article written by an ex-Israeli official, and in the midst of an illegal war that the majority of Americans do not support, you are parroting Israeli propaganda. In a time where the U.S. and Israel are committing mass murder in Iran, Palestine, and Lebanon, how can you justify publishing a genocidaire’s call to deploy ground troops, occupy more foreign land, and kill more people?Â
Lastly, the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran is a clear act of desperation and depravity. The first strike of the war was a girls’ elementary school by a U.S. Tomahawk missile. Oil and gas reserves are being obliterated, causing the worst global energy crisis in history as well as irreversible effects on the planet. Countries in Asia and Africa are beginning to ration out fuel. Yet you are encouraging Trump to capitulate to Israel’s demands and send soldiers to die. He miscalculated Iran's ability to defend itself, and now he is making our sons and daughters pay for his ignorance, arrogance, and bloodlust, all for an impossible victory.Â
Americans need their news media to tell them the truth about this war and to advocate for peace, because peace is in the best interest of the American people. There is nothing peaceful about providing a platform for a mass murderer to justify the killing of thousands more people. Promote peace, not war!Â