Mark Twain's aphorism as Politico’s logo
Lies of a famous publication

ANALYTICS  16 October 2023 - 15:32

"Better to remain silent and seem be thought of a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt," this brilliant aphorism of the great Mark Twain could well become a logo of Politico, an American media organization in political journalism.

Based in Arlington, Virginia, the media organization attempts to cover topics in politics and government in the United States and internationally. Content is distributed through television, the Internet, The Politico newspaper and radio. Topics cover Washington, including the US Congress, lobbying, the media, and the presidential administration.

At first glance, it sounds solid. But only at first glance. In reality, this publication often sins the same as many others, even reputable world media, in the pursuit of sensation, disseminating fake news and outright stupidity. Thus, Politico has more than once indulged in open provocations regarding Azerbaijan.

"Azerbaijan's lightning attack on the ethnic Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh is increasing pressure on the EU to revisit its controversial gas deal with the energy-rich country, potentially complicating the bloc’s efforts to wean itself off Russian energy exports," it wrote in late September.

A false interpretation of the facts is obvious, because for a long time the whole world has known that there is no Nagorno-Karabakh, but there is a Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan, and on October 15, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev raised the national flag in Khankendi. There, on the administrative building of the city, instead of separatist symbols, the coat of arms of the Azerbaijani Republic was installed.

This alone is enough to understand how senseless and stupid for Politico to “open its mouth” on an issue that its experts have absolutely no understanding of. We will have to remind it once again that in the territory of the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan, Armenians, who had passports of Armenia and other states, lived absolutely illegally and in such a case any country, including the United States, would take up the task of establishing constitutional order on its territory.

But all previous fakes and other information provocations from Politico regarding Azerbaijan pale in comparison to their current, officially proven lies: the US State Department denied information disseminated by this publication “about Azerbaijan’s plans to attack Armenia”. Let me remind you that an article published in the American version of Politico states that at a meeting with American congressmen, Secretary of State Antony Blinken allegedly warned that Azerbaijan could attack Armenia in the coming weeks. But State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller said that what was stated in the Politico article was erroneous and did not reflect the content of Blinken’s conversation with congressmen.

To put it simply, we have before us an example of how a seemingly reputable publication with a huge readership, incredible connections and even greater ambitions acts according to the saying: “he doesn't know what he is talking about.”

Of course, the publication did not inform readers about its mistake and did not make any apologies to Azerbaijan. Neither publicly nor quietly. This is “journalistic ethics” as Politico understands it.

What to do, publishing nonsense, lies, fables about Azerbaijan is not a rare practice for many world media. And where should they go if they are deeply engaged - every word is paid for, and the authors write exclusively according to the proposed scheme. Who was engaged is also not a secret: the wide provision of a platform to Armenian and pro-Armenian speakers and at the same time the dosed supply of information from Azerbaijan do not leave the slightest doubt about the Armenian sponsor-sources.

In the case of Politico’s shameful jamb, proven at the highest level, it is also noteworthy that it harmoniously fits into the anti-Azerbaijani campaign, again launched by pro-Armenian congressmen and senators. Who, as if on cue, began to demand the introduction of sanctions against Azerbaijan for... “a possible military operation against Armenia”.

That is, there is nothing and nothing is planned, but they are already demanding to “punish” Azerbaijan. And at this point, by the way, a fake Politico article is referred to. Coincidence? Certainly not and the best answer to everyone participating in the latest anti-Azerbaijani hysteria is the same aphorism of Mark Twain with which I started. With just one clarification: Politico “opened its mouth” not for the first time, dispelling the last doubts about its competence, as well as the reliability of the published information.

Caliber.Az