Amid the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, pro-government journalist Jorge Enrique Jerez Belisario wrote an article for the Granma newspaper titled "Monster Factory: When Ink Prepares the Gunpowder." In his piece, he accuses major Western media outlets of being part of a "media operation" aimed at justifying military action against Tehran.
Jerez argues that international coverage has painted Iran as an existential threat while downplaying or rationalizing the U.S. and Israeli bombings under terms like "military targets" or "tactical strikes."
According to Jerez, there is a "perceptual distortion" in the Western media narrative that portrays the aggressor as a rational actor while labeling the responding nation as an "irrational beast." He also criticizes the use of labels such as "terrorist regime" or "proxies" which serve to dehumanize Iran and its regional allies.
Defending a Strategic Ally
The article argues for the legitimacy of the Iranian government, claiming that internal protests in Iran have been amplified by external interests. Jerez draws parallels with the events leading up to the 2003 Iraq invasion, asserting that Western media facilitated consensus for war through misinformation about weapons of mass destruction.
"A monster is created in fiction to later sell the solution through action," Jerez writes, framing international coverage as part of a "psychological warfare" strategy.
Cuba's Stance on External Conflicts
This statement comes as Cuba faces one of its deepest economic crises in recent history, marked by prolonged blackouts, food and medicine shortages, inflation, and mass migration.
While the Cuban government maintains its alignment with Iran and criticizes U.S. military actions, critical sectors question why the official narrative focuses heavily on external conflicts when the internal situation continues to worsen.
The Granma article aligns with the Cuban government's traditional editorial stance, which often supports governments considered strategic allies and denounces what it calls "Western media hegemony."
Understanding Cuba's Position on International Media and Conflict
What is Jorge Enrique Jerez Belisario's view on Western media coverage of Iran?
Jerez claims that Western media distorts the narrative, portraying Iran as a major threat while downplaying U.S. and Israeli military actions.
How does the article relate to Cuba's current economic crisis?
Critics argue that the Cuban government's focus on external conflicts distracts from addressing the severe economic issues within the country.