Difference between revisions of "Piers Robinson"

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'''Piers Robinson''' is a UK academic. He has written for ''[[The Guardian]]''.<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/aug/02/russian-propaganda-western-media-manipulation</ref> He is convenor of the [[Working Group on Syria Propaganda and Media]].
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Dr '''Piers Robinson''' is co-Director of the [[Organisation for Propaganda Studies]] (OPS),<ref>''[http://www.cfom.org.uk/2017/02/14/propaganda-here-and-now/ "PROPAGANDA HERE AND NOW"]''</ref> convenor of the [[Working Group on Syria Propaganda and Media]] (SPM)<ref>''[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/may/03/british-government-propaganda-counter-terrorism-muslim-communities "The British government has already forgotten the great dangers of propaganda"]''</ref> and associated researcher with the [https://propgwot.org/ Working Group on Propaganda and the 9/11 global "War on Terror".]<ref>''[https://propgwot.org/ "Working Group on Propaganda and the 9/11 global 'War on Terror'"]''</ref><ref>''[https://off-guardian.org/2018/09/10/9-11-unmasked-by-david-ray-griffin-and-elizabeth-woodworth-a-review/ "9/11 Unmasked by David Ray Griffin and Elizabeth Woodworth: A Review"]''</ref>
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==Syrian insurgency==
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Piers Robinson and other members of the [[SPM]] working group including [[Vanessa Beeley]], [[Tim Hayward]] and [[David Miller]] have gained considerable attention for disputing the use of [[chemical weapons]] in the Syrian insurgency, most notably in the [[Douma attack]], alleging a coverup by the [[Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons]], and extremist links of the [[White Helmets]].<ref>''[http://syriapropagandamedia.org/james-le-mesurier-a-reconstruction-of-his-business-activities-and-covert-role "James Le Mesurier: a reconstruction of his business activities and covert role"]''</ref>
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==="Assad's Useful Idiots"===
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On 14 April 2018, ''[[The Times]]'' reported:{{QB|Given all that is known of [[President Assad]]'s willingness and capacity to inflict harm on a captive population, it would take an extraordinary degree of credulity, sophistry and ignorance to exculpate him of this atrocity.
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Exactly those characteristics are exemplified by a small group of academics who we report today are at respectable institutions that include the universities of Sheffield and Edinburgh.<ref>''[https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opendemocracyuk/syria-stop-asking-questions/ "Syria: stop asking questions!"]''</ref>}}
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===Pro-truth, not pro-Assad===
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{{YouTubeVideo
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|caption=[[SPM]]'s [[Vanessa Beeley]] and [[Dr Piers Robinson]] are interviewed by [[Ross Ashcroft]]
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In October 2021, [[Ross Ashcroft]] interviewed [[Dr Piers Robinson]] about being one of "Assad's Useful Idiots". Robinson responded:{{QB|"It's a very devious propaganda technique. You're asking difficult questions in the middle of a conflict.
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"You're not pro-[[Assad]]. You're pro-truth. You want to find out exactly what is going on.
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"And it's a very common tactic calling people [[conspiracy theorists]], or pro-[[Assad]] or apologists. These are ways of trying to humiliate people in public and to discipline people so they don't ask questions.
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"The authorities don't want to concede the ground. And I guess the broader explanation of that is the [[regime change]] strategy continues in relation to [[Syria]]. The [[US]] seems to be continuing on that path, as does [[UK]], [[France]] and other European allies.
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"And so they can't let go of this narrative. It's not served its purpose, as it were. So they're doubling down on maintaining the line, not answering questions such as 'why was the original interim report by the team that went to [[Douma]], why was that changed by somebody, in secret, at the [[OPCW]]?' And they didn't try to publish it until they were caught out doing it."<ref>''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEPKgCy2bbQ "Renegade Inc – The BBC's Road To Damascus"]''</ref>}}
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==Russia==
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Robinson has argued that there is no persuasive evidence to implicate the [[Russia]]n government in the poisoning of [[Sergei Skripal]] and says [[Russia]] has been blamed to distract from the West's "aggressive regime change strategy" in the [[Middle East]]. He said that there is no persuasive evidence showing Russia conducted any significant propaganda campaign to influence the [[2016 US Presidential election]].<ref>''[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/aug/02/russian-propaganda-western-media-manipulation "Russian news may be biased – but so is much western media"]''</ref>
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==Labour anti-semitism==
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Robinson said that reports of [[anti-semitism]] in the UK [[Labour Party]] during [[Jeremy Corbyn]]'s leadership of the party were exaggerated for political purposes.<ref>''[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9309439/University-professor-embroiled-anti-Semitism-row-sole-shareholder-Corbynite-group.html "University professor embroiled in anti-Semitism row is sole shareholder of Corbynite group bankrolling far left figures accused of harassing Jewish people"]''</ref>
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==References==
 
==References==
 
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Latest revision as of 21:45, 21 October 2021

Person.png Piers Robinson   Amazon Sourcewatch TwitterRdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
(academic)
Piers Robinson.jpg
BornPiers Gregory Robinson
September 1970
Alma materUniversity of Bristol
Founder ofOrganisation for Propaganda Studies, Working Group on Syria Propaganda and Media
Member ofAmerican Herald Tribune, Working Group on Syria Propaganda and Media
Interest of"Philip Cross"

Dr Piers Robinson is co-Director of the Organisation for Propaganda Studies (OPS),[1] convenor of the Working Group on Syria Propaganda and Media (SPM)[2] and associated researcher with the Working Group on Propaganda and the 9/11 global "War on Terror".[3][4]

Syrian insurgency

Piers Robinson and other members of the SPM working group including Vanessa Beeley, Tim Hayward and David Miller have gained considerable attention for disputing the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian insurgency, most notably in the Douma attack, alleging a coverup by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and extremist links of the White Helmets.[5]

"Assad's Useful Idiots"

On 14 April 2018, The Times reported:

Given all that is known of President Assad's willingness and capacity to inflict harm on a captive population, it would take an extraordinary degree of credulity, sophistry and ignorance to exculpate him of this atrocity. Exactly those characteristics are exemplified by a small group of academics who we report today are at respectable institutions that include the universities of Sheffield and Edinburgh.[6]

Pro-truth, not pro-Assad

SPM's Vanessa Beeley and Dr Piers Robinson are interviewed by Ross Ashcroft

In October 2021, Ross Ashcroft interviewed Dr Piers Robinson about being one of "Assad's Useful Idiots". Robinson responded:

"It's a very devious propaganda technique. You're asking difficult questions in the middle of a conflict.

"You're not pro-Assad. You're pro-truth. You want to find out exactly what is going on.

"And it's a very common tactic calling people conspiracy theorists, or pro-Assad or apologists. These are ways of trying to humiliate people in public and to discipline people so they don't ask questions.

"The authorities don't want to concede the ground. And I guess the broader explanation of that is the regime change strategy continues in relation to Syria. The US seems to be continuing on that path, as does UK, France and other European allies.

"And so they can't let go of this narrative. It's not served its purpose, as it were. So they're doubling down on maintaining the line, not answering questions such as 'why was the original interim report by the team that went to Douma, why was that changed by somebody, in secret, at the OPCW?' And they didn't try to publish it until they were caught out doing it."[7]

Russia

Robinson has argued that there is no persuasive evidence to implicate the Russian government in the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and says Russia has been blamed to distract from the West's "aggressive regime change strategy" in the Middle East. He said that there is no persuasive evidence showing Russia conducted any significant propaganda campaign to influence the 2016 US Presidential election.[8]

Labour anti-semitism

Robinson said that reports of anti-semitism in the UK Labour Party during Jeremy Corbyn's leadership of the party were exaggerated for political purposes.[9]


 

Event Participated in

EventStartEndLocation(s)Description
International Festival of Whistleblowing Dissent and Accountability8 May 20218 May 2021InternetWhistleblowing event held in 2021.
Many thanks to our Patrons who cover ~2/3 of our hosting bill. Please join them if you can.


References