John Pilger Biography & Quotes

“The censorship is such on television in the U.S. that films like mine don't stand a chance.”

Film Chance Television Mines Censorship

Author:John Pilger

“Vietnam was as much a laboratory experiment as a war.”

War Experiments Vietnam Laboratory

Author:John Pilger

“What Nixon and Kissinger began, Pol Pot completed.”

Pot Kissinger

Author:John Pilger

“The impact of the human tragedies I've reported on is that, more often than not, I'll be angry. I want to know why is this child dying? These are not acts of God; they're results of respectable politicians' decisions.”

Knows Want Humans Children Decision Results Dying Politician Tragedy Angry Impact Respectable Children Dying

Author:John Pilger

“There is no war on terrorism; it is the great game speeded up. The difference is the rampant nature of the superpower, ensuring infinite dangers for us all.”

War Games Differences Danger Infinite Terrorism Superpower War On Terror No War War On Terrorism

Author:John Pilger

“During my lifetime, America has been constantly waging war against much of humanity: impoverished people mostly, in stricken places.”

People Has Beens War America Humanity Lifetime Waging War

Author:John Pilger

“When governments and other vested interests attack me personally I usually regard it as a vindication, otherwise they would use facts. That's why I believe in the wonderful Claud Cockburn dictum, 'Never believe anything until it is officially denied.' It has certainly been my experience.”

Believe Facts Use Government I Believe Interest Wonderful Regard I Believe In Denied Vested Interests Vindication

Author:John Pilger

“I love irony in pictures. There's one photograph from Vietnam by Philip Jones Griffiths that shows a very large GI having his pocket picked by a tiny Vietnamese woman. It told the whole story of the clash of two cultures and how the invader could never win.”

Two Whole Stories Shows Culture Winning Photograph Tiny Irony Pockets Vietnam Clash Philip Vietnamese Invaders Gis Two Cultures

Author:John Pilger

“Watch how the propaganda unfolds once the bombing is over and the Americans are running Baghdad and their spin machine. There will be the discovery of Saddam's secret arsenal, probably in the basement of one his palaces.”

Running Secret Watches Discovery Machines Propaganda Saddam Palaces Bombing Arsenal Basements Baghdad

Author:John Pilger

“If development was measured not by gross national product, but a society's success in meeting the basic needs of its people, Vietnam would have been a model. That was its real "threat." From the defeat of the French at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 to 1972, primary and secondary school enrollment in the North increased sevenfold, from 700,000 to almost five million. In 1980, UNESCO estimated a literacy rate of 90 percent and school enrollment among the highest in Asia and throughout the Third World.”

“Secretive power loathes journalists who do their job: who push back screens, peer behind façades, lift rocks. Opprobrium from on high is their badge of honour.”

Jobs Behinds Rocks Screens Journalism Lifts Journalist Honour Peers Loathe Badges Secretive

Book:Tell Me No Lies: Investigative Journalism and its Triumphs

Source: Tell Me No Lies: Investigative Journalism and its Triumphs

“An elite group of less than a billion people now take more than 80 per cent of the world's wealth.”

People World Wealth Groups Billions Elites Cents

Author:John Pilger

“It is time we recognized that the real terrorism is poverty.”

Real Poverty Terrorism

Author:John Pilger

“Private Manning is the world's pre-eminent prisoner of conscience, having remained true to the Nuremberg principle that every soldier has the right to 'a moral choice.' His suffering mocks the notion of the land of the free.”

World Suffering Choices Moral Principles Land Conscience Notion Soldier Prisoner Land Of The Free Moral Choices Nuremberg

Author:John Pilger

“Al journalism should be investigative, from football to cookery”

Should Football Journalism Als Cookery

Author:John Pilger

“Many journalists now are no more than channelers and echoers of what Orwell called the official truth. They simply cipher and transmit lies. It really grieves me that so many of my fellow journalists can be so manipulated that they become really what the French describe as functionaires, functionaries, not journalists.”

Lying Fellows Journalist Grieving Officials Transmit Ciphers

Author:John Pilger

“There isn't a war on terror, there is a war of terror.”

War Terror War On Terror

Author:John Pilger

“The attack on Iraq has been long planned. There just hasn't been an excuse for it. Since George H.W. Bush didn't unseat Saddam in 1991, there's been a longing among the extreme right in the United States to finish the job. The war on terrorism has given them that opportunity. Even though the logic is convoluted and fraudulent, it appears they are going to go ahead and finish the job.”

Long Has Beens War States Jobs Opportunity Given United United States Logic Longing Iraq Excuse Extremes Terrorism Saddam War On Terror War On Terrorism Convoluted George H W Bush

Author:John Pilger

“The British Labour Party has always had a very strong "Atlanticist component," with an obsequiousness to American policies, and Blair represents this wing. He's clearly obsessed with Iraq. He has to be because the overwhelming majority of the people of Britain oppose a military action.”

People Action Strong Party Military Policy Majority Wings Iraq British Obsessed Britain Labour Overwhelming Very Strong Components Blair Labour Party Military Action Obsequiousness

Author:John Pilger

“It's quite clear that Gore won most of the votes. I think the accurate description for them is a military plutocracy. Having lived and worked in the United States, I must add that I don't want to make too much of the distinction between the Bush regime and its predecessors. I don't see a great deal of difference.”

Thinking Want States Differences United Deals United States Clear Too Much Military Vote Add Distinction Description Regimes Accurate Gore Predecessors Plutocracy

Author:John Pilger

“Israel is the American watchdog in the Middle East, and that's why the Palestinians remain victims of one of the longest military occupations. They don't have oil. If they were the Saudis, they wouldn't be in the position they are now. But they have the power of being able to upset the imperial order in the Middle East.”

Ifs Able Order Middle Military Position Victim Israel Oil East Upset Occupation Middle East Palestinian Saudis

Author:John Pilger

“Since September 11, the Mirror has reached back to its roots, and decided, it seems, to be something of its old self again. I received a call asking if I would write for it again, which I've done. It's a pleasure to be able to do that. It's become an important antidote to a media that is, most of it, supportive of the establishment, some of it quite rabidly rightwing. The Mirror is breaking ranks, and that's good news.”

Ifs Writing Important Self Done Seems Able Pleasure Media News Roots Decided Asking Mirrors Establishment September Good News Supportive Antidote September 11 Old Self

Author:John Pilger

“Rupert Murdoch gave up his Australian citizenship in order to buy television stations in the United States, which is symptomatic of the way Murdoch operates. Everything is for sale, including his birthright. The Mirror is not read by soccer hooligans. It's read by ordinary people of this country. That comment is simply patronizing. But to be criticized by the Moonies and Murdoch in one breath is really just a fine moment for me.”

“Orwell is almost our litmus test. Some of his satirical writing looks like reality these days. When you have someone like Cheney who talks about "endless war" or war that might last fifty years, he could be Big Brother. You have Bush incessantly going on about the evil ones.”

Writing Years Looks War Bigs Reality Might Lasts Evil Brother Tests Endless These Days Fifty Satirical Incessantly Endless War

Author:John Pilger

“Who are these evil ones? In 1984, the evil one was called Goldstein. Orwell was writing a grim parody. But these people running the United States mean what they say. If I were a teacher, I would recommend that all my students very hurriedly read most of Orwell's books, especially 1984 and Animal Farm, because then they'd begin to understand the world we live in.”

People Ifs World Writing Mean Book States Running Evil Animal United United States Teacher Students Farms Grim Parody

Author:John Pilger

“Using the passive voice is always very helpful. Mind you, a lot of that propaganda English emanates from here. The British establishment has always used the passive voice. It's been a weapon of discourse so those who committed terrible acts in the old empire could not be identified.”

Mind Used Voice Terrible Weapons Committed British Propaganda Empires Helpful Establishment Passive Discourse Emanate Passive Voice

Author:John Pilger

“British establishment uses "the royal we," as in, "We think this." You hear a lot of that these days. It erroneously suggests that those who are making the decisions to bomb countries, to devastate economies, to take part in acts of international piracy involve all of us.”

Thinking Country Use Decision Economy International British These Days Bombs Establishment Royal Piracy

Author:John Pilger

“Many journalists become very defensive when you suggest to them that they are anything but impartial and objective. The problem with those words "impartiality" and "objectivity" is that they have lost their dictionary meaning. They've been taken over. "Impartiality" and "objectivity" now mean the establishment point of view.”

Mean Problem Lost Views Taken Point Of View Objectives Journalist Establishment Dictionary Objectivity Impartiality

Author:John Pilger

“Whenever a journalist says to me, "Oh, you don't understand, I'm impartial, I'm objective," I know what he's saying. I can decode it immediately. It means he channels the official truth. Almost always. That protestation means he speaks for a consensual view of the establishment. This is internalized.”

Knows Mean I Can Speak Views Objectives Journalist Officials Establishment

Author:John Pilger

“Journalists don't sit down and think, "I'm now going to speak for the establishment." Of course not. But they internalize a whole set of assumptions, and one of the most potent assumptions is that the world should be seen in terms of its usefulness to the West, not humanity. This leads journalists to make a distinction between people who matter and people who don't matter.”

People Thinking World Should Matter Whole Humanity Courses Speak Term Down And West Journalist Assumption Distinction Establishment Usefulness

Author:John Pilger

“The people who died in the Twin Towers in that terrible crime mattered. The people who were bombed to death in dusty villages in Afghanistan didn't matter, even though it now seems that their numbers were greater. The people who will die in Iraq don't matter.”

People Matter Seems Dies Numbers Greater Crime Terrible Died Iraq Village Afghanistan Twins Towers Twin Towers

Author:John Pilger

“Iraq has been successfully demonized as if everybody who lives there is Saddam Hussein. In the build-up to this attack on Iraq, journalists have almost universally excluded the prospect of civilian deaths, the numbers of people who would die, because those people don't matter.”

People Ifs Has Beens Matter Dies Numbers Iraq Journalist Saddam Hussein Civilians Excluded Civilian Deaths

Author:John Pilger

“It's only when journalists understand the role they play in this propaganda, it's only when they realize they can't be both independent, honest journalists and agents of power, that things will begin to change.”

Play Realizing Roles Honest Independent Agents Journalist Propaganda

Author:John Pilger

“Classic nineteenth century European imperialists believed they were literally on a mission. I don't believe that the imperialists these days have that same sense of public service. They are simply pirates. Yes, there are fundamentalists, Christian fundamentalists, who appear to be in charge of the White House at the moment, but they are very different from the Christian gentlemen who ran the British Empire and believed they were doing good works around the world. These days it's about naked power.”

“We have an extreme rightwing government in Britain, although it's called the Labour government. That's confused a lot of people, but it's confusing them less and less.”

People Government Extremes Confused Britain Labour Confusing

Author:John Pilger

“The British Labour Party has always had a very strong "Atlanticist component," with an obsequiousness to American policies, and Blair represents this wing. He's clearly obsessed with Iraq. He has to be because the overwhelming majority of the people of Britain oppose a military action. I've never known a situation like it.”

“I think the accurate description for the George W. Bush administration is a military plutocracy. Having lived and worked in the United States, I must add that I don't want to make too much of the distinction between the Bush regime and its predecessors. I don't see a great deal of difference.”

Thinking Want States Differences United Deals United States Too Much Military Add Administration Distinction Description Regimes Accurate Predecessors Plutocracy

Author:John Pilger

“Bill Clinton kept funding Star Wars. He took the biggest military budget to Congress in history. He routinely bombed Iraq, and he kept the barbaric sanctions in place. He's really played his part. The George W. Bush gang has taken it just a little further.”

Littles War Stars Taken Military Bills Clinton Congress Iraq Budgets Gang Funding Sanctions Barbaric Military Budget

Author:John Pilger

“Bill Clinton persuaded some people that he was really a civilized character and his Administration had the best interests of humanity at heart. These days we don't have to put up with that nonsense. It's very clear that the George W. Bush Administration is out of control. It contains some truly dangerous people.”

People Heart Character Humanity Interest Clear Dangerous Bills Clinton Administration These Days Nonsense Civilized

Author:John Pilger

“Israel is the American watchdog in the Middle East, and that's why the Palestinians remain victims of one of the longest military occupations.”

Middle Military Victim Israel East Occupation Middle East Palestinian

Author:John Pilger

“The Palestinians don't have oil. If they were the Saudis, they wouldn't be in the position they are now. But they have the power of being able to upset the imperial order in the Middle East.”

Ifs Able Order Middle Position Oil East Upset Middle East Palestinian Saudis

Author:John Pilger

“Certainly, until there is justice for the Palestinians, there will never be any kind of stability in the Middle East.”

Kind Justice Middle East Stability Middle East Palestinian

Author:John Pilger

“Israel is the representative of the United States in the Middle East. Its policies are so integrated with American policies that they use the same language. If you read Sharon's statements and George W. Bush's statements, they're virtually identical.”

Ifs States Use Language United United States Middle Policy Israel East Statements Middle East Representatives Identical Integrated Sharon

Author:John Pilger

“The Mirror has become an important antidote to a media that is, most of it, supportive of the establishment, some of it quite rabidly rightwing. The Mirror is breaking ranks, and that's good news.”

Important Media News Mirrors Establishment Good News Supportive Antidote

Author:John Pilger

“If I were a teacher, I would recommend that all my students very hurriedly read most of Orwell's books, especially 1984 and Animal Farm, because then they'd begin to understand the world we live in.”

Ifs World Book Animal Teacher Students Farms

Author:John Pilger

“Official truths are often powerful illusions.”

Powerful Sea Internet Illusion Officials Free Speech

Author:John Pilger

“Orwell is almost our litmus test. Some of his satirical writing looks like reality these days.”

Writing Looks Reality Tests These Days Satirical

Author:John Pilger

“We are beckoned to see the world through a one-way mirror, as if we are threatened and innocent and the rest of humanity is threatening, or wretched, or expendable. Our memory is struggling to rescue the truth that human rights were not handed down as privileges from a parliament, or a boardroom, or an institution, but that peace is only possible with justice and with information that gives us the power to act justly.”

“It is not enough for journalists to see themselves as mere messengers without understanding the hidden agendas of the message and the myths that surround it.”

Enough Understanding Messages Mere Myth Journalist Agendas Surround Messengers

Author:John Pilger

“The major western democracies are moving towards corporatism. Democracy has become a business plan, with a bottom line for every human activity, every dream, every decency, every hope. The main parliamentary parties are now devoted to the same economic policies - socialism for the rich, capitalism for the poor - and the same foreign policy of servility to endless war. This is not democracy. It is to politics what McDonalds is to food.”

John Pilger Biography

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