If you want to see the extent to which the New York Times has historically been a mere vehicle for US and Western (government) propaganda, go back to the archives. Check the scant coverage that it gave to the Kim Philby spy scandal. In fact, in the first article after his defection in 1963, the paper spoke about him betraying his "class." Betraying his class? I sure hope to spend my life betraying my class. It is an honor indeed.