TL;DR:

The #DailyMail’s dark legacy of supporting war crimes and authoritarian regimes—from its praise for #fascists to its backing of modern #imperialism—exposes its role as a megaphone for #propaganda and #stateviolence. #Snarchy #MediaCriticism #Anarcos

The Daily Mail has never been shy about choosing sides. Whether it’s picking favourites among royals, championing austerity, or flogging the latest moral panic, Britain’s tabloid titan consistently serves its audience heaping doses of outrage. But dig a little deeper—past the headlines screaming about immigrants and the editorial sanctimony on “British values”—and a darker pattern emerges. The Daily Mail has spent over a century enthusiastically defending war crimes, imperial aggression, and authoritarian regimes. Far from a neutral chronicler of events, it’s been a relentless cheerleader for state violence dressed up as noble crusades.

Blackshirts and Bombs

The Mail’s love affair with authoritarianism began early. During the 1930s, the paper fawned over Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler, painting fascism as a bulwark against the twin threats of communism and modernity. Under Lord Rothermere’s stewardship, it ran headlines like “Hurrah for the Blackshirts!”, endorsing Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists. Even as Hitler’s atrocities became impossible to ignore, the Mail doubled down, championing appeasement and praising the “restoration of German pride.”

After World War II, the paper feigned contrition, but its ideological stripes never faded. If anything, the horrors of the Holocaust taught the Mail a lesson in PR, not ethics. From then on, it perfected the art of coded racism and dog-whistle politics while continuing to champion British imperial violence under the guise of patriotism.

Imperial Nostalgia and Selective Outrage

As the British Empire crumbled in the post-war decades, the Daily Mail became its unofficial mourner-in-chief. The paper lamented the loss of colonies, spinning narratives of civilising missions and white saviourism. When Britain’s imperial crimes came to light, such as the torture and massacres during the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya, the Mail was quick to defend the perpetrators. Articles argued that British soldiers were merely maintaining order, while Kenyan independence fighters were cast as barbaric insurgents.

The Suez Crisis in 1956 marked another low point. As the British government’s botched attempt to retake the canal descended into international embarrassment, the Mail applauded the aggression, portraying it as a heroic stand against Egyptian “tyranny.” To the Mail, imperial violence was always justified if it protected Britain’s interests—or, more accurately, the interests of the elite class it serves.

Iraq: Weapons of Mass Deception

Fast-forward to the 21st century, and the Daily Mail’s war drumbeat hasn’t faltered. Its coverage of the 2003 invasion of Iraq was a textbook case of tabloid warmongering. The paper amplified Tony Blair’s dodgy dossier claims about weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), dismissing dissenters as traitors. When it became clear that the WMD narrative was a sham and the war had unleashed catastrophic violence, the Mail pivoted to demonising the victims. Iraqis became “ungrateful” for their “liberation,” and any acknowledgment of civilian casualties was drowned out by endless stories of British soldiers as noble martyrs.

What’s most insidious is how the Mail framed its support for the war. It didn’t merely parrot government propaganda; it shaped it, reinforcing the narratives that justified the invasion. The paper’s blend of jingoism, fearmongering, and moral absolutism created an atmosphere where dissent was taboo and violence became inevitable.

Collateral Damage: Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Perhaps the Mail’s most enduring contribution to the legacy of war crimes is its treatment of refugees. The paper has consistently vilified those fleeing violence, portraying them as invaders rather than victims. Its coverage of the Syrian refugee crisis is a case in point. While Britain’s role in fuelling the Syrian conflict through arms sales and diplomatic meddling went unexamined, the Mail published stories warning of “an influx of migrants” threatening the UK.

The hypocrisy is staggering. Wars the Mail championed—from Iraq to Libya—created many of the crises that forced people to flee. Yet the paper blames refugees for the instability it helped to promote. This bait-and-switch is classic Mail: stoke the fire, then scold the smoke.

Mouthpiece for Britain's Ruling Elite

Why does the Daily Mail so consistently side with power over people? The answer lies in its role as a mouthpiece for Britain’s ruling elite. Like all corporate media, the Mail exists to protect the status quo. It’s a tool for shaping public opinion to align with elite interests.

By defending war crimes, imperialism, and state violence, the Mail ensures that Britain’s economic and political hierarchies remain intact. Wars enrich arms manufacturers, resource extraction companies, and financiers—the same oligarchs who underwrite the Mail’s existence. Its propaganda is not accidental but systemic, reflecting the incentives of a capitalist media landscape.

A Legacy of Harm

The Daily Mail’s sordid history of supporting war crimes is not just a stain on its reputation; it’s a symptom of a deeper sickness in media and society. By normalising violence, demonising victims, and silencing dissent, the paper has perpetuated a world where power operates without accountability. This is not just about bad journalism; it’s about complicity in the machinery of oppression.

The Mail’s defenders will argue that it reflects public opinion, not shapes it. But history tells a different story. From cheerleading fascism to justifying imperial massacres, the Mail has always been a willing accomplice in the crimes of the powerful. Its real allegiance is not to its readers but to the architects of empire and exploitation.

If we are to dismantle the systems that make war crimes possible, we must start by challenging the narratives that enable them. The Daily Mail’s history is a reminder of how dangerous those narratives can be.

#Snarchy #DailyMail #AntiImperialism #Media #Britain #press #fascism