Changes

Launched as the '''''National Guardian''''' in October 1948 by [[James Aronson]], [[Cedric Belfrage]] and John McManus, contributors included pro-Communist writers such as [[Agnes Smedley]] and [[Anna Louise Strong]].  [[Wilfred Burchett]] was also a significant influence in the ''National Guardian's'' editorial policies.  Testimony by [[Elizabeth Bentley]] and confirmed by the [[Venona]] intercepts, revealed that Belfrage made contact with Soviet espionage agents during [[World War II]].  In 1947 the [[FBI]] questioned Belfrage, who admitted to having provided confidential information to the Soviets.  Burchett is most famous for his false reports on American use of [[germ warfare]] in the [[Korean War]] and his collaboration in the brainwashing of American POWs.  In June 1952 over Beijing radio Burchett accused the Americans of perpetrating "the most monstrous crimes against humanity."  He said that in germ warfare the Americans had launched upon mankind a weapon more frightful than the [[atomic bomb]].  In order to support these allegations, Burchett assisted in the extraction of "confessions" from American pilot POWs.

Launched as the '''''National Guardian''''' in October 1948 by [[James Aronson]], [[Cedric Belfrage]] and John McManus, contributors included pro-Communist writers such as [[Agnes Smedley]] and [[Anna Louise Strong]].  [[Wilfred Burchett]] was also a significant influence in the ''National Guardian's'' editorial policies.  Testimony by [[Elizabeth Bentley]] and confirmed by the [[Venona]] intercepts, revealed that Belfrage made contact with Soviet espionage agents during [[World War II]].  In 1947 the [[FBI]] questioned Belfrage, who admitted to having provided confidential information to the Soviets.   

 

Burchett is most famous for his false reports on American use of [[germ warfare]] in the [[Korean War]] and his collaboration in the brainwashing of American POWs.  In June 1952 over Beijing radio Burchett accused the Americans of perpetrating "the most monstrous crimes against humanity."  He said that in germ warfare the Americans had launched upon mankind a weapon more frightful than the [[atomic bomb]].  In order to support these allegations, Burchett assisted in the extraction of "confessions" from American pilot POWs.

The hoax of American use of germ warfare in Korea has persisted among [[Marxist-Leninist]] writers. In 1998, however, news reports noted:

The hoax of American use of germ warfare in Korea has persisted among [[Marxist-Leninist]] writers. In 1998, however, news reports noted:

:''"False plague regions were created, burials...were organized" measures were taken to receive the plague and cholerabacillus.''<ref>Bruce B. Auster, [http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/981116/archive_005192.htm ''Unmasking An Old Lie: A Korean War Charge Is Exposed As a Hoax''], U. S. News & World Report (16 November 1998), p. 52. </ref>

:''"False plague regions were created, burials...were organized" measures were taken to receive the plague and cholerabacillus.''<ref>Bruce B. Auster, [http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/981116/archive_005192.htm ''Unmasking An Old Lie: A Korean War Charge Is Exposed As a Hoax''], U. S. News & World Report (16 November 1998), p. 52. </ref>

The ''National Guardian'' drew its readership largely from the [[Progressive Party]]. The first issue featured an article by progressive [[Henry Wallace]], whom the ''National Guardian'' endorsed as a presidential candidate on the independent ballot that year. The paper also found support in the [[American Labor Party]]. Congressman [[Vito Marcantonio]] was especially enthusiastic about the paper. It reported on such issues and events as the trial and execution of [[Ethel and Julius Rosenberg]], charged with atomic espionage for the Soviet Union.  The National Guardian also was took up the causes of [[Alger Hiss]], [[Corliss Lamont]], and Ann and Carl Braden.  <ref>Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, Guide to the Cedric Belfrage Papers 1922-1990. </ref>

The ''National Guardian'' drew its readership largely from the [[Progressive Party]]. The first issue featured an article by progressive [[Henry Wallace]], whom the ''National Guardian'' endorsed as a presidential candidate on the independent ballot that year. The paper also found support in the [[American Labor Party]]. Congressman [[Vito Marcantonio]] was especially enthusiastic about the paper. It reported on such issues and events as the trial and execution of [[Ethel and Julius Rosenberg]], charged with atomic espionage for the Soviet Union.  The National Guardian also was took up the causes of [[Alger Hiss]], [[Corliss Lamont]], and Ann and Carl Braden.  <ref>Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, Guide to the Cedric Belfrage Papers 1922-1990. </ref>

Aronson continued to publish the ''National Guardian'' until 1967, when he resigned.  The papers masthead was changed from "progressive" to "[[radical]]" newsweekly and later the name was changed to simply ''Guardian''.   

Aronson continued to publish the ''National Guardian'' until 1967, when he resigned.  The papers masthead was changed from "progressive" to "[[radical]]" newsweekly and later the name was changed to simply ''Guardian''.   

The ''National Guardian'' was one of the first American based newspapers that supported Soviet foreign policy oppossition to the [[Vietnam War]] and carried on-scene reports from Wilfred Burchett. <ref>[http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:45uLGC93fs0J:www.pipeline.com/~rgibson/HoChiMinh.htm+HO+CHI+MINH+an+appreciation+by+Wilfred+Burchett&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us HO CHI MINH an appreciation by Wilfred Burchett]</ref> In a secret White House meeting with President Johnson in 1967 Burchett is refered to as "often a reliable spokesman for North Vietnam". <ref>U.S. Department of State, [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/frus/johnsonlb/v/13160.htm Foreign Relations, 1964-1968, Volume V, Vietnam 1967], Released by the Office of the Historian, Document 364.</ref>

The ''National Guardian'' was one of the first American based newspapers that supported Soviet foreign policy oppossition to the [[Vietnam War]] and carried on-scene reports from Wilfred Burchett. <ref>[http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:45uLGC93fs0J:www.pipeline.com/~rgibson/HoChiMinh.htm+HO+CHI+MINH+an+appreciation+by+Wilfred+Burchett&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us HO CHI MINH an appreciation by Wilfred Burchett]</ref> In a secret White House meeting with President Johnson in 1967 Burchett is refered to as "often a reliable spokesman for North Vietnam". <ref>U.S. Department of State, [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/frus/johnsonlb/v/13160.htm Foreign Relations, 1964-1968, Volume V, Vietnam 1967], Released by the Office of the Historian, Document 364.</ref>

Throughtout the 1950s, 60s, 70s, and 80s, the paper supported so-called "national liberation struggles", Africa in the 1950's, Southeast Asia in the 1960's and early 1970's, and Latin America in the 1980's.  

Throughtout the 1950s, 60s, 70s, and 80s, the paper supported so-called "national liberation struggles", Africa in the 1950's, Southeast Asia in the 1960's and early 1970's, and Latin America in the 1980's.  

By the 1980s as it became more and more obvious even to Marxists that Marxism-Leninism was failing, and Marxist class struggle was a hard sell, the ''Guardian'' reinvented itself along with other elements of the American left and shifted to issues of ethnicity and gender and a kind of Marxism-Leninism of race and sex emerged, complete with a special vocabulary of cliches', buzzwords and slogans.  Epitomized by a new knee-jerk rhapsodizing about the radical [[feminist]], [[gay agenda|gay rights]] and anti-racist movement.  In the 1980s they took on a new intensity and significance. Radical antiracist, gay, and feminist cadres with Marxist-Leninist tendencies found a congenial home in the new ''Guardian''. <ref>John George and Laird Wilcox, [http://www.questia.com/library/book/nazis-communists-klansmen-and-others-on-the-fringe-political-extremism-in-america-by-john-george-laird-wilcox.jsp''Nazis, Communists, Klansmen, and Others on the Fringe: Political Extremism in America''], Prometheus Books, Buffalo, New York, 1992, (ISBN 0-87975-680-2), pgs. 125-131. </ref>

By the 1980s as it became more and more obvious even to Marxists that Marxism-Leninism was failing, and Marxist class struggle was a hard sell, the ''Guardian'' reinvented itself along with other elements of the American left and shifted to issues of ethnicity and gender and a kind of Marxism-Leninism of race and sex emerged, complete with a special vocabulary of cliches', buzzwords and slogans.  Epitomized by a new knee-jerk rhapsodizing about the radical [[feminist]], [[gay agenda|gay rights]] and anti-racist movement.  In the 1980s they took on a new intensity and significance. Radical antiracist, gay, and feminist cadres with Marxist-Leninist tendencies found a congenial home in the new ''Guardian''. <ref>John George and Laird Wilcox, [http://www.questia.com/library/book/nazis-communists-klansmen-and-others-on-the-fringe-political-extremism-in-america-by-john-george-laird-wilcox.jsp''Nazis, Communists, Klansmen, and Others on the Fringe: Political Extremism in America''], Prometheus Books, Buffalo, New York, 1992, (ISBN 0-87975-680-2), pgs. 125-131. </ref>