This is the alt-news thread

[UnseenParticipant]

All aboard the gravy train: an independent audit of US funding for Ukraine

Just one of many tidbits from the revelatory piece about the deceptive and “creative” ways the Biden Admoinistration is funding the Ukraine proxy war:

US taxpayers may be shocked to learn that as their families grappled with fears of Social Security’s looming insolvency, the Social Security Administration in Washington sent $4.48 million to the Kiev government in 2022 and 2023 alone. In another example of bizarre spending, USAID paid off $4.5 billion worth of Ukraine’s sovereign debt through payments made to the World Bank — all while Congress went to loggerheads over America’s ballooning national debt. (Western financial interests including BlackRock Inc. are among the largest holders of Ukrainian government bonds.)

[_Robert_Participant]

Still not doing your homework. It only takes a few seconds to uncover a Russian propagandist. Since people are working so hard at lying, it reinforces my thoughts that the US is doing the right thing in supporting Ukraine…as long as they want it. If they decide they have had enough and want to make a deal with Russia, we should support that too, even though it would be a mistake IMHO….any deal with Putin will likely be broken.

The editor-in-chief of your source, The Grayzone is Max Blumenthal:

He has been a writing fellow of the Nation Institute.[5] He is a regular contributor to Russian state-owned Sputnik and RT, and has frequently used his various platforms to spread Russian propaganda.[6][7][8] 

Blumenthal is the editor of The Grayzone website, which is known for its apologetic coverage of authoritarian regimes such as the Chinese, Russian, Syrian, and Venezuelan governments, including its denial of chemical attacks by the Syrian government and of human rights abuses against Uyghurs.[10][11][12][13][14]

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Blumenthal

Russia spends a ton on money on propaganda.

[UnseenParticipant]

@ Robert

Your refutation is a plain and simple ad hominem but you yourself show little ability to be skeptical about stuff coming out of the U.S.’s propaganda machine, including the CDC.

Max Blumenthal like several other well-known and respected writers, gets the word out where he can, which can include RT News and Sputnik. He’s not alone. Here are a few notable figures who have appeared in or contributed to RT at some point:

Chris Hedges: An American journalist and author known for his work with The New York Times and his book “War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning.”

Max Keiser: An American broadcaster and financial analyst who hosted the program “Keiser Report” on RT.

Larry King (1933-2021): The legendary American television and radio host, known for his show “Larry King Live,” briefly hosted “Larry King Now” on RT America.

Julian Assange: The founder of WikiLeaks, who provided interviews and commentary to RT.

Thom Hartmann: An American radio personality and author, known for hosting “The Big Picture” on RT America.

Abby Martin: An American journalist and host of the show “Breaking the Set” on RT America.

Peter Lavelle: An American television host and political analyst who hosted “CrossTalk” on RT.

Yes, RT is the Radio Free America equivalent in Russia. It does disperse propaganda, but to be credible, they can’t be 100% nonstop propaganda. Writers like Chris Hedges and Thom Hartmann have no problem with RT becausee it does not censor their writing. Nor does it give them assignments. The propaganda comes from RT;s own staff.

America’s mainstream media perform a function similar to RT, dispersing government propaganda with scant fact checking, if any.

Blumenthal is a radical leftist, which may make his views align with elements rightly questioning of U.S. motives and methods.

BTW, when you accuse someone of being a propagandist, you aren’t denying their truthfulness, just their motives.

And is Wikipedia maintained by professional encyclopedists? No, by anybody who feels like writing something, whatever their motives and whomever they work for.

 

 

• This reply was modified 2 months, 1 week ago by  Unseen.

[UnseenParticipant]

More jabs, more likely to catch Covid? Seems so.

[_Robert_Participant]

RT is dictatorial state-run propaganda channel. There is no other legal public opinion in Russia, unless it is “fake” criticism to appear “open” for their sheepish population. You should know that by now. Oh, such big news, the US is spending money on Ukraine! What’s 10’s of billions compared to the US Military Budget 2023 of over $800 billion to smash the 2nd rated military run by an anti-western dictator (who essentially committed an act of war by meddling in our elections.) I’d like to know what Putin’s Russia costs the US taxpayer in defense and security. Guess RT is not gonna have that story.

 

 

 

 

[UnseenParticipant]

_Robert_ wrote:

RT is dictatorial state-run propaganda channel. There is no other legal public opinion in Russia, unless it is “fake” criticism to appear “open” for their sheepish population. You should know that by now. Oh, such big news, the US is spending money on Ukraine! What’s 10’s of billions compared to the US Military Budget 2023 of over $800 billion to smash the 2nd rated military run by an anti-western dictator (who essentially committed an act of war by meddling in our elections.) I’d like to know what Putin’s Russia costs the US taxpayer in defense and security. Guess RT is not gonna have that story.

Former CIA agent, John Stockwell, explained in 1983 how the ClA used propaganda in mainstream media, including fake stories and photos mixed with accurate reports, to manipulate public opinion and manufacture consent.

Do you imagine they’ve gotten worse at it in the meantime?

All governments work actively to meet their ends without respecting truth. It doesn’t mean that anyone telling an inconvenient truth is working for the enemy.

That smacks of McCarthyism.

We have a government that can never afford to make life better for people like you and me but can always afford to find money to kill people with and fill the already bursting pockets of a ruling class.

Max Blumenthal has done some great journalism and it’s simply character assassination to write him off because he tells truths that make the U.S. look deservedly bad. I notice you haven’t refuted one claim he’s made. All you do is assume that someone else is correct when they defame him.

Look up argumentum ad verecundiam.

The Wikipedia entry was written by anonymous with who knows what motives. Here’s a counter to that piece. It’s a list of pieces he’s written for The Nation. Is it just Russian propaganda? I don’t think so.

• This reply was modified 2 months, 1 week ago by  Unseen.

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