“Russian aggression” as a new political meme
The well-known western publicist Oliver Tickell called the mouthworn phrase “Russian aggression” the “meme of the day” of the BBC company (in the original: “Russian aggression” is the BBC's meme of the day). The journalist tried to count how many times the host of one program on Radio 4 would repeat this expression in 15 minutes, but lost count.
Critical article by Oliver Tickell (Oliver Tickell) published on the portal CounterPunch.
In the very first lines, the analyst called the concept of “Russian aggression” the “meme of the day” of the BBC radio station. The journalist was unable to count how many times about the “Russian aggression” was reported by the presenter of one program on Radio 4 in a quarter of an hour. This entire program was devoted to the “Russian problem,” and the phrase “Russian aggression” was repeated all the time.
What's the matter?
The idea that radio inspires listeners is as follows. Russia is supposedly a huge and, in addition, a growing threat to the international order, peace and stability. Russian bombers "threaten" Britain because they fly over the English Channel (such statements are made, despite the fact that Russian planes were in international airspace).
Then the theme develops: Russia, they say, is preparing expansion against the West, is going to attack "sovereign states", starting with Ukraine. “And - oh, horror! - we are near! "
Commentators, who were invited to the studio, "were unanimous in their views." NATO must respond to the threat. President Vladimir Putin is a “dangerous monster”: he refuses to comply with “international law”! NATO countries must increase their defense spending to successfully counter the Russian threat!
However, no representatives from the administration of the NATO bloc were on the air for some reason. The Alliance did not participate in this tumultuous discussion. But the presenters could take an interest in the opinion of Jens Stoltenberg (NATO Secretary General) about the alliance planes flying near the borders of Russia (this happened after all).
Of course, none of the participants in the program said a single word that the “annexation” of Crimea was the result of an aggressive policy not from Russia, but the United States, which, through NATO, tried to annex the whole of Ukraine.
Nobody recalled that the transition to the Crimea to Russia occurred after the referendum and without a single shot. The referendum reflected the will of the people. To the doubters, the author advises to compare the Crimean situation with the “justified annexation” that Israel is taking in relation to Palestine.
The media either lie to us or are silent about the truth, says the author of the article.
There was not a single person in the BBC studio who would raise the issue of NATO expansion “up to the border of Russia with Ukraine”, as well as the issue of installing missile systems along the border and the existing plans to seize the naval base in Sevastopol, where the Black Sea Fleet is based fleet RF. The US wanted to seize this base. I wonder how the US would react if Russia tried to pull off such a "trick" in Mexico or Cuba, in Guantanamo?
In their the news the BBC is ready to talk over and over again about the millions of refugees fleeing the war zones in eastern Ukraine. However, the BBC is silent that these refugees overwhelmingly go to Russia, where it is safe. Would people go to the aggressor? But the BBC does not talk about it.
And what about the Malaysian liner flight MH17, which was shot down over Eastern Ukraine? Now, when it may become clear that the Boeing was shot down by the Ukrainian Su-25, story with the plane "completely disappeared from the news."
Well, of course, the BBC will never tell you that the real threat to international peace and stability is not Russia, but the North Atlantic Alliance.
“BBC” endlessly warns about another “big threat” - Islamic extremism. But radio broadcasts never say that, until recently, three independent secular regimes firmly opposed Islamic extremism — Iraq, Libya, and Syria.
Not reminded in the news that Al-Qaeda was created in Afghanistan by the United States.
Leaders will not say that the deliberate destruction of secular or moderate NATO regimes has created a state and legal vacuum, which was immediately filled with Islamic State militants. This then led to the growth of Islamic fundamentalism in North and West Africa, including the intensification of the brutal Boko Haram.
Or did the BBC repeat incessantly that fifteen of the nineteen militants who created 9 / 11 were citizens of Saudi Arabia, the “great ally” of the USA in the Middle East? No, this is silent.
Once, on the eve of the war in Iraq, the BBC portrayed the dangerous and terrible Saddam Hussein. And now it was the turn to make reports on the "Russian aggression."
The journalist believes that the West is slowly preparing its people for war with Russia.
But after all, the Russian nuclear weapon - it exists, this is not a myth with an Iraqi test tube. Nuclear war "will be an unthinkable disaster for all people and the entire planet."
Nevertheless, NATO "deliberately poisons the Russian bear," writes the analyst. What the West calls "aggression" is actually Russia's defensive actions. And the Russians have this right, the publicist believes.
What is the NATO bloc guided by? This alliance was created during the Cold War as a military alliance. And with the end of the Cold War, its meaning disappeared. Simply put, it is no longer needed. We should not pay for his activities, the author believes.
But there is also the United States - a state that wants to totally "dominate" in the "unipolar world." Similar ideas are characteristic of "neoconservatives". Once their ideas were put into life by George Bush, but now they should follow Barack Obama.
Oliver Tickell advises people not to fall for propaganda.
Ordinary citizens should “block” all attempts to impose a new war on the world, which “can literally destroy civilization and much of what is alive on planet Earth.”
In no case can one believe anti-Russian propaganda, the author writes. This propaganda is intended to "defame" Moscow. The BBC and other companies involved in persecuting Russians fill the world with "mass news." In essence, these media lead their listeners and viewers by the nose.
The journalist also urges British citizens to talk about all this - with friends, family, in pubs, to write in social networks.
Do we have a democracy? Good! Let these questions be put on the agenda. “Press down on elected candidates in your districts,” advises the journalist. State the importance of peace with Russia, oppose the "unnecessary and stupid war."
“Remember,” says Oliver Tykell, “it could work!”
There are relevant examples.
In August, NATO 2013 gathered to fight with Syria. The cause of the war could have been the fictional use of chemical weapons by President Assad. However, after political debates, a number of deputies retreated from the idea of fighting and refused to support Cameron’s “military adventurism.” 30 August on the alleged war was put an end. This has undermined US initiatives.
The situation in Syria remains dire, the author notes, but far from as bad as it could have been after the NATO bombings. “Just look at the examples” of other countries, advises the publicist. Here they are: Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya. And you can easily imagine what could become of Syria.
Yes, it is difficult for simple sensible people to "overcome the most powerful military propaganda regime in the world." But this is why it is necessary to constantly expose the lies of the media and oppose the horrors of war and destruction. This can and should be done!
Thus, let us add on our own, the Western public gradually opens their eyes. Such honest journalists as Oliver Tikell help to get rid of the blinders of the monstrous anti-Russian propaganda.
Citizens of Western countries do not want war with Russia. No one in his right mind would provoke a world massacre that would quickly turn a half-planet into a nuclear dump.
But mad politicians sitting in high chairs continue to "condemn the aggression of Russia," buying as many journalists as they need to promote their gloomy ideas. Behind the price of politics is not worth it: after all, their whims are paid by taxes by the duped peoples.
Critical article by Oliver Tickell (Oliver Tickell) published on the portal CounterPunch.
In the very first lines, the analyst called the concept of “Russian aggression” the “meme of the day” of the BBC radio station. The journalist was unable to count how many times about the “Russian aggression” was reported by the presenter of one program on Radio 4 in a quarter of an hour. This entire program was devoted to the “Russian problem,” and the phrase “Russian aggression” was repeated all the time.
What's the matter?
The idea that radio inspires listeners is as follows. Russia is supposedly a huge and, in addition, a growing threat to the international order, peace and stability. Russian bombers "threaten" Britain because they fly over the English Channel (such statements are made, despite the fact that Russian planes were in international airspace).
Then the theme develops: Russia, they say, is preparing expansion against the West, is going to attack "sovereign states", starting with Ukraine. “And - oh, horror! - we are near! "
Commentators, who were invited to the studio, "were unanimous in their views." NATO must respond to the threat. President Vladimir Putin is a “dangerous monster”: he refuses to comply with “international law”! NATO countries must increase their defense spending to successfully counter the Russian threat!
However, no representatives from the administration of the NATO bloc were on the air for some reason. The Alliance did not participate in this tumultuous discussion. But the presenters could take an interest in the opinion of Jens Stoltenberg (NATO Secretary General) about the alliance planes flying near the borders of Russia (this happened after all).
Of course, none of the participants in the program said a single word that the “annexation” of Crimea was the result of an aggressive policy not from Russia, but the United States, which, through NATO, tried to annex the whole of Ukraine.
Nobody recalled that the transition to the Crimea to Russia occurred after the referendum and without a single shot. The referendum reflected the will of the people. To the doubters, the author advises to compare the Crimean situation with the “justified annexation” that Israel is taking in relation to Palestine.
The media either lie to us or are silent about the truth, says the author of the article.
There was not a single person in the BBC studio who would raise the issue of NATO expansion “up to the border of Russia with Ukraine”, as well as the issue of installing missile systems along the border and the existing plans to seize the naval base in Sevastopol, where the Black Sea Fleet is based fleet RF. The US wanted to seize this base. I wonder how the US would react if Russia tried to pull off such a "trick" in Mexico or Cuba, in Guantanamo?
In their the news the BBC is ready to talk over and over again about the millions of refugees fleeing the war zones in eastern Ukraine. However, the BBC is silent that these refugees overwhelmingly go to Russia, where it is safe. Would people go to the aggressor? But the BBC does not talk about it.
And what about the Malaysian liner flight MH17, which was shot down over Eastern Ukraine? Now, when it may become clear that the Boeing was shot down by the Ukrainian Su-25, story with the plane "completely disappeared from the news."
Well, of course, the BBC will never tell you that the real threat to international peace and stability is not Russia, but the North Atlantic Alliance.
“BBC” endlessly warns about another “big threat” - Islamic extremism. But radio broadcasts never say that, until recently, three independent secular regimes firmly opposed Islamic extremism — Iraq, Libya, and Syria.
Not reminded in the news that Al-Qaeda was created in Afghanistan by the United States.
Leaders will not say that the deliberate destruction of secular or moderate NATO regimes has created a state and legal vacuum, which was immediately filled with Islamic State militants. This then led to the growth of Islamic fundamentalism in North and West Africa, including the intensification of the brutal Boko Haram.
Or did the BBC repeat incessantly that fifteen of the nineteen militants who created 9 / 11 were citizens of Saudi Arabia, the “great ally” of the USA in the Middle East? No, this is silent.
Once, on the eve of the war in Iraq, the BBC portrayed the dangerous and terrible Saddam Hussein. And now it was the turn to make reports on the "Russian aggression."
The journalist believes that the West is slowly preparing its people for war with Russia.
But after all, the Russian nuclear weapon - it exists, this is not a myth with an Iraqi test tube. Nuclear war "will be an unthinkable disaster for all people and the entire planet."
Nevertheless, NATO "deliberately poisons the Russian bear," writes the analyst. What the West calls "aggression" is actually Russia's defensive actions. And the Russians have this right, the publicist believes.
What is the NATO bloc guided by? This alliance was created during the Cold War as a military alliance. And with the end of the Cold War, its meaning disappeared. Simply put, it is no longer needed. We should not pay for his activities, the author believes.
But there is also the United States - a state that wants to totally "dominate" in the "unipolar world." Similar ideas are characteristic of "neoconservatives". Once their ideas were put into life by George Bush, but now they should follow Barack Obama.
Oliver Tickell advises people not to fall for propaganda.
Ordinary citizens should “block” all attempts to impose a new war on the world, which “can literally destroy civilization and much of what is alive on planet Earth.”
In no case can one believe anti-Russian propaganda, the author writes. This propaganda is intended to "defame" Moscow. The BBC and other companies involved in persecuting Russians fill the world with "mass news." In essence, these media lead their listeners and viewers by the nose.
The journalist also urges British citizens to talk about all this - with friends, family, in pubs, to write in social networks.
Do we have a democracy? Good! Let these questions be put on the agenda. “Press down on elected candidates in your districts,” advises the journalist. State the importance of peace with Russia, oppose the "unnecessary and stupid war."
“Remember,” says Oliver Tykell, “it could work!”
There are relevant examples.
In August, NATO 2013 gathered to fight with Syria. The cause of the war could have been the fictional use of chemical weapons by President Assad. However, after political debates, a number of deputies retreated from the idea of fighting and refused to support Cameron’s “military adventurism.” 30 August on the alleged war was put an end. This has undermined US initiatives.
The situation in Syria remains dire, the author notes, but far from as bad as it could have been after the NATO bombings. “Just look at the examples” of other countries, advises the publicist. Here they are: Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya. And you can easily imagine what could become of Syria.
Yes, it is difficult for simple sensible people to "overcome the most powerful military propaganda regime in the world." But this is why it is necessary to constantly expose the lies of the media and oppose the horrors of war and destruction. This can and should be done!
Thus, let us add on our own, the Western public gradually opens their eyes. Such honest journalists as Oliver Tikell help to get rid of the blinders of the monstrous anti-Russian propaganda.
Citizens of Western countries do not want war with Russia. No one in his right mind would provoke a world massacre that would quickly turn a half-planet into a nuclear dump.
But mad politicians sitting in high chairs continue to "condemn the aggression of Russia," buying as many journalists as they need to promote their gloomy ideas. Behind the price of politics is not worth it: after all, their whims are paid by taxes by the duped peoples.
Observed and translated by Oleg Chuvakin
- especially for topwar.ru
- especially for topwar.ru
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