Posted on 03/16/2022 8:58:56 AM PDT by MercyFlush
On March 3, as Russian military forces bombed Ukrainian cities as part of Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of his neighbor, the Kremlin sent out talking points to state-friendly media outlets with a request: Use more Tucker Carlson.
“It is essential to use as much as possible fragments of broadcasts of the popular Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who sharply criticizes the actions of the United States [and] NATO, their negative role in unleashing the conflict in Ukraine, [and] the defiantly provocative behavior from the leadership of the Western countries and NATO towards the Russian Federation and towards President Putin, personally,” advises the 12-page document written in Russian. It sums up Carlson’s position: “Russia is only protecting its interests and security.” The memo includes a quote from Carlson: “And how would the US behave if such a situation developed in neighboring Mexico or Canada?”
The document—titled “For Media and Commentators (recommendations for coverage of events as of 03.03)”—was produced, according to its metadata, at a Russian government agency called the Department of Information and Telecommunications Support, which is part of the Russian security apparatus. It was provided to Mother Jones by a contributor to a national Russian media outlet who asked not to be identified. The source said memos like this one have been regularly sent by Putin’s administration to media organizations during the war. Independent media outlets in Russia have been forced to shut down since the start of the conflict.
The March 3 document opens with top-line themes the Kremlin wanted Russian media to spread: The Russian invasion is “preventing the possibility of nuclear strikes on its territory”; Ukraine has a history of nationalism (that presumably threatens Russia); the Russian military operation is proceeding as planned; Putin is protecting all Russians; the “losing” Ukrainian army is shelling residential areas of eastern Ukraine controlled by Russia; foreign mercenaries are arriving in Ukraine; Europe “is facing more and more problems” because of its own sanctions; and there will be “danger and possible legal consequences” for those in Russia who protest the war. The document notes that it is “necessary to continue quoting” Putin. It claims that the “hysteria of the West had reached the inexplicable level” of people calling for killing dogs and cats from Russia and asks, “Today they call for the killing of animals from Russia. Tomorrow, will they call for killing people from Russia?”
A section headlined “Victory in Information War” tells Russian journalists to push these specific points: The Ukrainian military is beginning to collapse; the Kyiv government is guilty of “war crimes”; and Moscow is the target of a “massive Western anti-Russian propaganda” operation. It states that Russian media should raise questions about Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s state of mind and suggest he is not truly in charge of Ukraine. And it encourages these outlets to “broadcast messages” highlighting the law recently passed by the Russia Duma that makes it a crime to impede the war effort or disseminate what the government deems “false” information about the war, punishable for up to 15 years in prison. This portion instructs Russian journalists to emphasize that these penalties apply to anyone who promotes news about Ukrainian military victories or Russian attacks on civilian targets.
This is the section of the memo that calls on Russian media to make as much use as possible of Tucker Carlson’s broadcasts. No other Western journalist is referenced in the memo.
Mother Jones is not posting the full document to protect the source of the material. Here are photos of the memo. The first shows the opening page; the next displays the paragraph citing Carlson.
Mother Bull Sheets
Really? How do you know?
A lot of spinning going on.*
IMHO Time will tell.
From Steve Cortes this morning on War Room:
Biden needs a “beard” on whom to blame economic woes of US. Putin is perfect. And from Biden speeches, seems he was certain Putin would invade...sort of like poking the bear.
Heard someone say Zelensky’s economy was on the skids, so Putin is perfect blame for that too. Think of the money that is going to go into Ukraine in rebuilding—sort of like Haiti with the Clinton Foundation which has been reopened for business...
*I think we are being propagandized to such an extent like no other time—first COVID, and then as Carlson pointed out, with the Emergency Powers conferred by COVID, we now have War Powers.
Many who are far more learned than I am are stating that we are headed towards kinetic WWIII. Who benefits from this?
It's a "put yourself in another mans shoes" analogy. It takes you out of thinking of Putin as an evil madman (i.e. emotionally) and instead thinking through the possible concerns motivations he might have so you can decide objectively if they hold water. What if China built a biolab in Tijuana or maybe more credibly a fentanyl factory?
Note that I don't think Russia invading Ukraine had anything to do with biolabs. I think it had to do with expansion of NATO into Ukraine which would guarantee a hostile government there for the foreseeable future. Remember when for 200 years America held to the Monroe Doctrine predicated on the concept that European colonization within the Western Hemisphere would be considered a hostile act against the USA? If the USA could have official policy for 200 years that a European power colonizing, say, Peru, would be considered a hostile act against the USA, is it possible that Russia might be justified in having a similar position vis-a-vis NATO expansion right up to the Russian border? Note: The Monroe doctrine was meant as a warning, a deterrent. It was never used to open a war pre-emptively. Hence yes, this analogy is imperfect too. Such is life.
Just things to ponder.
Yep. Pretty sure I know which 2 those are.
Agree
Remember when a photo of a dead little girl on a beach in Europe was used to justify the entire continent committing cultural suicide by rashly inviting thousands and thousands of unvetted you muslim men (mostly men) to flood into Europe? That'll make it all better for that little girl, right? No but plenty of other little girls are now endangered though. Good work propagandists!
National and international policies should not be made on the basis of a sob story, no matter how sad.
Tell me what part of the disclaimer “(UNCONFIRMED)” was too difficult for you to grasp?
I have about the same reaction when I see you posting your usual puff pieces for Pidor Putin.
Bflr
Tucker is about the only person on air who tells the truth as he sees it, no matter whose ox he gores. I agree with him on Russian, and I can not believe the folks here who are still going on about the Cold War days. Gee people, you are as bad as the blacks still whining about Jim Crow, instead of living in the year, 2022.
Folks.......this is all about feeding MIC beast. Those senators know who butters their bread.
I”m sorry innocent Ukranians are suffering because of the geopolitical blunders made by Biden and the deep state........this all could have been avoided if they let
Zelensky say no Nato, yes to neutrality but Biden and Blinken didn’t. They forced Ukraine to sign a strategic agreement on Nov 21, 2021 the pushed Russia into a war footing!
The dishonest media is blinded on this very fact. Read the document......
https://www.state.gov/u-s-ukraine-charter-on-strategic-partnership/
If doubt US funded Bio labs were in play....read the very last point in the Agreement.
The United States and Ukraine reaffirm the need to strengthen Ukraine’s healthcare infrastructure and its capacity to react to and manage pandemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The United States intends to continue to explore pathways for providing Ukraine with assistance to advance these objectives.
“I can not believe the folks here who are still going on about the Cold War days”
Oh yeah. It was good times. We used to hang out along the Iron Curtain and have hot dog and piroshki nights with our Soviet friends. They were really friendly and never randomly shot at us. Nope, not at all.
Why do the Ukraine’s need help? They are winning the war. All the News (fox included) say that they are beating back the poorly trained, poorly lead Russian Army at every turn. Even the Russian Navy is no threat! Russia is a washed up ex-superpower. I bet their old nukes will not work. They, the Ukraine’s should invade Russia and march on Moscow—Pull Putin from his office and kill him to the cheers of the Russian People. I’m sure we can set up Hunter Biden to act as the Governor General of the Free Democratic Nation of Russia. Without Russia—we need no more NATO! Gas prices will drop too! Democratic Party to rule for 100 Years!
Military folk said Russia had 30 days. It’s day 20.
Mother Jones was one of the primary pushers of the Trump Russian collusion hoax. Anyone who reads Mother Jones at face value is a partisan or not very smart.
“Oh yeah. It was good times. We used to hang out along the Iron Curtain and have hot dog and piroshki nights with our Soviet friends. They were really friendly and never randomly shot at us. Nope, not at all.”
Oh, I bet it was!!! Just like riding up there to the Space Station and floating around!
It makes sense.
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