As much as the Soviet Union succeeded at exporting communism, Liberation Theology, and terrorism, its most successful export may have been anti-Zionism.
Soviet Jews, cut off from Jewish traditions, simply became Soviet people searching for their Jewish roots in archives. And the Soviet person hates everyone
This is the defining trait of the Soviet Union and Russia as a whole: like any empire, it deliberately erodes and destroys the identity of the hundreds of peoples who inhabited that territory. Many surrendered their own culture in silence, while others fought back fiercely. I only recently learned about the unimaginably brutal wars against the northern peoples—the Chukchi, Nenets, and others. The title "prison of nations" has to be earned.
As I read this, a few thoughts came to mind (in no particular order):
a) Reminiscent of the subversion techniques described by Yuri Bezmenov (thus, to some degree, confirming what he said);
b) Those who know history would recognize that while it is inarguable that there is an element in Ukraine with affinity to Nazism, likely some (most?) of that is a product of national memory of he Holodomor genocide by (drum roll please) the Soviet Union and other abuses by Stalin et als.
c) Isn't it interesting that today's Russia is highlighting the Nazi affinity without mentioning what are likely the catalysts. Funny that.
d) While I have sympathy for the (long suffering) Ukrainian people, I've long been a skeptic (for lack of a better term) regarding the current conflict. This because I don't believe that there are ANY "clean hands" in this - not on the part of the U.S., NATO-EU, Russia-Putin or Zelensky-Ukraine. Every entity involved has some legitimate grievances, and every entity involved is the source of some legitimate grievances.
Not bad, but none of this answers the question 'Why?'—it doesn't break down what’s described as a scheme, a methodology, or a toolkit. I’ve already written that the KGB has no internal boundaries or limits: they always sell weapons to all sides of a conflict and interfere in American elections on behalf of both Republicans and Democrats. They built their system of relations with Israel in the exact same way. The author missed this part.
The author wasn't addressing that part. You're not wrong, it's just not his point. I remember how this played out in the 1970s and 1980s. The KGB armed, funded, and trained every terrorist group in sight. But while destabilizing European countries and pro-American Third World states was obviously beneficial, it was also highly beneficial to bring as many Muslims onside as possible, if only (and it wasn't only) to constrict or control Western oil supplies. And for a long time that worked.
Now it's different. The SVR is still there and certainly of many of the same opinions, but like the Russian army, it ain't what it used to be. And though I agree with the author's take on using anti-Zionism against Ukraine, at this point the Russian influence on this in most of the west is historical. What we're facing is a Frankfurt School-derived influence op that's largely homegrown, in the same way that the Soviets invented Liberation Theology but now its tenets are being applied by Woke Protestants who have no idea of its origins.
What they have in common with the KGB is that they're communists. And while the essay doesn't say it, the primary target of the "settler colonialism" critique is not Israel but the United States. Delegitimize the one and you've already delegitimized the other. And there's nothing a bunch of American university professors want more than that.
And Russian Jews to hate their identity
Soviet Jews, cut off from Jewish traditions, simply became Soviet people searching for their Jewish roots in archives. And the Soviet person hates everyone
Sad for anyone to lose their culture.
This is the defining trait of the Soviet Union and Russia as a whole: like any empire, it deliberately erodes and destroys the identity of the hundreds of peoples who inhabited that territory. Many surrendered their own culture in silence, while others fought back fiercely. I only recently learned about the unimaginably brutal wars against the northern peoples—the Chukchi, Nenets, and others. The title "prison of nations" has to be earned.
A movie aptly covers along these lines Sunshine...very powerful
Sunshine by Istwan Sabo with Ralph Fiennes?
Yes i’m shrprised you know it
I'm definitely not a Zoomer.
As I read this, a few thoughts came to mind (in no particular order):
a) Reminiscent of the subversion techniques described by Yuri Bezmenov (thus, to some degree, confirming what he said);
b) Those who know history would recognize that while it is inarguable that there is an element in Ukraine with affinity to Nazism, likely some (most?) of that is a product of national memory of he Holodomor genocide by (drum roll please) the Soviet Union and other abuses by Stalin et als.
c) Isn't it interesting that today's Russia is highlighting the Nazi affinity without mentioning what are likely the catalysts. Funny that.
d) While I have sympathy for the (long suffering) Ukrainian people, I've long been a skeptic (for lack of a better term) regarding the current conflict. This because I don't believe that there are ANY "clean hands" in this - not on the part of the U.S., NATO-EU, Russia-Putin or Zelensky-Ukraine. Every entity involved has some legitimate grievances, and every entity involved is the source of some legitimate grievances.
Let's start with the basics: there is no affinity for Nazism in Ukraine. Period.
Almost no one suffered more under the Nazis than the Ukrainians.
Belarusians. The war claimed one in three.
Well, and Jews, obviously.
Bezmenov nailed it.
Not bad, but none of this answers the question 'Why?'—it doesn't break down what’s described as a scheme, a methodology, or a toolkit. I’ve already written that the KGB has no internal boundaries or limits: they always sell weapons to all sides of a conflict and interfere in American elections on behalf of both Republicans and Democrats. They built their system of relations with Israel in the exact same way. The author missed this part.
The author wasn't addressing that part. You're not wrong, it's just not his point. I remember how this played out in the 1970s and 1980s. The KGB armed, funded, and trained every terrorist group in sight. But while destabilizing European countries and pro-American Third World states was obviously beneficial, it was also highly beneficial to bring as many Muslims onside as possible, if only (and it wasn't only) to constrict or control Western oil supplies. And for a long time that worked.
Now it's different. The SVR is still there and certainly of many of the same opinions, but like the Russian army, it ain't what it used to be. And though I agree with the author's take on using anti-Zionism against Ukraine, at this point the Russian influence on this in most of the west is historical. What we're facing is a Frankfurt School-derived influence op that's largely homegrown, in the same way that the Soviets invented Liberation Theology but now its tenets are being applied by Woke Protestants who have no idea of its origins.
What they have in common with the KGB is that they're communists. And while the essay doesn't say it, the primary target of the "settler colonialism" critique is not Israel but the United States. Delegitimize the one and you've already delegitimized the other. And there's nothing a bunch of American university professors want more than that.