Here is an interesting example of how Putin's propaganda works, both internally and externally (since Russians love killing two birds with one stone). Consider this online edition, The National Interest: nationalinterest.org
If you read their "About Us" page, all sounds great
If you read their "About Us" page, all sounds great
Founded in 1985, dedicated to realpolitik, Henry Kissinger, blah-blah. Hell, Ole Hank is even listed as their "Honorary Chairman." The mission is promoting "US national interests" by opposing "liberal hawks" and "neocons" and trying to understand Russia, Iran and China better...
But, the site's CEO and publisher, half-assedly masquerading under an ambiguous name "Dimitri Simes", is a Soviet immigrant who has long ago been recruited by the Kremlin. Their stories have a decidedly pro-Russia slant to the tune of "US must stop looking at Russia as an enemy"
There are also bogus articles with dubious sources about the might of the Russian military as appraised by fake "experts" and quotes from fake characters about America's fear of Russia. None of this crap is much read in the West, of course, except by loonies, cranks & Team Trump
At first glance, it seems like a silly investment by Putin, but publications like these offer a much better return back home. They allow Russian media to quote this "Western media" and "American experts" in articles with headlines like "RUSSIA'S NAVY RANKED THIRD IN THE WORLD"...
... or "AMERICAN PRESS CALLING PUTIN WORLD'S BEST LEADER."
Russians get an utterly fictional view of their own country, which is as important to Putin as fooling Americans into thinking that Russia is their friend. Win-win. Idiots everywhere, unite.
Russians get an utterly fictional view of their own country, which is as important to Putin as fooling Americans into thinking that Russia is their friend. Win-win. Idiots everywhere, unite.
