Western Elites Ignore Own Citizens' Anger and Blame Russia Instead

The rise of populist leaderships and alternative movements around the world have sent the perennial powers-that-be running scared, yet still unwilling to address their own failings.
Instead, they seek comfort in blaming bogeymen, something that they have gotten used to all this time. The habit has become the addiction that is effectively killing all that they represent.

Russophrenia: Western elites ignore their own citizens’ anger and blame Russia instead

Bryan MacDonald, an Irish journalist based in Russia
At the start of 1917, rumours reached London that something was stirring in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg). As a result, the concerned Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, urgently dispatched Lord Milner, a diplomat of some repute, to the Russian capital.
His Lordship visited the Tsar and spoke to ministers and members of the Duma, who informed him that enemies of the state were spreading groundless yarns. Sadly, being a creature of his class, Milner believed that only the elites mattered so he neglected to consult any of the general public. Thus, cocooned in his bubble, the peer reported to London that there was nothing the government could not handle and no need to expect no major changes.
However, the same British traveling party also included Lloyd George’s private secretary Philip Kerr. A little more clued in, Kerr walked the streets and interviewed the plain folk. Armed with their predictions, he sent a telegram to Downing Street which asserted that Russia was on the verge of an unstoppable revolution. As it happens, the man who stepped out of the comfort zone was right because Nikolai II was shorn of his crown before the British delegation made it home. We know this story because many years later the ‘Welsh Wizard,’ Lloyd George, revealed the details to Ivan Maisky, the Soviet ambassador to London. And almost a hundred years later, it is a salutary lesson in the dangers of the establishment refusing to acknowledge ordinary people’s concerns when evaluating the causes of political upheaval.
Today, it manifests itself in the electoral earthquakes which have recently shocked America and Britain. Not to mention the increasing popularity of alternative movements across Europe and the diminishing support for traditional centrist parties and their candidates. This has the perennial powers-that-be running scared but, almost uniformly, they seem unwilling to address their own failings.
Instead, they seek bogeymen on which to pin the blame. And Russia has found itself in the cross hairs with alarming frequency. Indeed, it has reached the stage where many popular media outlets see the Kremlin’s hidden hand everywhere. To paraphrase Percy Bysshe Shelley, “Putin’s here, Putin’s there, Putin’s busy everywhere.”
But in reality, he’s not. Because, even if it had the will, Russia simply does not have the resources and capability to interfere in elections across the western world. Sure, Moscow might be able to influence one or two, if it seriously targeted them, but the notion that the Kremlin is playing puppet master in countries as disparate as Bulgaria, Italy, France, Germany and the US is pure hokum.
Despite this, we have the sad spectacle of some Hillary Clinton supporters trying to explain away her failure in the recent Presidential election on Russian meddling. We have seen them blame Moscow for Wikileaks’ exposure of how her own party rigged its primary to ensure her candidacy. Also, the Kremlin is fingered for leaking damaging information on Clinton’s use of personal email servers, rather than official channels, when Secretary of State. Naturally, the fact that these things actually happened seems to be an aside point.
Then there was the almost comedic sideshow of recounts in certain states where Hillary lost relatively narrowly to Donald Trump. Which is Dylan Thomas stuff, raging “against the dying of the light.”
There’s also a schizophrenia at play here, or “Russophrenia” to use a term I coined some time ago. American elites, almost simultaneously, ascribe super powers to Russia and then claim the country is dying. Even those from the same party. Here’s another Democrat, Barack Obama, only two years ago: “Russia does not make anything.  Immigrants aren’t rushing to Moscow in search of opportunity… The population is shrinking.”
Reality Bites 
Now, never mind that these statements are false; they not only reflect a peculiar type of thinking, but also suggest that the quality of advice US leaders are getting on Russia is extremely poor.* Reading the op-ed pages of outlets like The Washington Post and the New York Times reveals the same. Because in these organs, the most prominent voices on Russia tend to be writers with very little (if any) contemporary practical experience of the country. And they are usually blinded by strong ideology, which means they simply cannot countenance Moscow’s point of view.
In parts of Europe, we have a very strange terminology which divides political parties and candidates into “pro-Russia” and “pro-Europe” camps. And never the twain shall meet. This curious branding ignores domestic concerns in various nations and infantilizes debate. It has also come to mean that any individual who does not unequivocally admonish Moscow is dubbed a “useful idiot”. Thus, Bulgaria’s incoming President Rumen Radev is smeared as “pro-Russian,” despite the fact that he was literally a NATO general until a few months ago.
This carry on is very dangerous. Because it creates a new dividing line on the continent. Not a physical one as during the Cold War (although NATO is trying hard in that regard) but an artificial equivalent. One where if you oppose US hegemony, hyper-liberalism, the expansion of Brussels’ power across Europe, mass migration and fast-tracked globalization, you are doing Moscow’s bidding. In this unhinged worldview, politicians as different as Jeremy Corbyn, Sigmar Gabriel, Francois Fillon and Viktor Orban are branded “pro-Russian.” Which is, frankly, insane.
What’s the Story
Then we have the Russian media. There’s also a lot of mental gymnastics taking place when it comes to Moscow-funded broadcasters like RT and Sputnik. On the one hand, we have analysts claiming that the former’s viewing figures are negligible and, on the other, often the same people warn that these entities are a danger to western civilization as we know it. It has now gotten so ridiculous that Westminster and Washington have held committees of inquiry.
What seems to be forgotten is that almost every major country in the world has its own foreign TV channels these days. America boasts RFE/RL and VoA (which have a budget around three times higher than RT), Paris and Berlin bankroll France 24 and Deutsche Welle respectively and Britain’s BBC is a staggeringly large organization which all UK households are obliged to fund via a license fee. In fact, nonpayment can lead to imprisonment.
Indeed, the current hysteria about RT and Sputnik reminds me of the flak thrown at Al Jazeera during the heady days of the “war on terror”. Back then, the Qatari station was considered sympathetic to Al Qaeda and pro-Wahabi and viewed with suspicion. It is notable that since Doha and the West took the same side on the Libya, Syria and Yemeni conflicts we almost never hear anybody criticize Al Jazeera anymore. Perhaps the same will be true of RT a few years from now, if Russia and the US find common ground on foreign policy.
One reason for RT’s popularity has been its willingness to promote stories that are largely ignored by the establishment media. For example, UKIP leaders were regulars on the channel at a time when the UK mainstream considered them to be “fringe.” It is now ridiculous how, instead of learning from this mistake, certain prominent figures in Britain would rather pressurize RT and force it off the airwaves. Perhaps they believe that restoring the old status quo in the UK information space will prevent more movements like “Brexit?”
If so, they are making the same mistake Lord Milner made in 1917. Across the West, there are a lot of very upset citizens who are tired of a neoliberal order which has gutted the middle class and condensed wealth and power into large cosmopolitan cities, while ignoring traditional heartlands.
Blaming Russia for this anger is absurd. And it may also have a parallel to the fate of Nikolai II, who considered the Germans to be the greatest threat to his rule, when the real danger was at home. Look how that ended.
*As it happens, Russia makes a lot of things – such as rockets which launch US satellites into space, for instance. It’s also the world’s third most popular migration destination, after the US and Germany and the population has grown in recent years. In addition, Russia has a higher birthrate than most other European countries.
This article originally appeared in Rethinking Russia.

8 thoughts on “Western Elites Ignore Own Citizens' Anger and Blame Russia Instead”

  1. The politics of the west is in a disgraceful and scandalous state, simply because the bulk of elected leaders are morally and spiritually bankrupt. Much as this phrase has become pretty much overused, it does not detract from or lessen the profound significance its meaning conveys.
    When moral and spiritual fibres crumble, the inner integrity all decent human beings possess, which keeps us in touch with and living an honourable life, what have become?
    So yes, agree that most of today’s western leaders are reviled for their complete lack of honesty and commitment to their people– because they never were leaders– only puppets to the global corporate mafia, while for selling their souls, they become filthy rich and on corrupt sideshow perks, live like kings.
    However, I believe in the USA, the top echelon is deeply aware of the increasing dissatisfaction and deep and anger of ordinary Americans– Freedoms compromised in the aftermath of 9/11 and increasingly draconian laws, spying and whistle blowing which followed later, clearly show the reasons behind Obama’s flood of Executive Orders–virtually ending when he assigned the presidential office, absolute powers, therewith unbeknown to most Americans, he stole the sovereignty of the American people completely. .
    Hence, as the author says, the result is that –“it [now] manifests itself in the electoral earthquakes which have recently shocked America and Britain.” and further spin offs elsewhere– “Not to mention the increasing popularity of alternative movements across Europe and the diminishing support for traditional centrist parties and their candidates.”
    However, Obama’s cunning cannot be over emphasised– as E.O cover strengthening the DHS and weakening the US Military, assigning the president the right to confiscate private property at will, FEMA camps and body bags, the arrival of UN vehicles by the score along with other materiel of war, internal munitions dramatically increased etc, etc– the list and the domestic drills go on and on. What does the above all portend– Yes, natural disasters are on the increase, but what are UN forces needed in the USA of all countries??
    Surely its clear Obama is preparing to institute martial law, should “civil disobedience” spill over– which as he says, would threaten national security. When in fact, Obama has for the last 8 years, been the number one threat to the USA’s national security!! No– to my mind Obama knows he and his ilk are sitting on a powder keg–! The fear of the few, of the many, now becoming a reality. No wonder he just signed his last Executive Order, Federalizing the US Elections —
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=9&v=oAp8AUZ9fRE
    My question to the author of this excellent piece is:- When its now been proven that Obama is not a citizen of the United States of America, he is actually guilty of fraud and no more than a lowdown common criminal– as such surely, this last E.O. along with all the others, are then null and void, as a warrant for his arrest, would follow?

  2. Margeret– But how to get rid of them completely and ASAP? And what if the oaf who hijacked your White House– who federalized the elections in a last desperate attempt to get rid of President Elect Trump, so he can remain in office– institute martial law, as for certain Americans are not going to take this lying down and can see huge drama ensuing from this last dastardly action of his, when I believe, as I observed below, its now been proven, he is not an citizen of the United States– My question is, how will the DHS react and what about your military? Will these mighty forces come to the aid of the American people?– arrest and boot out the puppet of the global mafia who infested and tried to completely destroy your country? — as you say the military caught on… but all of them– So hope and pray you’re right….

  3. “The rise of populist leaderships and alternative movements around the world have sent the perennial powers-that-be running scared, yet still unwilling to address their own failings.
    Instead, they seek comfort in blaming bogeymen, something that they have gotten used to all this time. The habit has become the addiction that is effectively killing all that they represent.”—————————-Fully agree,the ones failing to adress problems(instead create more problems)are the ones to blame.

  4. The article is a cogent overview and summary. One segment of the elite of the western world continue to seek support for establishing another fraud such as the “FULDA GAP” propaganda. The FULDA GAP fraud was Initiated by former NAZI general Reinhard Gehlen after the pre-CIA leadership returned him to Germany about 1947. Reinhard Gehlen returned to the same WWII, NAZI spy HQ in Pullach, a Munich suburb, establishing an extension office in Germany of the CIA. Named the Bundes Nachrichten Dienst, the BND remained in the same WWII NAZI spy HQ complex until initiating a move to a new complex in Berlin in 2014.
    The “FULDA GAP” fraudulent propaganda maintained the cold war against Russian leadership for 40 years, lasting until the fall of the wall in 1989. Germany´s chancellor Merkel has supported the propaganda released by the alias, Barrak H. Obama. Comrade Merkel has assisted CIA subterfuge against the Syrian leadership instead of fighting ISIS, and continues the fraudulent propaganda which claims President Putin interfered with the US presidential vote. It is only logical to conclude that one group of the “elite” of the western world are seeking grounds to establish a repetition of the fraudulent, “FULDA GAP” lie. It is also noteworthy that the “western world media” continue to support the fraudulent propaganda against Russia by the Obama-CIA in the US and the fraud of chancellor Merkel in Germany and the European Union.

  5. Kent Dunn Intel Updates – NATO & Russia Exchange Military Fire, Queen Head Chopped Off, PizzaGate Kill Room Found
    https://youtu.be/JOTvPUrGJ5c
    Date: January 10, 2017 Notes & Commentary: AscensionWithEarth.Com Video: Gary Larrabee YouTube Channel Intel: Kent Dunn
    NATO Military Targets Russian Airplane, Russia Strikes Back Sinks Two NATO War Ships(North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
    Kent Dunn: This morning January 10, 2017, over near the region of Lithuania and Estonia (Baltic States), a Russian plane was flying near by a fleet ships operated by NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). One of the military NATO ships targeted and shot at the Russia plane flying overhead. Russia has a military fleet of battleships off of the coast of Finland. The Russian battleships returned fire against the NATO military fleet who previously tried to shoot down the Russian airplane. Russia hit two military NATO ships and sunk both of them. A total of 300 people were on the two NATO ships that were sunk and they perished in battle. Kent Dunn says it sounds like a major international incident but this is a dark cabal related event, as they were trying to start trouble against Russia.
    Ascension With Earth Commentary: It is well known that the Baltic states in the area have a very controversial history with Russia. In February 2015, a BBC news article quoted UK defense secretary as saying “NATO must be ready for aggression in “whatever form” said Michael Fallon” and “There is a “real and present danger” of Russia trying to destabilise the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, the UK defence secretary says”. The article can be read at this link here. It seems that the event that Kent was talking about was somehow foreshadowed almost two years ago through the cabal’s propaganda outlet at the BBC, but apparently the cabal’s attempt to start a major international incident has failed yet again.
    Read more »
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