In the twenties and thirties, there were writers and journalists - even on the Left - who sang the praises of Mussolini's Italy and Nazi Germany, so one shouldn't be surprised by similar support for Russia and China from Bilger.

Russia invades the Crimea ? it's the West's fault. Russia invades Georgia ? The West provoked it. Russia invades the Ukraine ? They were provoked by elements in the Ukraine - and of course by the West. Nazis in the Ukraine ? Just Google "Zhirinovsky".

So if China breaches all manner of maritime law ? Clearly that's in response to what the West, i.e. the US, might do. China attacks Indonesian naval ships ? Clearly, somehow, they were encouraged by the US - we'll find evidence of it any day now - and anyway, it's better to anticipate attacks and get in first than just to blithely wait.

Yes, indeed.

God, what a lap-dog.

Joe

Propaganda John? Parenthetically that's your particular forte, and none better at it or serving the interest of, given your take, innocence personified Putin!

I waded through as much of this warmonger's verbal vomit as I could tolerate! Suggest next time you try talking from a little higher up!
Rhrosty.

I feel for writers like Pilger who try to explain a few basics of pol economy and IR and face the sort of uncomprehending responses seen in the comments section.

No.

The world is not divided into people intrinsically good (us) and irredeemably evil ("them").

It is about resources, oligarchies and Big Game geopolitics, not Caped Crusaders and Jet Jacksons saving the nice people from the wicked ones.

Methinks someone is off his meds.

"Russia invades the Crimea ? it's the West's fault. Russia invades Georgia ? The West provoked it. Russia invades the Ukraine ? They were provoked by elements in the Ukraine - and of course by the West. Nazis in the Ukraine ?"

Joe, four propositions in one short paragraph and four absolute historical fantasies. Only the last sentence is accurate but your question mark conveys doubt. Do you actually bother to understand what you write about, or do you just have a set number of standard responses regardless of the topic?

Dear James,

So, when Russia invaded Georgia and seized half its territory in 2008, are you suggesting that it wasn't the fault of the US ? That Russia provoked pretexts for that invasion ?

When Russia invaded the Crimea two years ago, are you suggesting that neither the Ukraine nor the US were in any way guilty of provoking Russia ? That Russia made the decision to invade with no provocation at all ?

But because there are pro-Nazis in the Ukraine just as there are in Russia itself, somehow the West or the US has provoked that ? As I wrote, Google 'Zhirinovsky'.

So what fantasy are you referring to ? What standard response ?

Sometimes it must be difficult to be a useful idiot, but persevere, James, they need you.

Joe