Russian Perspective

I sit next to a Russian guy in work, and he tells me that the way Afghanistan is reported in US media is eerily similar to Soviet media’s reportage on Afghanistan during the 80s.

They were told they were going in to support sensible people with whom they had much in common against religious maniacs and despotic tyrants. Their initial invasion was a success. Nonetheless, as troops stayed there longer, and longer, it was still reported as A Good Thing. Occasionally though, news of perplexing helicopter and airplane crashes, car bombs, stray rockets and a few dead Russian soldiers. And the media never really got a handle on explaining the complex and ever-shifting tribal loyalties. And year after year, the casualities mounted.

I really think Chomsky is right, it’s a testament to the fantastic organizational and pack instincts of people that US media (without forceful coercion but instead through gentle amiable consent) can end up telling basically the same story as the centrally controlled Soviet media apparatus. Parallel evolution of hegemonies, using different power networks. Really, it’s quite amazing.