Anything You Can Do They Can Do Better,
they can do anything better than you.
Ministry of Malinformation is The Libertine's Op Ed. “In contrast, Russian elections are rigged. Political opponents are imprisoned, or otherwise eliminated from participating in the electoral process. The result is an absence of checks and balances in Russia, and the decision of one man to launch a holy unjustified and brutal invasion of Iraq…I mean Ukraine…Iraq too anyway…”
— George W. Bush
Recent news of The United States spreading vaccine misinformation in Asia (a huge no-no domestically) reminded me of something I had suspected when I saw George Bush’s now infamous gaffe (freudian slip?) mixing up his actions with Putin’s. I think our security state loves projection. For example, election interference is an odd accusation to level at Russia considering how the US probably installed the government currently in Ukraine around the time that Russiagate unfolded.
We also seem generally unbothered by AIPAC influencing our elections. In fact, Israel engages in projections in a manner very similar to us. Accusations of sexual violence and decapitated babies on Hamas’ part turned out to lack direct evidence. It’s safe to assume such horrors accompany most atrocities like the October seventh attacks. Even if we could substantiate specific examples, these would not legitimize the further crimes against humanity evident in the war the IDF is waging in response. Even though they are being used that way. It’s almost like they had these acts in mind before they finished lacing their boots.
I propose the development of a predictive model of what our own nation is up to based on what we and our allies are accusing other powers of. It’s more surprising if you ignore our history in Latin America. I feel certain this model will turn up other examples. If you can think of any other instances of the US or our allies accusing foreign powers of things we are likely guilty of ourselves, please leave a few links and brief explanation in the comments. The things President Bush accuses Russia of in the quote that opens this piece are probably as good a starting point as any.
If you can find examples against the hypothesis, those are valuable too. Either way, at this point it’s going to be difficult to recommend trusting that the US agencies tasked with public health have that in mind as their main concern.