In many past wars the invaders and defenders had vastly different cultures and languages.
Information was difficult to obtain.
Information was more easily controlled by the commanders of both sides, and/or their masters.
In the digital age, this task is much more difficult.
Russia has to keep a strong control over information to keep their population in strong support of the war.
It appears they have mostly succeeded, but there are many gaps. Information of the war going badly is filtering back to the Russian population. It is unknown what effect this will have, or how soon. It is unlikely to be a good effect for the Russian effort.
On the other hand, Ukraine appears to need little to boost their own people. As the invaded, the act speaks for itself.
Ukraines major task has been to convince the West they can win, and to maintain the flow of Western aid.
So far, they have succeeded. It is unknown if they will maintain that effectiveness.
—> On the other hand, Ukraine appears to need little to boost their own people
Yet ukraine (I read) hired +20 PR agencies to put out their narrative 24/7
Yet ukraine makes up stories to influence their public (ie Ghost of Kiev) support.
Excellent analysis.
This war is different. We have a relatively small number of people in the west directly affected (Ukrainians, generally) who are involved in the fighting. But behind them are millions and millions of armchair warriors of all kinds, pushing them... waving flags and sending money and refusing to consider anything less than ‘total victory’.
That is the danger. If you think of this war as a football game, the fans in the stands are blocking the exits and refusing to let the team leave the field.
So, in this war, Hollywood, Washington politicians and half of our fellow citizens have bought into this... OUTRAGE! HOW DARE THEY! feeling, injected into us by the media, every day for 8 months.
I do not see a way that we will accept any negotiated peace.
Afghanistan was different - they weren’t tied into the media and doing cameos with the networks almost every night. They have been humanized, we’ve been made to care - but I’m afraid they have pushed it too far.
Will my fellow FReepers who have called others inflammatory names ‘shake hands’ when this is over? Is it even possible to forgive, with so much passion built up by our media? There appears to be just two sides - either 100% for the Ukrainian government and it’s policies, or you’re a dirty, filthy commie.
All for a piece of ground most of us never gave a thought to before February.