Posted on 07/26/2022 8:39:28 AM PDT by Kazan
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul and former Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard have been listed by Ukraine among a number of American politicians, academics and activists Kyiv claims have promoted “Russian propaganda.”
The list was compiled by the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation, founded in 2021 by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to study the impact of Russian disinformation. The center is part of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council.
The list—which also includes retired U.S. Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor, military strategist Edward Luttwak, political scientist John Mearsheimer and journalist Glenn Greenwald—does not explain what the consequences are for those who Ukraine clearly considers responsible for promoting the Kremlin’s line. But it offers explanations for inclusion on the list.
In April, Paul said President Joe Biden provoked Russia to invade its neighbor by advocating Ukraine’s entrance into NATO.
He also said: “You could also argue the countries they’ve attacked were part of Russia. Or part of the Soviet Union.”
Paul was immediately rebuked for this by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who said Russia was not justified in invading Ukraine.
Former Rep. Gabbard said that the U.S. had provoked Putin for many years and that there are 25 dangerous biolabs in Ukraine that could release deadly pathogens.
The former representative has been accused of of lending credibility to Russian propaganda.
The biolab claims have also been supported by Greenwald, who Ukraine says didn’t want the U.S. to help Ukraine to avoid provoking Russia into a nuclear war.
Macgregor is listed as having said that the Russian army was highly skilled and “invincible,” while Mearsheimer is on Ukraine’s blacklist for having said NATO provoked Vladimir Putin into war.
Luttwak is listed as having given support to holding referendums in the breakaway Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.
Newsweek has contacted Paul, Gabbard, Macgregor, Mearsheimer, Greenwald and Luttwak for comment.
Greenwald told UnHerd that the list was “standard McCarthyite idiocy.” Mearsheimer told the news site he was disappointed with being listed as a Russian propagandist, while he defended his claim that the war was provoked by the U.S. wanting to accept Ukraine into NATO.
Luttwak also objected to the label of Russian propagandist. Talking to UnHerd, he said he was not “exactly Putin’s most faithful agent,” saying he has argued for Western powers to send weapons to Ukraine since “day one of the war.”
As well as U.S. citizens, the list of “Russian propagandists” includes political figures, experts and public figures from Germany, Switzerland, Brazil, Poland and France.
Other Americans on the list are: political and business advisor Harlan Ullman, author Paul Pillar, economists Jeffrey Sachs and Steve Hanke, political analyst Brian Berletic, academics Patrick Basham and Clifford Kiracofe, former army officer David Payne, ex-diplomat Michael Springmann, retired intelligence officer Scott Ritter, finance specialist Jason Ross, businessman Mike Callicrate, politicians Geoff Young and Diane Sare, journalists Caleb Maupin and Tony Magliano, retired business consultant George Koo, Republican former Senate staffer Jim Jatras, former CIA officer Ray McGovern, former Virginia State Senator Richard Black and political analyst Graham Fuller.
I support the position of Donald Trump.
If you don’t you’re a Democrat.
If you’re not in for WWIII, and a nuclear war that ends all this discussion you are a Putin puppet according to some on FR who still think it’s 1982. I was a staunch Cold Warrior and indeed the Soviet Union was a direct threat to the USA but the Ukraine is not a country we are obligated to defend by treaty.
Ivan getting punched in the nose is a great thing to watch but none of the warmongers have told me yet why we should give tinkers damn about the corrupt Ukraine which is nothing but a massive money laundering cesspool of corruption for Ivan, US and western politicians, the deep stat, and why it’s worth one drop of American blood. Further, why should I want the continued destruction of the US economy because of the warmongers demands for sanctions which are not hurting Ivan, but the US economy.
Frankly there are a lot of conservatives who have been fooled many times by the US government, its bumbling and incompetent US intelligence agencies, and a pentagon which in the last 25 years has lost two wars, has gone woke and has made it clear the the leadership hates conservatives, time and again and yet they gobble up the current US government BS like a starving dog and beg for more. Come on think McFly!
Eff Ukraine and Zelensky.
100%
Just join the Ukraine mercenaries. Put your money where your mouth is. Biden is going to trigger WWIII if he keeps sending arms and money to Ukraine.
Grab a gun and join the fray. You can report to us from there.
Ukraine is in the top 5 corrupt countries. If Biden wasn’t sending all this money would Zelinsky rat him and his son out on corruption.
Do you want Donald Trump to grab a rifle and fight there? Because I follow his position. All you Russian lover big mouths don’t ever deal with the fact that you directly disagree with president Donald Trump.
I’m surprised Tucker Carlson isn’t on the list.
He’s likely offended
You’re following Biden.
Indeed they are.
In case some need reminding here, Glenn Greenwald was one of the first and very few honest journalists calling out the liars on the Russia hoax.
Dictator Zelensky’s little crown is quite tarnished.
That would be the simplistic, (simpleton?) view...actually I and I think a lot of people believe that Russia is a country run like a Mafia crime family without the good food and if a bunch of Ukrainians want to kill a lot of Russians, good for them.
Let's help them anyway we can.
Aaaannd Cuttnhorse rushes right in with the insult, hissing it within six words! Good job!
Zeep on, my friend. 😄
They’re on their way now!
And you think there’s a Democracy and free country in Russia?
Come on Kazan. You’re trying to hard.
You’re opposing Trump.
Tucker’s guests were on the list.
Hey Tucker is entitled to his position and Ukraine can complain all it wants about people who are not supportive.
Tucker acted like this is an outrage. On this particular issue Tucker is not fair and honest. Why shouldn’t Ukraine complain about people who don’t want the West to help Ukraine.
Lots of countries are corrupt, sadly including our own.
Vietnam is a communist dictatorship, but we might need each other against China.
Philippines is a democracy but notoriously corrupt. Also an ally.
We don’t like Australia on covid policies.
The list goes on and on. We don’t decide only to fight with saints.
These folks have been distracted by a lot of shiny objects. The issue here is Russian military conquest of Ukraine.
It’s not biolabs,Soros, gay comedy routines, statues, or even whether Zelensky shut down a newspaper.
Who are you to judge Ukraine and Zelensky? What veracity of information supports your judgement?? You ever been to Ukraine, been among and conversed with its population and electorate that elected Zelensky? Ever shook hands with the guy, met his wife and family or have personal experience under his command and control? Have you had dinner with Zelensky, and have intimate knowledge of his character, beliefs, virtues and faith?
—
Have you?
He was really wrong on the lockdowns, masks and the vaccine. His choices for staff have been awful. Is he pushing for an endless supply of money and weapons to Ukraine?
I thought he said he would have negotiated a peace by now.
You are a shill for Biden.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.