>There is strong contradiction between these statements. You are either Russian or you have been strongly (perhaps without your own knowledge) influenced by the Russian propaganda.
Or you know, I could have independently formed my own opinion, and know the facts of that, much more closer to me, corner of the world than somebody in NY or Colorado reading the mainstream news.
It's like somebody following the CNN, the NYT, the Time, the Economist, etc, and their own country's government, experts, and pundit opinions about global affairs
-- without them ever having read people like Chomsky, Zinn, or anybody local on the places they read about (e.g. Eduardo Galeano) that's not an ally chose for interview by said media --
and thinking theirs is the only possible version of history and world affairs, and anything else is X propaganda (or, another term people are conditioned to use, "conspiracy theory").
>If you do not believe this then ask yourself, why were the countries near the Russian border so desperate to join NATO?
The same reason some of those countries liked the Nazis as well in WWII. Because they had beefs with Russia as USSR (which fucked some of them over royally), and now fear it as a powerful player that could do them damage for its interests. That's in many cases the popular sentiment. In other cases, and especially where ethnic Russia populations are concerned is more Russian friendly.
But add some foreign funding to candidates and parties promoting a rift with Russia, constant hammering of "independent" organizations, diplomatic pressure, some lures like loans, investments and aid if they go NATO, and it's a no brainer.
That said, not all of the where that "desperate to join the NATO", and not all at the same degree. Some understandingly, wanted to keep ties with Russia and play both sides, by cheap resources, do business etc. Those players were also undermined (e.g. by "orange revolutions") in favor of more hardcore lackeys (to the detriment of their country's interests too).
Or you know, I could have independently formed my own opinion, and know the facts of that, much more closer to me, corner of the world than somebody in NY or Colorado reading the mainstream news.
It's like somebody following the CNN, the NYT, the Time, the Economist, etc, and their own country's government, experts, and pundit opinions about global affairs
-- without them ever having read people like Chomsky, Zinn, or anybody local on the places they read about (e.g. Eduardo Galeano) that's not an ally chose for interview by said media --
and thinking theirs is the only possible version of history and world affairs, and anything else is X propaganda (or, another term people are conditioned to use, "conspiracy theory").
>If you do not believe this then ask yourself, why were the countries near the Russian border so desperate to join NATO?
The same reason some of those countries liked the Nazis as well in WWII. Because they had beefs with Russia as USSR (which fucked some of them over royally), and now fear it as a powerful player that could do them damage for its interests. That's in many cases the popular sentiment. In other cases, and especially where ethnic Russia populations are concerned is more Russian friendly.
But add some foreign funding to candidates and parties promoting a rift with Russia, constant hammering of "independent" organizations, diplomatic pressure, some lures like loans, investments and aid if they go NATO, and it's a no brainer.
That said, not all of the where that "desperate to join the NATO", and not all at the same degree. Some understandingly, wanted to keep ties with Russia and play both sides, by cheap resources, do business etc. Those players were also undermined (e.g. by "orange revolutions") in favor of more hardcore lackeys (to the detriment of their country's interests too).