Russia hacked! Russia colluded! Russia...trolled!

How much further can the goalposts be moved?

Personally, I think the ‘collusion’ theory is dead, and has been for ages, and this latest indictment undermines it even further - if there was ‘collusion’ between the Trump campaign and these 13 Russians, why were the Trump officials ‘unwitting’ during their interactions? (NB when I say that I think the collusion theory is dead, I mean collusion between Trump and the Kremlin, not Trump and Russian mafia - money laundering etc - I don’t rule this out).  

The entire Russiagate narrative has been shaky, to say the least, from the off, and the media coverage has been...well, completely bonkers. But I have always thought it entirely plausible that the Russian government would be meddling in some way, as many countries do. I just think evidence is quite important, and it has been quite clear since Trump was elected that the 'mainstream' corporate media has focussed on the Russiagate narrative, ignoring the lack of evidence and any contradictory info, in order to undermine Trump’s authority, distract from Hillary’s embarrassing defeat, and manufacture consent for ‘deep state’ ambitions. (Also, my priority is to focus on American meddling, as I believe that to be at the root of most of the unrest in this world.  It really is the ultimate form of supremacist exceptionalism for Americans to get so riled up at other governments meddling in their affairs!). 

If the Kremlin has been meddling, and if this ‘Project Lakhta’ is legit, (and if it can be shown that the Russians involved were acting on behalf of the Kremlin, and it wasn't just a commercial trolling scam), it was pretty pointless, considering that the so-called ‘Putin puppet’ Trump has worsened relations with Russia - he has clamped down on Kremlin-funded media, armed the anti-Russian regime in Ukraine, occupied northern Syria, and expanded NATO into Montenegro; all very anti-Putin moves. 

But is it legit? Was ‘Project Lakhta’ definitely a Kremlin operation? Could it not have been some wealthy actor in Russia operating independently? Or could the whole thing be a CIA operation? Who knows. 

Putin had every reason to desire a Trump/Bernie presidency over a Hillary presidency. Russia has been gradually encircled by NATO military bases, and Trump expressed desires for friendlier relations (and Bernie was the anti-war candidate - well, comparitively). Whereas Hillary was a known hawk and wanted a no-fly-zone in Syria, aka likely direct conflict with Russia, aka possible nuclear Armageddon. So the Kremlin had (and still has) every reason to seek to 'sow dissent' in America, to burst the corporate media war propaganda bubble, and encourage Americans to see that, with America’s imperial foreign policy, the world is headed in an extremely dangerous direction. Kremlin-funded tv network RT does this. Is it propaganda if it's the truth? 

Thus, if this was a Kremlin sanctioned operation, I see it as entirely defensive, not offensive. Imagine what America would do if a Russian military alliance encroached on them, and if Russia carried out a coup in Mexico (as America did in Ukraine) - they would do slightly more than what Putin is alleged to have done, that’s for sure!

It is also becoming clearer that the powers that be in American are seeking to smear all dissent against the status quo, from which they benefit, on the alleged Russian interference campaign. This is ridiculous - Americans do not need Putin's help to feel enraged at the state of their country. (Or maybe they do. RT sure seems to do a better job of covering it all than the American 'free press' does!).

Whether or not it is true that the Kremlin has been meddling, it is clear that the Russiagate hysteria has ended up being used to justify internet censorship and to quell dissent, to distract from examining the real reasons behind Trump’s win - the Washington Post has acknowledged that there is little evidence that alleged Kremlin meddling had any effect on the election - and to justify a dangerous escalation in tensions with a nuclear power, (to benefit the military industrial complex).

Let’s not forget that, as I said, this whole narrative began on very shaky grounds, with evidence-lite allegations of Russia ‘hacking the election’/‘hacking the DNC emails'. Let’s not forget that we know Hillary’s team planned to use these allegations to undermine Trump’s presidency, (no doubt using their propagandists in the corporate press). Let’s not forget the litany of Russiagate ‘fake news’, and how it has dominated headlines for over a year, sidelining so much. Let’s not forget that Obama legalized psychological operations.

And let’s not forget that the plan of the American Empire; of the neocons, and the neoliberals, is that of global domination. They have Russia in their sights. And China. And Iran. And North Korea. And Venezuela. And Yemen. And they’ve not given up on Syria. 

Russia's (recently reduced) military budget is $70billion. NATO’s combined budget is $1trillion. Russia IS NOT A THREAT, but the Neocons and the war profiteers need us to think they are. Putin is not a madman. From the evidence I see, all he and the majority of Russians want, is independence and security.

To the 'anything but Trumpers' - direct your anger at the hegemonic war mongers in America. Direct your anger at the plutocrats who profit off war and have a hold over both parties, not just Trump. Don’t direct your anger and fear at Russia. Don’t play into the hands of the military industrial complex and help edge us closer to catastrophe. They have you in the palm of their hands. Your understandable desperation to oust Trump has led you to cheer for a new Cold War.