David Frum: Why Is Trump Spouting Russian Propaganda?

[babylonsister]

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/01/trump-just-endorsed-ussrs-invasion-afghanistan/579361/

Why Is Trump Spouting Russian Propaganda?
The president’s endorsement of the U.S.S.R.’s invasion of Afghanistan echoes a narrative promoted by Vladimir Putin.
10:28 AM ET
David Frum

snip//

The crazy part came during the president’s monologue defending his decision to withdraw all 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria and 7,000 from Afghanistan, about half the force in that country.

“Russia used to be the Soviet Union,” he said.

Afghanistan made it Russia, because they went bankrupt fighting in Afghanistan. Russia … The reason Russia was in Afghanistan was because terrorists were going into Russia. They were right to be there. The problem is, it was a tough fight. And literally they went bankrupt; they went into being called Russia again, as opposed to the Soviet Union. You know, a lot of these places you’re reading about now are no longer part of Russia, because of Afghanistan.

Let’s go to the replay:

The reason Russia was in Afghanistan was because terrorists were going into Russia. They were right to be there.

To appreciate the shock value of Trump’s words, it’s necessary to dust off some Cold War history. Those of us who grew up in the last phases of the Cold War used to know it all by heart, but I admit I had to do a little Googling to refresh my faded memories.

snip//

As of mid-morning on January 3, the day after the president’s repetition of Soviet-Putinist propaganda in the Cabinet room, there has been no attempt by the White House to tidy things up: no presidential tweet, no corrective statement. The president’s usual defenders—Sean Hannity, Fox & Friends, the anti-anti-Trump Twitter chorus—have likewise ignored the whole matter. They’re back to denouncing the Steele dossier, fulminating against Mueller, and reprising the Clinton email drama. There’s apparently nothing they can think of to say in exoneration or excuse.

Putin-style glorification of the Soviet regime is entering the mind of the president, inspiring his words and—who knows—perhaps shaping his actions. How that propaganda is reaching him—by which channels, via which persons—seems an important if not urgent question. But maybe what happened yesterday does not raise questions. Maybe it inadvertently reveals answers.

[dalton99a]

1. He probably learned that bit of history from the eminent world historian Vladimir Putin

either over the phone or during their long talk in Helsinki

[peggysue2]

2. Why?

Because Trumpski is a Russian asset and as such he's reading from world history according to Vlad.

At this point in time, Trumpski's references should surprise no one.

[mikeysnot]

3. He asks knowingly....

[Hekate]

4. Frum has more brains and sense of history in his little finger...

TreasonTrump is a scary man.

[Achilleaze]

5. Why do republicans back russia over the USA?

sick unpatriotic bastards

[lark]

6. Personal power for themselves.

Power and the money that goes with it is all that repugs care about. Russia illegally gives them money, so they are OK with letting Russia do whatever else it wants, putting Russia's needs over that of the USA.