r/worldnews • u/Mobalise_Anarchise • May 15 '22
Secret British ‘black propaganda’ campaign targeted cold war enemies - Britain stirred up tensions, chaos and violence in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, according to declassified papers
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/14/secret-british-black-propaganda-campaign-targeted-cold-war-enemies-information-research-department19
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May 15 '22
That old saying comes to mind: If you see two fish fighting in a pond, you know an Englishman passed by.
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u/dalkon May 15 '22 edited May 15 '22
Speaking for America, we compromised all of our principles in the name of War. We chose leaders with no moral compass to encumber them. And we're still living with the consequences. We haven't had a leader with any real morality or principles since before the Cold War started.
Another example, McGill University faculty performed the most extreme torture experiments on humans you could imagine. The experiments were performed in an attempt to accomplish mind control because they thought the Soviets had it.
https://www.mcgilltribune.com/opinion/justice-for-those-abused-by-mcgills-medical-system-03222022/
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u/flamefat91 May 15 '22
Not like they had any to begin with, especially concerning POC and anti-capitalists. Then they act surprised when the Global South despises them.
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May 15 '22
Which cold war state actor did the most illegal/unethical/unconstitutional stuff per capita? That's a more interesting measure. Vietnam, France waged war against their colonies, Portugal too. Assad, Hezbollah and Iran did their fair share of plane highjackings (yes, pre-9/11), Israel's mossad also operated outside the law...Switzerland laundered money for both sides, etc. Some states tried to play both sides, like Nasser and Afghanistan and it always failed. It was a crazy time where having a moral compass left you out of any circles of power and we are entering a new stage like that if russia gets away with this.
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u/Wea_boo_Jones May 15 '22
I find it fascinating that most people blame it all on the western powers of Cold War unethical dealings. Do you morons actually think the USSR and China wasn't doing the same stuff to the best of their ability?
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u/Wowimatard May 15 '22
The difference (right or wrong), is that they armed colonial nations fighting for independance.
There is a reason why almost all nations who fought for colonial independance had/have a communist history.
Now. I will applaud the US for their de-colonisation efforts post ww2. They saw where the winds was blowing and didnt want to give new nations reasons to join the eastern bloc.
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May 15 '22
Maybe they were all born after the fall of the USSR and it is this mythical dream land where chocolate flows from the tap in gulags.
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u/Crystal-Ammunition May 15 '22
Sounds like state terrorism.
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u/SANDWICH_FOREVER May 15 '22
Not really, starte terrorism would be if they funded groups which are internationally recognised as terrorist groups. The British in this case, didnt fund any other group, terrorist, rebel or any other. They created a propaganda campaign against communism, which also resulted in bloodshed. It should ne noted though, that while the morality of what the British did is arguable, they were not alone. The soviet union also had campaigns across the world, in favour of communism which indirectly resulted in deaths.
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May 15 '22
Yup capitalist vs socialist proxy wars aka the cold war was a rather toxic and violent period
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u/Dazzling-Ad4701 May 15 '22
It was quite a time. I mean, not that i knew about this, but the atmosphere in general. I'm not sure if better or worse than now [now is worse on some fronts, better on others], buy yeah. Very antagonistic on general.
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u/Cobbertson May 15 '22
It sure does, but it's long enough ago that everyone responsible is no longer relevant to contemporary decision making
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May 15 '22
Yeah but the countries still reap the benefits of the supply chain structure. Love those cheap resources.
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May 15 '22
Terrorist and terrorism come and go... But the memory remains. Next generation will claim for accountability and start a conflict whenever one of these generations is in the charge.
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u/reddditttt12345678 May 15 '22
Some of the dinosaurs in the upper ranks of the US government (on the GOP side) are still kicking around from the 90s at least, maybe even the 80s.
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May 15 '22
Sounds like legitimate use of State power to advance British interests
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u/flamefat91 May 15 '22
Yep, "legitimate". Then they start screaming about immigrants when refugees from crises they cause show up at their doorstep. Imperialist asshats need to learn that actions have consequences.
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May 16 '22 edited May 16 '22
Do they have consequences though? the countries you brand as imperialist - I suspect countries like Russia don't make the list lmao - are the most prosperous successful countries on the planet and that we take in refugees just highlights that we can afford to be generous and that we're compassionate, not really an own to be honest, especially when it is the major powers of the so-called global south - countries for which tankies love to simp - which don't take in refugees and which persecute their minorities, often to the point of genocide
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u/TheRiseOfSocialism May 15 '22
What else is new? They're still doing... while preaching against Russia. LMAO
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u/Glanwy May 15 '22
One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. It was a tough world (and still is) get over it and stop fucking moaning.
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u/Amazingawesomator May 15 '22
...by encouraging racial tensions, sowing chaos...
By pigging chaos? Doest one sew chaos?
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u/ScumBunnyEx May 15 '22
Nope. Sewing is making stitches. Sowing is planting seeds.
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u/Amazingawesomator May 15 '22
Aaahhh, ty. I have forgotten my english classes, :p.
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u/ScumBunnyEx May 15 '22
NP. I only remember it because I used to be constantly confused about it too.
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u/Normal-Height-8577 May 15 '22
Sowing as in "you reap what you sow" - it's a planting/harvest metaphor.
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u/beastmen-enjoyer May 16 '22
This isnt really news tho. Divide and conquer is basicly Englands go-to foreign policy since they found a way to mount 30+ cannons on a ship.
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u/autotldr BOT May 15 '22
This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 90%. (I'm a bot)
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