That being said, I struggle to be certain that Putin's Russia itself is not capable of being a malignant and oppressive state, with nefarious aims when it suits. I do take on board some of the points you advocate and I do have a healthy distrust of a number of states, as you are aware already. But I take in to account other states that surround Russia, like Poland, Sweden, Finland. I think if Russia really were the good guys, we might see more reticence from them with regards to their aims going forward. I don't think this is good guys Vs bad guys. I think it's something more complex.
It is a fact(easily checkable, Roch) that the populations of those countries were against NATO membership until recently. Those that actually lived and experienced the cold war. NATO expansion instead of disbandment has led to where we are now. Massively propagandised western populations are so unquestioning that they will now believe any accusation against Russia.
Western populations are being led by compromised and traitorous politicians and lied to by an equally compromised media. Why are there so many rifts within NATO itself? if it is so popular?Public opinion in many NATO countries is against membership(Turkiye, Croatia, Hungary ...). Without censorship, that number would be even greater. NATO members siding with Russia? Is there really an appetite to join NATO? or is it manufactured by compromised politicians and media? Western media are not impartial observers and reporters of events.
The equally as bad argument is always weak in my opinion, Roch. It is "half of a confession" in truth. Yes, yes ok, we have illegally invaded too many countries to count, killed uncounted millions, displaced millions more, caused untold deaths through our use of depleted uranium weapons, atrocities such as Fallujah, Mosul, Raqqa, run illegal black sites such as Guantamo Bay, torture at Abu Ghraib + others, illegally sanction(abusing reserve status) and regime changed very brutally other nations. And that is just the last 20 years.
But how do we know that Russia/China won't be as bad...? Because we have set the bar so fucking high-that's why.
There is zero evidence of Russia or China seeking expansionist or imperialist ambitions. They sanction no-one illegally. They have launched no illegal aggressive wars against defenceless states across Africa and the Middle East. The world knows and is turning away en-masse away from the warmongering imperialist west.
Neither of Russia or China have stolen the gold and foreign reserves of any number of countries. NATO's rap sheet speaks for itself. Russia's and China's actions speak for themselves. The rest of the world (Africa, Asia, South America) is who needs convincing-not indoctrinated complacent western populations. Russia and China are bringing the world with them. Rest of the world have had enough of centuries of western imperialism. The crimes are too vast to list. "Balcony deaths" in Russia don't even register anywhere else in the world and nor should they here.
