The people of Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya and many other countries destroyed by US military forces never enjoyed the sympathetic media coverage, much less the humanization, that Ukrainians are getting during the Russian invasion. To the contrary, Afghan patriots who shot at American forces were portrayed as terrorists and enemy combatants. Why the difference?
Why Are We in so Deep for Ukraine?
Ted Rall
Ted Rall is a syndicated political cartoonist for Andrews McMeel Syndication and WhoWhatWhy.org and Counterpoint. He is a contributor to Centerclip and co-host of "The Final Countdown" talk show on Radio Sputnik. He is a graphic novelist and author of many books of art and prose, and an occasional war correspondent. He is, recently, the author of the graphic novel "2024: Revisited."
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Possibly Trump Derangement Syndrome. Even now, well over a year into the Biden, um, presidency, Trump is the one dominating the headlines. As Trump and Putin had a somewhat cordial relationship, backing Ukraine allows many people a once-removed sense of getting back at Trump. Imagine how they’re gonna take it when Trump beats the dems in 2024 after they get crucified at the polls during the midterms.
In so deep FOR Ukraine? It’s more like “with” instead of “for.” The US interest in Ukraine is SOLELY it’s value as a disposable (if necessary) pawn and proxy war fodder against RTP©. (i.e., Rootin’ Tootin’ Putin)
Similarly the US middle and lower economic class is the fodder who will suffer much more from Russia’s responses to Joe “Dirty Harry” Biden’s “sweeping” sanctions.
What matters far more than race is who you are shooting at.
Way back in the eighties we call the Afghanis freedom fighters, they were killing the dreaded Soviets, so we found back door way to supply them with weapons. When the shooting stopped the Afghanis fell out the news. Then came the Taliban and you know how they became vilified for their views before 911. After 911 the major press outlets doubled down and demonized Afghani men.
The real racism test is how Europe and the US treat refuges form war ravaged countries and clearly the Ukrainians are treated far better than Afghanis.