Employing propaganda tactics, the current emphasis lies in depicting Vladimir Putin and Russia as a significant threat, thereby justifying the provision of military and economic aid to Ukraine.
Since World War II, American political leaders have employed diverse foreign threats as propaganda tactics to rationalize their interventionist policies.
According to an article published by Anti War, since World War II, American political leaders have utilized various foreign threats to justify their interventionist policies. The current focus is on employing propaganda tactics to portray Vladimir Putin and Russia as major menace, using this narrative to provide military and economic aid to Ukraine.
This approach is seen as necessary to counter Russian influence and protect democracy. This pretext of a Russian threat has been exploited using propaganda tactics to increase US military presence in Europe, including Eastern NATO members, and to encourage countries like Sweden and Finland to align with US interests.
This pattern of inflating threats to pursue pre-existing policies is not limited to Europe. propaganda tactics were employed during the Cold War, as the US invoked the specter of international communism to justify interventions worldwide.
The fall of the Soviet Union created a need for a new enemy, which was partially fulfilled by labeling certain countries as adversaries.
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The 9/11 terrorist attacks further utilized propaganda tactics, giving the US a new reason for intervention, with “Islamic terrorism” serving as a continuous justification for military spending and operations.
According to an article published by RFE/RL, while weariness and criticism grew around the costly and prolonged interventions in the Middle East, propaganda tactics using Russia’s actions in Ukraine, particularly the 2022 invasion, presented a more credible enemy reminiscent of the Cold War.
These “propaganda tactics” of the “Russia threat” have not only driven a firm US policy in Europe but have also been employed to justify active involvement in places like West Africa and Syria. Although the US still references concerns about Islamic extremism, the focus has shifted more towards countering Russian influence using these “propaganda tactics” in these areas.
The text concludes by urging the American people to be vigilant against the manipulation of foreign threats to justify a strong and militarized US global presence. The narrative of Putin and the supposed Russian threat is recognized as employing propaganda tactics and is seen as the latest version of this propagandistic strategy.