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I'm not surprised what so ever that young leftists are looking at bin laden letter and seeing it as a critic of us imperialism. Since that is something leftist

by 0dayz 3y ago

I'm not surprised what so ever that young leftists are looking at bin laden letter and seeing it as a critic of us imperialism. Since that is something leftists historically have always been very gullible on, eating up anything labeled "anti-imperialism" if it's associated with the west. I mean for heaven sake you got leftists defending Russia in its imperialistic war against Ukraine (in fact I won't be surprised in 20 to 40 years time leftists will hail putin as a stanch anti-imperialist) and even Serbs in the Balkan wars. Specifically because of how those wars are framed as "anti-imperialist"/influenced by us hegemony. For instance Kyle kulinski hosting secular talk has talked about this letter as a stark "this is the real reason everyone hates us" because of the implied critic of us imperialism, back when this was all new.

e40 3y ago
The only people I see supporting Russia against Ukraine are rightwingers.
- acdha 3y ago
  I’ve some some but they definitely got quieter after the war crimes became public and especially when the Trump-wing of the Republican staked out that position loudly enough that they couldn’t ignore it. Some of them were tankies[1] but most were aligned with the American Green Party, and definitely consider themselves leftists even though their primary function is helping right-wingers get elected. Most of what I saw was conspiratorial: laundered talking points about how Ukraine’s leaders are corrupt and in league with bankers and Biden, the atrocities were exaggerated or faked, etc. This was never more than a quickly-rejected fringe anywhere I’ve seen it but it was definitely real and in a couple of cases from people who’d been there for a long time so I don’t think it was some kind of troll operation — more like how GamerGate had a few communities saying “I knew he was always a bit weird and edgy but I didn’t realize just how deeply he hated women”. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tankie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tankie
- 0dayz 3y ago
  You got direct and indirect support. Direct support would be people like hinkle. Indirect would be people like chomsky, illhan Omar, news outlets like democracy now! and jacobin.[1] https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/07/04/us-politics-ukraine-russia-far-right-left-progressive-horseshoe-theory/ https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/07/04/us-politics-ukraine-rus...

by 0dayz 3y ago

e40 3y ago

The only people I see supporting Russia against Ukraine are rightwingers.

acdha 3y ago
I’ve some some but they definitely got quieter after the war crimes became public and especially when the Trump-wing of the Republican staked out that position loudly enough that they couldn’t ignore it. Some of them were tankies[1] but most were aligned with the American Green Party, and definitely consider themselves leftists even though their primary function is helping right-wingers get elected. Most of what I saw was conspiratorial: laundered talking points about how Ukraine’s leaders are corrupt and in league with bankers and Biden, the atrocities were exaggerated or faked, etc. This was never more than a quickly-rejected fringe anywhere I’ve seen it but it was definitely real and in a couple of cases from people who’d been there for a long time so I don’t think it was some kind of troll operation — more like how GamerGate had a few communities saying “I knew he was always a bit weird and edgy but I didn’t realize just how deeply he hated women”. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tankie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tankie
0dayz 3y ago
You got direct and indirect support. Direct support would be people like hinkle. Indirect would be people like chomsky, illhan Omar, news outlets like democracy now! and jacobin.[1] https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/07/04/us-politics-ukraine-russia-far-right-left-progressive-horseshoe-theory/ https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/07/04/us-politics-ukraine-rus...