Actually, I think that studying their tactics is worthwhile because it helps us to recognize when our own governments and media are walking down that same trail

Actually, I think that studying their tactics is worthwhile because it helps us to recognize when our own governments and media are walking down that same trail. In particular, looking at what was going on in European society in the 20s and 30s might lead one to worry where the current anti-Russian rhetoric would lead. It has already resulted in a ridiculous situation in Ukraine where hard core protesters seem to have lost all touch with sanity and the norms of civil society. Sure the leaders of Ukraine are robbing the people left and right but few of the protesters seem to care about solving that problem. Instead they all try to advance their own conflicting agendas and have failed to find consensus or to create a leadership that could attack the robber barons where it hurts.