Fighting Subtle Propaganda - The Dangers of "Both Sides"

This article was originally written about a different topic, and was supposed to be posted yesterday (Feb 27). Fortunately, or rather more unfortunately, some editing issues postponed the article until today (Feb 28). As a result, we at FurInform and the rest of the world watched as the imperialist core in the US and its Israeli attack dogs unleashed yet another offensive war on the sovereign nation of Iran. In light of this, this article has been rewritten with that news in mind, and focuses more on the immediate situation with regards to spreading propaganda. Before we delve too far, we want to affirm some things unequivocally: FurInform stands with the people of Iran, and defends without compromise their right to self defense of their nation. We condemn, without any waver, the actions of the US and Israel, no matter the stated motives. We would also like to state that this is an opinion piece, however I would like to delve further into points raised here in the future with more focused and researched points as it is something I am passionate about.

Propaganda is ever present in our society. Capitalists love to pretend as though propaganda only exists in far left countries or rogue right wing states, but it is their favorite tool. Propaganda has shaped the worldview of billions across the globe, and as is often said, nobody is immune to propaganda. Definitionally, FurInform is propaganda as well. It can't be avoided, so, what's this article about? Of course capitalists create their own propaganda to defend their offensive imperialist and colonialist wars. It's dangerous that people believe it, it's more dangerous that most of this capitalist propaganda goes uncontested, it's most dangerous when it is repeated in leftist spheres. As we watch bombs fall on innocent civilians for the benefit of a hegemonic power, we have already seen leading up to this unjust attack attempts to "both sides" the conflict. Prior to any military action, we heard pundits from the left ranging from comments in online forums all the way up to supposedly left wing political leaders the argument that Iran is terrible because of its government. That a war would be bad for Iran, "but" the people still suffer under the Ayatollah. In the case of Venezuela, we saw the same thing. Leftists stating that what the US did was terrible, but also the government of Venezuela was bad for its people. We have leftists calling for the fall of the Cuban government openly online on places like Reddit, despite the only outcome of such an action being more suffering and abuse of the Cuban people at the hands of the very people who have directly caused the country's current situation via their illegal embargoes.

US hegemony is being preserved in brazen and open ways these days the same as it was during the Iraq War, or during the deliberate destabilization of Libya by NATO forces against UN Mandates. They are excusing their attacks of foreign powers through appeals to emotion. Fallacy. "You must support our cause in re-colonizing Iran because you have a heart, don't you? You know the people suffer in Iran, so you couldn't possibly deny the actions we're taking to topple that oppressive government!" We see this again and again. Iraq with fake nuclear weapons, Venezuela with a dancing president, Egypt's ownership of the Sinai, Grenada / Chile / Argentina with democratically elected politicians. Colonial powers and imperialist powers explain away the justification for their abuses and subjugation of countries who wish to commit to self governance away from the hands of capitalists thousands of miles away. We know this, it's not new. These narratives are often not fought against, as we also see time and time again. CBS covering for Trump, CNN defending the Iraq War, the New York Times shilling for Israel.

So, why is the most dangerous thing when leftists parrot these arguments? It is because not only are we not combating them as they must be combated, but we are lending credence and justification to them. By weighing a both sides argument, we are saying that "both sides are equally fallible." It is factually correct that the material conditions for people in Iran is poor, it is correct that LGBTQ people face harsh scrutiny and punishments, women lack basic rights. But that fact does not excuse the US leading a regime change war, that is outside the point of condemnation of the conflict. Calling for peace as if they are equally at fault, when there is a very clear imperialist aggressor and very clear sovereign defender, is invariably lending credence to the side of the aggressors. Justifying the bullshit they spread in order to "support the common person" allows them to further hide their unethical and inhuman actions behind a cloud of propaganda.

Leftists regularly exercise refrain from doing so with the Palestinian movement. We do not say "Hamas is as bad as Israel" or "Israel is in the wrong, but Hamas is not much better" and following that with "We just hope for a cease fire and a return to the settler-colonial status quo." Leftists recognize such arguments are nonsensical. Hamas can be bad, and Israel can be too, and those two true facts can exist separate from condemnation of Israel. Hamas being bad does not excuse any of the myriad of Israeli actions all the way from when the British helped form its existence. Yet, when it comes to issues like Venezuela, we hear constant arguments that "I don't support the US, but Maduro was also bad." When it comes to issues of Iran, "I don't support an invasion, but the Iranian regime is tyrannical and needs to be felled." When it comes to Cuba "I don't want the US to spread its hegemony, but the Cuban government has mishandled itself in light of embargoes and therefore I think it needs to go." When it comes to Yemen "I don't support either side of the civil war because its an imperialist conflict, but the Houthi's shouldn't fight for their territory because that's terrorism." So on and so forth. We are actively permitting, through cognitive dissonance, the imperialists to continue their parades of violence across the globe.

Discussing actions and conflicts should focus only on the matter at hand. Iran may be bad factually, but that is irrelevant to the actual issue: a violent and inhuman nation offensively attacking with the sole purpose for more subjugation of the people. The discussion is not was Iran a paradise or hell on Earth, it is that the US is committing yet another colonial war against a sovereign country. Yet another violation of international law that will go uncontested by most of the world. Another war that will only worsen the living conditions of people inside and outside of a country. The material conditions do not matter. This is not an intervention, this is an invasion. If intervention was the goal, we'd see invasions of Eritrea and Saudi Arabia, and handing of those countries to UN management in the interim period, at least as the capitalist world is "supposed" to operate. Vietnam intervened in Kampuchea and stopped a genocide, but was condemned by the world for it while the US and others continued to recognize the genocidal government. Cuba intervened in Angola, and still receives criticism for it on the world stage. Yet, the US installs leaders via bombing presidential houses, by invading sovereign nations, by embargoing the nations into oblivion because the international community will do nothing to stop the injustices. The material conditions of Iran do not motivate their imperialism, and therefore we as leftists must not allow those arguments to defend that imperialism in our own circles. Just because Iran is bad, or Venezuela is bad, or Hamas is bad, does not suddenly justify imperialism and exploitation. Pretending like it does only serves to lump you in with the imperialists. Beware of "both sides," because that is what the capitalists want to hear you say. We are here to create a better world, not create a worse one because living conditions were already bad. We support workers, not support their bombing because of a government they didn't decide. We support minorities, not endorse Western regimes installing actual terrorists and extremists (who will worsen their living conditions) to power because it benefits their interests. Fight the capitalists, fight the imperialists, and do not let their arguments exist. Do not let them use fallacies to defend their crimes.

In Solidarity,

FurInform

Sources:
This is an opinion piece largely inspired by The Kavernacle's video:
https://youtu.be/5wYMlBbqNBo?si=Oj-Pa_X_56Ucqo1P
Next article will be more researched and delve into more actionable topics. We hope to see you then!