I think it is way more wrong then that. It is fundamentally absurd way to interpret Russia even in theoretical alternate reality where Russia did not tried to commit genocide in Ukraine. Even if they won within 3 days, happily replaced government and executed/imprisoned "only" a few politicians/intellectuals. Because, that analysis is completely ignoring history of Russia itself, political system in Russia, prevalent ideologies there, the type of society, values, everything.
You can not legitimately analyze a any state or group of people without engaging with those.
> that does not justify Russia's flipping the table and reverting to early 20th century style mechanized slaughter.
The "some truth" part in it is true only to the level of "yes, west done bad thing there". The claim that Russia would somehow behave much differently had Iraque not been invaded is not convincing at all. It is not just missing justifying power. It does not have explanatory power at all. It does not explain Russian return into authoritarian state over last 20 years.
It is talking point targeted at people who do know American history and who do criticize those actions as bad - but who never really cared about Russian or Easter European history at all.
> It is talking point targeted at people who do know American history and who do criticize those actions as bad - but who never really cared about Russian or Easter European history at all.
Guilty as charged. I've never particularly focused on understanding Russia, apart from family stories about Russian occupation after WWII before they got out of East Germany to the West and ultimately the US (watching The Lives of Others is like the life I missed). So that talking point is targeted at people like me. And the points do resonate with me somewhat, since I do consider USG an empire. An economic empire that mostly keeps its territories in line through market effects and treaties, fundamentally nicer than an army-first directly-commanded empire of old, but still an empire.
> You can not legitimately analyze a any state or group of people without engaging with those.
I don't disagree, however earnestly engaging with those is a lot of work to sift through various opinions. What we're dealing with here is an ongoing torrent of superficial analysis that destroys consensus truth. So while I think most experts on Russia would seemingly agree with your analysis, a propagandist can stand up an equally-plausible expert that says the exact opposite. Without any social proof (eg in-depth study of Russia in school or independently), there's little way for an individual to sort through that muck. Enter relativism.
> It is fundamentally absurd way to interpret Russia even in theoretical alternate reality where Russia did not tried to commit genocide in Ukraine
Sure, but that wouldn't stop such analysis from carrying the day with many people. In order to eliminate relativism, one either needs to become an expert in the field (what I described above, impractical for most), or one needs to find objective points that can't be relativized away in our postmodern media environment. The blatant mass slaughter of civilians is such a touchstone - it puts all of Russia's countervailing narratives in stark relief.
I am not "an account", I am very much a real person, living in Europe.
Disinformation, american "бдительный гражданин" (do look up the meaning, it might widen your horizons), is to speak of "genocide" perpetrated by russians in Ukraine.
I'll speak of the Genocide your buddies are committing in Ukraine as much as I want. It's utterly disgusting and if you had a sense of right and wrong you'd be protesting in your streets because these crimes are committed in your name too. But hey, it's only Ukrainians right? Not even 'real' Russians so let's not make too much of a fuss about it. /s
As for your words regarding Dutch collaborateurs during WWII, yes, we had those, and we dealt with them, but you weren't there (and neither was I) so I don't see why you would even bring it up.
FWIW: I actually like lots of Russian people, but the way you guys govern your country really has to improve, this won't end well. Already you have moved yourself to 'pariah' status and I'm pretty sure it's possible to go lower still but why would you?
You can not legitimately analyze a any state or group of people without engaging with those.
> that does not justify Russia's flipping the table and reverting to early 20th century style mechanized slaughter.
The "some truth" part in it is true only to the level of "yes, west done bad thing there". The claim that Russia would somehow behave much differently had Iraque not been invaded is not convincing at all. It is not just missing justifying power. It does not have explanatory power at all. It does not explain Russian return into authoritarian state over last 20 years.
It is talking point targeted at people who do know American history and who do criticize those actions as bad - but who never really cared about Russian or Easter European history at all.