Post-Nuclear Modern Warfare and Media Narratives

by Sean McGadden 27th of March 2022

photo from source

The implementation of American and foreign sanctions as a method of funneling arms and munitions into Ukraine has exposed a new kind of post-nuclear warfare. The effectiveness of waging financial war against Russia to attack and threaten its economy has proved instrumental. The ability for the United States to simply sit back, enjoy the splendors of war and reap international outrage against Russia is easily accomplished due to Russian aggression. Although Russia has threatened nuclear response, the assured mutual destruction of both Russia and much of Europe not only diminishes this threat but additionally, the US national security advisors seem also to be operating on some kind of intel that Russia has no plans of a nuclear option. Although, the threat does remain when you look at Russia's willingness to bomb and occupy Chernobyl. The US foreign policy on this war has been since its onset, that of milking the war, and deflating Russian assets. For the first time in the 21rst century, much of the world has been witnessing first hand, thanks to social media, a rebirth of Iron Curtain foreign policy and modern warfare on a stage we have not been truly aware. The reality is this kind of war has been waged throughout the Middle East and around the southwestern borders of Russia for the last 70 years.

The president of the United States is preparing the American people for some extended relationship with this war. Regardless of President Biden’s proto-cold war diction and his obvious personal and familial ties to Ukraine, there is a desire to engage in some way, albeit from a distance.

On the outset, this conflict seems important to America only in the ways that the United States will always have some form of relationship to Europe due to the National Atlantic trade Alliance. Americans are more similar and their cultures more related which makes the relationship easier to maintain. Despite the trade unions that are created and the long history of Euro-American cooperation, the United States has always been able to occupy a special place in European diplomacy as wealthy non actors. In this theater of the world, the people of present day Europe, in a more clear and crystallized way, have always and will always be at war. There will incessantly exist a tension in this part of the world about borders and both international and intrapersonal conflicts.

Russian claims in Eastern Europe are justified in many ways. American interventionism in Ukraine specifically, goes without saying. Consider the nature of Germany through the 40s to the 70s. This country alone had been a hotbed of Russian versus American political agendas and operational controls of newly founded governments. In many ways France and England had been powerfully independent empires and unprovocative in the region so they have been able to maintain autonomy from American or Russian influence. However, Germany allowed itself to be beaten down and pillaged. Similarly, Ukraine was and still is a country that fell from Russia’s graces after this war. Among many of the Eastern European nations after world war 2, American influence in the region started with the boiling of good against evil as if things could be so black and white. The Biden family has openly held financial and political ties to this current Ukrainian administration.

"While former Vice President Joe Biden oversaw foreign policy in Ukraine, his son Hunter Biden served on the board of Burisma Holdings, the largest gas company in the fledgling democracy... 'VP Biden threatened to withhold 1 billion dollars from Ukraine to save his son's job.' reads a meme posted to Facebook by Secure America Now. The meme has been shared more than 9,000 times since Oct. 18."

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There are many powerful interests at play and the corruption which has plagued Ukraine since the fall of the Soviet Union are both propagandized and unclear. What is clear with this conflict in Ukraine is that Russia is prepared to fight and die for this war and Ukrainians may be beginning to show kinks in their armor with a battle hardy and brutal Russian army.

Despite the turmoil and the difficulty of finding credible sources to follow this war without bias, there is no doubt the Ukrainian people will die by their swords as they have shown to be a resilient and disciplined people. I question the influence of outside powers. There seems many interests at play in this seemingly dystopian Cold War reality that is still being played out before our eyes. I beg the question of whether the stage of international relations that has played out over the last 100 years has truly suffered and learned from the regal imperialism that directed Europe for so many years before. Russia seems unsatisfied with the results. Although the narrative of democracy versus communism has ruled the context of conflict around the world, the way modern empires seem to operate still maintains its barbarity. Countries are more than willing to preach about sovereignty but when personal and national interests are at play, there are no holds barred. People and countries will go to war and commit acts of of unspeakable horrors. The United States is more similar to Russia than many Americans might like to admit. Take for example the alleged use of White Phosphorus in Ukraine which was met by international outrage in American and European media. Frankly, these reports of the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine are even questionable at best.

The reality is, the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia have been committing war crimes in the Middle East for the better part of three decades. Let us not forget the ugly truth of war in Iraq and the lingering pursuits of WMD's when we consider how countries have justified all out war on sovereign foreign powers.

White phosphorous smoke screens are fired by the U.S. Army as part of an early morning patrol on Nov. 6, 2004 on the outskirts of Falluja, Iraq. SCOTT NELSON / GETTY IMAGES

In the spirit of winning, someone must lose. Let us not be mistaken, it is better to be the one winning and choosing who loses. Not withstanding the questionable relationship between ethical decision making in a market driven economy; the moral ambiguity in a world driven by media narratives seem to inhibit the pursuit of finding meaningful ways to push toward innovation and advancement as a collective human conscious only seeks to poison the potential advances we make on a daily basis technologically and socially. The everyday person in the wealthiest countries is more invested in personal, financial and physical advancement. People want nice things, ease and luxury. With these desires come the pursuit of wealth and power to control and operate with more autonomy. Most of the wealthiest individuals in the world are so insulated by their money that they operate with more influence than many small nations.

In much the same way that US-European narratives have sought to discredit Russian aggression there are many interests at play. Take note of the seizure of multi million dollar yachts of Russian oligarchs by European officials. What use do Europeans have for luxury yachts? How will these yachts truly benefit the Russian war effort? It is obvious that European powers have justified these huge asset seizures for their own benefit under the guise of supporting the Ukraine. This support is riddled with hypocrisy and has not surpassed the physical distribution of arms and financial assets. NATO is still firmly against the incorporation of Ukraine into it's trade union as it has been since 1991 for fear of these Ukrainian wars that have taken place since Russia's first invasion of Crimea and the Donbas in 2014. Governments and powerful individuals are at odds in this new kind of modern warfare.

Axioma, the superyacht belonging to Russian oligarch Dmitry Pumpyansky docked in Gibraltar. Photograph: Jon Nazca/Reuters

When we consider that fact that our international relationships exist at both a national and individual level, the nature of diplomacy begins to show infection in a very core and structural way. Many decisions that dictate the governance of the world from international down to municipal regions of the world are made by individuals in small and quick decision making timeframes. There exists, in this kind of skill of decision making, something more quick witted and universal that arises. Personal feelings and interest can dilute the nature of these relationships. Who benefits from this war in Ukraine? Do powerful Americans make more money by becoming the pseudo bank of Ukraine? Putin is without a doubt a viscous and devious leader. However, aren't his interests in Ukraine arguably more important to him and his people than any ties to American government officials? What right do we, as Americans, halfway across the world, have on the political unfolding's of Ukraine, which exist on the border of Russia. The build up of missiles on NATO borders eerily recalls Russian build up of nuclear armaments in Cuba. How can we not acknowledge such similarity and hypocrisy. We, as Americans, must accept the reality of such moves and its impact on the reactions of the Russian government. It is necessary to remain allied with Europe and promote many of our shared interests and values. Structurally America and Europe are brother and sister. Both Europe and the US benefit from the NATO relationship, militarily and financially.

Russia and China are violent and autocratic cousins which keep their people contained and who continue crafting new narratives all the time. This goes without saying. However, finding the kernel of truth amidst this conflict is a process that requires strong cynicism and deep digging into what is truly going on in the region. Europe and the United States are not without fault in pushing narratives of what this war means and how the US should be interfering.