Columns

George Garwood, PhD

Sunday, July 09, 2017

Finding the time to keep up with the wall-to-wall (24/7/365) coverage of news, and to make sense of it is a challenge.

The further problem for us now is to distinguish between 'real news' and 'fake news'. To sift propaganda from truth. Decide which 'alternative facts' are right or wrong.

Now, as to 'Russian interference' in the American presidential election, and leaking of Clinton's e-mail, etc, this report is doubted by some, of course.

Deniers

Well, there are always doubters. There are flat-earthers; those for evolution against those for creation; man-made climate change, as opposed to natural climate change. There are holocaust deniers. There are those who still insist that the American Civil War had nothing to do with slavery; that slavery was good for the Africans, because in America, Africans, at least, had three square meals a day, whereas in Africa they were eating one another. (Actually, a US senator a few years ago said that.)

But, despite all such denials and historical, and current revisionism, did the Russians interfere in the American presidential election? Well, Donald Trump says that the Russians probably did do it; but adds, so did other people. However, he says, no one really knows if the Russians hacked the election systems.

It stands to reason that he would say that; for why would he accept any Russian interference in the election. For to do so would de-legitimise his presidency — a presidency which is already seem by many Americans as an usurpation of office.

Legitimacy

Trump, of course, got the majority of votes in the Electoral College, and thus became president. But still, for all he's not satisfied with that; for he claims that he was defrauded out of the popular votes. He claims that up to five million people voted illegally, and this was what gave Hillary Clinton the majority of the popular vote.

Because of doubts in his own mind about his legitimacy, he has set up a Voter-Fraud Commission to look into what he believes to be voter fraud. So his commission has told the states to hand over voting registration details, like birth dates, last four digits of voters' social security numbers, voters' history, etc. But so far some 45 states have refused to so do, and from those numbers, some 19 states have flatly refused to hand over any voter data to Trump's commission because of privacy concerns. Some states refuse, because they see his panel as a politically motivated one.

Paranoia

What does one make of a man like that? Paranoid? Someone with a personality like Nero or King Herod, or a personality of some despot who believes that he has a divine right to rule? Perhaps, all those and more.

Back to the question of Russian meddling in the US election: It is said that all the US intelligence apparatuses have concluded that the Russians did meddle in the Election. Why? Because Russian President Vladimir Putin favoured Trump over Clinton.

One also recalls that during the presidential election campaign Trump was constantly goading the Russians to hack Clinton's e-mail. So as least circumstantial evidence points to the probability of Russian interference in the American presidential election of 2016.

Why not? Countries are forever trying to spy on each other to gain advantages. Well, at least those with the capabilities and the intent to spy.

Spying

Superpower rivalries go on between the big players: USA, Russia, China, North Korea, and a host of other countries. It's just how business is conducted by big nations and those that have the desire to be big. So by subterfuge, lies, deception, propaganda, dis (mis) information, double-speak, this world — or underworld — of politics, international relations, trade, technology, finance, banking, economics, military matters, etc are some of the modi operandi of world powers.

Snooping by nation states on other nations, or interference in other nations' affairs, or allegation thereof, are not only confined to the Russians or the USA, but abound with other countries.

New cold war

But why the activities of Russia and the USA seem to get the greatest attention is that both countries having come through a bitter cold war struggle which — was suspended in 1991 — has seen this a flare up again since the start of the Syrian War and by the some other intractable problems in the Middle East.

Furthermore, with the flexing of Russia's new-found muscle by Putin in the Baltic states, with its newly acquired oil and gas wealth, and due to the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization near the borders of Russia, these factors and others, eg the rise of nationalist feelings in Russia, have contributed to an increase in tensions between Russia and the West.

Likewise, these two nations possess a frightening array of military hardware, including nuclear weapons. So, like King Kong in that movie thriller, is engaged, it seems, in mortal combat for the soul of the fair damsel, nations pursue allegiance.

Post-truth

But we have to be aware of both behemoths, and have to remain on guard as do the smaller, but smarter creatures of the under-brush. We will remain wide-eyed, in amazement, if not in horror, at this gladiatorial duel between these huge giants as they battle for dominance in an ever-diminishing territory of post-truth, honesty, and fair play.

What can we smaller states do? We have to band together in a moral crusade and urge caution and restraint on these principal player, and on the others who are fast moving up the predatory league table.

George S Garwood, PhD, is a Jamaican author and educator who resides in Florida. Send comments to the Observer or merleneg@yahoo.com.