Originally published September 21, 2023 3:00 pm PDT
Investigative journalist Seymour Hersh recently published a profound piece on Substack, unveiling alleged misinformation surrounding the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
The crux of Hersh’s analysis asserts that despite official narratives, Ukraine’s military endeavors are substantially faltering and the Biden administration, along with American media, are perpetuating a contrasting portrayal of the situation on the battlefield.
Hersh quotes an official privy to current intelligence, conveying that the war endures chiefly due to Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky’s insistence.
The official stated, “It’s all lies,” revealing skepticism regarding Ukrainian claims of incremental progress in an offensive that has reportedly suffered staggering losses.
Hersh draws attention to the discord within the American intelligence community, with several holding a dim view of Ukraine’s prospects against the fortified Russian defense lines, contradicting the upbeat assessments of their counterparts.
According to Hersh, the Biden administration’s persistence in declining ceasefire discussions and its unwavering support for Ukraine has caused an evident divide in the intelligence community, some elements of which have purportedly refused to partake in secret National Intelligence Estimates due to disagreements with the administration’s aggressive foreign policy stance.
Hersh mentioned, “Some key offices in the CIA have refused, in many cases, to participate in the NIE process.”
He describes Zelensky’s army as “battered” and demoralized, with negligible hopes of achieving victory, emphasizing that the reality contrasts sharply with the narratives offered by the White House and American media outlets.
The official remarked, “The war is over. Russia has won. There is no Ukrainian offensive anymore, but the White House and the American media have to keep the lie going.”
This statement underscores the purported disparity between field reports and public narratives.
The long-standing conflict has ostensibly experienced a plethora of misjudgments and miscalculations, with Hersh citing Vladimir Putin’s initial attack as “stupid and self-destructive” due to poor planning and logistics.
The story paints a picture of both Russia and the United States, each making detrimental decisions that have prolonged the conflict, with both nations seemingly engulfed in a cycle of disinformation and blame.
Hersh elucidated on a secret disinformation operation, reportedly orchestrated by the CIA and British intelligence elements, aimed at disparaging Putin.
He explained that this operation led to widespread unverified reports regarding Putin’s health, misleading many major news organizations into disseminating conjectures about Putin’s ailments.
“The truth is if the Ukrainian army is ordered to continue the offensive, the army would mutiny. The soldiers aren’t willing to die any more, but this doesn’t fit the B.S. that is being authored by the Biden White House,” revealed the intelligence official, as quoted by Hersh.
Furthermore, Hersh’s article suggests that President Biden’s uncompromising financial and moral support for the Ukrainian war efforts is largely tethered to his re-election ambitions.
The article mentions the sentiments of frustration among leaders of developing nations, who perceive the extensive financial support for the Ukraine war as detracting from their battles against climate change and poverty.
The administration’s apparent disregard for an immediate ceasefire in a war viewed by many as unwinnable is depicted as contributing to the ongoing global climate crisis.
Zelensky, in his communication, appears steadfast, with Hersh reporting him as depicting Putin analogously to Hitler and maintaining that Ukraine had the initiative in its currently faltering war with Russia.
However, Hersh illustrates the international reception of Zelensky’s addresses as less than enthusiastic, with many delegations opting not to attend his address to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.
Hersh’s Substack post casts a substantial light on the alleged contradictions between the publicly portrayed narratives by the U.S. government and media concerning the Ukrainian counteroffensive and the realities on the battlefield.
It underscores the claimed disinformation and the political intricacies entangled within the ongoing conflict, providing a nuanced perspective on the motivations and implications of the actions taken by the involved entities.
