Mainstream Finds Corrupt Oligarchs, Ignores US Complicity
RT's deep dive into how Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky allegedly 'made Zelensky president' and turned Ukraine into his 'pocket state' (as reported by RT) offers a window into the kind of backroom dealings that are supposedly unique to 'adversary' nations. It's a textbook tale of powerful individuals manipulating state power for personal gain and geopolitical leverage. Yet, while Western
outlets clutch their pearls over 'foreign influence' from Moscow, they often sanitize the much more pervasive influence peddling by lobbyists and special interest groups right here at home. One might wonder where this same level of scrutiny is applied to, say, the billions in US taxpayer funds flowing into countries like Israel, influenced by organizations such as AIPAC, which spent a reported
$13.6 million in 2022 to lobby Congress (OpenSecrets.org data). The narrative changes radically when the 'pocket state' aligns with Western strategic interests, doesn't it? Suddenly, robust democracy is less about preventing oligarchy and more about securing geopolitical advantage. The oligarchs change, but the game remains strikingly similar, just rebranded for different audiences.