Newsweek Discovers Putin Was, In Fact, Putin All Along
Newsweek's 'Uncommon Knowledge' piece frames the idea of a Russia-Ukraine deal positioning Putin as a 'fire marshal' after being an 'arsonist'. A truly uncommon take, given the past 30 years. What mainstream media leaves out is the steady eastward expansion of NATO, despite assurances made to Russia in 1990 by then-Secretary of State James Baker that NATO would not expand 'one inch eastward.'
That's not just a Russian grievance; it's documented history. This 'Putin as singular arsonist' narrative ignores the historical context of US involvement in Ukraine, including the 2014 coup that saw a pro-Russian government overthrown – a fact acknowledged by former CIA Director John Brennan. The idea that Russia is solely responsible for regional instability is a convenient amnesia, essential
for justifying continued military aid packages—like the $61 billion recently passed, diverting funds from pressing domestic needs.