Winning a propaganda affair  

The absence of democracy as it is generally understood to be, isn't necessarily bad. Surviving a breakdown of a big cluster, Russia has emerged and survived as a major power, much to the chagrin of the western powers that had exulted and now don't know any more. The country has held its territory together and, in its own way, maintained a grip on world happenings and events even in the wake of punishing sanctions. To an extent, recognition of the oligarchs as facilitators as opposed to profiteers has made a difference much like the United States dependence on Jewish businesses. Russia didn't go through housing crashes, tumbling stocks and has held its own with growth. Citizens may be unhappy, where aren't they so. 

What is clear is that in terms of the propaganda war, the US and the west have lost it. They are grudgingly coming to terms with reality, even their citizens, that there's no tangible  evidence that the nerve agent used in Sergei Skripal and daughter Yulia's poisoning, actually came from Russia. As the narrative dithered between Prime Minister May, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and their own agencies, the singularity of the Russian version is coming through strongly. In contrast the messages of 'schemed up murders'(along the British serial Midsomer Murders) and  ‘license to kill’ (aka James Bond) have been far more convincing. Leaving Russia out of a commission to enquire into the incident, on the ground it would be diversionary comes across as a blasé excuse. Just as surprising was the one-upmanship of Russian television getting the first media  words from Yulia causing the British to scramble for a press statement.

As of now Russia has parried the thrust of influencing the US elections and effectively won the battle of salvaging Bashar Al Assad, whose removal from power is no longer a priority, neither for the US nor the UK. And that's eating a substantial slice of humble pie. Diplomatically, parrying any possible threat to the hosting of the football World Cup, next month has to be a coup of sorts.

After the two governments had added to carbon emission by jetting one hundred and fifty odd diplomats in different directions, its all gone ominously quiet. Europe united with the UK and were joined by the US but key Russian allies such as India remained quiet and Japan stood their ground. With her majority wings embarrassingly clipped, Chancellor Angela Merkel is busy trouble-shooting at home, leaving Emmanuel Macron as the de facto spokesperson for Europe. It was he who 'stated' while Donald Trump found it convenient to tweet, that there would be military action to 'punish' the chemical weapon usage by Syria. Let's not forget, this is the same Mr. Trump who had mocked 'Where's the element of surprise folks?', responding to Mr. Obama's commanders statement in advance of an operation in Syria.Perhaps the resulting salvos of Russia's  propaganda guns will drive the point home. If it's a threat--it's one issue and Russia countered perfectly. If it's real, Russia may not be quiet as it was the last time. Missiles have an unhappy past of missing 'precise targeting' as we saw in the Israel-Hammas conflict.

Mr. Trump has opened two fronts that he could have done without; a trade war with China and a proxy war with Russia. Extension of sanctions was his hand being forced. The oligarchs propping up Vladimir Putin, have been targeted in new sanctions. That's akin to a desensationalised targeting of the Rothschild family.The world hasn't recovered from these yet and it's Mr. Trump who is squaring up to an unsympathetic media. The curved ball may yet be on its way in the outcome of a class action suit against Facebook, that has potential to threaten Mr. Trump's bastion-the voters.

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