We are told to hate Putin... but why?

The Tucker Carlson interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin left many, including myself, deeply disappointed. If our media's portrayal of Putin is anything to go by, I was expecting the unhinged rantings of a mad tyrant, intoxicated by power, delusional, and incoherent. What unfolded, however, was far from predicted – a calm, articulate conversation resembling a dialogue with a wise grandpa.

Putin's demeanour lacked malice; there was no venom or vitriol in his words. Like any grandparent, without prompt he treated Tucker to a lengthy and detailed 30-minute Russian history lesson, even producing photocopies of old letters from archives as a gift. Whether or not he had prior knowledge of the subject matter, Putin presented himself as a relaxed and willing participant in the conversation, displaying charm, wit, and oratory expertise. While acknowledging his training in statecraft, it's difficult to find fault in his outward presentation.

Throughout the interview, I experienced a profound sense of guilt. Whether justified based on his actions as President, I found myself still mildly envious of the Russian people. For too long, the West has been exposed to unlikeable, untrustworthy, uncharismatic leaders, to the point where real leadership seems forgotten. Putin personifies the idea of strong leadership, inspiring through actions, not just words. Before you judge, genuinely ask yourself this question – is your elected leader someone you would follow into battle? Remove the arrogant privilege and more importantly, the private security, and most of our political class would fold faster than a lawn chair.

According to Putin, the current status quo of Russia being viewed as a strategic rival to the West is purely a consequence of missed opportunities for collaboration and not one justified by actual events. He cited an agreement for a shared missile defence system in the 90’s that was overruled by US Congress despite mutual agreement between presidents. Add this to NATO rejecting the idea of Russian membership and it’s easier to appreciate his point of view.

Can you imagine a world where the US, Russia, and Europe guaranteed a unified global missile defence system, working collectively against threats from rogue states or terrorist organizations. That would be a sight to see.

Why is it then that we are so quick to dismiss historical alliances between Russia and the West, particularly during the World Wars. Russia, then the Soviet Union, played a crucial role in defeating Nazi Germany and partially prevented the near-complete annihilation of the European Jewish community. This shared history underscores the immense potential of what a collaborative effort could look like when these two nations work together.

Today, we still witness that same corruption in the governments of the warmongering West. Russia and Ukraine were on the brink of reaching a peace deal before external interference from the West derailed negotiations, resulting in what is estimated to be over half a million lives lost in a largely avoidable conflict. As Ukraine was never part of NATO, why then did the US get involved? Once again, ask yourself this question - prior to the war, what relationship, if any at all, did your country have with Ukraine?

Is it not worth asking the question - how many peace deals and collaborative efforts have the US deliberately sabotaged over the last 80 years that we don’t know about? How many wars and conflicts could have been avoided if the US were willing to share power and work with others rather than compete for every drop of profit?

We often perceive the US as the force maintaining global security, but perhaps it's time to question why the world needs so much security. Protection from the threat of the USA, provided by the USA itself, is not a sustainable model for world peace.

Reflecting on this, what has Russia or China ever done to slight Australia? Can we name a single historical event where Australia has had any meaningful negative experience with these nations? When we remove America's bias, is there any reason, at all, for such a negative view of these two nations?

While I'm told to hate President Putin, should we also apply that precedent to every leader for the actions of their country, both good and bad? Should we hate Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese for their actions during the pandemic, or better still, hate Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and George Bush for their involvement in wars that negatively affected hundreds of millions?

In recent years, it has become increasingly evident that Western governments are willing, and ready, to deceive their own citizens, again, solely for the purpose of directing billions of taxpayer dollars to foreign-owned companies. Simultaneously, they gaslight citizens into believing they're the problem, be it climate change or future pandemics, and in turn create even more insane dystopian legislation, all under the guise of "keeping you safe."

Remember that these are the same governments that claim absolute authority on telling you who the real bad guy is. I strongly suggest you exercise your right to make up your own mind, before they make it illegal for you to have an opinion.