Coverage of the Ukraine War has reached a saturation point, just as Covid-19 once dominated the news and other major crises did in the past.
There is also a consensus narrative in the Western media that Russia is at fault for the conflict, Putin is a madman, the Ukrainians are gradually winning the battle on the ground, and Zelensky is a hero leading the resistance.
Although I remain open to other interpretations of the facts I see no actual alternative explanations for what is happening except, of course, for the Russian disinformation campaign repeated by the likes of Tucker Carlson.
There is plenty of that.
Nevertheless, it is wise to remember that while the propaganda proliferates on all sides, nobody really acts well in a war, so reports of Russian atrocities, while most probably true, could be exaggerated and almost certainly are not strictly confined to Putin’s side.
There are not many heroes in war.
It is likely, therefore, that the Ukrainians will commit individual acts that could be considered war crimes just like the Russians. The difference is whether such acts are systematic and part of a deliberate policy or the irrational excesses of wartime violence that almost always occur.
An alternative explanation for Russian aggression being offered up by its allies is that the U.S. and Nato backed Putin into a corner and, feeling threatened, he struck back defensively — that Russia is the true victim.
I don’t see enough evidence to make this explanation persuasive. I think the persuasive case is he is engaged in what will ultimately prove to be a failed attempt at expanding the Russian empire.
Meanwhile, as positive as Zelensky looks so far, there are reports he is suppressing any opposition reporting inside Ukraine, much as Putin is inside Ukraine. So that bears keeping an eye on.
Power has a way of corrupting everybody who wields it.
***
Today’s story list is evenly split fifty percent to war coverage and fifty percent to other matters. Up until now, war coverage has predominated, but from here on out it is possible it will decline.
As coverage fades so will accountability on all sides. War correspondents will be recalled to focus on other stories.
All of my comments are, as usual, simply those of a journalist trying objectively to evaluate what is coming in on the wire on a daily basis. I have no agenda other than that.
Today’s News (54):
'A clear stand against Putin’s war of choice': US, EU to impose new sanctions against Russia (USA Today)
Latest Updates: Russia Increases Cyberattacks on Ukraine Critical Infrastructure (WSJ)
Satellite images show bodies lay in Bucha for weeks, despite Russian claims. (NYT)
In Bucha, Ukraine, burned, piled bodies among latest horrors (AP)
The flow of "bloody money" to Russia must stop, Kyiv's mayor said as the West prepared new sanctions on Moscow after dead civilians were found lining the streets of a Ukrainian town seized from Russian invaders. (Reuters)
Zelensky: Russia 'will try to hide the traces of their crimes' (Yahoo)
U.S. analysts believe Putin shifting war focus to border areas (WP)
Ukraine said it was bracing for about 60,000 Russian reservists to be called in to reinforce Moscow's offensive in the east, where Russia's main targets have included the port of Mariupol and Kharkiv, the country's second-largest city. (Reuters)
Images of Russian Atrocities Push West Toward Tougher Sanctions (NYT)
Zelenskyy To Address U.N. After Accusing Russia Of War Crimes In Ukraine (NBC)
Ukrainians who cut their teeth in the 2014 street uprising that ousted then-President Viktor Yanukovich are now in a vanguard of volunteers fighting "Russian propaganda", which for years had spread inside Ukraine and beyond. Eight years of practice in countering disinformation, they say, prepared them for Russia's invasion. (Reuters)
‘Sitting at Home and Trembling.’ A Town Emerges After a Russian Retreat. (NYT)
Town by town, Ukrainian prosecutors build Russian war crimes cases (WP)
Russian auto boomtown grinds to halt over Ukraine sanctions (Reuters)
Bristling Against the West, China Rallies Domestic Sympathy for Russia (NYT)
Russian ‘Darknet’ Market Tied to Ransomware Is Shut Down (WSJ)
The United States stopped the Russian government from paying holders of its sovereign debt more than $600 million from reserves held at U.S. banks, in a move meant to eat into Moscow's holdings of dollars. (Reuters)
Top US general: Potential for 'significant international conflict' is increasing (CNN)
Australia, UK, US alliance to develop hypersonic missiles (ABC)
Hey, Tucker Carlson, are you still rooting for Russia over Ukraine? (Max Boot/WP)
State media bombard Russians with alternative version of the truth (Financial Times)
More than 60% of Putin's war chest frozen, UK says (BBC)
Russia demands Wikipedia remove information about Russia's military operation (NHK)
'Like the good old days': Obama returns to the White House for the first time as Democrats look ahead to midterm elections (CNN)
With Obama looking on, White House to open ACA plans to more families (WP)
Afghan evacuees mark first US Ramadan with gratitude, agony (AP)
Families were split up during Afghanistan evacuations — and are still not reunited (WSJ)
‘I didn’t win the election’: Trump admits defeat in session with historians (Guardian)
Omicron BA.2 Variant Pressures Parts of U.S. (WSJ)
10,000 health workers sent to help control Shanghai outbreak (AP)
Whole of Shanghai enters COVID lockdown despite lower symptomatic cases (Reuters)
Is it possible to overdo it with COVID-19 vaccine boosters? What is and isn’t known (Seattle Times)
Bipartisan Senate bargainers have agreed to a slimmed-down $10 billion package for countering COVID-19, but without any funds to help nations abroad combat the pandemic. The accord represents a deep cut from the $22.5 billion Biden initially requested, and from a $15 billion version that both parties’ leaders had negotiated last month. [AP]
Biden administration will extend pause on federal student loan repayments through August (CNN)
Supreme Court makes it easier to sue police over wrongful arrests (WP)
Faced with union organizing efforts in Alabama and New York City last year, Amazon hired a bunch of anti-union consultants to throttle the campaigns. But many of them had the misfortune of crossing paths with Connor Spence at Amazon's JK8 fulfillment center on Staten Island. Dave Jamieson has the story on the creative tactics the workers used to discredit and fluster the busters and win a historic election. [HuffPost]
Elon Musk’s Twitter board seat raises questions about his plans for the company (CNBC)
The NFT bubble isn't popping, but it may have sprung a leak. A year on from when a single non-fungible token sold for $69.3 million in crypto at Christie's auction house, this weird and wild market is showing some signs of slowing down. (Reuters)
The Emotion Missing From the Workplace — Sadness is a central part of our lives, yet it’s typically ignored at work, hurting employees and managers alike. (Atlantic)
VIDEO: U.N. Chief Assails World Leaders Over ‘Broken Climate Promises’ (AP)
Bird populations in Panama rainforest in severe decline, study finds (Guardian)
EPA moves to ban the most common type of cancer-causing asbestos (WP)
'Stolen' Charles Darwin notebooks left on library floor in pink gift bag (BBC)
I’m a Scientist in California. Here’s What Worries Me Most About Drought. (NYT)
‘We see the storm coming’: U.S. struggles to contain a deepening global food crisis (Politico)
'Dead' telescope discovers Jupiter's twin from beyond the grave (Space.com)
Kansas and Bill Self are the kings of college basketball, but fallout from the FBI is coming next (SB Nation)
Sign of times: MLB gives OK to electronic pitch calling (AP)
Study Finds Majority Of Times Either Too Early Or Too Late (The Onion)
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