Cheerleading and war reporting are not the same thing
"All governments lie, but disaster lies in wait for countries whose officials smoke the same hashish they give out."1
Cheerleading is part of war. It also contributes to the general “fog of war.”
A lot here depends on what “do much” means. The Russia-Ukraine War will end eventually. It will not end with the Ukrainian army sweeping into Moscow and leveling the Kremlin.
And it’s not clear to me what “much” of the American media means here, either. The coverage I see seems to lean pretty heavily toward uncritically celebrating Ukraine’s military achievements and the country’s undoubtedly telegenic President.
The more I see of the publicity antics of former MSNBC news actor Malcolm Nance, the more disturbing I find them. Nance is fighting for the International Legion of Ukraine and does what sounds like straightforward advocacy for the Ukrainian government. That may be good or bad in itself. But in his public appearances I've seen since the current war began, including this recent video2, he functions strictly as a cheerleader for the Ukrainian position.
I don't think anyone should confuse Nance with someone expressing an independent expert view as long as he's in his current role. He also comes off as a bit of a blowhard, e.g., "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." In his telling, of course, the Ukrainian troops are all incredible heroes, while the Russian troops are just a bunch of third-rate losers.
And he and NeverTrumper Steve Schmidt are in total agreement in this video that the US military budget just needs to keep getting bigger and bigger from now until around the end of time.
But there are some harsh realities that don’t get the same level of coverage. This is a war of attrition being fought on Ukrainian territory. The effects on Ukraine are brutal and long-lasting. As the Guardian reports:
The scene in the pawn shop illustrates the crisis of growing poverty in Ukraine, the reality of which stands in contrast to the surface bustle of Kyiv’s busy restaurants and bars where it is often hard to get a table, with many living a precarious existence.
Poverty increased from 5.5% to 24.2% in Ukraine in 2022, pushing 7.1 million more people into poverty with the worst impact out of sight in rural villages, according to a recent report by the World Bank. With unemployment unofficially at 36% and inflation hitting 26.6% at the end of 2022, the institution’s regional country director for eastern Europe, Arup Banerji, had warned that poverty could soar. …
The most visible sign of the poverty crisis can be found at a protestant church in the town [of Irpin near Kyiv] where priests have set up six distribution centres for free bread across the area, the busiest in Irpin itself. There, on most days, about 500 people can be found queuing for a free loaf, with tables and a tent also set up outside the centre on the day the Guardian visits, offering free secondhand shoes, clothes and children’s toys.3 [my emphasis]
Far down in the story, we see this:
The economist Olena Bilan sees a deepening crisis, but says that without a huge package of financial support from the international community, including pledges worth $43bn (£34bn), the situation would be worse.
“We’ve seen GDP decline by 30% in large part because Ukraine exports 80% of its goods through ports it no longer has access too [sic]. We’ve had inflation of 26% – again which could have been worse – but people’s salaries have also been flat and the currency has devalued against the dollar by 20%. The biggest challenge is going to be how to create new jobs.” [my emphasis]
Not mentioned there is that a large portion of the “financial support from the international community“ is in the form of loans that theoretically have to be paid back.
If the war stopped today, Ukraine would still be facing massive damage, severe economic reconstruction needs, and a serious debt crisis, even though payments some of the credits are not immediately due.
But, hey, Western publics can sing along for Ukraine in connection with the Eurovision Song Contest this year:
A campaign to create the world’s largest sing-along in solidarity with Ukraine during the Eurovision Song Contest is bringing together choirs, musicians and the general public.
HelpUkraineSong is asking people to perform and upload a version of the 1967 Beatles song “With a Little Help from My Friends”.
The Museum of Liverpool will then hold a “flash mob” moment at midday on the day of the final, 13 May, with people at famous UK attractions including the London Eye, Blackpool Tower and Warwick Castle, joining in simultaneously. Gatherings will also take place around the world.4
Maybe Malcolm Nance can drop by Liverpool to lead a chorus and entertain the public with some more macho stories about killin’ Rooskies and demand higher NATO military budgets.
It may be tacky to grump about what is probably a well-intended gesture. But give the Independent credit for actually looking at the sponsorship:
Valerie Bounds, 47, who co-founded and runs a creative agency in Liverpool, thought of the idea last year. …
Partners involved in the campaign include President Zelensky’s United 24 fundraising platform, the children’s charity War Child and the Ukraine Ministry of Culture.
“It’s going really broad here, but the really fantastic thing is that we have joined up with organisations and institutions in Ukraine and they are very enthusiastic about it,” Bounds said. [my emphasis]
That means this sing-along to be held simultaneously with the Eurovision Song Contest but apparently not formally a part of it, is literally sponsored by the Ukrainian government. Since Britain and the rest of NATO support the Ukrainian war effort - though Hungary’s support may be less than totally enthusiastic - there’s nothing terribly surprising about this.
And, as war anthems go, “With a Little Help from My Friends” is not necessarily the most rousing choice.
(Graphic from https://helpukrainesong.com/)
What do I do when my love is away?
Does it worry you to be alone?
How do I feel by the end of the day?
Are you sad because you're on your own?
No, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm, get high with a little help from my friends5
Seriously?
I would recommend this Ed McCurdy song instead6.
Stone, I.F. (1967): In a Time of Torment, 1961-1967 (1967), p. 317. Quoted from: I. F. Stone. Wikipedia 03/06/2022. <https://en.wikiquote.org/w/index.php?title=I._F._Stone&oldid=3083163> (Accessed: 2023-29-04).
Malcolm Nance discusses the Russia-Ukraine situation & Tucker Carlson's Russian propaganda. The Warning with Steve Schmidt YouTube channel 04/20/2023. (Accessed: 2023-30-04).
Beaumont, Peter (2023): Pawn shops and bread queues: poverty grips Ukraine as war drags on. The Guardian 04/30/2023. <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/30/ukraine-war-poverty-irpin-pawn-shops-bread-queues> (Accessed: 2023-01-05).
Harrison, Ellie (2023): ‘World’s largest sing-along’ to take place in solidarity with Ukraine ahead of Eurovision. The Independent 05/01/2023. <https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/ukraine-eurovision-singalong-b2330083.html> (Accssed: 2023-01-05).
With a Little Help from My Friends. <https://genius.com/11822526/The-beatles-with-a-little-help-from-my-friends/Oh-i-get-by-with-a-little-help-from-my-friends> (Accessed: 2023-01-05).
The Corries-Strangest Dream. iMdReSSediNdEcAy YouTube channel 11/09/2006. (Accessed: 2023-01-05).