The duck-billed platypus. Photo courtesy of WEST 1
I have been a fan of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation‘s mighty Radio National (ABC RN) for many years now. I especially enjoy programs like “Late Night Live” with the redoubtable Phillip Adams, an Australian national treasure. ABC RN has definitely changed the way I think about lots of things by giving me a variety of Australian and non-Australian perspectives on Australia and the rest of the world.
And yet, like any other human endeavor, ABC RN is capable of getting it badly wrong, as in this interview on “Late Night Live” with former Australian diplomat Tony Kevin. Mr. Kevin is a card-carrying Putinist, apparently, and doesn’t mind painting an unbearably rosy picture of Russia today that is so at odds with reality you’ll find your hair standing on end if you listen to the interview.
To be honest, I turned off my radio when Mr. Kevin launched into his “debunking” of the Skripal case and the Douma gas attack.
It’s not my place to do it, but I hope Australian taxpayers, who foot the bill for the ABC, go after the corporation for this shameless platforming of utter mendacity and useful idiocy in the service of the neo-imperialist Russian police state.
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The new cold war
Tony Kevin has worked in Russia as a diplomat and has been writing about foreign policy in relation to Russia for years.
He believes that there are false narratives being pushed by the West to maintain the status of Russia as the evil enemy.
Could there be a path forward towards detente between the West and Russia?
https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/latenightlive/the-new-cold-war/11742372
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MESSAGE FROM RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR 19 NOV 2019
Here is my transcription of the personal message from his Ambassador, Dr A Pavlovsky to me, that the Russian Embassy’s Deputy Ambassador Mr A Ovcharenko read out at my Canberra booklaunch 19 November 2019:
“I am pleased to take part in this presentation of a new book by Tony Kevin, Russia and the West – the last two action-packed years 2017-19.
In my personal view, Tony is a unique Australian author. Being a [former] career diplomat, he clearly sees and comprehensively analyses political forces. He spent many years in Russia, which helped him to understand deeper my country, its history, culture, political and social traditions. Such works as Return to Moscow and this new book offer realistic and honest views on Russia, which are fundamentally different from what are distorted images imposed by mainstream Western media, portraying Russia as an aggressive and hostile country. Tony Kevin stands against such biased approaches towards Russia. He advocates for good relations between Russia and Australia based on common interests and mutual respect. I believe that Tony Kevin‘s new work will help many Australians to understand the real situation around Russia.”
The Russian Reader 
Yes! In a free democratic society, only one view is acceptable! Long live our Glorious State Propaganda!
But seriously… Debunk the arguments. Even if you can do no more than “I don’t believe you!”
And even if that is “because I choose to believe the propaganda coming from My Side”.
But be honest.
It is fairly obvious that the West has engaged in massive corruption in Ukraine, for some years. The US should have seen this coming, and taken steps – Putin has seen massive weakness, and taken advantage. The media are too [insult insult here] to report on it accurately,