It’s not very usual that both the head of Russia as well as President of the United States to give major speeches on the same day, addressing the same subjects and themes. The fact that this happened on a day like today was no accident. Friday marks the first anniversary of the Russian attack on Ukraine in addition, Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden were both discussing the conflict with their respective audiences. However, their audiences were different. They also had different visions of the world offered.
Putin talked for two hours in a vast and unadorned hall. His target audience was in the room: politicians “elected” according to a rigged system, as well as bureaucrats, security officials, and functionaries–precisely the class of elite Russians who are rumored to be most unhappy with the war. Occasionally, they would rise to applaud. They wore their stoic, emotionless faces, and that’s not surprising.
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For those who acted in this manner, Putin had a clear message: “Those who have embarked in the direction of betrayal to Russia should be held accountable in accordance with the law.” He did not, he claimed launch an unprovoked “witch hunting” against dissidents. It is, in fact, a warning that the possibility of a witch hunt is likely.
Regular Russians did not feel any sympathy for the people who lost money due to Western sanctions. He claimed. A signal, naturally that those present who lost money due to Western sanctions shouldn’t expect to recover it. In the case of those who fled the country, including, for example, the daughters and sons of the guests they were dismissed for being “national criminals.”
Point-by-point, Putin repeated lies that Putin repeated before. “We did everything we could to resolve this issue in a peaceful manner.” Ukraine “started the conflict.” It’s “them”–the West–” who are responsible for the conflict and we’re employing force to end the war.” Everybody in the room knew that these were falsehoods. Many of his audience members prior to the war openly mocked American statements that warned of an attack likely to occur and were stunned when it happened.
But dictators rarely lie because they believe that anyone will trust them. Instead in blatantly false statements, dictators are known for their lies. Russian dictator was warning the Russian elite that he is the absolute ruler He can say anything the emperor wants to say and they are forced to pretend to believe in him.
Certain of his statements were intended for people from outside to listen to. The announcement of the withdrawal from nuclear treaties was designed to alarm Americans. Putin is aware his Biden administration is spooked by the fear of Russian nuclear arsenals, therefore, he has an innate motivation to excite this fear at any time and however.
The stale and familiar language of Western degeneracy–” the loss of family life, culture as well as national identities, the perversion of and child abuse are considered to be the norm”–was designed to scare Russians who feel the tingle of regret or a feeling of loss now that Russia is isolated from Europe. A more comprehensive, broader optimistic vision was offered. Putin didn’t seek to inspire, persuade, or inspire, as he didn’t need to. Putin doesn’t need to convince anyone within Russia He just wants the Russians to be afraid.
Joe Biden, by contrast, was in the open air in Warsaw’s castle, in front of crowds of Poles and ex-pat Americans who seemed to be genuinely delighted at being there. They smiled, chatted about themselves, and raised flags. However, they weren’t his primary public. In contrast to Putin, Biden cared much more about reaching those that weren’t in the audience such as the American public and his European populace, and even the Ukrainian public as well. In his speeches, he employed wide, universal, inclusive rhetoric, such as freedom, and words like the courage of the courageous.
Contrary to Putin Biden was looking to inspire, convince and clarify. Putin was skeptical of the power that was America and the world of democracy, Biden said, but Putin was in error: “Yes, we would be a strong advocate for the sovereignty of our country … And yes we would defend the right of the people to be free from violence.” Yes, that’s true, “we would stand up for the rule of law.”
There is no way that everyone would be happy. Except for Russia, Biden mentioned no autocracy specifically. However, he did address a general principle, one that was broad enough to be interpreted as an allusion towards China and Iran: “Appetites of the autocrat can’t be squelched. They must be challenged. Autocrats can only comprehend one word”No.”‘No. No.'”
The speech also pleased the people who gathered at the castle, however, such a general, universal language has certain risks. Biden’s Warsaw speech set a very high standard–a very high one–for him as well as his administration and for NATO and the alliance of democracies, as well as for Ukraine. If we’re fighting in the name of “freedom and sovereignty” we cannot accept any less. If we’re fighting for democratic principles, we have to hope that democracy is accepted by our political allies too, not least Poland which is a country where democracy is under threat. If we’re going to describe Russia’s gruesome brutality and violence in the occupation of Ukraine as “crimes of human rights,” doesn’t that obligate us to pursue them? Shouldn’t we pursue justice everywhere?
If you are ruled by fear, by relying on lying, nobody can expect to get anything better. When you express optimism and hope and hope, you build the faith of a belief that anything can be done. I would like to think that Biden realizes that he has said he would be victorious in this war, and now he needs to figure out how to accomplish this.
