These programs were largely about ensuring that American propaganda can reach people in Iran or similar places. This is no longer considered an issue, and the focus is now on reducing young American’s exposure to alternative geopolitical narratives. This strategy also aligns with the US government’s trend of aggressive privatization; an israeli billionaire will happily pay for the privilege of content moderation on american social media platforms, saving the tax payer money. Win win.
wewxjfq•38m ago
A program that helped people evade real censorship is "feeding them US propaganda" and social media awash with state-sponsored trolls tearing our societies apart is "an alternative geopolitical narrative" - bit of a spin, isn't it?
geraneum•36m ago
> American propaganda can reach people in Iran
> American’s exposure to alternative geopolitical narratives
In the same breath!
js8•11m ago
I downvoted you because I don't understand the point you're trying to make.
joe_mamba•35m ago
>These programs were largely about ensuring that American propaganda can reach people in Iran or similar places.
This. The og point of USAID wasn't AID as per the name would misleadingly let you believe, but spreading pro-US anti-USSR propaganda, and only like 3% of that program was spent on actual AID, like food and medicine for the third world, but most of it went to funding media, news and journalists across LatAm, Asia, Africa dn EE, that would push domestic support in those regions for US policies and be critical of US adversaries.
US doesn't fund "freedom" of anything out of selflessness, it funds policies that are guaranteed to benefit it over its rivals.
Meh, just another 'non-profit' selectively giving away boatloads of taxpayer money... Goodbye!
renewiltord•6m ago
As The Guardian has previously pointed out https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/03/us-cuban-twitt...: USAID and these orgs were "undermining Cuba's communist government". Now it's time to celebrate. People will now be free to live as they wish under communism or whatever else they choose. It is not for us to choose whether people want to be invaded by Russia or ruled by Castro. If they don't want this, let them choose otherwise.
cyclecount•1h ago
wewxjfq•38m ago
geraneum•36m ago
> American’s exposure to alternative geopolitical narratives
In the same breath!
js8•11m ago
joe_mamba•35m ago
This. The og point of USAID wasn't AID as per the name would misleadingly let you believe, but spreading pro-US anti-USSR propaganda, and only like 3% of that program was spent on actual AID, like food and medicine for the third world, but most of it went to funding media, news and journalists across LatAm, Asia, Africa dn EE, that would push domestic support in those regions for US policies and be critical of US adversaries.
US doesn't fund "freedom" of anything out of selflessness, it funds policies that are guaranteed to benefit it over its rivals.