USSR 1991

"All of you present here are elites targeting the Soviet Union's public opinion offensive. Your contributions in the Gorbachev era are obvious to all and deserve everyone's praise."

Robert Gates' voice was a bit cold, half colder than the winter snow and rain outside the Virginia window.Hearing this, everyone present swallowed their saliva, and stared nervously at what the CIA director had to say.

Of course, Robert Gates' mood will not be any better, because all the reasons come from the so-called Soviet folk videotape.Because the U.S. officials did not intervene in the first place when it was broadcast by the media, it snowballed and became bigger and bigger. Now it has caused a huge impact on public opinion, and it is impossible to get the media to stop.

Fortunately, the influence of public opinion is not negative, it just shows the situation of the Soviet Union and even satirizes the United States once.So President Bush simply reprimanded Robert Gates a few words, told him to remember better, and get ready to counter the next round of Soviet propaganda.

But there were always exceptions, and he was very dissatisfied with the propaganda materials submitted by the CIA elite who were used to sitting in the office.

After comparing the manuscript with the so-called "I am a Soviet invader", the director of the CIA, who had been reprimanded by the president, became even more unhappy. No matter how you look at it, the manuscript submitted was not as good as the propaganda of the Soviets. It was a direct attack on the United States. The core of the dream.

"But what are you submitting now!" Robert Gates slammed the document on the table, startling the people sitting around the table.He snorted and said dissatisfiedly, "Although I'm not your supervisor, I don't have the right to reprimand you directly, but with all due respect, what everyone here writes is rubbish."

Indeed, the Americans were almost invincible in the war of public opinion at the time because of the rigidity and corruption of the Soviet bureaucracy in the propaganda war, which led to the increasing market for liberalism in the Soviet Union.The Propaganda Department of the new generation obviously has sufficient resources and advantages in the field of anti-liberalism.

"Take them all back and revise them! Three days, and I'll give you three more days. After three days, I'll see a perfect report, or you'll all go to the cleaning department to clean the toilet."

The elites in suits and ties walked away tremblingly holding their copywriting, leaving Robert Gates sitting alone in the conference room, smoking a cigarette and sulking.The competitive mindset formed during the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union was that once you have a better weapon than me, I will come up with a more powerful and terrifying weapon than you, and the same goes for public opinion. It is simply an endless vicious circle.

"Take it easy, my friend." Owen, the director of public opinion propaganda of the CIA, walked in when Robert's anger subsided a little. The country's public opinion propaganda offensive has made impressive achievements.

For example, after the death of Tito in Yugoslavia, there were waves of national separatist forces one after another, and the team led by Owen was the propagandist behind the scenes.It is precisely because of this that Robert is relieved to hand over the propaganda and attack on the Soviet Union to his friends.

"I know you don't want to make things difficult for me, but it's also very embarrassing for you to directly reprimand my team beyond my identity. I will encourage them when I go back, tsk tsk tsk." Owen lit a cigarette. He knew that Robert had always Take care of yourself, so this time I will wake up my old friends at the critical moment.

"Look, it's so boring to keep propagating that the Soviet people live under totalitarian rule and have no personal freedom. We want to show the freedom and beauty of democracy to the countries on the other side of the Pacific. They don't always claim that we are exploiting Workers? Just let them see how good workers' welfare is in the free world."

"Propaganda to the Soviet world? I'm afraid it will have little effect." Robert pondered for a while, then said, "Now that Moscow has banned the publication of democratic newspapers, the Soviet people may not have access to this video at all."

"Old friend, you don't know much about American officials." Owen flicked the cigarette ash on his fingertips, and said with a smile, "What we did was just to give the American officials an explanation, so that they can get a lesson from the so-called 'humiliation' Comfort. It's like waving your fist through the air to comfort yourself after being bullied, understand?"

"Our leaders don't want to see how much damage can be recovered from this war of public opinion, but just want to let the Americans know that we live better than the Soviets."

Owen snuffed out the cigarette butt, threw the burnt cigarette in a parabola in mid-air, and landed perfectly in the trash can three meters away. He smiled and said bingo, then turned around and said to Robert, "Of course if If it can fight back, I think it will be a very good rowing boat."

In Moscow, which is far away from the Pacific Ocean, Surkov, the Minister of Propaganda Department, also summoned his elite staff. First of all, he affirmed the achievements of everyone. He did not take any credit for himself like those bureaucrats did. It was while Yanayev praised himself that he gave the credit to his elite team.He also said that he was ashamed, so he did a little work.

"Okay, comrades. Your amazing ingenuity has made the upper echelon of Washington feel as stupid as a pig. Now I want everyone to continue to bring Soviet surprises to the rednecks of the United States." Sur Cove congratulated the group of young men by clapping his hands.

Unlike the tense atmosphere in the CIA, Surkov is particularly good at invigorating the team atmosphere, making people feel that he is not a rigid and mean bureaucrat at all, but a vibrant Su Xuan Ministry leaders.

"U.S. imperialism will still feel the sanctions from the iron fist of communism. Now let's think about how to make these Uncle Sam look angry again." Surkov snapped his fingers, "And if I'm not wrong, After this public opinion offensive, the Americans will definitely fight back."

"However, the target of counterattack propaganda should not be the Soviet people, because so far we have controlled all the media and restored the news censorship system." Surkov, as a think tank in Moscow, quickly pointed out their propaganda target to the staff team, " U.S. imperialism will definitely promote their people, telling people not to be deluded, America is a land of freedom, and there will never be so-called human rights issues.”

"Then let's start with human rights issues." The thin young man pushed his glasses and said, shaking his big head that was out of proportion to his body. "Every country is the same. The United States must have the same human rights issues. We just It is necessary to continuously magnify their human rights issues, turning a small stain into a black page, so that a good publicity effect can be achieved."

The young man muttered again, "Anyway, we are often called a totalitarian country by them. We are used to it, and we have not made any progress. It is just a cliché to call us any more."

The companion next to him quickly poked his arm, signaling him to shut up quickly, and then looked back at Surkov to confirm that the other party was not angry before he was relieved.

Surkov shrugged his shoulders, indicating that he had nothing to do with it. Anyway, after Gorbachev, the KGB’s blow to the freedom of speech of the people has been reduced a lot. By the time of Yanayev, the KGB had become a monitoring of liberal members and bureaucrats. The sword of Damocles of the corrupt, presenting their every move to the KGB chairman's table at any time.

As the two major murderers who destroyed socialist construction, Yanayev will never let the Soviet government he ruled repeat the same mistakes.

"Okay, comrades, go back now and collect the crimes of America, so that these greedy capitalists have nowhere to hide. After seven days, I want to see the final version." Surkov gave them an urgent order time.

"Why seven days?"

"Is seven days too short?"

"Yes, yes, it may take three days just to collect materials and write manuscripts."

The group of people who discussed it exploded, and they all euphemistically expressed that the time was too short and hoped to forgive for a few days.But this time, Surkov did not accommodate the comrades who held firm in the public opinion position, and said bluntly, "Because I have a hunch that the Americans may also launch a propaganda offensive next week. So what you have to do is to do it after they just When you announce the news, slap back hard!"

Chapter 97 Who is the dictator?

Things did not go beyond Surkov's expectations. After the Soviet Union came up with a theme of "I am a Soviet Invader", the United States immediately launched a counterattack and came up with a theme of "Free America".In addition to showing the strength of the U.S. military, the stability and prosperity of the people, and a wide range of products, the video also shows the history of the American people's struggle for freedom and independence for hundreds of years.

From the moment the Mayflower incident set foot on the North American continent, to the sound of gunfire in Lexington in 1775, marking the complete start of the American people's war for independence, to the release of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, to the North-South war in 1861 The blowing of the war horn of the United States has continued through the scrolls of history to the heroic battle of the American Midway Island in World War II. It has always carried out the belief of one of their countries, that freedom and equality are the common hope and hope of all American people. Pursue.

The atmosphere and exaggeration are well done, without deliberately highlighting the solemnity and grandeur like the Soviet Union, and the eloquent narration adds a sense of American people's trust in the country, as well as the shameless dream of "one America, one world". support.

The United States obviously wants to use this video to compare with the Soviet Union's backwardness and lack of material life. In their view, this red empire is a deformed war machine, an extreme regime that does not care about people's living standards.

After reading the news reports, President Bush praised Director Robert of the CIA with satisfaction. Although the public opinion offensive this time was an act of overreaching, Bush didn't care too much after the effect was achieved.

"Good work everyone." Robert, who was in a good mood, opened a champagne to celebrate in the office. He raised his glass and said with a smile, "Come on, let's toast our victory."

And those elites just managed to squeeze out a smile.They don't have that much energy. In order to deal with this publicity, they haven't closed their eyes for almost four days.The plans were rejected one by one, and in the end even they began to doubt whether their lives were meaningful.

"Cheers to victory." Everyone dragged their weak and lazy voices to celebrate another great victory over the evil empire's propaganda offensive.Only the supervisor Owen who stood aside silently lit a cigarette, his tired expression couldn't hide the expectation in his eyes. He stood on the thirteenth floor, looking at the radiant night scene outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, talking to himself said in language.

"Heh, I really don't know what wonderful new round of offensive those interesting opponents will take in the next round."

Of course, if they see that the Soviet Union easily resolved all their hard work, what a miserable expression they will have.

When the news of the American promotional film reached the ears of the senior officials in Moscow, they only smiled slightly, as if they didn't care much.They have already accumulated a trump card in their hands, and they are waiting for the Americans to broadcast this promotional video.

Soon a piece of mail signed as a Soviet propaganda film was sent to the mailbox of the Georgian TV station. When the staff opened the package, there was only a videotape with the words "Who is the dictator" inside. I found that when I opened the video, the contents inside were like opening Pandora's box.After watching the videotape, the staff gritted their teeth and asked the director next to him what to do with the videotape?

The director realized that this was an opportunity to increase the ratings, but he didn't know if the video tape was copied and sent to other TV stations.The sooner such a video is played, the higher the ratings will be, and the more likely it will be able to overwhelm other radio stations.

So the director asked them to play the video without even thinking about it.

Of course, the director of "Free America" ​​who had the same idea as Columbia Television also released this video tape to the public for the first time.So another promotional film, which had a far-reaching impact on American society, was scrambled to be played on major TV stations.

The proletariat has no motherland because they want to break the chains of the old world and build a truly equal society. The capitalists have no national borders because they can sell the country for their own interests.

On this day, the big screens in New York's Fashion Square, the big broadcasts of Columbia Television, and the news programs that turned on the TVs all felt the shocking propaganda from the Soviets.

"From the founding of the country to the present, the Soviets have been known by the Western world as a brutal and evil empire, a prison for the people and the number one threat to world peace. Unfortunately, history has been repeating itself in another country, and they have never been Just trial."

The person who narrated this passage was a proletarian man wearing greasy blue overalls with a face so ordinary that he could not be compared to an ordinary proletarian. There was nothing outstanding about him, but the content and tone of what he said had a shocking power.

The big screen behind the man is constantly flashing some pictures and clips, many of which are the dark history of American rednecks who once enslaved others.

"But when you see this propaganda video, calmly, we are only talking about your government, the so-called 'brutal Russian monarch' has returned, this time he is not playing the image of an aggressor, but justice symbol of the god Themis."

"Western leaders have always fancied that we are the threat to world peace and freedom, and pressed forward with missiles and bombers, so that the Soviet Union really became a world ruled by their group of brutal dictators."

"The U.S. government emphasizes freedom and equality, but the world and people are paying for your brutal dictatorship and bleeding. When you see this video, Indians are living a life of discrimination. They use Thanksgiving fire Chickens shamelessly commemorate the massacre of Indians and have all but wiped the true North American inhabitants from the land."

"When you see this video, black people in Queens, New York are engaged in drug trafficking, robbery and other violent incidents. Their lives are still poor. They have never been treated equally since the slave trade. Although Lincoln promulgated A declaration to abolish black slavery, but to this day, black people are still the focus of the police. There is no reason, just a difference in skin color.”

"Just when you saw this video, American workers were brutally exploited by capitalists. Maybe you didn't know that April 1914 was the Ludlow Massacre of American workers. The unarmed working class because of opposing the Rockefeller family We have suffered bloody repression and merciless massacres because of the harsh working system, so do you still believe what the Western world says, that we are a fair country?"

"At this moment, people all over the world are living in pain under the intervention of the United States, but you call the Soviet Union a brutal dictator."