Friday, March 29, 2024
Miles from the Mainstream
D. R. ZUKERMAN, proprietor

John Batchelor -- Angel's Advocate


February 19, 2015 --

It occurred to LPR, listening to John Batchelor chat about Ukraine with Paul Gregory, on one broadcast, and Stephen F. Cohen on another, that Mr. Batchelor adopts an "angel's advocate" stance, eschewing the role of devil's advocate. (Google, for example, "Playing the Angel's Advocate.") Discussing Ukraine with Paul Gregory, Batchelor never challenges Gregory's accusation of Russian aggression against Ukraine, his readiness to ascribe the worst motives to Vladimir Putin, and his apparent hope for regime change in Russia.

With Prof. Cohen, however, Batchelor raises the possibility of anti-Russian provocations aimed at sabotaging diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine conflict, that neo-fascists have great influence in Kiev, and doesn't agree with Cohen that there is a "war party" in Washington seeking Putin's removal.