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Maybe it's a new trend, but the legacy media hasn't been holding the Biden administration's feet to the fire until Thursday.
Associated Press reporter Matt Lee did not allow State Department spokesman Ned Price to get away with a ridiculous claim that implied his words were proof of a declassified report that Russia is planning to stage a fake video of Ukrainian military attacks as a pretext for Russia to then invade Ukraine.
Price literally said that “Russia is planning to stage fabricated attacks by Ukrainian military or intelligence forces as a pretext for a further invasion of Ukraine.”
He continued, “One possible option the Russians are considering, and which we made public today, involves the production of a propaganda video – a video with graphic scenes of false explosions – depicting corpses, crisis actors pretending to be mourners, and images of destroyed locations or military equipment – entirely fabricated by Russian intelligence. To be clear, the production of this propaganda video is one of a number of options that the Russian Government is developing as a fake pretext to initiate and potentially justify military aggression against Ukraine. We don’t know if Russia will necessarily use this or another option in the coming days.”
“Russia has signaled it’s willing to continue diplomatic talks as a means to de-escalate, but actions such as these suggest otherwise,” he added.
He continued, “One possible option the Russians are considering, and which we made public today, involves the production of a propaganda video – a video with graphic scenes of false explosions – depicting corpses, crisis actors pretending to be mourners, and images of destroyed locations or military equipment – entirely fabricated by Russian intelligence. To be clear, the production of this propaganda video is one of a number of options that the Russian Government is developing as a fake pretext to initiate and potentially justify military aggression against Ukraine. We don’t know if Russia will necessarily use this or another option in the coming days.”
“Russia has signaled it’s willing to continue diplomatic talks as a means to de-escalate, but actions such as these suggest otherwise,” he added.
Lee was the first reporter to be called on by Price and his pushback was, well, Priceless. He demanded that Price provide evidence to back up his bull. He even went so far as to compare Price's statement to an Alex Jones claim.
“This is like Alex Jones territory you’re getting into now. What evidence do you have to support the idea that there is some propaganda film in the making?”
Considering the smackdown Lee gave Price, you'd have to believe that if it was our alleged President House Plant in place of his State Department spokesman, the outcome would have been the same. In other words, this administration is populated by amateurs who treat the American people as if we are too stupid to see what's going on. In this case, you have a government agency telling us to believe them because their words are the facts, even when they change to the new facts their words say they are and so on. Confused yet?
TRANSCRIPT: [with my comments in brackets and my italics]
NED PRICE, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: Good afternoon. We have previously noted our strong concerns regarding Russian disinformation and the likelihood that Moscow might create – seek to create -- a false flag operation to initiate military activity. Now, we can say that the United States has information that Russia is planning to stage fabricated attacks by Ukrainian military or intelligence forces as a pretext for a further invasion of Ukraine.
One possible option the Russians are considering, and which we made public today, involves the production of a propaganda video – a video with graphic scenes of false explosions – depicting corpses, crisis actors pretending to be mourners, and images of destroyed locations or military equipment – entirely fabricated by Russian intelligence.
To be clear, the production of this propaganda video is one of a number of options that the Russian government is developing as a fake pretext to initiate and potentially justify military aggression against Ukraine. We don’t know if Russia will necessarily use this or another option in the coming days. We are publicizing it now, however, in order to lay bare the extent of Russia’s destabilizing actions towards Ukraine and to dissuade Russia from continuing this dangerous campaign and ultimately launching a military attack.
Russia has signaled it’s willing to continue diplomatic talks as a means to de-escalate, but actions such as these suggest otherwise. We will continue to diligently work together with our allies and partners to expose Russian disinformation and other hybrid tactics used against Ukraine. We continue to work to prevent any effort Moscow might make to justify further military action in Ukraine. We again urge Russia to stop its destructive and destabilizing disinformation campaign, to de-escalate tensions, and to engage in diplomacy and dialogue for a peaceful solution.
Thank you.
MATT LEE, AP REPORTER: Thanks. Okay, well, that’s quite a mouthful there. So you said “actions such as these suggest otherwise” – suggest meaning that they suggest they’re not interested in talks and they’re going to go ahead with some kind of a – what action are you talking about?
PRICE: One, the actions I have just pointed to, the fact –
LEE: What action? What —
PRICE: The fact that Russia continues to engage in disinformation campaigns.
LEE: Well no, you’ve made an allegation that they might do that. Have they actually done it?
PRICE: What we know, Matt, is what we – what I have just said, that they have engaged in this activity, in this planning activity —
LEE: Well, engage in what – hold on a second. What activity?
PRICE: But let me – let me – because obviously this is not – this is not the first time we’ve made these reports public. You’ll remember that just a few weeks ago – [It sounds as if Price is making it up as he goes along]
LEE: I’m sorry, made what report public?
PRICE: If you let me finish, I will tell you what report we made public.
LEE: Okay.
PRICE: We told you a few weeks ago that we have information indicating Russia also has already pre-positioned a group of operatives to conduct a false flag operation in eastern Ukraine. So that, Matt, to your question, is an action that Russia has already taken. ["We told you" is not a report]
LEE: No, it’s an action that you say that they have taken, but you have shown no evidence to confirm that. And I’m going to get to the next question here, which is: What is the evidence that they – I mean, this is – like, crisis actors? Really? This is like Alex Jones territory you’re getting into now. What evidence do you have to support the idea that there is some propaganda film in the making?
PRICE: Matt, this is derived from information known to the U.S. Government, intelligence information that we have declassified. I think you know —
LEE: Okay, well, where is it? Where is this information?
PRICE: It is intelligence information that we have declassified. [If it's declassified, it can be shown and, if necessary, sources and methods can be redacted]
LEE: Well, where is it? Where is the declassified information?
PRICE: I just delivered it. [There's the "my word makes it evidence" and if you believe his word, you're a fool]
LEE: No, you made a series of allegations and statements —
PRICE: Would you like us to print out the topper? Because you will see a transcript of this briefing that you can print out for yourself. [Again, Price is saying "if I print out what I just said, will you just shut up and accept it as fact?"]
LEE: But that’s not evidence, Ned. That’s you saying it. That’s not evidence. I’m sorry.
PRICE: What would you like, Matt? [What we would all like: something to back up your claim]
LEE: I would like to see some proof that you – that you can show that —
PRICE: Matt, you have been —
LEE: — that shows that the Russians are doing this.
PRICE: You —
LEE: Ned, I’ve been doing this for a long time, as you know. [This is just a ploy to confuse the issue. How does this have anything to do with what the reporter is asking?]
PRICE: I know. That was my point. You have been doing this for quite a while. [So what?]
LEE: I have.
PRICE: You know that when we declassify intelligence, we do so in a means —
LEE: That’s right. And I remember WMDs in Iraq, and I —
PRICE: — we do so with an eye to protecting sources and methods. [Redact them]
TRANSCRIPT: [with my comments in brackets and my italics]
NED PRICE, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: Good afternoon. We have previously noted our strong concerns regarding Russian disinformation and the likelihood that Moscow might create – seek to create -- a false flag operation to initiate military activity. Now, we can say that the United States has information that Russia is planning to stage fabricated attacks by Ukrainian military or intelligence forces as a pretext for a further invasion of Ukraine.
One possible option the Russians are considering, and which we made public today, involves the production of a propaganda video – a video with graphic scenes of false explosions – depicting corpses, crisis actors pretending to be mourners, and images of destroyed locations or military equipment – entirely fabricated by Russian intelligence.
To be clear, the production of this propaganda video is one of a number of options that the Russian government is developing as a fake pretext to initiate and potentially justify military aggression against Ukraine. We don’t know if Russia will necessarily use this or another option in the coming days. We are publicizing it now, however, in order to lay bare the extent of Russia’s destabilizing actions towards Ukraine and to dissuade Russia from continuing this dangerous campaign and ultimately launching a military attack.
Russia has signaled it’s willing to continue diplomatic talks as a means to de-escalate, but actions such as these suggest otherwise. We will continue to diligently work together with our allies and partners to expose Russian disinformation and other hybrid tactics used against Ukraine. We continue to work to prevent any effort Moscow might make to justify further military action in Ukraine. We again urge Russia to stop its destructive and destabilizing disinformation campaign, to de-escalate tensions, and to engage in diplomacy and dialogue for a peaceful solution.
Thank you.
MATT LEE, AP REPORTER: Thanks. Okay, well, that’s quite a mouthful there. So you said “actions such as these suggest otherwise” – suggest meaning that they suggest they’re not interested in talks and they’re going to go ahead with some kind of a – what action are you talking about?
PRICE: One, the actions I have just pointed to, the fact –
LEE: What action? What —
PRICE: The fact that Russia continues to engage in disinformation campaigns.
LEE: Well no, you’ve made an allegation that they might do that. Have they actually done it?
PRICE: What we know, Matt, is what we – what I have just said, that they have engaged in this activity, in this planning activity —
LEE: Well, engage in what – hold on a second. What activity?
PRICE: But let me – let me – because obviously this is not – this is not the first time we’ve made these reports public. You’ll remember that just a few weeks ago – [It sounds as if Price is making it up as he goes along]
LEE: I’m sorry, made what report public?
PRICE: If you let me finish, I will tell you what report we made public.
LEE: Okay.
PRICE: We told you a few weeks ago that we have information indicating Russia also has already pre-positioned a group of operatives to conduct a false flag operation in eastern Ukraine. So that, Matt, to your question, is an action that Russia has already taken. ["We told you" is not a report]
LEE: No, it’s an action that you say that they have taken, but you have shown no evidence to confirm that. And I’m going to get to the next question here, which is: What is the evidence that they – I mean, this is – like, crisis actors? Really? This is like Alex Jones territory you’re getting into now. What evidence do you have to support the idea that there is some propaganda film in the making?
PRICE: Matt, this is derived from information known to the U.S. Government, intelligence information that we have declassified. I think you know —
LEE: Okay, well, where is it? Where is this information?
PRICE: It is intelligence information that we have declassified. [If it's declassified, it can be shown and, if necessary, sources and methods can be redacted]
LEE: Well, where is it? Where is the declassified information?
PRICE: I just delivered it. [There's the "my word makes it evidence" and if you believe his word, you're a fool]
LEE: No, you made a series of allegations and statements —
PRICE: Would you like us to print out the topper? Because you will see a transcript of this briefing that you can print out for yourself. [Again, Price is saying "if I print out what I just said, will you just shut up and accept it as fact?"]
LEE: But that’s not evidence, Ned. That’s you saying it. That’s not evidence. I’m sorry.
PRICE: What would you like, Matt? [What we would all like: something to back up your claim]
LEE: I would like to see some proof that you – that you can show that —
PRICE: Matt, you have been —
LEE: — that shows that the Russians are doing this.
PRICE: You —
LEE: Ned, I’ve been doing this for a long time, as you know. [This is just a ploy to confuse the issue. How does this have anything to do with what the reporter is asking?]
PRICE: I know. That was my point. You have been doing this for quite a while. [So what?]
LEE: I have.
PRICE: You know that when we declassify intelligence, we do so in a means —
LEE: That’s right. And I remember WMDs in Iraq, and I —
PRICE: — we do so with an eye to protecting sources and methods. [Redact them]
LEE: And I remember that Kabul was not going to fall. I remember a lot of things. So where is the declassified information other than you coming out here and saying it? [BINGO]
PRICE: Matt, I’m sorry you don’t like the format, but we have — [It isn't a format. It's balderdash so far as anyone can tell]
LEE: It’s not the format. It’s the content.
PRICE: I’m sorry you don’t like the content. I’m sorry you — [he's throwing out chaff]
LEE: It’s not that I don’t like it or —
PRICE: I’m sorry you are doubting the information that is in the possession of the U.S. Government. [what information other than him saying there is information. Price really seems to be making up information as he goes along to get along]
LEE: No, I —
PRICE: What I’m telling you is that this is information that’s available to us. We are making it available to you in order – for a couple reasons. [No he is not making it available to him. He is saying things that he cannot back up with proof other than him saying it] One is to attempt to deter the Russians from going ahead with this activity. Two, in the event we’re not able to do that, in the event the Russians do go ahead with this, to make it clear as day, to lay bare the fact that this has always been an attempt on the part of the Russian Federation to fabricate a pretext.
LEE: Yes, but you don’t have any evidence to back it up other than what you’re saying. It’s like you’re saying, “We think – we have information the Russians may do this,” but you won’t tell us what the information is. And then when you’re asked —
PRICE: Matt, I’m sorry you don’t like the format, but we have — [It isn't a format. It's balderdash so far as anyone can tell]
LEE: It’s not the format. It’s the content.
PRICE: I’m sorry you don’t like the content. I’m sorry you — [he's throwing out chaff]
LEE: It’s not that I don’t like it or —
PRICE: I’m sorry you are doubting the information that is in the possession of the U.S. Government. [what information other than him saying there is information. Price really seems to be making up information as he goes along to get along]
LEE: No, I —
PRICE: What I’m telling you is that this is information that’s available to us. We are making it available to you in order – for a couple reasons. [No he is not making it available to him. He is saying things that he cannot back up with proof other than him saying it] One is to attempt to deter the Russians from going ahead with this activity. Two, in the event we’re not able to do that, in the event the Russians do go ahead with this, to make it clear as day, to lay bare the fact that this has always been an attempt on the part of the Russian Federation to fabricate a pretext.
LEE: Yes, but you don’t have any evidence to back it up other than what you’re saying. It’s like you’re saying, “We think – we have information the Russians may do this,” but you won’t tell us what the information is. And then when you’re asked —
PRICE: Well, that is the idea behind deterrence, Matt. That is the idea behind deterrence.
LEE: When you’re asked – and when you’re asked —
PRICE: It is our hope that the Russians don’t go forward with this.
LEE: And when you’re asked what the information is, you say, “I just gave it to you.” But that’s not what —
PRICE: You seem not to understand — [he has to cut Lee off because the illogic is so obvious]
LEE: That’s not the way it works.
PRICE: You seem not to understand the idea of deterrence. [Price doesn't seem to understand the idea of evidence]
The dialogue between them goes on but you get the picture, and the picture is Priceless.
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It seems as if the U.S. is propagating propaganda and the press is finally not buying into it, as is usually their wont. Perhaps the Biden administration is looking to distract from their failures which keep piling up like shooting victims across the country.
Whatever the reason, they are finally doing their job--at least in this case.
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