What appears to be emerging is the blame game, over the stalled counter offensive by the Ukraine military. It's a question of take your pick with each agenda, 'lack of weapons', 'poor weaponry', 'no aircraft sent', not enough tanks, air defence systems etc.', 'not following NATO military doctrine', 'following NATO military doctrine', Musk is at fault', 'corruption is hindering the military' etc.,etc. A big chunk of MSM are starting to question what is really going on. They themselves have been propagandists from the start that 'Ukraine is winning' now bigger cracks are starting to appear that questions their narrative.
Something is afoot when the New York Times has a go at Anton Gerashchenko over their propaganda mishaps, when reporting the death of the Russian Commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Sokolov. They even brought up about how Gerashchenko wrongly claimed the captain of the Moskva was killed.
As a Moon of Alabama piece points out when quoting Gerashenko, 'You cannot win the propaganda war without winning the real war'. Unfortunately for Gerashchenko he's being exposed precisely because they are 'losing the real war'. And there's nothing more vicious that a reporter who's been led up the garden path and been dumped on from a great height. The blame game has begun in earnest.
Which is no surprise because 'reputations and credibility' are at stake and renewed contracts and book deals have to be negotiated and signed. Some of these journalists try and hit the giddy heights of having the 'book of the year' like Catherine Belton with her, 'Putins people: How the KGB took back Russia then took on the West'. One to get out of the library no doubt. But reading the reviews and incidents around the book (always a good idea I think) it seems to rely on too many, 'anonomous sources', Luke Harding. But the court case brought by Abramovich against the publishers for printing, 'Abramovich bought Chelsea at the 'behest of Putin' - a fancy way of saying Putin ordered him to buy Chelsea FC (which incidentally has been the basis for the hounding out of Abramovich from owning Chelsea). The publishers had to apologise because, 'it is not a statement of fact' Guardian newspaper. No doubt Catherine Belton's career has propelled upwards due to her book. Wild exaggerating propanda has been the norm from the start of Russia's military involvement in the Ukraine civil war. With it often being attributed to Putin saying it, like US General Mark Milley's, 'Kiev:will fall within 72 hours'.
The US Empire is in a quandary over Ukraine, it's losing but can't decide how to get out without seeming to lose face thereby admitting defeat. They'll probably resort to the blame game as they always do with miltary defeats Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and/or leave death, destruction and mayhem as in Libya or continue to plunder the wealth of a country like Syria, stealing oil and grain from the areas the US are still in. No wonder the US Empire itself is in political civil war turmoil. There are those that see Russia as the main 'theeat', while others are claiming 'its China that threatens our national interests' or there are this claiming both. At the moment, they'll keep sending more and more weapons to Kiev with the continued loss of life, in their attempt to damage Russia. The US will continue with its trade war moves against Germany, and as a consequence hit the EU, causing an economic downturn. No wonder there are splits in Europe over Ukraine, which will grow louder. A peace deal is the only solution to this war. Which will be a recognition the those in the Donbass and other areas want to secede away from Ukraine and join Russia. Which became the issue after the Maidan coup and the subsequent civil war move by the Kiev government, that allowed the fascists elements to take control and the derussification began with a vengeance. A negotiated settlement may be closer as Ukraine losses on the battlefield mounts. The sooner the better.