Soviet Union 1991

Second update

Solzhenitsyn's betrayal annoyed the CIA. Originally, this was a play they had secretly designed. If the Moscow authorities refused Solzhenitsyn's return, they could still make a big fuss to the outside world and publicize the Soviet Union's human rights issues. If they agreed to Solzhenitsyn's return to Moscow, then this staunch critic would definitely criticize Soviet policies severely and make Yanayev lose face. Brandy even assured Director Tenet that this would be a very wonderful performance, a dialogue between a staunch anti-Soviet and a totalitarian national leader.

Tenet also believed Brandy's words, and then used his connections to approve Solzhenitsyn's request to return to the Soviet Union.

However, Brandy, the head of the Intelligence Department, did not expect that the Soviet Propaganda Department would not only not ban Solzhenitsyn, but also let Moscow newspapers focus on the writer's return and publicize this "Russian conscience" who had been wandering overseas for many years.

Then the CIA, which was originally waiting to see the good show, received a very unexpected news. Solzhenitsyn, who returned to Moscow, agreed to Yanayev's request and resettled in Moscow.

This made the CIA, which had spent a lot of money to train Solzhenitsyn, very embarrassed.

What made Brandi even more embarrassed was that soon after Solzhenitsyn returned to Moscow, he began to write some articles whose views were obviously on the side of the Soviet government, focusing on criticizing the policies of the Gorbachev period and the ignorance and superficiality of the entire society at that time, and conducted a deep reflection.

Brandi, who received this news, quickly sent someone to verify the accuracy of the news. He hoped that the authorities threatened or forced Solzhenitsyn to write such a work that was against his own will, but the result of the report was surprising. Solzhenitsyn did write such a work voluntarily and was not threatened by the Soviet government departments.

A frustrating problem was placed before Section Chief Brandi. Comrade Solzhenitsyn, a great liberal fighter and a tough Hemingway-style writer, betrayed the free country of America and threw himself into the arms of the * without hesitation.

This was completely different from the script that was agreed upon at the beginning. When Director Tenet heard the news, his face turned pale and he asked Brandi to immediately ban everything about Solzhenitsyn.

Overnight, the treatment of this anti-Soviet hero took a 180-degree turn.

Almost a few days after Solzhenitsyn officially settled in Moscow, the US government began to ban Solzhenitsyn completely, and the charge turned out to be a potential ideological spy of the KGB. All books about Solzhenitsyn were removed from the shelves of stores, his assets in the United States were frozen, and even the Immigration Bureau announced that Solzhenitsyn would be included in the immigration blacklist and would never be allowed to enter the United States. They tried to make Solzhenitsyn disappear in the United States. For example, Korotich, the only one left, included Solzhenitsyn in the list of liberal betrayers, and wanted to hang his name and the Soviet Union together to whip.

This was even more cruel than the Soviet Union's ban on Solzhenitsyn before. Fortunately, Solzhenitsyn had been alone, so there was not much property left in the United States.

After knowing this, the Soviet government directly provided him with an apartment and a job as a newspaper editor, but Solzhenitsyn politely refused.

This incident made Solzhenitsyn see the true face of Americans. The United States is like a wealthy capitalist, rewarding a bone when the captive dog barks nicely. But at least in the most difficult period, the Soviet Union still did not forget to give this group of ungrateful wolves a piece of bread.

Solzhenitsyn's arrival seemed to have blown a new wind to Russian literature, and the originally lifeless literary world began to become active again. Some people call this situation the Soviet Renaissance.

Although Surkov said that a cautious attitude should be taken, after all, no one knows whether someone will use this new cultural movement to oppose the national system.

"Are you not confident in our society, Comrade Surkov?" After listening to Surkov's report, Yanaev asked with a smile, "Let me say the simplest thing. Who would still regard the American liberal propaganda policy as a belief and goal now?"

Surkov thought carefully. Indeed, in the past five years, the slogans of system reform and freedom for the people that were once overwhelming have disappeared, and the atmosphere of public opinion has changed from supporting liberalism to opposing the American liberal system.

"Freedom is just a banner. When people can't eat, they will use this banner to oppose everything that exists. But when everyone starts to live and work in peace and contentment, will anyone follow you to fight for freedom?" Yanaev asked again.

Surkov still shook his head.

"Although the United States is our enemy, it was, is and will be, there is one thing we must be sure of, that is, confidence in the system and confidence in the country. In an era of economic prosperity and with a series of welfare guarantees, no one would think of rebelling. Now if public intellectuals stand up and say they will follow them to oppose socialism, they will be seen as crazy and unreasonable by others."

"The Soviet Union welcomes the return of Solzhenitsyn, but it does not mean that we have relaxed our occupation of the high ground of public opinion. Controlling public opinion is a stupid thing. From the Stalin era to the Gorbachev era, these idiots who control the Propaganda Department have always None of them understand one thing. The victory of public opinion is often accompanied by economic success and the improvement of people's living standards, rather than relying on government means to tighten the people's neck."

Surkov smiled bitterly and said, "General Secretary Yanayev, when you said these words, I doubted whether I heard correctly."

Yanayev shook his head, "You heard me right. This is indeed the most effective public opinion tactic. Occupying the commanding heights of public opinion is much more effective than the government holding a hundred times to sing and praise the motherland. Comrade Surkov, Publicity strategy is a very profound knowledge, and you still need to learn more. ”

Yanayev spread the newspaper in front of Surkov. The front page headline was a portrait of Solzhenitsyn. He pointed to the portrait and said, "The reason why I will let Solzhenitsyn come back is to show the outside world It proves that the Soviet government is not the kind of country that arrests all dissidents. Secondly, it uses this method to make the domestic literary and artistic circles our propaganda weapons.”

"Propaganda weapon?" Surkov didn't understand what Yanayev meant.

"When they criticize the Gorbachev era, it is a sign of the victory of our propaganda strategy. Think about the slogan that best represents their policies during the Gorbachev era? It is socialism with democracy and freedom . Criticizing the era of Gorbachev is equivalent to us leading the literary and art circles to evaluate democracy and freedom. What will happen if the criticism continues?”

"I understand, it is to arouse people's disgust towards American liberalism." Surkov suddenly realized that the plan arranged by Yanayev was actually exquisitely aimed at American liberal thought, and it was also a group of writers who had unintentionally time as a gun aimed at the banner of liberalism.

Yanayev nodded. It was clear that Surkov had reached the point where he could take charge of his own affairs. Even if one day he was no longer the president of the country, he would not have to worry about the public opinion propaganda position falling into the hands of the enemy.

"Once the people are disappointed enough with liberalism, no one will want to say that they would rather have freedom than bread. What we have to do next is to use our means to guide the people forward. But first , we must have sufficient economic strength and improve the system through institutional fairness. The people's identification with the Soviet Union, otherwise everything is just a joke. Democracy and freedom are just banners chosen by the people in order to have a bite of food. Those who shouted that there was no human rights in the Saddam era now. Who else would jump out and shout long live freedom? It’s a joke.”

Yanayev said with certainty, "One day in the future, the Soviet Union will achieve a complete victory in this war of public opinion and let red flags be planted all over the land of North America." (To be continued.)