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submitted 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) by sadschmuck@hexbear.net to c/history@hexbear.net

No.

According to a claim circulating online, there is a CIA document or internal communication from the 1950s asserting that Joseph Stalin was not a dictator. The existence of this document is cited as proof either that Stalin was not a dictator after all, or at least that even the CIA didn't think he was. However, looking at the document in question, we see it is not a pronouncement of fact by the CIA whatsoever, but an anecdotal information report submitted to CIA information gatherers. As such, the document is a primary source representing the perspective of one anonymous informant, not the opinion of the CIA as a whole. Additionally, the document is contradicted by dozens of more reliable or detailed documents obtained or created by the CIA in the same period, indicating that they did not believe Stalin was non-dictatorial as claimed.

The transcript is in the comments.

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[-] sadschmuck@hexbear.net 6 points 7 months ago

Seems like bad agitprop to me

[-] Awoo@hexbear.net 11 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Bad why? Because it might not be wholly truthful? The goal of propaganda is not to tell the truth but to achieve a goal. The goal of this particular propaganda is to help in creating more socialists by softening views of the USSR. This explanation against the propaganda has existed for decades and yet I have never seen libs make it, not once, not a single fucking time.

The propaganda achieves the goal of helping to create more communists. Therefore I will continue to use it. Especially when it is exceptionally effective. If that ever changes, then I will move on from it.

this post was submitted on 02 Oct 2025
52 points (98.1% liked)

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