Yea yea I know, not all contradictions imply a fundamental error.
This line is currently in popular usage by online liberals who are forced to work through their 
as China ascends, as DPRK approaches normalization, as Iran demonstrates its regional force, as Ukraine inevitably loses, as the US murders and still loses, as Sahel states inch toward sovereignty. These contradictions are becoming more striking and difficult to hand-wave. And in the first phase of this dissonance, the reflex is to allow the dissonance no matter how deafening.
I’m reminded of the RedSails article on the theory of ‘brainwashing’. Certain phrases are useful in providing moral license to support imperialism instead of critically examining one’s preconceptions
An all time article. When we start from “people are propagandized” rather than “propaganda reinforces people’s conceptions of their material interests,” we excuse lazy thinking. Debunking some lie about 80s hairstyles being the only legal ones because some dipshit western tourist saw a salon poster they couldn’t read isn’t the point. In the end they excuse bombing the north back to the stone age and using economic warfare to try and keep them there. because it protects their mode of living.