• Tachanka [comrade/them]
            ·
            edit-2
            1 year ago

            To be nuanced on the question of AOC in Niger, while I suppose it's not impossible that a 19(?) year old AOC was a CIA agent that helped carry out a coup, I think it's much more likely that she played a peripheral role, simply working for neoliberal NGOs. She seemed to be part of some kind of Gates-Foundation style project to lower the birth rate and encourage contraceptive use. Not to suggest that NGOs aren't often CIA fronts with a decidedly reactionary role in geopolitics, just that her imperialist role in Niger was more passive than active.

              • Tachanka [comrade/them]
                ·
                1 year ago

                yes, without a doubt. i almost joined the peace corps once upon a time before learning better

            • GivingEuropeASpook [they/them, comrade/them]
              ·
              1 year ago

              while I suppose it's not impossible that a 19(?) year old AOC was a CIA agent

              I think this is a really salient point, not just in reference to the NGO work but in terms of her being a turncoat in general. I think there's a natural tendency to reframe how we look at someone's past when we grow disillusioned with someone because of their actions, but I don't think AOC set out to get elected with the express goal of misdirecting revolutionary sentiment into support for the future Biden Administration.