Oliver Stone, Uncle Joe and old Adolf

Oliver Stone has sent us a missive from the parallel universe where, judging by his moronic opinions, he resides. With David Icke, Donald Rumsfeld and L. Ron Hubbard. He's given us a history lesson. Of sorts. Most outstanding are his comments on Hitler and Stalin. They really do defy understanding. First up for the Stone revisionism is old Adolf:

"Hitler is an easy scapegoat throughout history and it's been used cheaply," he said.

Hitler as a scapegoat... right. I struggle with this one. Hitler was the leader of a regime that murdered six million people and fought both the UK and the US in a brutal battle for survival. Hitler is responsible for so much evil that I wonder why anyone would even need to scapegoat him. It's a bit like trying to pin a burglary on the Yorkshire Ripper; no-one is really going to care because, to be honest with you, the other crimes seem a little bit more important.

And then we have Stalin:

"Stalin has a complete other story. Not to paint him as a hero, but to tell a more factual representation. He fought the German war machine more than any person."

I'm glad that Stone realises that Stalin shouldn't be painted as a hero, because his regime is one of the most lethal in history. But this concept that he fought the German war machine more than any person demands a slightly closer analysis of actual historical events. Before Stalin fought the German war machine, he signed a peace treaty with them, carving up Poland and allowing for the invasion of Western Europe. And Stalin fell apart after the German invasion of Russia, creating a power vacuum at the top of his regime at one of the most crucial moments in the war, and thus allowing Germany to invade far more of the USSR than they might otherwise have managed. And the brutal war of attrition against the Nazis saw both sides commit atrocities. Whilst it is tempting to think of good ol' uncle Joe taking down them nasty Nazis, the truth is somewhat more sordid and a little less like a John Wayne movie.

I suppose some might agree with Stone. Stranger things have happened. I suppose it comes down to your personal political opinions. And whether or you have a connection to the real world, or life in a twisted world detached from the reality where every one else lives, and believe that Hugo Chavez is a truly great leader, a Che t-shirt is the very pinnacle of cool and Stalin was a bit misunderstood.

If it is the latter, of course, you are a total wanker. Much like Mr Stone.