The FPA’s Must Reads (March 8–14)

How The Truth Is Made At Russia Today
Buzzfeed
By Rosie Gray

Since Russia’s invasion of Crimea two weeks ago, RT, formerly known as Russia Today, has come into the spotlight as, with only a few notable exceptions, the most ardent English-language defender of Russia’s foreign policy. Rosie Gray speaks with RT’s former employees to uncover how the network sustains itself and its obstinate editorial line.

Voices from Baghdad
Financial Times
By Christine Spolar

Ten years after reporting on the Iraq War, Christine Spolar returned to Baghdad to a people struggling to forget the violence of the past decade, but still fearful of another bout of escalating violence ahead of upcoming elections.

My Life and Times in Chinese TV
n+1
By Moira Weigel

Moira Weigel tells the fascinating story of her month working at the Shanghai Media Group, one of the biggest companies run by the Chinese propaganda department. Expecting to find something like the Ministry of Truth out of 1984, Weigel instead discovers a network full of banal “ejaculations of positivity about new products,” seemingly reflecting America’s own distant past.

The Mountains Where Women Live as Men
GQ
By Michael Paterniti

Michael Paterniti travels to the mountainous heart of a socially conservative Albania to see the last of the burmeshas, celibate women who, faced with limited options in their lives, have taken a centuries-old pledge to speak, dress, and live like men.

High-Speed Empire
Foreign Policy
By Tom Zoellner

Zoellner explores the rapidly sprawl of China’s high-speed bullet trains and the tremendous economic, political, military, and safety consequences it poses for mainland Asia.

Blogs:

Can Beijing Remain Neutral in the Ukrainian Conflict? by Gary Sands
U.S./U.K. Defense: Let’s Talk About Tech by Sara Chupein-Soroka
Conflict, Investment and the Burden of Energy: Protests in Venezuela and Ukraine by Richard Basas
Why transferring the drone program to JSOC doesn’t solve all problems by Hannah Gais
GailForce: Thoughts on Our Pacific Maritime Strategy from AFCEA West 2014 Conference Part One by Gail Harris