The West’s outrage at Russia’s political maneuvers reeks of hypocrisy. We’re quick to point fingers at Russia for trying to sway politics in Europe, but what have we been doing for decades? NATO expansion anyone? We’ve been playing the influence game for years, openly working to undermine adversaries.

The recent revelations about Jean-Luc Schaffhauser and Russia’s alleged propaganda efforts in France are just another day in the world of global politics. We’re fooling ourselves if we think only the “bad guys” play dirty. Everyone’s trying to get the upper hand, and Russia’s response is no surprise. They’re playing the same game, by the same unwritten rules we all seem to know but pretend don’t exist.

The Western media often paints a one-sided picture, but in the grand chessboard of international relations, every move has a countermove. It’s time we recognize this universal play for power and call out the hypocrisy on all sides.

This endless war cycle has to be broken before it breaks us. I wonder if it’s too late.