# New conspiracy: U.S. was funding Ukrainian "biolabs" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** ukraine-invasion\ **Created:** [March 10, 2022, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-conspiracy-u-s-was-funding-ukrainian-biolabs/960819 "2022-03-10T11:19:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-conspiracy-u-s-was-funding-ukrainian-biolabs/960819/41 "2022-03-10T19:55:20Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > ETA: ninja’d on the virtue signalling by @Atamasama Great minds think alike! (Or at least ours.) ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-conspiracy-u-s-was-funding-ukrainian-biolabs/960819/42 "2022-03-10T20:04:21Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > I’m still stunned how in Russia’s pocket these conservatives are. Time to start calling Trumpists “Communists”. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-conspiracy-u-s-was-funding-ukrainian-biolabs/960819/43 "2022-03-10T20:26:23Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Sean Hannity is a fucking traitor, apparently. He’s directly repeating Russian propaganda. > > I’m still stunned how in Russia’s pocket these conservatives are. Hannity is basically operating as Russia Today (RT), even after that network has been taken off the air. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-conspiracy-u-s-was-funding-ukrainian-biolabs/960819/44 "2022-03-10T20:28:22Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > What’s going on is patriotic virtue signaling from the right. They don’t really mean it, but they do it because they think it makes them look good to their peers. Deep down, their allegiance isn’t to their country, it’s to the talking heads they listen to on the radio and watch on TV. This also describes the fuck-nuts in the Canadian “freedom convoy”. Which is not truckers, but is a collection of right-wing conspiracy believing mentally ill assholes. And I’m being kind to them. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-conspiracy-u-s-was-funding-ukrainian-biolabs/960819/45 "2022-03-10T20:29:50Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > It really seems that the people flying the largest flags and loudly proclaiming their patriotism are most in Russia’s pocket. WTF is going on? **“Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.” — Samuel Johnson** Stranger ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-conspiracy-u-s-was-funding-ukrainian-biolabs/960819/46 "2022-03-10T20:33:03Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > My rightwing/Trumpster/conspiracy-minded acquaintance on FB just posted [this pile of shit](https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/03/breaking-us-department-defense-funding-ukrainian-biolabs-russia-releases-list-biological-agents-tested-us-biolabs-ukraine-including-salmonella-e-coli-anthrax-plague/). Cutting to the chase: the invasion by Russia is justified, because the U.S. is funding labs in the Ukraine that are engaged in biological warfare. 🙄 I am assuming he found this story on Alex Jones’ website. (On edit: [yep](https://www.infowars.com/posts/us-funded-bio-labs-in-ukraine-conducted-research-into-bat-coronavirus-russian-mod-says/).) What a load of horseshit. It reminds me of the story that Ukraine is an American colony, and Putin had to invade because Ukraine was pointing missiles, even nuclear ones, at Moscow and threatening the Russian state. I don’t think this sort of thing is getting much traction in the US, at least that’s how it seems to me. Most ‘conservatives’ I’ve talked to, while still ridiculous critical of Biden, seem to support Ukraine and are coming down more on the crazy side of ‘we should be sending troops’ than ‘Putin is right!’. That’s just my impression, though. I don’t watch Fox, so no idea whether they are supporting Ukraine with their twisted stories, or supporting Putin. I guess I wouldn’t be surprised either way. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-conspiracy-u-s-was-funding-ukrainian-biolabs/960819/47 "2022-03-10T20:36:29Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > It really seems that the people flying the largest flags and loudly proclaiming their patriotism are most in Russia’s pocket. WTF is going on? Conspiracy theories have worked well for the right. Allowing that Biden is handling this correctly is anathema, so they have to find some way to say he’s wrong. Plus they need to argue Trump was right, and Trump has praised Putin. And where is the best supply of conspiracy theories that would paint NATO (and therefore Biden) as wrong? Russian propaganda. That said, I also wouldn’t be surprised if Russia has some kompromat on some journalists, as that is basic espionage stuff. But, for most people, at least, it’s more about “Fuck Biden” and “liberal tears.” It really is party over country. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-conspiracy-u-s-was-funding-ukrainian-biolabs/960819/48 "2022-03-10T20:37:57Z")
From that Hannity clip above, I’d say they are not supporting Russia directly, just repeating its propaganda while undermining the administration. The first part of that interview has Hannity repeating that bio-weapon bullshit, and the second part has him saying that the US flip-flopped on those Polish planes, which is also apparently bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-conspiracy-u-s-was-funding-ukrainian-biolabs/960819/49 "2022-03-10T20:42:45Z")
Are there any polls out about US support for Ukraine, especially ones breaking down Democrat verse Republican responders? Unless I’m really out of touch with how Americans are thinking, it seems to me that, broadly, Americans support Ukraine, are critical of Putin and Russia and are pretty pissed off over this whole thing. I mean, I could see conservative types bashing Biden, but I just can’t see people really supporting Putin or Russia in any of this. They are, clearly, the bad guys in this drama, and clearly, Ukraine and Ukrainians are not. How much traction is this bio-weapons/bio-labs horseshit actually getting in the US?? This sounds like more of the sort of things I’m seeing on Chinese social media than here, but I’m not really tuned in to right-wing conservative thought in the US so I might be missing it. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-conspiracy-u-s-was-funding-ukrainian-biolabs/960819/50 "2022-03-10T20:49:21Z")
Sean Hannity, of Fox News, which is right here in the US, talked about it on his show. He was immediately shot down by their foreign reporter. The clip is in post 27 above in this thread. It’s a few minutes long. I don’t watch Fox News, but that clip from today or yesterday couldn’t be more clear that, while conservatives are no longer outwardly supporting Putin, they are still repeating his propaganda. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-conspiracy-u-s-was-funding-ukrainian-biolabs/960819/51 "2022-03-10T20:53:16Z")
Ok. I hate to even click on something from Hannity or Fox, but I’ll check it out. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-conspiracy-u-s-was-funding-ukrainian-biolabs/960819/52 "2022-03-10T20:58:33Z")
Don’t do it on my account. Basically he mentions that conspiracy theory, is shot down, then dumps on the administration and is again shot down. He’s a fucking traitorous dumbass. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-conspiracy-u-s-was-funding-ukrainian-biolabs/960819/53 "2022-03-10T21:01:36Z")
Mainstream American conservatives are appalled by the invasion and support Ukraine, and some are taking the position that Biden should have acted more robustly prior to the invasion. Hindsight is 20/20, of course. Actual Pro-Putin stances are on the Qanon fringe. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-conspiracy-u-s-was-funding-ukrainian-biolabs/960819/54 "2022-03-10T21:12:42Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > From that Hannity clip above, I’d say they are not supporting Russia directly, just repeating its propaganda while undermining the administration A distinction without a difference IMHO. Hannity is a Putin mouthpiece, and is either a paid Russian disinformation machine, spouting this due to fear of Kompromat coming out, or simply a useful idiot. In each case, he’s supporting Putin’s agenda. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-conspiracy-u-s-was-funding-ukrainian-biolabs/960819/55 "2022-03-10T21:14:47Z")
Well, the distinction is working well enough to fool people such as **zimaane**. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-conspiracy-u-s-was-funding-ukrainian-biolabs/960819/56 "2022-03-10T21:15:22Z")
Ah. He’s part of the “Blame America First” crowd. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-conspiracy-u-s-was-funding-ukrainian-biolabs/960819/57 "2022-03-10T21:21:12Z")
So, I looked it up. There don’t seem to be that many polls, but here is an article from Reuters: [https://www.reuters.com/world/us/exclusive-americans-broadly-support-ukraine-no-fly-zone-russia-oil-ban-poll-2022-03-04/](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/exclusive-americans-broadly-support-ukraine-no-fly-zone-russia-oil-ban-poll-2022-03-04/) > [@](#): > > Some 74% of Americans - including solid majorities of Republicans and Democrats - said the United States and its allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization should impose a no-fly zone in Ukraine, the poll found. > > An equally bipartisan 80% of Americans said the United States should stop buying Russian oil. The White House on Friday said it was weighing cuts to U.S. imports of Russian oil, though it is proceeding cautiously, concerned about a spike in gasoline prices that would add to high inflation. > > Moreover, 81% of Americans think Washington should impose additional sanctions on Russia, up from 77% in a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted on Monday and Tuesday. Support for more sanctions was also bipartisan. > > Some 77% of respondents said the United States should seize the assets of Russian oligarchs associated with Russian President Vladimir Putin. So, to me, this isn’t screaming that this sort of thing is getting a lot of traction with most people. This seems to be pretty fringe. Which is what I’d expect. Just because that idiot Hannity is saying it, doesn’t mean most people are buying that horseshit. It’s only being bought by the faithful. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-conspiracy-u-s-was-funding-ukrainian-biolabs/960819/58 "2022-03-10T21:40:26Z")
What I’ve been seeing is that most Republicans support Ukraine, and most Republicans support Putin, and don’t have any problem with the fact that they’re contradicting themselves. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-conspiracy-u-s-was-funding-ukrainian-biolabs/960819/59 "2022-03-10T21:45:57Z")
I don’t seem much polling on whether Putin is evil or not (clearly, he is), but from this story: > **[Americans warm to Zelensky while nearly half call Putin evil | YouGov](https://today.yougov.com/international/articles/41331-americans-poll-volodymyr-zelensky-vladimir-putin?redirect_from=%2Ftopics%2Finternational%2Farticles-reports%2F2022%2F03%2F02%2Famericans-poll-volodymyr-zelensky-vladimir-putin)** > > More Americans view Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky favorably than did a week ago, while half of both Democrats and Republicans say Vladimir Putin is evil. > [@](#): > > While Zelensky is growing more popular in the U.S., three-quarters of Americans view Vladimir Putin unfavorably, including 79% of Democrats and 77% of Republicans, slight increases from when we last asked the question the same way [a month earlier](https://docs.cdn.yougov.com/idsbkknia1/econTabReport.pdf#page=45). Two-thirds view Putin personally as a “serious threat” to the United States. > > Two-thirds of Americans call praise of Putin by U.S. leaders “inappropriate.” That includes 77% of Democrats, 64% of Republicans, and 59% of voters for Donald Trump, who in the past week [has praised Putin’s “genius” justification for the invasion](https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/23/trump-putin-ukraine-invasion-00010923). And this story says it was from March 1st. That’s got to have shifted even further away from Putin. If anyone has better polls, definitely would be interested in that, but I find it hard to believe that most Republicans support Putin…but I’m certainly willing to look at any data that shows that. If that’s true, then Republicans are even more out of touch than they have been…which is near to black hole levels of density at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-conspiracy-u-s-was-funding-ukrainian-biolabs/960819/60 "2022-03-10T21:53:04Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > What I’ve been seeing is that most Republicans support Ukraine, and most Republicans support Putin, and don’t have any problem with the fact that they’re contradicting themselves. At least some of them are not so conflicted: > **[Rep. Madison Cawthorn calls Zelensky a ‘thug,’ says Ukrainian government is...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/03/10/cawthorn-zelensky-thug/)** > > The North Carolina Republican's remarks are at odds with the broad bipartisan support for Ukraine among American lawmakers and the public amid Russia’s invasion. Stranger [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-conspiracy-u-s-was-funding-ukrainian-biolabs/960819.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-conspiracy-u-s-was-funding-ukrainian-biolabs/960819.md?page=4)