THIS IS THE AGE OF DECEPTION: The Russian Cost of the Ukraine War Kiev Ukraine circa April 2022 Photo: Metin Acts / AA Agency (AA) website Thomas Anderson At one time in America we had a strong heritage of free and independent journalism. Much of the world viewed us as a beacon of truth, or that’s how it seemed anyway. But this heritage has been tarnished in recent years. The Cold War gave us a vision of good versus evil, of freedom in the west versus oppression in the east.