Information density and transmission is polluted by the fears of not being convincing enough and not sounding radical enough.

It is just rhetoric on Johnstone’s website. It is a position piece. In what way are you being manipulated? This is actually more honest and direct than the faux-objectivity of typical articles.

[…] major world events do not occur independently of the actions of the major world powers who have a vested interest in their outcomes.

Sure, but this does not explain why Assad, North Korea or Putin are good enough for an opposition or even the seed of that.

It is unclear to me why you are quoting and arguing with that. Do you think I am Johnstone?