Fact check: Is ben&jerry anti-nato?

1. Summary of the results

The question of whether Ben & Jerry's is "anti-NATO" requires important nuance. The evidence shows that Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, has expressed criticism of NATO, particularly regarding its expansion eastward and involvement in Ukraine ^[1], but characterizing this as simply "anti-NATO" would be an oversimplification. Cohen explicitly states "I'm not supporting Russia, I'm not supporting Ukraine" ^[2], instead advocating for diplomatic solutions and negotiations to end the conflict ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial pieces of context are missing from the original question:

• Cohen's criticism stems from a broader anti-war perspective shaped by Cold War experiences ^[1]
• His stance is specifically focused on criticizing the "military-industrial-congressional complex" ^{[2] [2]}
• He has actively funded media and journalism that questions US narratives about the war ^[1]
• His position suggests NATO shares some responsibility for provoking Russian aggression through expansion ^[1]
• Some media outlets, like Politico, have questioned his logic given alleged Russian atrocities in Ukraine ^[3]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question presents a false dichotomy by suggesting someone must be either "pro" or "anti" NATO. Several groups benefit from different interpretations of Cohen's stance:

• Military-Industrial Complex: Benefits from portraying critics like Cohen as "anti-NATO" to maintain support for military spending and weapons sales
• Peace Advocates: Benefit from Cohen's platform to promote diplomatic solutions
• Media Organizations: Different outlets frame his stance differently - some emphasizing his NATO criticism (Fox News, p2_s2), others questioning his position (Politico, p2_s3)

It's more accurate to say that Cohen advocates for diplomatic solutions while being critical of military escalation and NATO's role in the conflict, rather than being categorically "anti-NATO" ^[1].