Russia's "blockbuster" is reportedly complete with paid actors, bloodshed, and all the other trappings of a Hollywood action film...

The whole point would be to persuade enough people that Ukraine was the aggressor, so that Russia could then justify invading Ukraine.

But this wild story didn't come from the mind of some nutjob posting YouTube videos from his garage... It came from the U.S. Department of State during a recent briefing.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price last week told a room full of reporters that Russia plans to use a high-production propaganda video as a "false flag" to justify its launch of force against its independent neighbor.

Wow. Heady, wacky, bizarro stuff... So, where's the proof?

When pressed, Price told an Associated Press ("AP") reporter, "If you doubt the credibility of the U.S. government, of the British government, of other governments and want to, you know, find solace in information that the Russians are putting out, that is for you to do."

Even the AP reporter remarked, "This is like Alex Jones territory... "

Given the U.S. intelligence track record (remember Iraq's weapons of mass destruction?), it's understandable if you think the "trust us" response sounds a little thin. Journalists and everyday Americans want actual proof of these types of allegations.

Don't get me wrong, Russian President Vladimir Putin, a former KGB officer, loves to wage propaganda wars and spread disinformation at home and across the globe. And it's entirely possible the Russians could execute something as bizarre as a staged attack... or a faked attack.