Russian Influence Operations in Washington

aim.org ^ | June 23, 2014 | Cliff Kincaid

[Tailgunner Joe]

Speaking to the U.S.-Russia Forum on June 16, 2014, the Russian Ambassador to Washington, Sergei Kislyak, told the participants that there are “no ideological divides” between the U.S. and Russia. He said both countries were “market economies” with “democratic systems.” He called for increased U.S.-Russian cooperation and claimed that the Edward Snowden “affair”—the case in which the former CIA and NSA contract employee fled to Russia with highly classified documents—was “thrown on us,” as if the Russian intelligence service, the FSB, was caught flat-footed by his defection.

With such absurd and outrageous statements, Kislyak betrayed true Russian intentions, as well as major disinformation themes, that continue to confuse Western audiences. Officially, he spoke on “Russia Relations: Restoring a Constructive Agenda.”

The event, held in the Hart Senate Office Building in the nation’s capital, was a major exercise in Russian influence operations.

Politically, participants in the U.S.-Russia Forum included figures from the left, such as Stephen Cohen, a professor from New York University and Princeton University, and his wife, Katrina vanden Heuvel, the editor and publisher of The Nation magazine. But people also came from Pat Buchanan’s American Conservative magazine and the Ron Paul Institute.

In the past, the Russians could only count on support from the “progressive” side of the American political spectrum. Figures from the American conservative movement are now on the Putin bandwagon.

Alaska’s Republican Lt. Governor Mead Treadwell “talked about the need for cooperation with Russia despite disputes over Crimea and Ukraine, Syria and Iraq, which have brought U.S.-Russia relations to their lowest point in decades,” according to a press release from his office.

Treadwell is running for the Senate against former Alaska Attorney General Dan Sullivan and Joe Miller in the August 19 Republican primary.

[Gay State Conservative]

I've often wondered if,at the same time Osama Obama was promising Vlad increased “flexibility”,Vlad was promising Osama increased “flexibility” regarding campaign cash.

[VanDeKoik]

"He said both countries were “market economies” with “democratic systems.” "


File photo of Sergei Kislyak before stumbling his way to the U.S..