Information Warfare: What is it and how to win it

Center for European Policy Analysis ^ | 17NOV2015 | Edward Lucas and Ben Nimmo

[AdmSmith]

Unlike Soviet propaganda, Russia’s information warfare does not crudely promote the Kremlin’s agenda. Instead it is calibrated to confuse, befuddle and distract. In the words of Peter Pomeranzev and Michael Weiss, modern Russia has weaponized information, turning the media into an arm of state power projection.

Their nihilistic approach is best summed up by the motto of the Kremlin's premier TV arm, RT (formerly Russia Today): “Question more.”

Russian disinformation does not aim to provide answers, but to provoke doubt, disagreement and, ultimately, paralysis.

[AdmSmith]

Russian narratives have profound though often understudied strengths and weaknesses. The "anti-fascist" mantle that Russia claims as a legacy of the Second World War sits oddly with its support for farright (and even overtly neo-Nazi) parties in Europe.

The policy of strict noninterference in other countries affairs (used to lambast the West for its policies in ex-Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria) is undermined by Russia’s robust disdain for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

If properly implemented, a counternarrative could prove useful. However, many policymakers are ill equipped to implement them.

[Krosan]

There is youtube channel StopFake, that has already published 60 episodes of revealing Russian lies, but it seems people are not interested in it as it has so few views.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVOpI8fxgQiX1GegCDezdEg

As Winston Churchill said

“A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.”

[elhombrelibre]

A lot of dolts are easily manipulated by Putin’s propaganda. Mostly, they hate the West, the USA, our way of life, the Democratic process (our party doesn’t always win, after all), and they wrongly believe that Putin provides a way forward. It used to be the Left fell in love with foreign tyrants. Now, it’s uneducated, poorly read, ersatz conservatives who fall for Putin’s propaganda. Some are so shallow that they think Putin is the opposite of Obama. Actually, they’re very similar in goals and ambitions.

[Krosan]

That is how Russia tries to position themselves. They are the solution for “against” folks. If you are against USA or fluoride in the water or Area 51 coverup or people not believing Jews did 9/11 then you’ll find your solace in the warmth of Russian propaganda.

They have been doing it for decades. In commie times they had to say commie things publicly, but by now they can just say what they believe works best. Now they are a cult like Scientology, but with 140 million captive members and all the resources it brings.

[AdmSmith]

Not only disinformation

From cyberattacks to arms trafficking, crime in Russia isn't always just crime — sometimes, it's a tool of statecraft.

The security services have effectively tamed and co-opted the fabled Russian mafia - a web of criminal networks with global reach - and turned it into a lethal weapon in Moscow's showdown with the West.

On the latest Power Vertical Podcast, we take a look at Russia's gangster weapon and its effectiveness.

http://www.rferl.org/content/podcast-the-gangster-weapon/27336141.html

[AdmSmith]

I should add that Mark Galeotti, a professor at New York University, an expert in Russian organized crime, and author of the blog In Moscow’s Shadows, and guest Karen Dawisha, director of the Havighurst Center for Russian and Post-Soviet Studies at Miami University in Ohio, and author of the highly acclaimed book Putin’s Kleptocracy: Who Owns Russia?

are participating in the podcast.

[AdmSmith]

One more #fake from the Russian media. This time we copy-edited the obvious mistakes for them.



Will Stevens is doing a good job exposing the liars

https://twitter.com/WBStevens