The New Cold War: Why the West Must Counter Russia's Covert Influence

[Social Media]

 

The recent revelations by the U.S. government have exposed the alarming scale of Russia's covert efforts to influence the upcoming American presidential election. As Moscow wages a brutal war in Ukraine, it simultaneously deploys subtler, yet equally dangerous, tactics against the West, aiming to tip the scales in favor of Donald Trump and undermine Washington’s support for Kyiv. It is time for Washington and its allies to take a stand and fight back.

 

According to the U.S. Justice Department, Russian state media outlet RT (formerly Russia Today) funneled $10 million to a U.S.-based company as part of a scheme to create and distribute content laced with hidden Russian government messaging. The company, founded by former RT employees, produced content that infiltrated American social media platforms, often employing contracted American pundits. One such commentator falsely accused Ukraine of orchestrating a terror attack in Moscow, which was, in reality, committed by ISIS. The Justice Department also implicated RaHDit, a hacker group with ties to Russian intelligence, in spreading RT’s disinformation and propaganda.

 

Additionally, the Kremlin directed three Russian companies to covertly spread Russian government propaganda aimed at weakening support for Ukraine and influencing elections in the U.S. and other Western countries. Using fake social media profiles, fabricated influencers, and impersonations of legitimate news websites, these companies spread content designed to sow discord among American voters. Internal documents from one of these companies revealed a targeted effort to sway voters in key swing states by exploiting divisive themes such as job loss for white Americans and crimes allegedly committed by people of color and immigrants, including new arrivals from Ukraine.

 

This type of interference is not new. During the Cold War, Soviet operatives regularly conducted covert “active measures” to weaken or influence the United States and other nations. Today, Moscow employs a similar playbook, updated for the digital age, where social media accelerates the spread of disinformation with greater precision. U.S. intelligence now views Russia as the “predominant threat to U.S. elections.” Despite increased scrutiny, Moscow continues to refine its tactics, using front companies, fake social media accounts, and even artificial intelligence to create deep fakes and bolster its online bots.

 

Russia’s meddling extends beyond U.S. borders. Earlier this year, Moscow was accused of attempting to interfere in the UK and EU political arenas, as well as in the upcoming presidential elections in Moldova and Georgia. The Kremlin has become adept at exploiting political, cultural, and socioeconomic divisions in Western countries, seizing on issues such as abortion, gun control, and migration to weaken the West and bolster its preferred candidates.

 

Since Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Washington has taken steps to safeguard its electoral processes and expose Russian influence operations. However, these efforts, while necessary, are insufficient. The U.S. and its allies must go on the offensive, conducting their own information operations to undermine Putin’s regime both within Russia and abroad. These operations should not aim to promote the American Dream but rather focus on messages that will resonate with targeted audiences, such as ethnic minorities in Russia who face systemic repression and have suffered disproportionately in Putin’s war on Ukraine. Additionally, the West should challenge Moscow’s influence in the Global South, where Russian propaganda often enjoys more popularity than Western media.

 

Information operations have become a key tool in Russia’s strategy to weaken America and its allies. The U.S. must modernize its approach to information warfare and confront Moscow with the same intensity it is facing. Only by giving Putin a taste of his own medicine can Washington hope to effectively compete against Moscow in the information space.

 

Credit: Daily Telegraph 2024-09-09

 

 

 

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[thaibeachlovers]

Now that the end of the Ukraine war looms must be time for a new war somewhere. Gotta keep the $ rolling in for the IMC.

 

Hence ramping up the anti Russia/ Iran/ China etc propaganda.

[Tug]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Now that the end of the Ukraine war looms must be time for a new war somewhere. Gotta keep the $ rolling in for the IMC.

 

Hence ramping up the anti Russia/ Iran/ China etc propaganda.

Still carrying putins water I see…..sad 

[Gweiloman]

The U.S. and its allies must go on the offensive, conducting their own information operations to undermine Putin’s regime both within Russia and abroad. These operations should not aim to promote the American Dream but rather focus on messages that will resonate with targeted audiences, such as ethnic minorities in Russia who face systemic repression and have suffered disproportionately in Putin’s war on Ukraine. Additionally, the West should challenge Moscow’s influence in the Global South, where Russian propaganda often enjoys more popularity than Western media.

 

That’s right America. You must pick up your game if you want to effect regime change in countries like Russia and China and anywhere else. Maybe open some NGO’s and call it something like International Endowment for Democratic Reform or AmericanAid and fund dissidents in selected countries that wish to overthrow the government.

 

Oh, wait…

[thaibeachlovers]

4 hours ago, Gweiloman said:

Maybe open some NGO’s and call it something like International Endowment for Democratic Reform or AmericanAid and fund dissidents in selected countries that wish to overthrow the government.

Excellent way to get people killed.

[spidermike007]

As time goes on, Russia and Putin appear to be increasing more desperate. They do not seem to enjoy being the world's greatest pariah. They are, and deservedly so. Having a despot dictator for a leader comes at a high cost. 

 

There is no question that Russian history, culture and art is incredibly deep and incredibly rich, this is the land that has produced the Bolshoi and the Kirov, Nobokov, Stravinsky, Malevich, Popova, Kandinsky, etc. 

 

But most of that is ancient history, these days they're producing munitions, they're creating warfare, they are sponsoring corruption, they're creating oligarchs out of thin air from state enterprises, they have a leader who's one of the richest men in the world from extortion and pure corruption, who also happens to be a serial killer, and they just do not seem to be contributing much in the way of positivity to the planet as a whole. If I'm wrong, if you are aware of some wonderful things that the Russian nation is doing for the planet, please let me know. I would love to hear about that. 

 

There is no doubt that Russia, China, and Iran are devoting huge resources to international hacking, crime syndicates, bad entities, and a variety of different methods to influence politics and elections. 

 

 

 

[fasteddie]

Substitute the word ''Russia'' for the USA, and now we're talking.

[thaibeachlovers]

15 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

But most of that is ancient history, these days they're producing munitions, they're creating warfare, they are sponsoring corruption, they're creating oligarchs out of thin air from state enterprises, they have a leader who's one of the richest men in the world from extortion and pure corruption, who also happens to be a serial killer, and they just do not seem to be contributing much in the way of positivity to the planet as a whole. If I'm wrong, if you are aware of some wonderful things that the Russian nation is doing for the planet, please let me know. I would love to hear about that. 

Putin has a long way to go before coming close to Stalin, who died in bed and mourned after.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 9/9/2024 at 8:30 AM, Social Media said:

Information operations have become a key tool in Russia’s strategy to weaken America and its allies.

It would be harder for them to do so if the west wasn't already so weak with it's obsession on nonsense like social media, gender, man made climate change, wokeness, and other silliness.

 

The west is also losing influence in the Global South and Middle East with policies that are turning entire populations against the US and Europe.

[Gweiloman]

16 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

As time goes on, Russia and Putin appear to be increasing more desperate. They do not seem to enjoy being the world's greatest pariah. They are, and deservedly so. Having a despot dictator for a leader comes at a high cost. 

 

There is no question that Russian history, culture and art is incredibly deep and incredibly rich, this is the land that has produced the Bolshoi and the Kirov, Nobokov, Stravinsky, Malevich, Popova, Kandinsky, etc. 

 

But most of that is ancient history, these days they're producing munitions, they're creating warfare, they are sponsoring corruption, they're creating oligarchs out of thin air from state enterprises, they have a leader who's one of the richest men in the world from extortion and pure corruption, who also happens to be a serial killer, and they just do not seem to be contributing much in the way of positivity to the planet as a whole. If I'm wrong, if you are aware of some wonderful things that the Russian nation is doing for the planet, please let me know. I would love to hear about that. 

 

There is no doubt that Russia, China, and Iran are devoting huge resources to international hacking, crime syndicates, bad entities, and a variety of different methods to influence politics and elections. 

 

 

 

As time goes on, Russia (and Putin) seems to be gaining more popularity around the world.
 

Lots of countries wanting to join BRICS, an alliance in which Russia is one of the founding members. He was also welcomed with open arms and much pomp and ceremony to a country which is a party to the Rome statute that was obliged to arrest him.

 

Unlike a certain country in the west that’s selling and sending weapons and munitions to another country that’s  committing genocide, Russia is producing munitions primarily for its own use.

 

I don’t see much evidence of countries like Russia and China meddling in other countries’ elections other than in the minds and imagination of western intelligence agencies. On the other hand, countless videos abound of western (presumably American) operatives coordinating the recent violent riots in Hong Kong in a bid to cause instability, something thy have been doing around the world for decades.

 

It’s a good thing that the global majority has finally woken up to the evil machinations of some western countries and are now pushing back. The recently concluded successful FOCAC is another example of how world power is shifting towards multipolarity.

[spidermike007]

Just now, Gweiloman said:

As time goes on, Russia (and Putin) seems to be gaining more popularity around the world.
 

Lots of countries wanting to join BRICS, an alliance in which Russia is one of the founding members. He was also welcomed with open arms and much pomp and ceremony to a country which is a party to the Rome statute that was obliged to arrest him.

 

Unlike a certain country in the west that’s selling and sending weapons and munitions to another country that’s  committing genocide, Russia is producing munitions primarily for its own use.

 

I don’t see much evidence of countries like Russia and China meddling in other countries’ elections other than in the minds and imagination of western intelligence agencies. On the other hand, countless videos abound of western (presumably American) operatives coordinating the recent violent riots in Hong Kong in a bid to cause instability, something thy have been doing around the world for decades.

 

It’s a good thing that the global majority has finally woken up to the evil machinations of some western countries and are now pushing back. The recently concluded successful FOCAC is another example of how world power is shifting towards multipolarity.

Putin thanks you for his defense, and PR, and has inquired about where to send the check to. 

[Gweiloman]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Putin thanks you for his defense, and PR, and has inquired about where to send the check to. 

I’ve told him to donate it to the Palestinians to fight the genocidal Israeli government.

[riclag]

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

It would be harder for them to do so if the west wasn't already so weak with it's obsession on nonsense like social media, gender, man made climate change, wokeness, and other silliness.

 

The west is also losing influence in the Global South and Middle East with policies that are turning entire populations against the US and Europe.

 

Agree 💯 Im sure if evil Putin put all his eggs in the woke globalist basket , the un elected bureaucrats in The dreaded Washington Establishment would give him praise! Imop

 

The guy before Putin , Yeltsin could see the writing on the wall …

 

”NATO's expansion into Eastern Europe, which he saw as a threat to Russia's security”.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia–United_States_relations