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| Russia's 'Active Measures' are designed to weaken democratic institutions |
Russia's use of covert methods to
influence the political discourse and actions of other countries has been well
documented. One of the key strategies employed by the Russian government is
Active Measures. This technique involves a range of activities designed to
spread misinformation, sow confusion, and destabilize political systems. The
goal is to weaken the democratic institutions of other countries and advance
Russia's interests.
Active Measures include spreading
disinformation and propaganda, engaging in cyber-attacks, covert funding of
extremist groups, and conducting espionage operations. Russia uses these
tactics to interfere in the politics of many Western countries, including the
United States, the United Kingdom, and France.
Disinformation
campaigns are a common tactic used by Russia. False information is spread
through social media, fake news websites, and other channels to support
pro-Russian political candidates or to create confusion and discord.
Cyber-attacks are another method used by Russia to disrupt critical
infrastructure and steal sensitive information. Russia has also been accused of
covertly funding extremist groups in Europe and the United States to further
its interests.
Some of the U.S. groups that have received
such Russian funding include the National Rifle Association (NRA), which has
been accused of accepting Russian money to support Donald Trump's presidential
campaign; far-right organizations such as the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers,
which have been linked to the January 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol;
and anti-fracking groups in the United States, which have been accused of being
influenced by Russian propaganda.
Two specific examples of Russia's use of
Active Measures against the West include the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election
and the Skripal Poisoning. In the 2016 U.S. election, Russian operatives
created fake social media accounts and websites to spread false information and
propaganda in support of Donald Trump's campaign. They also hacked into email
accounts and released sensitive information to damage the Clinton campaign. The
Skripal Poisoning in 2018 involved the poisoning of a former Russian spy and
his daughter in the United Kingdom with a nerve agent. The British government
accused Russia of being responsible for the attack, which was seen as evidence
of Russia's willingness to engage in covert operations against its enemies.
Active Measures pose a significant threat
to the political stability and security of Western countries. Russia's use of
these tactics has become increasingly sophisticated, and the widespread use of
social media has made it easier for Russia to sow confusion and disrupt
political systems.
A scene from the ‘MISSION
OF VENGEANCE’ spy thriller novel vividly illustrates the use of social
media to intensify the threat that Active Measures pose to the political
stability of Western countries, particularly the U.S. A former Russian KGB spy,
named Bocharov, defects to the U.S. and reveals to CIA spymaster Corey Pearson
that Russian President Putin has reinstated the Cold War-era Active Measures
strategy against the U.S. in the Caribbean, using disinformation to discredit
America and spread propaganda through social media.
Bocharov explains how Putin has
rejuvenated the KGB and sent Spetsnaz assassination teams to the Caribbean. He
also reveals that his own DVD bootlegging business in the Dominican Republic has
become a front operation for a Russian troll factory, with hackers from the St.
Petersburg Internet Research Agency and their fellow bloggers and journalists
who hijacked the 2016 elections.
Bocharov reveals that hundreds of bots and
trolls are spreading the disinformation, reaching roughly 146 million Americans
and Caribbean citizens through several hundred Caribbean newspapers and various
social media platforms. This level of influence could have serious consequences
for the political stability of the U.S. and the Caribbean, as it creates a
constant flow of disinformation, including black state conspiracy theories and
false reports of the U.S. exploiting Caribbean nations.
This scene from ‘MISSION
OF VENGEANCE’ highlights the potential impact of Active Measures on
democratic institutions and political stability. It shows how disinformation
and propaganda can be used to manipulate public opinion and destabilize
political systems, ultimately undermining the democratic process. As Bocharov
points out, it is crucial for Western countries to remain vigilant and take steps
to protect themselves from these covert operations.
Robert
Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO)
and enjoys writing about the U.S. Intelligence Community. He authors the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster
series. Check out his latest spy thrillers: MISSION
OF VENGEANCE.
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