The Rise of Active Measures: How Russia's Covert Tactics Threaten Western Stability

 

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.