Apologies for not publishing the blog for the past two months. I’ve been occupied elsewhere. I read an article today which angered me. FBI should have done more to fight 2016 Russian disinformation, Senate Committee suggests I am madder than hell at the FBI and I refuse to stay quiet any longer. In meetings with… Continue reading The FBI was informed about Russian Information Warfare and chose to do nothing
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. >/end editorial> Two interesting analyses on the dubious alliance of convenience between Muscovy and Beijing – how long it persists remains to be seen. Much on the Greenland proposal – both rational analysis and some very emotional criticism. A major update on the “Flying Chernobyl” FUBAR. Excellent analysis by… Continue reading Ukraine / Russia Ad Hoc Media Update (259)
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. >/end editorial> Protests continue. CCP propaganda campaign ramps up. Miscellaneous reports on damage effects, and blowback. Protests in AUS turn ugly when CCP proxies turn on pro-HK Chinese. Good analyses by Ying Ma and Kilgour. Support for the regime appears increasingly to be alike to the support of the… Continue reading China Digest (10)
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. </end editorial> Short update on Russia’s domestic woes, and divisions; Turkmenistan, Belarus; Iran – tanker release by Gibraltar, reports Russia gains naval basing rights in Gulf, Israel, Syria, Kashmir updates; DPRK, RoK, China, Japan, SWPA updates; UK-US and Brexit updates, Germany, miscellaneous Europe reports, Russia signs naval basing deal… Continue reading Russia / Strategy Ad Hoc Media Update (96)
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. </end editorial> Su-57E export drive gathering momentum. VKS PacRim provocations. V-MF devolution. Should the US buy Greenland from Denmark? There is a case for placement of BMD assets and runways, whether it justifies the cost versus leasing would require considerable analysis. Update on the “Flying Chernobyl” FUBAR. Some… Continue reading Ukraine / Russia Ad Hoc Media Update (258)
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. </end editorial> POTUS tweets again – his suggestion may not sell well in the Imperial Court. Much debate in US media as to what POTUS can and cannot achieve with HK, or should or should not do. CCP leadership conclave ends. Reports from HK focused on economic damage, and… Continue reading China Digest (9)
Why is this article highlighted by an IO/IW blog? Because it is all about the information. Presenting it, damaging it, denying it, and in this case, protecting it. Satellites and their links were usually assumed away, because they’re 22,000+ miles up in space. Now we are realizing satellites are vulnerable and France is moving… Continue reading France wants to arm satellites with guns and lasers by 2030
By Jack Corrigan, Staff Correspondent AUGUST 6, 2019 The agency wants to teach computers to detect errors in manipulated media using logic and common sense. The Defense Department is looking to build tools that can quickly detect deepfakes and other manipulated media amid the growing threat of “large-scale, automated disinformation attacks.” The Defense Advanced Research… Continue reading DARPA Is Taking On the Deepfake Problem
Last week’s events concerning the pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign Can’t see images?https://preview.pg.mlsend.com/j8p9d9 Topics of the Week The phishing attack on Russia-watchers was more successful than initially believed. European Values Think-Tank was among those targeted. US Senate is negligent to pass election defence bills that could help against malign foreign interference. Finite State’s investigation shows the cybersecurity… Continue reading Kremlin Watch Briefing: Russia watchers targeted by a sophisticated cyber-attack
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. </end editorial> NATSECADV Bolton interviewed on nuclear strategy, Russia, China and related matters. VKS deploys Tu-160 BLACKJACKs to Anadyr, in Chukotka, in the Far East, almost exactly 900 nmi from Elmendorf AB. Shoigu intercept and escort appears to have been staged by Russia for propaganda purposes. Reports on the… Continue reading Ukraine / Russia Ad Hoc Media Update (257)
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. </end editorial> Donald J. Trump on Twitter: “I know President Xi of China very well. He is a great leader who very much has the respect of his people. He is also a good man in a “tough business.” I have ZERO doubt that if President Xi wants to… Continue reading China Digest (8)
The author does a commendable job trying to simplify Russian Information Strategy down to: deflect, deny, and discredit. The unfortunately thing about trying to create a Three-D mantra to describe Russia’s information strategy is adequately describing the depth and the breadth of what Russia actually does. You could also use deception, detract, damage, destroy, and other… Continue reading Putin’s European waltz in 3D: deflect, deny, discredit
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. </end editorial> Mertha argues it is time for all sides to back off and cool off. Whether this happens is an open question. The CCP’s blindness to realities outside their ideological framework created this mayhem, and one thing devoted Communists find challenging is accepting that the Party is anything… Continue reading China Digest (7)
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. </end editorial> Muscovy’s little aerial stunt over the Baltic Sea has been a successful media distraction – interesting how some splicing of telephoto lens footage can deceive so many media folk in the West. By far Russia’s biggest media accomplishment has been the nuclear “Flying Chernobyl” FUBAR, in every… Continue reading Ukraine / Russia Ad Hoc Media Update (256)
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. </end editorial. Latest media reports indicate HKPol are storming the airport. Threats from Beijing increase. Reports of govt infiltrators in protest groups, pretending to be protesters – the classic Russian “Titushki” play. The expectation across Western observers is that Beijing will act soon, and forcefully. Worth noting that in… Continue reading China Digest (6)
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. Russia claims they’ve won the arm’s race. Cool. You win. Now quit. Yeah, didn’t think so. Russia is terrified. </end editorial> Su-57 OPEVAL to finish EOY. More ADIZ and other provocations in Barents, Norwegian and North Sea. Bizarre AV-MF claim that a NATO F/A-18 harassed DEFMIN Shoigu’s transport en… Continue reading Ukraine / Russia Ad Hoc Media Update (255)
MILNEWS.ca Highlights + #UKR Update – August 12, 2019 by milnews.ca #HongKong “Canada’s Justin Trudeau extremely concerned about Hong Kong, urges China to be careful” “Hong Kong: Trudeau appelle la Chine à la retenue” “While Hong Kong fights for democracy, Canada goes silent” “Beijing warns of ‘signs of terrorism’ in violent unrest in Hong Kong” “Hong… Continue reading MILNEWS.ca Highlights + #UKR Update – August 12, 2019
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. </end editorial> VKS and AV-MF ADIZ probe updates. Roxburgh OpEd. An unflattering appraisal of the Russian V-MF. Russia deploying military mobile cellular network. More than twenty reports and articles on the nuclear accident – there appears to be an emerging consensus this was a failed test of the 9M370… Continue reading Ukraine / Russia Ad Hoc Media Update (254)
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. The situation in Hong Kong and China appears to be lose-lose. I can’t see a negotiating solution to which either side would agree. Unfortunately, China believes in smashing opposition, so expect the PLA to appear in overwhelming force. Tiananmen Square or Tian’anmen Square Square, v 2. … Continue reading China Digest (5)
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. </end editorial> Beijing escalates its propaganda and blameshifting campaign, now comparing the protests to a “color revolution”. Russia’s propaganda machine chiming in, in unison, mostly with exactly the same propaganda themes. All being packaged as a Western instigated regime change campaign. Multiple reports of intimidation of individuals and organisations. Discord… Continue reading China Digest (4)
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. I apologize for not posting for the past several days. I had a major medical setback on Monday evening and this is my first attempt to post since. I apologize in advance for any and all mistakes. The mistakes will all be mine. I hope to continue posting at… Continue reading Ukraine / Russia Ad Hoc Media Update (253)
By Sarah Rainsford BBC News, Moscow 3 August 2019 Lyubov Sobol shuffles slowly these days when she walks, leaning on a colleague’s arm for support. After almost three weeks refusing food she says she feels dizzy and weak but determined to go on with her protest. The young lawyer and popular video blogger is one of… Continue reading Lyubov Sobol: The woman driving Russia’s opposition protests
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. </end editorial> ———————————————— ———————————————— INF update – much being said by Muscovy but nothing of substance. Russia/NATO update – sanctions, floating Chernobyl, propaganda, capabilities and Russia’s little helpers in the EU. Russia / Turkey / Syria developments. Eighteen reports on the unrest in Muscovy – the regime is losing… Continue reading Ukraine / Russia Ad Hoc Media Update (248)
Division will focus on intelligence gathering, cyber, counter-propaganda and electronic warfare Kim Sengupta Defence Editor An army division specialising in hybrid warfare is being formed under a radical new plan to provide the British military with a cutting edge for 21st century conflicts. The UK’s first ever hybrid division will focus on intelligence gathering, cyber, counter-propaganda… Continue reading UK Army to form new hybrid-warfare division
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. </end editorial> —————————————— —————————————— Threats from Beijing on the US proposal to base intermediate range weapons in Asia. AUS sees a curious media campaign around the notion of the US basing intermediate range weapons Down Under, that given the range between any such basing would push them well outside… Continue reading China Digest (1)
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. Iran’s President Rouhani is spewing when he says the confrontation between the US and Iran will bring the “Mother of all wars”. Unfortunately for Iran, predictions hold that Iran will last as long as did Iraq’s then-President Saddam Hussein in 1991, when he called for the “Mother of all… Continue reading Iran Escalation (49)
By Radio Farda’s own admission, these 14 women have crossed a red line in calling for Khamenei’s resignation. Expect censure, arrest, and beatings. By openly and very publicly confronting him, however, someone may have a knee-jerk reaction and execute them. Nothing happening in Iran makes sense, and their punishment may not make sense, either.… Continue reading Fourteen Iranian Women’s Rights Activists Call On Khamenei To Resign
By JAKE RUDNITSKY, ILYA ARKHIPOV AND STEPAN KRAVCHENKO | Bloomberg | Published: August 6, 2019 For years, opposition leader Alexey Navalny embarrassed Russia’s leadership with YouTube videos exposing their lavish lifestyles and dubious wealth, and the Kremlin put up with it. Now President Vladimir Putin’s patience appears to have run out. With Navalny in prison… Continue reading Kremlin strikes back at anti-graft leader who taunted Putin allies
Author: EU East StratCom Task Force Penetration of the information space by pro-Kremlin actors goes far beyond using state-funded media or a troll factory. As shown in the new report by Info Ops Polska, disinformation messages can be spread by multiple actors using a variety of tools – so that at the end of the day, its… Continue reading Kremlin’s “information laundering”: Lie, manipulate, spread, change, spread again
Putin’s rating crashing. Disapproval ri According to a Levada.ru survey, it appears Russian President Vladimir Putin’s approval rating appears to be at a low and continuing to crash. Source: https://www.levada.ru/en/ratings/
In an amazing piece of terrible journalism, Newsweek published this article,RUSSIA ACCUSES U.S. OF POLITICAL MEDDLING BY PROMOTING ANTI-PUTIN PROTESTS, written by DAVID BRENNAN. Besides the title being in all caps, the article contained Russian disinformation. The article below from Polygraph.info, a USAGM product, published yesterday, clearly shows the posted map warned readers to… Continue reading Newsweek Echoes Russian Disinformation
Published: Aug 5, 2019 Mnuchin’s declaration could lead to new sanctions, increased trade tensions By MIKE MURPHY, EDITOR The U.S. Treasury Department designated China as a currency manipulator on Monday afternoon, after the yuan’s value against the dollar fell below a “line in the sand” and intensified trade tensions. In a statement, the Treasury Department said Secretary Steve… Continue reading China is manipulating its currency, U.S. Treasury Department declares
Russia appears to be on track to replicate Soviet tactics of endless loops of provocation, denial, accusation of provocation, increase in aggressive posture, and so on. Highly provocative missile tests by Russian submarines in port are only in response to increased Western radar surveillance, they’re certainly not intended as a provocation, says Russian Foreign Ministry… Continue reading Russian Rhetorical Tactics Mirror Soviets
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. Putin blames the West for the riots in Moscow. I think it’s time to write the Russian President an atypical breakup letter. “Dear Vlad, it’s not us. It’s you.” </end editorial> —————————————- —————————————- No doubt crafted to aid Muscovy’s many little helpers in European politics and media, the… Continue reading Ukraine / Russia Ad Hoc Media Update (247)
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. WCMD = Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser Look it up, there are a few videos online about the WCMD, but dropped from B-52s. Talk about taking out an Iranian speedboat or three and leaving nothing behind… <End editorial> —————————— —————————— IRGC hijacks a third foreign tanker, curiously one belonging… Continue reading Iran Escalation (48)
Anonymous, expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. </end editorial> ———————————————————– SECDEF Esper on INF blowback. Amb Huntsman to sadly retire from Muscovy. Finnish minesweeper enters Russian waters. Russian VDV copies Ukrainian VDV. Russia’s donation of relics to Serbia. Slovakia’s Vipers. CW sanctions on Russia. Much on continuing protests in Russia. Ukrainian media citing Russia opposition websites… Continue reading Ukraine / Russia Ad Hoc Media Update (246)
It appears the government of Saudi Arabia is responding to the Kashoggi assassination and is trying to build up its image and undermine opponents. Unfortunately, Facebook is not allowing fake accounts and pages and has shut down many of them. </end editorial> AUGUST 1, 2019 / 11:06 AM Jack Stubbs LONDON (Reuters) – People connected… Continue reading Facebook says it dismantles covert influence campaign tied to Saudi government
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. The Mainstream media is starting to pick up on the importance of the protests in Moscow. I received a CNN alert about the hundreds arrested. This does not mark the end of the world, as some say, and it’s certainly not the end of Russia or Putin. It does, however,… Continue reading Ukraine / Russia Ad Hoc Media Update (245)
If you’re interested in Russia, you’ll love Steve Gutterman’s Week In Russia. RFE/RL’s news editor dissects some of the key developments over the previous week and offers some of the takeaways going forward. Every Friday, direct to your in-box. Click here to subscribe View this e-mail in your browser right here! or share this content… Continue reading Steve Gutterman’s Week In Russia – 02.08.2019
“Demonstrating without a permit” is the catch-all phrase meaning ‘we’ll never give you a permit, so just quit. When we arrest you we will beat you as we do, we will beat you as we drag you to our paddy wagons, we will beat you in our jails, and we will just beat you when… Continue reading Moscow authorities vow tough action against any new protest
This latest sanction is because Russia is not cooperating in the Skripal Assassination Attempt investigation. Russia hasn’t cooperated, Russia is not cooperating, and Russia will not cooperate. Everybody believes Russia committed the CW attack on the Skripals, all the Russians have done is deny with a plethora of alternative theories. Russia is doing the dance… Continue reading U.S. Imposes New Sanctions on Russia over Skripal Poisoning
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. </end editorial> Yet again, a great many reports on Russia’s domestic meltdown; Updates on former Soviet republics – Belarus and Central Asia of interest; Syria updates, Saudi / UAE weapons procurement, ISIS, Libya etc; DPRK TBM tests continue, politics and defectors; A deluge of reporting on the PRC: defence… Continue reading Russia / Strategy Ad Hoc Media Update (94)
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. My apologies for the mixup on the previous ‘244’. I deleted the ‘fake’ 244. </end editorial> Vale INF – Muscovy gets what it wants, freedom to threaten everybody with GLCMs and IRBMs. Ryabkov already threatening deployments close to the US. More on Russian aerial and naval provocations. Nordstream 2… Continue reading Ukraine / Russia Ad Hoc Media Update (244)
More bluster from Tehran. Germany, driven by the Russian proxy SDP, refuses to join the multinational coalition force to protect tanker traffic, and Amb Grenell publicly chastises the Merkel government. UK rejects Iran’s tanker swap proposal. Royal Navy reports repeated provocation by Iranian forces. Complaints about Royal Navy downsizing having gone too far (as happened… Continue reading Iran Escalation (47)
I am not sure how Iran can possibly proclaim that the US is “afraid” of anything Iranian, but I guess it plays out to the Iranian public as… Iran is not a major superpower. Iran is not a powerful military. Iran is not… much of anything. I’m curious. What is Iran but a blowhard?… Continue reading Iran Bluff And Bravado
I include the following article for two reasons. First, it is very informative about the culture inside Iran. It does an excellent job showing how the hardliner regime is effectively suppressing the women of Iran. It is not about the Quran, Hadiths, or Sunna, it is about an oppressive culture misinterpreted by Imams through… Continue reading 70 Female Cyclists Arrested in Iran
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. </end editorial> INF expiry. Senate FRC pushes Nordstream 2 sanctions bill forward – much to the chagrin of Russia’s little helpers in the US media. Analyses on Muscovy’s alliance-of-convenience with Beijing. More on OneWeb, Mayak radiation leak and the Su-57. Much again on the Moscow protests and the campaign… Continue reading Ukraine / Russia Ad Hoc Media Update (243)
This picture of 17 year old Olga Misik, reading the Russian constitution out-loud, is a weapon, a tool, that is “breaking the internet”, being used by as a “symbol of resistance”, is “going viral”, and will surely cause angst to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian authorities. After reading the Russian constitution to remind the… Continue reading Putin’s Biggest Problem, 17 Year Old Olga Misik
Former Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko took blame for his lack of a defense against Russian information aggression. In an interview with Ukrayinska Pravda, Poroshenko admitted the lack of capability to protect against Russian propaganda, fake news, disinformation, and other malign information. Ukraine President Ze has stated he wants to counter Russian propaganda. Russia’s President Putin… Continue reading Poroshenko: “We failed to protect ourselves against Russian information aggression.”
Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting. </end editorial> – – Russia again test launches the RT-2PM Topol / SS-25 SICKLE mobile ICBM. Major media coverage of the announcement of Su-57 series production (LRIP). Russia continues its effort to block operation of the OneWeb broadband SV constellation over Russia. Chernobyl redux? Bone update and USAF EWSP… Continue reading Ukraine / Russia Ad Hoc Media Update (242)
To Inform is to Influence 