https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/05/russia-refugee-germany-angela-merkel-migration-vladimir-putin
I'm going to take back a small part of my disclaimer in modesty that there is no evidence that Russia was behind, in some way, the terrorist attacks in Germany.
Russia is trying to topple Angela Merkel by waging an information war designed to stir up anger in Germany over refugees, Nato’s most senior expert on strategic communications has claimed.
The attempt to provoke the removal of the German leader, who has been a strong supporter of sanctions against Vladimir Putin’s regime, is said to have been identified by Nato analysts.
Jānis Sārts, director of Nato’s Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence, based in Riga, Latvia, told the Observer that Russia had a track record of funding extremist forces in Europe, and that he believed there was now evidence of Russia agitating in Germany against Merkel.
...
"If it was just punishment, that would be OK – ...
[It would be "OK?" Really, Janis? Merkel's OK with that? You're OK with that? OK, you're OK, Angela's OK. I'm not OK with that but I'm an idiot blogger.]
"...but it is testing whether they can build on pre-existing problems and create a momentum where there is political change in Germany.
“I think they test whether they can – in such a big country,...
[Germany's big. Not the biggest, but big.]
...with not so many vulnerabilities in normal times – actually create a circumstance through their influence where there is a change of top leadership. They are using Russian speakers, social media,...
[And that is how I found this article. I read something early this morning that Russia frigging OWNS, not owns-owns, "is very effective in using," social media, like Donald Trump for oh-by-the-way, that Russia was very effective in using social media in the TURKISH NON-COUP COUP, of by the way. That was on top of reading over the weekend that the Russians are masterful in their electronics, like breaking into the Demo's 'puters, but further back, back to 2010, and that they were particularly "good" about jamming Ukraine's communications during their invasion. NATO in fact said that they were really impressed and they didn't know if Russia could jam their communications as effectively, I don't know if it was you who said that, Janis, but one of you guys and I'm not OK with you not knowing that Janis! But...idiot...blog.]
"...trying to build on the existing faultlines. Use the far right narrative and exploit that.”
[Like Erdogan, like Trump. This is where the far left and the far right have always converged--
--Wasn't "converged" the term used by that Carnegie scholar for the Recep-Vladimir kissy-face? Yes it was.--Left-right are so old-hat though. It's "muscular,"--Wasn't that...? Yes.-- like Stalin, Hitler, Putin, Erdogan, BoJo, Trump, and "lean," like Chamberlain, Merkel, Obama--Chamberlain and Obama are about the two leanest guys I've ever seen. Trump is not lean.]
“Either left or right – as long as they are extreme, they are good to come into the Russian picture as of possible use in their tactics.”
More than 1 million refugees – many from war-torn Syria – have arrived in Germany over the past year...
[Remember: this article was published in MARCH.]
The movement of people has fed the rise of the right-wing populist party Alternative für Deutschland, with a recent poll suggesting 81% of German citizens believe Merkel has lost control of the situation. Voter sentiment will be tested...
"[Sarts] warned that other countries were turning a blind eye to Putin’s propaganda war. “We saw it in Germany. The best misinformation tool is when your opponent doesn’t notice.
I'm going to take back a small part of my disclaimer in modesty that there is no evidence that Russia was behind, in some way, the terrorist attacks in Germany.
Russia is trying to topple Angela Merkel by waging an information war designed to stir up anger in Germany over refugees, Nato’s most senior expert on strategic communications has claimed.
The attempt to provoke the removal of the German leader, who has been a strong supporter of sanctions against Vladimir Putin’s regime, is said to have been identified by Nato analysts.
Jānis Sārts, director of Nato’s Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence, based in Riga, Latvia, told the Observer that Russia had a track record of funding extremist forces in Europe, and that he believed there was now evidence of Russia agitating in Germany against Merkel.
...
"If it was just punishment, that would be OK – ...
[It would be "OK?" Really, Janis? Merkel's OK with that? You're OK with that? OK, you're OK, Angela's OK. I'm not OK with that but I'm an idiot blogger.]
"...but it is testing whether they can build on pre-existing problems and create a momentum where there is political change in Germany.
“I think they test whether they can – in such a big country,...
[Germany's big. Not the biggest, but big.]
...with not so many vulnerabilities in normal times – actually create a circumstance through their influence where there is a change of top leadership. They are using Russian speakers, social media,...
[And that is how I found this article. I read something early this morning that Russia frigging OWNS, not owns-owns, "is very effective in using," social media, like Donald Trump for oh-by-the-way, that Russia was very effective in using social media in the TURKISH NON-COUP COUP, of by the way. That was on top of reading over the weekend that the Russians are masterful in their electronics, like breaking into the Demo's 'puters, but further back, back to 2010, and that they were particularly "good" about jamming Ukraine's communications during their invasion. NATO in fact said that they were really impressed and they didn't know if Russia could jam their communications as effectively, I don't know if it was you who said that, Janis, but one of you guys and I'm not OK with you not knowing that Janis! But...idiot...blog.]
"...trying to build on the existing faultlines. Use the far right narrative and exploit that.”
[Like Erdogan, like Trump. This is where the far left and the far right have always converged--
--Wasn't "converged" the term used by that Carnegie scholar for the Recep-Vladimir kissy-face? Yes it was.--Left-right are so old-hat though. It's "muscular,"--Wasn't that...? Yes.-- like Stalin, Hitler, Putin, Erdogan, BoJo, Trump, and "lean," like Chamberlain, Merkel, Obama--Chamberlain and Obama are about the two leanest guys I've ever seen. Trump is not lean.]
“Either left or right – as long as they are extreme, they are good to come into the Russian picture as of possible use in their tactics.”
More than 1 million refugees – many from war-torn Syria – have arrived in Germany over the past year...
[Remember: this article was published in MARCH.]
The movement of people has fed the rise of the right-wing populist party Alternative für Deutschland, with a recent poll suggesting 81% of German citizens believe Merkel has lost control of the situation. Voter sentiment will be tested...
"[Sarts] warned that other countries were turning a blind eye to Putin’s propaganda war. “We saw it in Germany. The best misinformation tool is when your opponent doesn’t notice.
[Boy, isn't that true? When you don't notice. That's when it's best. Boy, that is so true. You could have a guy running for president! Somebody you'd never expect! Master of social media! Right-wing populist! Makes immigration his campaign centerpiece! Not bothered by rule-of-law stuff! Turns out he's a foreign agent. Boy.]
"That is when it is most effective. I would submit that there are a number of countries who have not yet noticed, or have chosen not to notice.”
[Words to the wise! We'll definitely keep our eyes and ears open. Thank you, Janis.]
