Molly McKew**@MollyMcKew**
Russia's preferred means to fight opponents: stoke internal divides, apply external pressure, info ops, challenge soc/govt on many fronts
We need to have a conversation about what is happening today in Charlottesville & Russian influence, and operations, in the United States /1
Because this is a condemnation of nothing. /2
"We ALL must be united & condemn all that hate stands for. There is no place for this kind of violence in America. Lets come together as one!"
And a few days ago, favorite presidential aide said "the left" is conducting false flag terrorist attacks in US /3
edition.cnn.com/videos/politics/2017/08/09/trump-aide-sebastian-gorka-mosque-attack-may-be-fake-hate-crime-ath.cnn
Hatred and bigotry "on all sides" the president says, are the problem.
How do we make sense of any of this? /4
This is what the Gerasimov Doctrine, Russia's hybrid warfare doctrine, says: /5
Asymmetrical actions have come into widespread use, enabling the nullification of an enemy’s advantages in armed conflict. Among such actions are the use of special operations forces and internal opposition to create a permanently operating front through the entire territory of the enemy state, as well as informational actions, devices, and means that are constantly being perfected.
Again, Russia specifies it aims to use "internal opposition to create a permanently operating front [in] the enemy state" /6
There are countless examples of this in Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova,
the Baltics -- all former captive nations. /7
We refuse to believe this tactic could ever be applied to the US. We have nukes and democracy and an economy 14x as big as Russia. Right? /8
So, whole point of Gerasimov: it is about guerrilla mindset. Cheap, easy, confusing ways to fight more powerful opponent (us) /9
So who are the Kremlin's American compatriots -- their "internal opposition"?
We can start with "Alt-Right" /10
www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/page/ct-trump-putin-russia-perspec-0517-20170516-story.html
Richard Spencer on Russia: /11
Yet Spencer also shows a clear admiration for Russia, which he has called "the sole white power in the world." His former wife is the Russian writer and self-described "Kremlin troll leader" Nina Kouprianova. Writing and blogging under the pen name Nina Byzantina, she regularly follows Kremlin talking points. Like Spencer, she had defended Syria's butcher president — and Putin ally — Bashar Assad, describing reports of civilian deaths in Aleppo as "fake news."
David Duke (KKK) in Russia /12
Former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke, who has eagerly embraced the alt-right movement, has traveled to Russia several times to promote his book "The Ultimate Supremacism: My Awakening on the Jewish Question," according to the Anti-Defamation League.
Heimbach (another Nazi/white supremacist) on Russia leading the white world: /13
Rising self-described white nationalist Matthew Heimbach also has praised Putin's Russia as "the axis for nationalists," according to an interview by Business Insider. "I really believe that Russia is the leader of the free world right now," he told the news website. "Putin is supporting nationalists around the world and building an anti-globalist alliance, while promoting traditional values and self-determination."
As Russia invaded Crimea, changing borders of Europe by force for first time since WWII ... /14
... Groups thrilled w/ Putin "restoring traditional values" met in Crimea to praise him /15
medium.com/war-is-boring/as-russia-invades-ukraine-the-kremlins-far-right-allies-meet-in-yalta-94a30929c35
This is what famous Nazi Richard Spencer said about Ukraine: /16
www.buzzfeed.com/rosiegray/american-white-nationalists-to-hold-conference-with-russian?utm_term=.oi4AWw1zgl#.haaV7yx8bG
Spencer's thoughts on the Ukraine crisis hew closely to Moscow's.
"I think to a large degree the Maidan revolution was organized and funded by outside powers, I don't think that's a controversial statement," he said. "I certainly understand the position of Ukrainian separatists and nationalists. I think that to a very large degree they are supporting a geopolitical policy of Washington and I myself am more sympathetic towards Russia as a major power entering the world stage. Russia has the opportunity, to put it bluntly, to make the world a better place."
"I'm sympathetic toward Putin in many ways," he said.
David Duke attends Kremlin compatriot conferences. In Charlottesville he called on POTUS to keep to promise to "take the country back"/17
Because the KKK, "Alt-Right", and other "white nationalists" (aka Nazis) all supported candidate Trump and want him to deliver /18
The NRA was huge Trump supporter.
Here's the NRA in Moscow.
Btw the guy they met with? He wants Alaska back /19
www.thedailybeast.com/top-trump-ally-met-with-putins-deputy-in-moscow
Just after inauguration, NRA did ad, "organized anarchy," which said fighting jihad-like resistance in US is same as fighting fascism. /20
That's a straight up Kremlin script. Others around POTUS have used this argument. See: Bannon/Desouza meeting /21
twitter.com/christinawilkie/status/893512139905880064
That's right. They are arguing the REAL fascists want freedom and equality.
Ok. Sure.
You know who else fits in that category? /22
American evangelicals. Evangelicals are friendly with Russia, helped Russian govt (and many African nations) write anti-LGBT laws. /23
They also, inexplicably, campaigned for Trump.
Here's some evangelicals helping Russia gain access to the WH /24
time.com/4776717/mike-pence-russian-cleric-hilarion-alfeyev/
Why does any of that matter?
Alt-Right was involved in trying to get hacked oppo docs from the Russians /25
www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2017/07/26/two-notorious-alt-right-figures-may-play-key-roles-russia-investigation
The Alt-Right has been promoting disinformation about the Trump/Russia investigation /26
www.wnyc.org/story/how-alt-right-covers-russia-investigation/
The Alt-Right loves Putin and advocates that the US abandon its treaty alliances and security posture in Europe /27
uk.businessinsider.com/russia-connections-to-the-alt-right-2016-11?r=US&IR=T
The Alt-Right is working with Russia to attack the National Security Adviser /28
uk.businessinsider.com/hr-mcmaster-fire-twitter-trump-alex-jones-2017-8?r=US&IR=T
Alt-Right is unregistered agent of Russia (where critics are murdered) & fanboy of Assad (killed hundreds of thousands of own people) /29
The NRA has also lobbied against Russia sanctions. They argue that Russian election interference is nonsense. /30
Evangelicals argue Russia is the greatest guarantor of "traditional" rights, have used their political clout to promote Russian agenda /31
Ok, so, Russia has relationships with loathsome groups, and they then do things in their interests. So what? /31
Well, turns out Russia routinely hosts the hate/fringe to empower them, connect them, train them /33
www.nytimes.com/2015/03/23/world/europe/right-wing-groups-find-a-haven-for-a-day-in-russia.html?_r=1
Russia has also trained domestic extremists from other countries to conduct attacks at home /34
www.thedailybeast.com/russian-extremists-are-training-right-wing-terrorists-from-western-europe?source=TDB&via=FB_Page
it was just the 9th anniversary of Georgian-Russian war. /35
Molly McKewVerified account
@MollyMcKew
9 years ago today, Russia launched an invasion of Georgia to ensure it would not join NATO. Let's be clear about purpose and responsibility.
6:33 am - 7 Aug 2017
Russia didn't win Georgia in that traditional war.
It won Georgia in 2012 with political and information and economic warfare /36
The unraveling I witnessed afterward so eerily reminds me of patterns and actions I am seeing in the US... It's worth thinking about /37
Look at the links between Russia, and Russian money, and the factions who promote the Russian agenda in the United States ... /38
... And then look at who the president won't condemn.
And wonder what is being done to us under his watch. /39
Adding to be clear:
What Russia does is exploit weaknesses of opponents.
Not saying they created this problem in America. Fanning flames/40