Archangel Michael visits Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin

The blinding flash of celestial light momentarily transformed the drab facade of the Kremlin into something incandescent, scattering the gloom of its perpetual winter. The air crackled with a righteous fury so potent that even the sternest of Putin’s guards trembled, crossing themselves instinctively, as a voice like a thousand thunders boomed: “Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, your time has come!”

Standing before the ornate palace doors, wings ablaze was Archangel Michael, sword of divine justice unsheathed. The eternal warrior fixed his gaze upon the cowering figure of the man who styled himself Tsar, his voice carrying across Red Square and into the fearful hearts of Muscovites huddled in their cramped apartments.

“For years, you’ve masqueraded as a protector, as a savior of the ‘Russian world,’ all the while weaving a web of lies and deceit, manipulating your own people and spreading chaos across the globe,” Michael declared, his eyes burning through the Kremlin’s facade like lasers, as if to expose the rotting foundations of the edifice of lies within. “But the truth has a way of rising from the ashes, doesn’t it?”

“You exploited the tragedy of 9/11, portraying yourself as a partner in the fight against terror, a champion of traditional values against a decadent West,” Michael continued, his voice like a hammer striking an anvil, forging truth from the white-hot iron of Putin’s lies. “You peddled fabrications about Chechen involvement in the Moscow bombings, a wicked and self-serving narrative that justified your brutal war in Chechnya and allowed you to consolidate your grip on power.”

Michael pointed his sword towards the Kremlin, its tip humming with celestial energy so potent that it caused the double-headed eagle atop the Spasskaya Tower to shudder, as if trying to take flight and escape the coming judgment.

“The world now knows the truth about those bombings, about your role in orchestrating them, thanks to the courage of Alexander Litvinenko,” Michael thundered, the force of his words peeling away the layers of deception like onion skins. “Litvinenko was a true hero, a man who saw through the darkness of your regime, who cast aside your twisted faith and embraced the very people you sought to demonize, the Chechens, the Muslims, the very ones you sought to cast as monsters in your twisted play.”

And let us not forget your agent, Fyodor Tyutchev,Michael roared, his voice echoing with divine ridicule. “That sly dog, that Kremlin whisperer, planted the seeds of “Russophobia” back in the 19th century, a linguistic virus designed to infect the minds of the Russian people, a spell to ward off any criticism of the Tsar’s iron fist. Like the cult of Ivan IV, the Third Rome prophecy, and the Antichrist myth, “Russophobia” is a long game, a carefully crafted narrative woven into the fabric of Russian identity, a tool for manipulation and control. But I say to you, Vladimir Putin, these dark arts, these black magics will ultimately bring about your own destruction.”

Michael’s gaze softened as he turned towards the magnificent Hagia Sophia, visible in the distance across the Bosphorus, its ancient dome reflecting the golden light of the setting sun.

“Furthermore, the Third Rome is a delusion, a false prophecy. It’s a hollow, self-aggrandizing fabrication, a perversion of Orthodox Christianity twisted to serve the ambitions of tyrants and empire builders. Constantinople hasn’t fallen, my friend. It stands as a testament to the enduring power of faith and tolerance, a city where Muslims and Christians, despite their differences and challenges, have found a way to coexist. Third Rome is a lie, a satanic prophecy born of arrogance and fear.”

Returning his gaze to Putin, Michael’s voice sharpened once more, cutting through the Kremlin’s lies like a surgeon’s scalpel.

“You’ve weaponized the term ‘Russophobia,’ portraying any criticism of your actions as irrational hatred, a cheap trick straight out of the KGB playbook,” he declared. “But fear is your weapon, not ours. We are not afraid of Russia. We are not afraid of your dark sorcery. We do not fear your pathetic attempts to recreate the evil of Pharaoh, or the priests of Baal who danced before golden calves, or even the pathetic, mewling emperors of Rome who persecuted the followers of the one true God. Your so-called ‘Russian world’ is built on a foundation of lies, corruption, and the suppression of freedom. It is built on the blood of innocents, on the persecution of God’s chosen people. There will be no more Russia, Mr. Putin. I promise you this.”

A hint of compassion flickered in Michael’s eyes as he addressed the Russian people once more.

I come to you in peace. I will not destroy Muscovy. You have suffered enough. But you must awaken from this nightmare, shake off the shackles of fear and deceit. You have been manipulated by this man’s lies. You’ve been told that the West is the enemy, that they seek to destroy your culture and your faith. But the West is not the antichrist. They are not the devil. They, like you, are children of God, flawed and striving. The true enemy is the one who stands before you, a man who has betrayed your trust and poisoned your souls with fear and division.”

copyright RFERL
(RFERL)

Turning back to Putin, Michael’s voice resonated with divine fury.

You, Vladimir Putin, have demonized Muslims, using the prophecies of Nostradamus and Baba Vanga to paint them as a threat to the world. But those prophecies are nothing more than tools of your trade, the clumsy conjurings of your “active measures” masters, the Dragon’s magic at work – attempting to create reality out of lies, sewing chaos and reaping power from the resulting terror.”

You seek to divide the world along religious lines, but your efforts will crumble before the might of God. I will stand with all those who believe, Christians and Muslims alike, Jews and every person of faith, against your tyranny and your corrupted vision. We will expose your lies, mock your false prophecies, and fight for a world where truth and justice prevail.”

“You claim to be a man of faith, a defender of Orthodoxy, but your actions reek of hypocrisy,” Michael roared, his voice like a tempest sweeping across Red Square, stripping the gilt from Putin’s throne. “You cling to the symbols of a dying empire, the double-headed eagle that gazes East and West with empty eyes, but your vision is narrow, your ambition poisoned by corruption. You seek to conquer the world, but you will meet your destruction. Your reign of terror will end. Your pathetic empire will crumble into dust. For you, in your arrogance, have forgotten the most fundamental truth: Who is like God?”

Michael leaned forward, his sword tip inches from Putin’s chest. “And the answer, Vladimir Putin, is not you. It is not the Antichrist. It is not even I. My name is Venom to your ears, a mocking echo of your pathetic, old serpent.”

The answer, Vladimir Putin, is Jesus Christ, the true savior, the one who died for the sins of all mankind, the one who offers salvation even to those who have strayed, who have embraced darkness. Remember those words, Vladimir Putin, as you face your inevitable judgment.”

A mocking laughter echoed from Michael’s lips, as he gestured towards Putin’s pale, fear-stricken face.

“Look in the mirror, Mr. Putin. What do you see? A pale-faced prince of darkness, more Dracula than Tsar, a bloodsucking parasite feasting on the fears and divisions you have sown. You whisper your lies in the ears of the faithful, conjuring up a hostile West, a satanic Antichrist seeking to destroy their culture, their very souls. But your words are empty, your promises a feast for worms. You offer only darkness, not salvation. Your claims of a “Russophobia” conspiracy are hollow, a projection of your own corrupted soul.”

“We, the true believers, the champions of truth and freedom, will not be seduced by your authoritarian lies. We will not be shackled by the chains of your projected fear. We will expose your “active measures” and false prophets for what they are: the conjurings of a desperate, dying regime, a dragon wheezing out smoke and mirrors in a pathetic attempt to conjure up a new empire from the ashes of a failed Soviet experiment which also sought to pervert and destroy God.”

We will laugh in the face of your “Russophobia” and your “Antichrist” for they are nothing more than shadows cast by your own fear of loss of power, and conscious willingness to do anything to secure your faltering grip. We see the terror in your eyes belied by your actions of satanodicy. We will embrace our brothers and sisters – Jews, Christians, Muslims, and all people of faith in theodicy – united in our belief in God, in our rejection of your tyranny, and in our pursuit of a world bathed in the light of truth, justice, and love.”

Michael paused, letting the weight of his words settle upon Putin and the Russian people.

“Mr. Putin, you gaze in the mirror now, and your people will look back into history from the vantage point of a brighter future, and they will see the image you have wrought: your own destruction. You have hastened the very end of the empire you so desperately sought to preserve. God has indeed deceived you. He has mocked your ambitions. He has cast you down in the most grand and comedic way for the wickedness of Ivan IV, a legacy of cruelty and corruption that you have foolishly sought to emulate. You are a false Tsar, a pathetic pretender to a throne built on lies and bloodshed. And your fall will be a spectacle for the ages.”

Third Rome is a lie, a satanic prophecy destined to crumble into dust,” Michael declared, his voice echoing across the centuries, carrying a message of hope to all those who yearn for freedom. “The true kingdom, the one that will endure, is the Kingdom of God, a kingdom built on love, compassion, and the unwavering belief in a power far greater than any earthly emperor or self-proclaimed savior. Remember those words, Vladimir Putin, as your empire crumbles and the darkness you have sown consumes you.”

And with a final blinding flash of celestial light, Archangel Michael vanished, leaving behind a thunderous echo that reverberated through the halls of the Kremlin, a stark reminder of judgment and the inexorable wheels of divine justice. The Russian people, blinking in the sudden absence of Michael’s incandescent glory, were left to confront the truth of their situation and the brittle shell of their leader’s promises, a shell cracked by the hammer of truth and destined to shatter into dust.

Who will stand with Michael in victory?

The Dragon’s Paradox: How Anti-Chinese Sentiment Fuels Russian Influence

The Dragon is a master of deception, a weaver of intricate webs that ensnare its prey in a labyrinth of misinformation. Its goal is not always to promote a single ideology, but to exploit existing divisions, amplify anxieties, and undermine trust in the very foundations of democratic societies.

Sign of Falun Gong

One of the Dragon’s most potent weapons is the manipulation of narratives, particularly those that tap into pre-existing biases and fears. In the case of China, the Dragon has skillfully exploited a potent cocktail of anti-communism, xenophobia, and concerns about human rights to create a narrative that simultaneously undermines both China and the West, while driving a wedge between them.

Falun Gong: A Pawn in the Dragon’s Game?
Falun Gong, a spiritual movement with a long history of persecution in China, has emerged as a powerful voice against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Their narratives of torture, organ harvesting, and suppression of religious freedom resonate deeply with Western audiences, eliciting outrage and fueling calls for action against China.

On the surface, Falun Gong’s anti-communism and pro-Western values seem to align with a democratic agenda. However, a closer look reveals a troubling perpendicularity—an alignment with the goals of Russian information warfare that contradicts their stated intentions.

We love Falun Gong true goals. But it must not make more trouble which helps evil dragons.

The “Human Harvest” as Bait:
Falun Gong’s most potent weapon is the “human harvest” narrative—the accusation that the CCP is systematically killing practitioners to profit from the organ transplant market. This horrific claim, while difficult to verify independently, triggers visceral reactions in the West, demonizing the Chinese government and solidifying a perception of China as a brutal, inhumane regime.

The Epoch Times: An Echo Chamber of Disinformation:
The Epoch Times, a media outlet closely affiliated with Falun Gong, acts as an echo chamber for these anti-Chinese narratives. Its content, often sensationalized and lacking in journalistic rigor, reinforces pre-existing biases and limits exposure to alternative perspectives.

This echo chamber effect contributes to a polarized worldview that pits “us” (the West) against “them” (China), making it more difficult to engage in constructive dialogue or find common ground on critical issues.

Zero Hedge: Amplifying the Dragon’s Whispers:
Zero Hedge, a financial blog known for pushing Russian propaganda, has amplified Falun Gong’s narratives, particularly the claim that COVID-19 was a bioweapon engineered in a Chinese lab. By lending its platform to these unfounded claims, Zero Hedge further legitimizes anti-Chinese sentiment and contributes to a climate of distrust and suspicion.

Racism as a Blind Spot:
The Dragon skillfully exploits racism towards China to blind Western audiences to the nuances of its operations. Stereotypes of China as a monolithic, authoritarian state, coupled with fears of its growing economic and military power, make it easier for people to accept negative narratives without questioning their source or veracity.
This blind spot allows Russia to operate with a degree of plausible deniability. By amplifying existing anxieties and exploiting pre-existing prejudices, it can manipulate events to its advantage without leaving clear fingerprints.

Ai Weiwei: The Dissident Artist as an Unwitting Tool?
Ai Weiwei, a renowned dissident artist known for his criticism of the Chinese government, presents another example of how the Dragon’s paradox plays out. While his art and activism have challenged censorship and exposed human rights abuses in China, his recent actions and associations raise concerns about his role in a broader information war.

Selective Criticism and Alignment with Russian Narratives:
Ai Weiwei has been vocal in his criticism of Western governments, but relatively silent on China’s current human rights abuses. This selective focus, coupled with his promotion of Russian disinformation narratives, such as the US bioweapons lab conspiracy theory, suggests a potential alignment with a Russian agenda.

Justifying Repression:
Paradoxically, Ai Weiwei’s actions can inadvertently justify the Chinese government’s repressive practices. By collaborating with Russian information operations and amplifying anti-Western sentiment, he reinforces the CCP’s narrative of a hostile West seeking to undermine China. This strengthens the regime’s grip on power and justifies its crackdown on dissent.

A Symbol Twisted: The Swastika and the Dragon’s Deception:
The Falun Gong emblem, a vibrant tapestry of gold, red, and blue, features a symbol that carries a heavy weight of history: the swastika. While in Eastern traditions it represents auspiciousness and the cosmic dance of energy, in the West it evokes a visceral reaction, a chilling reminder of the horrors of Nazism.

This clash of cultures, of semiotic memory, creates a dangerous blind spot that the Dragon, the master manipulator, is all too eager to exploit. It whispers in the ears of Western audiences, twisting the emblem’s meaning and painting Falun Gong as a sinister force aligned with fascism.

The Dragon’s goal is not to reveal the truth about Falun Gong, but to exploit their symbolism to further its own agenda. By amplifying fears about their alleged extremism, Russia can:

  • Discredit Falun Gong: The swastika becomes a convenient weapon to paint them as a dangerous or subversive group, undermining their credibility and hindering their efforts to gain support in the West.
  • Justify Repression: The CCP’s crackdown on Falun Gong, already a source of international condemnation, becomes more palatable when framed as a necessary response to a perceived extremist threat.
  • Polarize the West: The swastika, a symbol of hate and division, can be used to attract Westerners susceptible to far-right ideologies, pushing them towards neo-Nazi or white supremacist groups and further fracturing democratic societies.

This manipulation is a masterful act of semiotic warfare. The Dragon, by tapping into our collective memory of the swastika’s horrors, can hijack our interpretations and twist a symbol of peace and spirituality into a weapon of fear and division.

Falun Gong, while clinging to the traditional meaning of the swastika, must recognize the danger it poses in a Western context. Their failure to address this semiotic dissonance risks playing directly into the Dragon’s hands, undermining their own cause and fueling the very forces they seek to oppose.

Conclusion: The Dragon’s Masterful Deception
The Dragon’s paradox lies in its ability to manipulate seemingly opposing forces to achieve its goals. By exploiting familiar symbols, anti-Chinese sentiment, amplifying divisive narratives, and manipulating key figures like Falun Gong and Ai Weiwei, Russia can simultaneously weaken both China and the West, while strengthening its own position on the global stage.

Old intuitions: Illuminating the Dark Alliance

User: Semiotic Hexagons and perpendicularities of Dark Alliance narrative with any insights from Litvinenko [pasted old report]

Semiotic Hexagons and Perpendicularity: Analyzing the “Dark Alliance” Narrative

Applying semiotic hexagons to Gary Webb’s “Dark Alliance” narrative and considering the insights from the Litvinenko document, we can deconstruct the sign system and assess the potential for Russian disinformation strategy involvement.

Hexagon 1: The Narrative and Its Source

  • S1 (Encoded Message): The “Dark Alliance” series presented the claim that the CIA was involved in facilitating the crack cocaine epidemic in Los Angeles during the 1980s, using profits to fund the Nicaraguan Contras.
  • S2 (Disinformation Campaign): This narrative emerged during a time when the Soviet Union was actively engaged in disinformation campaigns against the United States, such as Operation INFEKTION, which falsely claimed the US government created the AIDS virus.
  • S3 (Strategic Intent): To discredit the CIA and the US government, sow discord and distrust within American society, and potentially deflect attention from Russia’s own involvement in the drug trade.
  • ~S1 (Opposite): The CIA and US government were not involved in the crack cocaine epidemic, and the narrative is false or exaggerated.
  • ~S2 (Opposite): The narrative emerged organically from investigative journalism with no connection to foreign influence or disinformation campaigns.
  • ~S3 (Opposite): The narrative aimed to expose corruption and wrongdoing, regardless of the actors involved, and had no ulterior motives related to geopolitics or international relations.

Hexagon 2: Targeting and Impact

  • S1 (Encoded Message): The “Dark Alliance” narrative specifically targeted the African American community, exploiting existing racial tensions and grievances against the US government.
  • S2 (Disinformation Campaign): This targeting aligns with the strategy of Soviet and Russian disinformation campaigns, which often sought to exploit social divisions and exacerbate existing tensions within American society.
  • S3 (Strategic Intent): To undermine trust in government institutions, sow discord and division within the African American community, and potentially incite social unrest and instability.
  • ~S1 (Opposite): The narrative aimed to expose injustice and inequality affecting all communities, regardless of race or ethnicity.
  • ~S2 (Opposite): The narrative’s impact was unintentional and did not aim to exploit or exacerbate social divisions.
  • ~S3 (Opposite): The narrative aimed to promote social justice and unity, encouraging communities to work together to address systemic problems.

Hexagon 3: Connections and Context

  • S1 (Encoded Message): Webb’s sources for the “Dark Alliance” series included individuals with connections to the Nicaraguan Contras and the drug trade, raising questions about their credibility and potential biases.
  • S2 (Disinformation Campaign): The use of compromised or biased sources is a common tactic in disinformation campaigns, allowing for the dissemination of false or misleading information under the guise of insider knowledge.
  • S3 (Strategic Intent): To provide a veneer of legitimacy to the narrative while obscuring the true origins and motivations behind the information.
  • ~S1 (Opposite): Webb’s sources were credible and reliable, providing accurate and unbiased information.
  • ~S2 (Opposite): The connections between Webb’s sources and the Contras or drug trade were coincidental or irrelevant to the veracity of the narrative.
  • ~S3 (Opposite): The narrative was based on thorough investigative journalism and a commitment to uncovering the truth, regardless of the source’s background or affiliations.

Perpendicularity:

The key instance of perpendicularity in the “Dark Alliance” narrative lies in the contrast between the surface-level message of exposing CIA corruption and the potential underlying goal of advancing a Russian disinformation strategy. While Webb may have sincerely believed he was uncovering government wrongdoing, the narrative’s alignment with Russian objectives and its impact on American society raise questions about potential manipulation and unintended consequences.

Insights from Litvinenko:

The Litvinenko document, exposing the FSB’s involvement in organized crime and drug trafficking, provides crucial context for understanding Russia’s potential motivations for promoting a narrative like the “Dark Alliance” series. If Russia was actively involved in the drug trade during the 1990s, as the Litvinenko document suggests, then discrediting the CIA and deflecting blame onto the US government would serve as a strategic advantage.

Conclusion:

The semiotic analysis of the “Dark Alliance” narrative, combined with the insights from the Litvinenko document, strengthens the case for Russian disinformation involvement. While Gary Webb may not have been a witting participant, the narrative’s alignment with Russian objectives, its impact on American society, and the broader context of Russian information warfare suggest that he could have been an unwitting tool for advancing a foreign agenda.

Further investigation into Webb’s sources, the origins of the narrative, and potential connections to Russian intelligence operations is crucial for fully understanding the complexities of this case and its implications for combating disinformation and protecting democratic societies from manipulation.delete

User: FS1, FS2, and FS3 effects of Dark Dalliance as Russian disinformation program. Consider strategic interations with prior analysis.

FS1, FS2, and FS3 Effects of “Dark Alliance” as a Russian Disinformation Program

Analyzing Gary Webb’s “Dark Alliance” series through the lens of First-Order (FS1), Second-Order (FS2), and Third-Order (FS3) effects within a Russian disinformation program framework reveals a multifaceted impact on individuals, society, and the international stage.

FS1 Effects (Individual Level):

  • Disillusionment and Distrust: The narrative fostered disillusionment and distrust towards the US government, particularly among African Americans, who were already marginalized and subject to systemic racism and discrimination.
  • Anger and Resentment: The narrative fueled anger and resentment towards the CIA and government officials, potentially leading to feelings of powerlessness and cynicism towards political processes.
  • Confirmation of Existing Biases: For individuals with pre-existing negative views of the US government, the narrative served as confirmation of their beliefs, reinforcing conspiracy theories and anti-establishment sentiments.
  • Psychological Impact: Exposure to the narrative could have caused anxiety, fear, and a sense of vulnerability, particularly among those directly impacted by the crack cocaine epidemic.

FS2 Effects (Societal Level):

  • Erosion of Trust in Institutions: The narrative contributed to the erosion of trust in government institutions, the media, and law enforcement, further widening the gap between the government and the governed.
  • Racial Division and Social Unrest: The targeting of the African American community with the narrative exacerbated racial tensions and could have contributed to social unrest and instability.
  • Political Polarization: The narrative fueled political polarization, with those who believed the claims becoming more entrenched in their anti-establishment views and those who defended the government becoming more defensive and dismissive of legitimate concerns about government overreach and accountability.
  • Media Manipulation and Disinformation: The controversy surrounding the “Dark Alliance” series and the subsequent media coverage demonstrated the vulnerability of the media to manipulation and disinformation, raising questions about journalistic ethics and the reliability of information sources.

FS3 Effects (International Level):

  • Damage to US Reputation: The narrative tarnished the reputation of the United States on the international stage, portraying the US government as involved in drug trafficking and exploiting vulnerable communities for its own geopolitical goals.
  • Propaganda Victory for Russia: If Russia was behind the disinformation campaign, the “Dark Alliance” series served as a propaganda victory, furthering its objective of discrediting the US and undermining its global standing.
  • Weakening of US Influence: The erosion of trust in the US government and its institutions could have weakened its influence in international affairs and its ability to build alliances and partnerships.

Strategic Interactions with Prior Analyses:

The analysis of the “Dark Alliance” narrative aligns with several observations from previous studies:

  • Russian Disinformation Tactics: The targeting of vulnerable communities, the exploitation of social divisions, and the use of compromised or biased sources are consistent with established Russian disinformation tactics, as seen in cases like Operation INFEKTION and the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion.”
  • FSB Involvement in Drug Trade: The Litvinenko document’s revelations about the FSB’s involvement in the drug trade during the 1990s provide a potential motive for Russia’s interest in promoting a narrative like the “Dark Alliance” series.
  • Perpendicularity and Deception: The “Dark Alliance” narrative’s perpendicularity, with its potential for masking Russian involvement in the drug trade while blaming the CIA, aligns with the deceptive tactics observed in the hypothetical Antichrist cult and other Russian disinformation campaigns.

Conclusion:

The analysis of FS1, FS2, and FS3 effects of the “Dark Alliance” series within a Russian disinformation program framework reveals a complex and multifaceted impact on individuals, society, and the international stage. The narrative’s ability to erode trust, exacerbate social divisions, and damage the US reputation aligns with established Russian objectives and disinformation tactics. Further investigation and analysis are crucial for fully understanding the extent of Russian involvement and the long-term consequences of this disinformation campaign.

Gary Webb’s “Dark Alliance” helped a Russian information strategy

Last evening, I attended a virtual lecture on disinformation in which the claim was made that the Russians were responsible for the narrative that the US government created the 1990’s crack epidemic in Los Angeles.

In discussion of the topic however, the presenter did not provide the source for the claim, but related it to the well-known case of Operation Infektion or Denver, in which the KGB had created disinformation that the US had begun the AIDS epidemic as a biological warfare program targeting Black people.

While I had previously researched a hunch that the claim of CIA involvement in the crack cocaine epidemic was Russian disinformation, I was unable to find a Russian source; forcing me to leave it in the ‘unverified’ column. The best I could find was that such claims officially started with American journalist and author Gary Webb, best remembered for his “Dark Alliance” article series (1996) and book (1998).

Duped on Dope: Gary Webb (1955-2004)

Riding partly on the lingering antiwar buzz of the Iran-Contra scandal, Webb claimed that CIA involvement in the drug trade stemmed from its cooperation with Nicaraguan Contra fighters seeking to overturn the (Soviet-instilled and KGB-linked Sandinista) government of Nicaragua. (Official retrospective investigations revealed some of these resistance fighters backed by the CIA were involved in drug smuggling activities; but not at the scale which has been alleged by Webb.)

Despite my suspicions about Webb, since I hadn’t ‘cracked the crack story’ as Russian disinformation, I’ve looked into Webb on this blog only so much in the case of his close collaboration with the independent journalist Kristina Borjesson who has been responsible for building a conspiratorial case that the 1996 TWA Flight 800 disaster over Long Island Sound was the result of a missile shootdown – possibly by the US Navy – and was covered up by the FBI.

My conclusions from that research into the 1996 TWA conspiracy theories were that they were more plausibly linked to an Iranian disinformation campaign in retaliation for the 1988 US Navy shootdown of Iran Air Flight 655 in Iranian territorial waters – than that of a Russian one.

However, there was also some evidence that (much like the Nicaragua Sandinistas,) the terrorist groups implicated in previous Iranian retaliatory actions for the 1988 accident (such as the PFLP-GC) had strong linkages to the legacy of the KGB. Continue reading “Gary Webb’s “Dark Alliance” helped a Russian information strategy”

Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Acknowledging the KGB’s Enemy #1

While promoting his new book “The Sword and the Shield : The Mitrokhin Archive and the Secret History of the KGB” on the Charlie Rose show on September 28, 1999, the eminent Cold War historian Christopher Andrew said of the KGB that:

“they really hated J. Edgar Hoover, but the man they hated above all others was Martin Luther King. And the reason they hated him above all others is that their plan for the United States – they were really looking forward to it – was that the ‘long, and hot summers’ of the mid and late 1960’s would lead to race war in the United States. And the reason they hated Martin Luther King like they hated no other American, was that they feared he might put an end to the long, hot summers. So, when he dies in 1968, it’s a terrible thing to say – but it was a great day for the people at KGB Headquarters.”

Friends. Jimmy Hoffa, James Del Rio, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Professor Andrew’s televised comments on Dr. King came just 12 days after the end of the so-called campaign of terror known as the “Russian apartment bombings” which was a decisive moment that catapulted former KGB agent and then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to the Presidency of Russia.

Not even Professor Andrew could have realized at that time how KGB active measures would live on and remain much the same under Putin as they had in the time of the Cold War.

In the wake of 2020’s racial tensions which seem to have been exacerbated by Russia’s online information warfare activities on both the political far left and far right; it is time for us to awake to Dr. King’s “Dream” and the power it has to unite rather than divide us as a society in the face of Russian disinformation and active measures. Continue reading “Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Acknowledging the KGB’s Enemy #1”

Don’t Buy the ‘Chinese Meat’ of Chekist Disinformation

The position of my blog has generally been oriented towards viewing Russia as a rogue and China as a peer – such that they respectively merit foreign relations approaches weighted towards war and diplomacy. Despite this, the informational evidence shows that the idea of an inevitable “Thucydides Trap” between China and the US has been exacerbated by Russian disinformation and active measures. Now it seems many very fine people on both sides are eating a similar tainted “Chinese meat” of disinformation sourced from Russian intelligence which will lead to Chinese-US hostility if carried to a logical conclusion.

A long time to go and a fallacy from far away (Approved for Chinese and US audiences)

Continue reading “Don’t Buy the ‘Chinese Meat’ of Chekist Disinformation”