Frequently, consumers of Russian disinformation who are Libertarian seem fixated on the idea of gold and bitcoin as replacement for the US dollar as a global reserve currency. Ron Paul has specifically called out bitcoin as a great way to “destroy the dollar”. This has been a stated objective of Vladimir Putin since at least 2009. In this vein, the well-known ‘gray-market internet entrepreneur’ (and criminal) Kim Dotcom is an interesting case study which shows the nexus between internet-based Libertarian voices hyping bitcoin and Russian information warfare / disinformation. It would seem to be a reciprocally cooperative agreement. Continue reading “The Bitcoin-Russian Information Warfare Nexus”
Alt-Right Conservative Active Measures
Project Veritas. Alabama robocalls. The CNN Donald Trump Jr.-WikiLeaks story? Is the era of ‘conservative active measures’ on the media upon us? I dare say so. Gird yourself for a wild ride, as it can only get worse with nobody doing anything about it in the government.
Conjuring is Conspiracy (Theory)
When dealing with folks who describe themselves as magicians, you’ll often find that they describe themselves as “conjurers” as well. In the collective imagination, the word conjuring evokes spells, incantations, and the summoning of spirits.
Interestingly, the origin of the word conjure actually comes from the Latin coniurare or conjūrāre, which means the act of forming conspiracy.
Dictionary.com word origin: C13: from Old French conjurer to plot, from Latin conjūrāre to swear together, form a conspiracy, from jūrāre to swear
Princes of Darkness: The Tale of Dracula and Ivan the Terrible
One of Russia’s first “belletristic texts” (and potentially its first novel) was The Tale of Dracula. This book had a tremendous impact on the leadership of Ivan the Terrible (Ivan IV); who cultivated a Russian national mythology which still persists. In understanding Russian revanchist strategy, this is important.
Continue reading “Princes of Darkness: The Tale of Dracula and Ivan the Terrible”
Well, that was awkward Russia (JFK document release)
Most people who know about potential Russian involvement in the JFK assassination know that Lee Harvey Oswald was married to a Russian, spoke Russian, spent time in the Soviet Union, met with both Cuban and Russian intelligence shortly before the assassination, and may have even left messages for his wife which contained KGB code words.
Continue reading “Well, that was awkward Russia (JFK document release)”
The Third Man – Early Anti-American Cold War Propaganda
The Orson-Welles starring, Alexander Korda produced, Carol Reed directed, and Graham Greene screenwritten film, ‘The Third Man’ (1949) is regarded as one of the best espionage films of all time. In short however, it is also likely in retrospect to be a piece of anti-American propaganda. (Suggestion: Listen to the nifty theme music below while you read the blog.)
Continue reading “The Third Man – Early Anti-American Cold War Propaganda”
Mark Twain’s Connections to the Greatest Mississippi Riverboat Disasters of the 19th Century
Everyone loves Mark Twain (nee Samuel Clemens). He was even one of the first popular American authors to be popular in Russia of all places. While he was in fact one of the first Americans to meet the Czar of Russia, he was also later popular with the Bolsheviks who prized his revolutionary stances. He remains a popular literary figure there to this day.
Dracula as Propaganda
This poster accompanies: “Marxist Dracula meets Vlad the Impaler and the Propaganda Men“. I presented this poster at the 2017 ECCWS conference in Dublin Ireland.