Confronting Russia's Weaponization of Information

The Russian campaign, described as the "weaponization of information," threatens U.S. security. Russia's propaganda machine is in overdrive; part of the focus is to subvert democratic stability, and foment violence in Eastern Europe. Russia has deployed an information army inside television, radio, and newspapers throughout Europe. You hear conspiracy theories on Russian broadcasts that the U.S. Government is responsible for everything from the attack on 9/11 to the downing of Malaysia Flight MH17 over Ukraine. Independent journalists in Russia have come under attack. Journalists in Russia have been killed. Russian speakers in the frontline states like the Baltic, Ukraine, and Moldova continue to be told that their governments want to oppress and render them second class citizens. In parts of Europe where there aren't Russian speaking populations there is also a message that Western democracy is morally corrupt and that integration with Europe since the Cold War has failed. It is estimated that Putin is spending more than $600 million a year to deride democratic pluralism. What U.S.-backed news and information that does get published is a thimble of journalistic credibility in an ocean of Russian-driven news distortion.