There's a lot of narrative running on novichok, in various ways saying new cases mean Russia could never responsible for anything.
In this thread will run through narrative points for deny/divert/distract efforts (this is not about origins, tho some amplifiers listed) /1
In this thread will run through narrative points for deny/divert/distract efforts (this is not about origins, tho some amplifiers listed) /1
Argument 1: "ask questions because second set of attacks mean Russia couldn't have been responsible for first novichok attacks."
There's a lot of:
"Isn't it interesting"
"Worth noting"
"Who really benefits"
"There was never any evidence"
Statements designed to raise doubt /2
There's a lot of:
"Isn't it interesting"
"Worth noting"
"Who really benefits"
"There was never any evidence"
Statements designed to raise doubt /2
Frequent usage of "bollocks" in connection to "novichok" meant to discredit info from UK govt /3
Further on "bollocks," lots of funny memes.
And ok the pigeon thing *is* really funny.
The humor aims to make it easier to accept the narrative being presented /5
And ok the pigeon thing *is* really funny.
The humor aims to make it easier to accept the narrative being presented /5
Argument 2: "doesn't it make sense that UK would stage novichok attacks as a diversion from Brexit calamity??"
[and, no. NO]
Loooooooooots of Brexit conspiracy mentions /6
[and, no. NO]
Loooooooooots of Brexit conspiracy mentions /6
So perhaps not an accident that there are so many "Scottish Independence" accounts weighing in on novichok conspiracies.
You will recall there were hundred of thousands of tweets from suspected Russian accounts during the Scottish independence vote
scotsman.com/news/fake-twit…
/7
You will recall there were hundred of thousands of tweets from suspected Russian accounts during the Scottish independence vote
scotsman.com/news/fake-twit…
/7
Argument 3: saying victims were drug addicts, so who cares/story stinks/they aren't high profile so makes Skripal attack also "not targeted" /8
Argument 4: Porton Down conspiracies as "proof" UK conducted attacks themselves. /9
Argument 5: people like Corbyn & Galloway "know the truth". UKIP too
Sure, prop up these purveyors of propaganda and conspiracy as "alternative news"
"We should have listened to"/10
Sure, prop up these purveyors of propaganda and conspiracy as "alternative news"
"We should have listened to"/10
One final point -- very unnerving how many verified accounts weighing in on novichok conspiracies. I mean -- same in US and everywhere. But. Ugh. /11
All of this continues earlier Russian efforts to create alternative narrative on novichok by confusing landscape
Attached again here is the list of alternative narratives from Skripals /12
Attached again here is the list of alternative narratives from Skripals /12
Everything above -- just some representative examples of top returns on novichok. But the trends are clear /13
Lot's more reinforcement today on argument 3 -- "novichok victims are drug addicts, who cares?"
And again, a reminder that when the Kremlin makes it rain narrative, there's a reason
And again, a reminder that when the Kremlin makes it rain narrative, there's a reason
