Reactions to this article reflects our naivete & belief the US is in a bubble. There is a name for this activity: public diplomacy. Identify influencers & well, influence them to influence their government, their policies, and society at large. wsj.com/articles/the-n…
We have practiced it officially — as in sponsored by the federal government — for a century beginning with the Box Indemnity Scholarships. We have used third-parties, cut-outs, direct engagement, and encouraged independent engagement with foreign publics since then.
What's new in this story is our government is the target of discrete -- neither overt nor overt -- practice that we are apparently so naive & unaware that it appears novel, despite us having a deep association with such practices.
Some of the "novelty" can be attributed to Sen Fulbright who labeled many of these activities as “propaganda” with his change to the Smith-Mundt Act in 1972 & perhaps cuz many sponsors and managers of USG exchange/outreach efforts forgot the purpose of their programs.
So what do we do about it? FARA is part of it and we see how poorly we enforce it, as is education/training. Basic civics would help, so to professional & ethical awareness: you are a target for influence & taking money (in form of free meal, travel etc) has consequences.
