“After Capitol riot, a call to protect veterans from disinformation - Roll Call” - lots to unpack here, in sum, influence of current & former military via information confluence of several streams, RU disinfo a factor, but rides the wave of internal tide rollcall.com/2021/01/26/aft…
Yes, Kremlin has under discussed line of influence targeting military, RU pitch was straightforward to US military. “We’re white, you’re white, We’re Christian, you’re Christian, you like guns, we like guns, you kill terrorists, we kill terrorists - let’s do it together”
But RU propaganda & disinfo minor compared to US & military influencing itself. War on Terror conducted by only few Americans, largely disconnected from US population with each year after 9/11. Successive, endless tours to AFG/IZ led development separate warrior class sentiment
For reference of this separate warrior class system, just look for the proliferation of the ‘Punisher’ emblem & its spread from battlefields in Iraq to police departments around the country
Add to the warrior current - information - common practice during GWOT boom was purchase of 50" tv's which were placed in every office, hallway, etc across DoD. With few exceptions, vast majority broadcast Fox News nonstop, because 'they support the troops'. Here's an anecdote..
Once witnessed an officer scold a soldier for changing TV in a gym locker to music from Fox News, made him change it back. (yes 50" TV where people change clothes, circa 2008)
Fast forward a decade, same FOX News playing except this time, Commander-in-chief, top leader of military on same channel spewing election conspiracies, echoed by the channel day after day...maybe military members feel conflicted (seems logical)
Add Gen. Flynn, former head DIA, well respected leader during GWOT, spewing election conspiracies, oaths to QAnon (he knows its nonsense) at rally before Capitol is stormed, calling for martial law...maybe military current & former conflicted (seems logical)
Yes, RU influences military folks, and Iran incites a bit too, but largest forces shaping extremism in ranks are internal, and pose greatest endogenous threat to DoD since the post-Vietnam era
one obvious policy for DoD, I would think, is that all TV's turn to PBS, BBC World, Radio Free Europe, etc. effective immediately. USG is paying for news, USG should be a consumer of their news
Exception would be for those senior leaders who do need situational awareness and perspective from all news channels, cause you never know, you might find out you have to make a Space Force when Fox News posts a Presidential tweet 😉
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