Read on Twitter
1-24
An extremist US woman, Randi Lucile Nord, 35, has confessed to painting Nazi symbols on a synagogue, along with the word "Azov", as part of a deliberate plan to undermine U.S. support for Ukraine.
She was radicalised during a 2-year stay in Serbia.
theoaklandpress.com/2023/05/16/roy…
An extremist US woman, Randi Lucile Nord, 35, has confessed to painting Nazi symbols on a synagogue, along with the word "Azov", as part of a deliberate plan to undermine U.S. support for Ukraine.
She was radicalised during a 2-year stay in Serbia.
theoaklandpress.com/2023/05/16/roy…
2-24
"The suspect is accused in Royal Oak of spray painting a swastika and the word “Azov” on the front of the Woodward Avenue Shul, 25595 Woodward Ave."
Note: Royal Oak is an inner suburb of Detroit, Michigan.
"The suspect is accused in Royal Oak of spray painting a swastika and the word “Azov” on the front of the Woodward Avenue Shul, 25595 Woodward Ave."
Note: Royal Oak is an inner suburb of Detroit, Michigan.
3-24
"When Nord was arraigned on charges in Royal Oak on May 3, police said she spent two years in Serbia, where she apparently had become radicalized, and returned to the U.S. in early March."
"When Nord was arraigned on charges in Royal Oak on May 3, police said she spent two years in Serbia, where she apparently had become radicalized, and returned to the U.S. in early March."
4-24
"She confessed to the crimes at the synagogue in Royal Oak, police said, and further told them she also painted a swastika on a child’s stroller and on a car at a synagogue in Oak Park. As of Friday no charges had been filed against her in Oak Park’s 45th District Court."
"She confessed to the crimes at the synagogue in Royal Oak, police said, and further told them she also painted a swastika on a child’s stroller and on a car at a synagogue in Oak Park. As of Friday no charges had been filed against her in Oak Park’s 45th District Court."
5-24
" “She said she planned to do as many hate crimes as possible and blame them on Azov,” Royal Oak Detective Dan Pelletier testified at Nord’s arraignment in Royal Oak."
"The purpose of the hate crimes was aimed at undermining the U.S. support for Ukraine"
" “She said she planned to do as many hate crimes as possible and blame them on Azov,” Royal Oak Detective Dan Pelletier testified at Nord’s arraignment in Royal Oak."
"The purpose of the hate crimes was aimed at undermining the U.S. support for Ukraine"
6-24
Comment:
Graffiti has long been part of political warfare, but Western societies, media, and political systems remain fully unprepared to cope with false-flag acts of extremist expression such as this case.
Comment:
Graffiti has long been part of political warfare, but Western societies, media, and political systems remain fully unprepared to cope with false-flag acts of extremist expression such as this case.
7-24
For the longest time, it has served the interests of Moscow to have graffiti of various kinds appear in public places in Western countries - denouncing Western policies, esp. US foreign policies. These have often been suspected of being from far-left activists.
For the longest time, it has served the interests of Moscow to have graffiti of various kinds appear in public places in Western countries - denouncing Western policies, esp. US foreign policies. These have often been suspected of being from far-left activists.
8-24
In Brussels, where I live, an early example was a spray-painted graffiti - shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in Feb 2022, saying "America provoked this war" (in English).
I suspect this was done at the behest of special services of the Kremlin, however indirectly.
In Brussels, where I live, an early example was a spray-painted graffiti - shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in Feb 2022, saying "America provoked this war" (in English).
I suspect this was done at the behest of special services of the Kremlin, however indirectly.
9-24
It is important to understand that such actions largely *work*, because most citizens are not well-informed, and political graffiti functions very much like advertisement - it penetrates the brain and imprints, to some extent. If not, nobody would do it.
It is important to understand that such actions largely *work*, because most citizens are not well-informed, and political graffiti functions very much like advertisement - it penetrates the brain and imprints, to some extent. If not, nobody would do it.
10-24
A swastika graffiti, esp. on a Jewish building, is reliable political dynamite, with fully predictable instant reporting and reactions. It will always be assumed that perpetrators meant what they expressed. By putting the word "Azov" next to it, the association is made.
A swastika graffiti, esp. on a Jewish building, is reliable political dynamite, with fully predictable instant reporting and reactions. It will always be assumed that perpetrators meant what they expressed. By putting the word "Azov" next to it, the association is made.
11-24
Such shocking graffiti will be discovered and reported on much before perpetrators are caught, if they're ever caught. It is hence a small miracle that this pro-Moscow, anti-Ukraine agitator was arrested and confessed so quickly. Her case is hugely informative for us all.
Such shocking graffiti will be discovered and reported on much before perpetrators are caught, if they're ever caught. It is hence a small miracle that this pro-Moscow, anti-Ukraine agitator was arrested and confessed so quickly. Her case is hugely informative for us all.
12-24
Rapid U.S. reporting on the incident was exactly as Moscow would have wanted it to be. It was all about shock, about right-wing extremists, and the word Azov next to a swastika was shown in photo and video to large audiences.
(I will not share the images.)
Rapid U.S. reporting on the incident was exactly as Moscow would have wanted it to be. It was all about shock, about right-wing extremists, and the word Azov next to a swastika was shown in photo and video to large audiences.
(I will not share the images.)
13-24
Also, many journalists must have googled Azov for the first time in their lives.
Azov's history, from early far-right connections but honourable record in defensive combat to normalisation as part of Ukraine's National Guard, is complicated and often misrepresented.
Also, many journalists must have googled Azov for the first time in their lives.
Azov's history, from early far-right connections but honourable record in defensive combat to normalisation as part of Ukraine's National Guard, is complicated and often misrepresented.
14-24
For the average American journalist, it is expedient to speed-read through all this complicated stuff and stick to its juicy element.
For the average American journalist, it is expedient to speed-read through all this complicated stuff and stick to its juicy element.
15-24
The Oakland Press (linked to in tweet 1-15) used an Al Jazeera hit piece against Azov as its source to describe it as Neo-Nazi and, of course, white supremacist to make it relevant to a US audience.
The Oakland Press (linked to in tweet 1-15) used an Al Jazeera hit piece against Azov as its source to describe it as Neo-Nazi and, of course, white supremacist to make it relevant to a US audience.
16-24
Also, the article title is about "ethnic intimidation", meaning that the editor insisted on taking the graffiti at face value in spite of the fully confessed false-flag nature of the crime.
Also, the article title is about "ethnic intimidation", meaning that the editor insisted on taking the graffiti at face value in spite of the fully confessed false-flag nature of the crime.
17-24
Nonetheless, the arrest of Ms Nord is good news. She intended to commit many more crimes of this nature.
It should also be a warning to everyone not to rush to judgment when it comes to graffiti and other anonymous acts of vandalism.
Nonetheless, the arrest of Ms Nord is good news. She intended to commit many more crimes of this nature.
It should also be a warning to everyone not to rush to judgment when it comes to graffiti and other anonymous acts of vandalism.
18-24
Political graffiti, perhaps accompanied by other vandalism, are the ancestor of online political trolling.
Like online political trolling, it is done anonymously and, very often, under false pretences - essentially they are false-flag information attacks.
Political graffiti, perhaps accompanied by other vandalism, are the ancestor of online political trolling.
Like online political trolling, it is done anonymously and, very often, under false pretences - essentially they are false-flag information attacks.
19-24
The fact that Ms Nord, the American criminal in question, spent two years in Serbia where she was ostensibly radicalised is not trivial at all. Besides local extremists, Serbia is an easier base of operations for Russian special services.
The fact that Ms Nord, the American criminal in question, spent two years in Serbia where she was ostensibly radicalised is not trivial at all. Besides local extremists, Serbia is an easier base of operations for Russian special services.
20-24
Disoriented Westerners can be easy pickings for these professionals. It is tempting to stress the mental fragility of Ms Nord, but I rather see this: she's a programmable organic robot, like every human - just easier to hack into to install new software.
Disoriented Westerners can be easy pickings for these professionals. It is tempting to stress the mental fragility of Ms Nord, but I rather see this: she's a programmable organic robot, like every human - just easier to hack into to install new software.
21-24
This story requires spreading, while stressing its adequate interpretation. The criminal is not a genuine neo-Nazi but a fake one who was trying to help Putin by falsely demonising Ukraine. A pro-Russia war propagandist.
This story requires spreading, while stressing its adequate interpretation. The criminal is not a genuine neo-Nazi but a fake one who was trying to help Putin by falsely demonising Ukraine. A pro-Russia war propagandist.
22-24
Her real game is to support Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine following a calculated script of political warfare which is far more sophisticated than our media outlets and journalists are ordinarily capable of comprehending.
Her real game is to support Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine following a calculated script of political warfare which is far more sophisticated than our media outlets and journalists are ordinarily capable of comprehending.
23-24
Not that a false-flag graffiti is especially hard to understand. But our traditional media machinery is pretty primitive and predictable when it comes to certain shocking stimuli. That is something we should insist they work on and improve.
Not that a false-flag graffiti is especially hard to understand. But our traditional media machinery is pretty primitive and predictable when it comes to certain shocking stimuli. That is something we should insist they work on and improve.
24-24
As for political graffiti, the adult thing to do is to always assume it's a calculated act, devoid of any genuine information. Just like the most worthless, low-grade troll account one can find.
As for political graffiti, the adult thing to do is to always assume it's a calculated act, devoid of any genuine information. Just like the most worthless, low-grade troll account one can find.
Important addendum to note:
It is also a long-standing tradition of both the USSR and Russia to order false-flag operations in the West involving Nazi graffiti.
It is also a long-standing tradition of both the USSR and Russia to order false-flag operations in the West involving Nazi graffiti.
https://twitter.com/BA_Fogel/status/1471497531599114250?s=20
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