Pentagon concerned Russia cultivating sympathy among U.S. troops

[Qutzupalotl]

Link to tweet

WASHINGTON - Russian efforts to weaken the West through a relentless campaign of information warfare may be starting to pay off, cracking a key bastion of the U.S. line of defense: the military.

While most Americans still see Moscow as a key U.S. adversary, new polling suggests that view is changing, most notably among the households of military members.

The second annual Reagan National Defense Survey, completed in late October, found nearly half of armed services households questioned, 46%, said they viewed Russia as ally.

....

Russia’s goal, they said, was not so much to swing the result of the elections but to seed U.S. military personnel with the right type of disinformation so that they would be predisposed to view Russia and its actions in a more favorable way in the future.

....

“It is dangerous,” said Jorge Benitez, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council who specializes in transatlantic relations, U.S. security and Russia. “The new polls reveal a significant change among Republican voters who historically have been opposed to Russia,” he said. “More and more Republicans have changed their views on Russia because of President Trump’s positive statements about Russia and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.”

https://www.voanews.com/usa/pentagon-concerned-russia-cultivating-sympathy-among-us-troops

[Pacifist Patriot]

1. Ho-Ly-Fuck

I sincerely hope my dad, retired US Army Lt. Col, does not see that.

[Wawannabe]

18. Pretty sure my Dad turned in his grave

This is mega bad news.

[JDC]

2. Insanity

[CaptYossarian]

3. This reminds me of the late 60s, when the book and film "No Vietnamese

Ever Called Me N*****." That, and some of the words by John Kerry to Congress--along with the My Lai Massacre and Lt. Calley--changed public attitudes. Kent State didn't help either. (And much of this was AFTER Johnson chose not to run.)

It was no longer the "freaks vs the suits". Moms and other thoughtful, caring MOR citizens took action, wrote letters, and picketed.

But to look at Russian oligarch bastards as allies? Un-effing-believable.

[Qutzupalotl]

4. How to conquer a military without firing a shot.

Sympathy can mean hesitation or defiance when lethal force is required.

[eleny]

5. I believe that Russia is fomenting discord between the generations

Older Americans understand what Russia is capable of since we lived through the Red Scare years. I had elderly relatives in Lithuania living under the rule of the Soviets. First hand accounts of their miserly was documented in letters to their sister, my grandmother. Her elderly sisters suffered greatly. Many other relatives were suddenly lost to Siberia and firing squads.

But I don't know if facts I can share with younger generations would be believed. So this report has me worried.

[Efilroft Sul]

6. The fish rots from the head down, and Trump is the Commander-in-Chief.

[TwilightZone]

7. It's not just Russian propaganda.

It's propaganda coming out of the White House.

Like many other groups, a significant chunk of them buy whatever he says.

[Evolve Dammit]

11. We are under attack from Putin and within. 45 requires removal and prosecution once removed.

We need to reclaim our country. Now.

[underthematrix]

8. This suggest

Link to tweet

[dustyscamp]

10. Lets hope that is not true

[MartyTheGreek]

9. Just this week Tucker Carlson said what's wrong with Putin?

We should be asking by this point, why do we allow a propaganda network to exist on our airwaves in the first place.

[Evolve Dammit]

12. Carlson. Another clueless asshole. So many, so little time...

[Duppers]

13. K & R

What everyone up-thread said.

Holy F! 😵😨

[NRaleighLiberal]

14. not at all surprised. propaganda works. humans are extremely susceptible

[Qutzupalotl]

15. Unsolicited reminder that Ukraine is a pro-Western ALLY, and Russia is NOT.

Russia in fact considers itself AT WAR with the United States, as broadcast on its state media, per Julia Davis. A multifaceted hybrid war.

Anyone still wanting to give them aid and comfort is in danger of committing treason. We have only to declare war back.

[DallasNE]

16. Sounds Like Military Leadership

Needs to issue a warning about Facebook and the amount of Russian propaganda dispensed on that site. They then should identify websites that spread the Russian propaganda. And the need is immediate.

[Wawannabe]

21. This this this!

And really. People should think about quitting FB because of this until/unless FB quits letting the lies and bot accts go berserk on their format.

[ashredux]

17. This is the MOST depressing thing I have read....

God help us....

[lpbk2713]

19. It wouldn't be so easy if they had a CinC they could be proud of.

But like the rest of America they are ashamed of that asshole.
This is the mofo who cut and run and abandoned an American
base to his Russian puppet master.

[Grins]

20. The 2nd annual Reagan National Defense Survey...

Reagan would be so proud...!

[keithbvadu2]

22. Newer republican meme... "Russia is our friend."

Today's republicans: "Russia is our friend".

"... retired Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis said in May 2015 that among world threats “in the near term, I think the most dangerous might be Russia.”

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/dec/6/donald-trump-james-mattis-differ-on-vladimir-putin/


Vlad has no nasty little nickname from his pal Donald

[Squidly]

23. It sickens me

My best friend in Air Crew candidate school back in the day is now 100% with the orange one. Back then, it was our job to stand against everything Russian/soviet....but now seeing his hate filled facebook posts and approval of Putin's intent makes my soul burn. Something drastic happened to him while out in the fleet for 25 years that changed him completely