Newly declassified US intel claims Russia is laundering propaganda through unwitting Westerners

[friend of]

Not in the slightest. One of the important points of the story is that Americans (who are neither Russian nor bots) who are spreading these stories are unwitting. But it might be useful if people were more reflective about the things they share. If you ever have to wonder, 'Why am I spreading Kremlin talking points?'... well, unfortunately, not very many "useful idiots" are likely to have the insight to think such a thought.

Define "Kremlin talking points"

 

[Ana the Ist]

Not in the slightest. One of the important points of the story is that Americans (who are neither Russian nor bots) who are spreading these stories are unwitting. But it might be useful if people were more reflective about the things they share. If you ever have to wonder, 'Why am I spreading Kremlin talking points?'... well, unfortunately, not very many "useful idiots" are likely to have the insight to think such a thought.

One would have to first find out what Kremlin talking points are.

Then one has to decide which are reasonable and which are mere propaganda.

 

[RocksInMyHead]

Define "Kremlin talking points"

A couple examples are given in the OP article.

 

[friend of]

A couple examples are given in the OP article.

Is it not those who support Trump in any measure that the left refers to as Russia bots/ Russian actors / Russian sleeper cells, etc. To some people, if you support Trump at all you're siding with Russia. How is that fair? How is that not a gross and simplistic mischaracterization with ill intent?

 

[essentialsaltes]

Is it not those who support Trump in any measure that the left refers to as

Is it? I wouldn't know, but that's not what this thread or the OP is about. So take it elsewhere.

 

[Hans Blaster]

Define "Kremlin talking points"

Let's see...

A "talking point" is a short statement or phrase used by an organization (including governments) to set narratives in public discourse. Press officers and officials will attempt to use these in statements to the press including interviews. Opposing factions often have dueling talking points that ignore their opposites. For example current House GOP talking points are largely about Hunter Biden and his alleged wrongdoings, whereas current White House talking points are about the successes of "Bidenomics" and the infrastructure bills.

"The Kremlin" is a fortified complex of buildings in central Moscow including the State Duma and the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation (Администрация Президента Российской Федерации). The latter of these is often referred to (as it is here) as "the Kremlin" in the same fashion that "the White House" refers to the Executive office of the President of the United States.

A few "Kremlin talking points" on just one area:

* The overthrow of the duly elected government of Ukraine in Feb 2014 (the revolution of dignity) was a CIA plot.
* The (preceding) protests (in the the Maidan square in Kyiv) were provoked by the US/NATO
* Crimea has always been Russian
* Crimea agreed to join Russia in a fair referendum
* Russian troops did not invade Ukraine in 2014 (Russia dropped this lie a few years back and admitted that the insignia-free "Little Green Men" were in fact Russian Spetznaz [special forces] troops.)
* The independent republics of Luhansk and Donetsk were created by disaffected Ukrainians without help.
* The (current) Ukrainian government is controlled by neo-Nazis and the war is to "deNazify" Ukraine
* Russia is currently fighting NATO in Ukraine
* There is no such thing as Ukraine. Ukrainians are just Russians under the influence of foreign cultures and governments

Those are just about Ukraine. All are false. There are many more just serving the propaganda and international politics needs of Russia. They are all repeated by various "western" persons and organizations. Most of the repetition is just copying things already said, but certainly some propagators are witting or unwitting Russian agents.

 

[Ana the Ist]

Let's see...

A "talking point" is a short statement or phrase used by an organization (including governments) to set narratives in public discourse. Press officers and officials will attempt to use these in statements to the press including interviews. Opposing factions often have dueling talking points that ignore their opposites. For example current House GOP talking points are largely about Hunter Biden and his alleged wrongdoings, whereas current White House talking points are about the successes of "Bidenomics" and the infrastructure bills.

"The Kremlin" is a fortified complex of buildings in central Moscow including the State Duma and the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation (Администрация Президента Российской Федерации). The latter of these is often referred to (as it is here) as "the Kremlin" in the same fashion that "the White House" refers to the Executive office of the President of the United States.

A few "Kremlin talking points" on just one area:

* The overthrow of the duly elected government of Ukraine in Feb 2014 (the revolution of dignity) was a CIA plot.
* The (preceding) protests (in the the Maidan square in Kyiv) were provoked by the US/NATO
* Crimea has always been Russian
* Crimea agreed to join Russia in a fair referendum
* Russian troops did not invade Ukraine in 2014 (Russia dropped this lie a few years back and admitted that the insignia-free "Little Green Men" were in fact Russian Spetznaz [special forces] troops.)
* The independent republics of Luhansk and Donetsk were created by disaffected Ukrainians without help.
* The (current) Ukrainian government is controlled by neo-Nazis and the war is to "deNazify" Ukraine
* Russia is currently fighting NATO in Ukraine
* There is no such thing as Ukraine. Ukrainians are just Russians under the influence of foreign cultures and governments

Those are just about Ukraine. All are false. There are many more just serving the propaganda and international politics needs of Russia. They are all repeated by various "western" persons and organizations. Most of the repetition is just copying things already said, but certainly some propagators are witting or unwitting Russian agents.

Russia is fighting NATO in the Ukraine. That's actually true. NATO forces have been supplying both military intelligence and weapons to the Ukraine. We also have "boots on the ground" though it's unclear to what extent.