NEWSWATCH: Rep. Ed Royce/Wall Street Journal: Countering Putin’s Information Weapons of War

In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Rep. Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, addresses what he characterizes as a Russian information war, featuring anti-American propaganda and conspiracy theories.

Of concern to Royce is that U.S. international broadcasting services that played a stronger role during the Cold War have “withered,” such that Russian propaganda will flourish unless the U.S. services are strengthened.  In addition to holding a Congressional hearing, he indicated he will propose legislation seeking to reconfigure and strengthen Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).

Royce spoke of a Putin-sponsored army of trolls and information warriors deployed to destabilize Russian neighbors and help facilitate Russian control of  parts of Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin has a secret army. It’s an army of thousands of ‘trolls,’ TV anchors and others who work day and night spreading anti-American propaganda on the Internet, airwaves and newspapers throughout Russia and the world. Mr. Putin uses these misinformation warriors to destabilize his neighbors and control parts of Ukraine. This force may be more dangerous than any military, because no artillery can stop their lies from spreading and undermining U.S. security interests in Europe.

Royce raises special concern over outfits like Russia Today (RT), which he says promote anti-American conspiracy theories:

Some members of Mr. Putin’s information army pose as journalists. Some—including conspiracy cranks, Holocaust deniers and other discredited figures in the West—appear on Russia’s RT television service posing as ‘experts.’ RT, formerly known as Russia Today… available in Russian, English, German and Spanish, is carried on cable systems and hotels world-wide, and streamed globally. The goal is to obscure the truth by spreading ‘alternative’ (as in conspiracy) theories, distract audiences and discredit Western sources.

 

 

On Wednesday the House Foreign Affairs Committee, of which I am chairman, will hear from journalist Liz Wahl, who dramatically interrupted a live broadcast on March 5, 2014, to resign from RT’s English-language television service, explaining she could not stand by its distorted coverage of Russia’s occupation of Ukraine. But Ms. Wahl is a rarity, so Mr. Putin’s propagandists march on, telling the world that the armed thugs who have invaded eastern Ukraine are ‘freedom fighters,’ and that the CIA is responsible for everything from 9/11, to the downing of Malaysia flight MH17 over Ukraine, to the pro-democracy uprisings in Ukraine.

Royce blames a Kremlin propaganda machine for high domestic approval ratings that he says are enjoyed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, irregardless of Russian economic problems.

Mr. Putin has sold this narrative so successfully at home that he has approval ratings over 80%, despite a crumbling economy.

Yet of additional concern is the Russian focus abroad, with “Sputnik” joining RT in the expansion of international activities.

… [Putin] also has a megaphone in Ukraine and Moldova … In the NATO-member Baltic states, Kremlin-backed stations are inciting violence and stoking ethnic tensions … spreading false and misleading stories about discrimination against ethnic Russians.

Globally, RT claims an audience of some 600 million. The Kremlin’s latest propaganda effort—dubbed “Sputnik”—has opened at least 29 new media offices across Central and Western Europe, and is even setting up shop in Latin America. Mr. Putin’s online trolls work out of an office called the ‘Internet Research Center’ in St. Petersburg, blogging in 12-hour shifts to keep the propaganda flowing 24/7.

Royce finds the Russian activities alarming because they could cause instability, including in NATO allies, perhaps even causing armed conflict to spread past Ukraine.

Why are Mr. Putin’s efforts so alarming? The U.S. has security commitments with 27 NATO countries, several of which have been targeted by Russia with misinformation. We had better start checking this influence if we want to prevent instability that could spread armed conflict beyond Ukraine.

Royce credits U.S. government-funded broadcasters like Voice of America and Radio Free Europe with playing a strong role during the Cold War, broadcasting the truth amidst tyranny.

In addition to looking for them to be strengthened again, Royce raises concerns over the management and institutional dynamic of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), including mention of a 2013 State Department Inspector General report that “found the BBG to be dysfunctional.”

Royce plans to introduce legislation to reconfigure and recommission the efforts of VOA and RFE/RL.

The U.S. can help bring a free, fair and balanced press to these countries in which Mr. Putin is undermining truth and fact. It has worked before. …
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Righting this ship must be an urgent foreign-policy priority. I will soon introduce bipartisan legislation to do just that. The bill would charge one U.S. broadcasting organization (VOA) with reporting U.S. policy and other global news, and another, including RFE/RL and similar services, to act as the free press in repressive societies like Russia. Each organization will have its own CEO and its own board, with accountability that is clear to all.

Royce blames Putin and a Russian “information army” for undermining U.S. global interests, and calls for more than a “failed bureaucracy” to be put up against the Putin.

Mr. Putin is using his information army to attack the U.S. and undermine our interests around the globe. We cannot continue to pit a failed bureaucracy against this Russian strongman.

Click here for Countering Putin’s Information Weapons of War. Kremlin propaganda is far outstripping our ability to get the truth out. The U.S. needs a new approach. – Rep. Ed Royce – Wall Street Journal – April 14, 2015