Russia Is At "Info War" with the United States

Posted: November 17th, 2016

By James Van de Velde

James Van de Velde is an Associate Professor at the National Intelligence University as well as Adjunct Faculty at Johns Hopkins and Georgetown University. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the US Government, the Department of Defense, or the National Intelligence University.

The Putin government of Russia is conducting cyberspace-enabled Information Operations, including political “destabilizing operations” (a form of warfare), against the United States. Moscow is competing worldwide with the United States and rejects the Western, liberal world order as the model for all states.

Russia is likely stealing internal documents related to U.S. political parties and institutions, altering some of them, then strategically releasing them in order to influence our political process and confidence in our government. Russian trolls attack certain individuals and candidates. The Russian government finances Russian RT and Sputnik Television abroad, as well as foundations, journalists, and crony spokesmen to smear certain individuals (not necessarily from one party) and spew Russian state propaganda and disinformation.

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