- Scott Ritter: Information Warfare 101, or "My evening with an Ukrainian propaganda/agitation unit" Archived Message
Posted by sashimi
on January 10, 2023, 6:50 am
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10 Jan 2023 (quote) On the night of January 6, I was invited to participate in a panel discussion on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine organized by Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace (BN4P), a local antiwar group I've had connections with since the leadup to the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, and the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC), a national organization founded and headed by Joe Lombardo, a long-time peace activist whose resume of activism dates back to the Vietnam War. Joe was set to moderate the event, where I was to join Dan Kovalik, an American lawyer and Human Rights advocate who currently teaches International Human Rights at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, on the panel. Upon arrival at the library, I was struck by the presence of television camera crews, complete with reporters. I've spoken before BN4P events in the past, and this was something new - while local media outlets are regularly included in the advertising "blasts" that go out to promote events, the media very rarely responds, and if they do, it's with a single reporter as opposed to a full-on reporting team. There were two crews present, one from Channel 10, an ABC affiliate in Albany, and the other from Channel 6, a CBS affiliate out of Schenectady. At least one (Channel 10) looked like it had already conducted an interview. When I arrived inside the library, there was a decent crowd milling about. Most smiled, but a few - including a woman dressed in a distinctive yellow pants suit, and a short, stocky bald man - were glaring at me as I entered the room. Joe Lombardo mentioned to me that there were a few pro-Ukrainian attendees, including several - Joe specifically pointed out the lady and bald guy - who could be trouble. Every time I do a public event, I am sensitive to the fact that I have been placed on two "lists" prepared by the Ukrainian government. The first, the so-called "Blacklist" published by an organization known as the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD), has labeled me a "Russian propagandist," "information terrorist" and a "war criminal," all for the "crime" of speaking out about the conflict in Ukraine in a manner which deviates significantly from the official Ukrainian government narrative. The second list, the Myrotvorets, or "Peacemakers," published by an organization affiliated with the Ukrainian intelligence service, or SBU, is better known as the "Hit List" for the simple fact that those who appear on the list are, literally, marked for death. I had prepared an outline of the presentation I was planning on giving beforehand, but now, seated before an audience which included at least two potentially hostile individuals, I re-thought what I was going to say. I took stock of the situation, and figured that with two television crews recording, things most likely wouldn't go violent. The biggest threat would be to allow these two, and whomever they brought along with them, to disrupt the evening. By the time Dan Kovalik finished his presentation, I had decided on conducting a pre-emptive strike - I would open by emphasizing free speech, and the danger to such posed by the Center for Countering Disinformation. I spoke of being labeled as a "Russian propogandist," how fundamentally un-American such a label was, and how the authorization of money by the US Congress to underwrite the funding of the Center for Countering Disinformation was a de facto violation of the First Amendment of the US Constitution. I took my elected representatives to task, especially Paul Tonko, the Democrat from New York's 20th District. I was playing to the cameras, going on record regarding the importance of free speech, fully anticipating the vindictive tirade that I expected to explode from the pro-Ukrainian elements in the crowd. The event unfolded as expected, with both the "Yellow Pants Suit Lady" and the "Bald Stocky Guy" doing their level best to disrupt the proceedings, objecting to nearly everything either Dan or I (and even Joe) said, denouncing our statements as "Russian propaganda," and those who spoke as "Russian propagandists." "Yellow Pants Suit Lady" was shrill and incoherent, raising her hand constantly, shouting out her talking points, and doing her level best to disrupt/dominate the event with her pro-Ukrainian opinions. "Bald Stocky Guy" did not disappoint either, vigorously shaking his head in objection to any statement that could be construed negatively for Ukraine, and shouting out his own objections to anything he construed as being pro-Russian. He labeled himself as a "patriotic Russian" who opposed Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He made it clear he wanted Ukraine to win the war. And, to burnish his credentials, he introduced a young Russian man, Semen Shlokov. "I'm completely against this war," Shlokov had told Channel 10 before the event began. "It was a war that was started by Putin, it's a terrorist war, it's a war of genocide. As a patriot of Russia," the young man said, "I consider myself a Russian Patriot. The best thing for Russia is for this war to be won by Ukraine and for Russian troops to exit Ukraine and for the regime change to happen in the Russian Federation." Shlokov then went on to describe how he fled from Putin's Russia to avoid being caught up in the partial mobilization of 300,000 reservists last September. "We reached the border by car," he said, "and there was a huge line to get to the border of Georgia. A whole lot of men were looking to leave Russia. And it was scary because there is a Russian military unit there. And we didn't know what could happen to us. We were able to pass all the cars. We had to walk about four hours to reach the end of the car line and cross into the border." The "Bald Stocky Guy" told virtually the exact same story, with Shlokov standing next to him, nodding in agreement. (/quote) -- Cont'd at https://www.scottritterextra.com/p/information-warfare-101-or-my-evening |