Author Russian Presidential Press and Information Office
Guest essay by Eric Worrall
The House Science Committee has released a report detailing how Russia has been attempting to sabotage US domestic fossil fuel production, to promote their own fossil fuel exports, by stirring up climate activist opposition to US domestic fossil fuel production.
Republicans Accuse Russia of Using Social Media to Roil U.S. Energy Policy
By Ari Natter and Alan Bjerga
2 March 2018, 01:25 GMT+10 Updated on 2 March 2018, 03:56 GMT+10
The same Russian operatives accused of manipulating the 2016 U.S. presidential election used inflammatory social media posts to disrupt U.S. energy policy, including inciting environmentalists to protest against pipeline projects, House Republicans said in a report released Thursday.
The report, released by the House Science Committee, said it found evidence Russian-sponsored agents used Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to suppress the research and development of fossil fuels and stymie efforts to expand the use of natural gas and fracking.
“This report reveals that Russian agents created and spread propaganda on U.S. social media platforms in an obvious attempt to influence the U.S. energy market,” Texas Representative Lamar Smith, the chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, said in a statement. “Russian agents attempted to manipulate Americans’ opinions about pipelines, fossil fuels, fracking and climate change.”
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According to the report, Hillary Clinton was fully aware of Russian efforts;
… Former Secretary of State and then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, with access to intelligence reports, made a private speech in 2014, according to documents from WikiLeaks, which included statements about the struggles of dealing with Russian-backed environmental groups. According to a media report, Secretary Clinton said the following: “We [the State Department and the U.S.] were up against Russia pushing oligarchs and others to buy media. We were even up against phony environmental groups, and I’m a big environmentalist, but these were funded by the Russians to stand against any effort, ‘Oh that pipeline, that fracking, that whatever will be a problem for you,’ and a lot of the money supporting that message was coming from Russia.”
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To that end, the Kremlin is attempting to make, as Senator Cardin’s report states, “useful idiots” of unwitting environmental groups and activists in furtherance of its energy influence operations.33 Although this is not a new tactic in the Kremlin’s playbook, it has been adapted to account for modern technological advancements like the Internet and social media. Throughout history, the Kremlin has engaged and manipulated unwitting individuals to disseminate propaganda in furtherance of its global agenda.34 The Kremlin continues to employ this tactic, which has become substantially more effective with the proliferation of the Internet and social media. By leveraging the sincerely held views and beliefs of unwitting agents, the Kremlin is able to exploit polarized issues in American democracy to influence action in furtherance of its agenda.
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Read More: House Science Committee Report
The Bloomberg reporter contacted several people who appear skeptical of the claimed extent or aims of Russian propaganda efforts.
Fossil fuel exports account for around 16% of Russian GDP, 52% of government revenue and 70% of Russian exports, so it makes sense that Russian propaganda efforts would be focussed on protecting their one trick economy.
Can’t be real, just can’t! Must be propaganda funded by the massive financial machine that is WattsUpWithThat, and US fossil fuel industry, and the NRA, and GOP, and Tea Party, and it was all GWB’s fault … (…sarc off…)
Add in the Koch brothers and you would have the schtick down perfectly.
We do it. They do it. Everyone does it. We should be able to neutralize propaganda campaigns in the government and press.
How do you do that other than by counter propaganda, which is just different propaganda.
Start by reforming left created education lite. Useful idiots are educated that way, not born.
Russia export a lot of natural gas through Gazprom…clearly it is in their own interest to compromise the market.
Ignore it.
The Russians are using the same tactics for anti- fracking and anti-nuclear propaganda in Europe, and I bet are the source of much of the propaganda asserting that 100% renewables are a viable solution to emissions-free energy. When the 100% renewables option fails they’ll have a nice new gas market.
The Russians did it.
The Kremlin’s tactics are clear: Support the extreme wings of both sides, preferably at the same time, to tear Western society asunder.
And RFE/RL is also run by Russia… no?
I could have guessed that there are Kremlin apologists on this site.
Who needs the Russians when we have the US Democrets working towards the same goals?
I’m hearing that Bernie Sanders is seriously considering running again in 2000. And without the DNC putting it’s fingers on the scale to help Hillary, this time he could win the thing.
Unless one of the young guns from CA, who are even further to the left steals his thunder and the nomination.
As a Canadian it’s really none of my business but I think Bernie has the best 1930’s solutions to 1970’s problems. He’s hilarious unless you take him seriously, in which case he is a dangerous idiot.
2020, mis-typed.
What’s your excuse Rob?
You never make typing mistakes?
Such an ego, so little reason.
Like Truedough?
Canada elected a populist garden nome with the mental age development of a pre-pubescent teenage girl, and still hasn’t figured it out.
Yah?
Yah!
JimG1, …… you got that right. +100
JimG1 wrote:
“Who needs the Russians when we have the US Democrets working towards the same goals?
JIm, they are almost the same – to pry them apart, you ‘d need a crowbar. The Dems and the radical greens are pawns of the extreme left and have been so since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Here is some history:
The Rise of Eco-Extremism
[excerpt]
“Surprisingly enough the second event that caused the environmental movement to veer to the left was the fall of the Berlin Wall. Suddenly the international peace movement had a lot less to do. Pro-Soviet groups in the West were discredited. Many of their members moved into the environmental movement bringing with them their eco-Marxism and pro-Sandinista sentiments.”
Source: “The Rise of Eco-Extremism”
– by Dr. Patrick Moore, a co-founder of Greenpeace (1994).
http://ecosense.me/2012/12/30/key-environmental-issues-4/
So? It known by now that a group of Russian individuals have been setting up fake accounts and posting all kinds of opinions on social media. Anything from opinions on racism, black lives matter, direct opinions on Clinton and Trump, and on gun control, fracking and climate change. Basically anything to open up festering wounds.
Further, these individuals were employed by a private company in Russia and paid for by a former catering millionaire. These are the facts that have been laid down by Robert Mueller in his indictment. To claim that this is specific to climate change and fossil fuels is therefore the result of tunnel vision – or cherry picking.
Even more, there is zero evidence that this has been orchestrated by the Kremlin. That is clear from Mueller’s indictments.
You must be paid by the Kremlin to remind us of this… /sarc off
Not “specific to” but “applicable to”.
Look at the usual scope of this website. Why would it now start to look at “gun control”, for example?
From the About page:
“About Watts Up With That? News and commentary on puzzling things in life, nature, science, weather, climate change, technology, and recent news by Anthony Watts”.
That’s the scope of this website. Your point is inaccurate and irrelevant.
Whatever.
Perhaps Democrats should hire these Russians for the next election. Apparently, with a budget of a few hundred thousand, the Russians did a better job of persuading Americans than Hillary’s people did with hundreds of millions.
Quoting part of a posted quote: By Ari Natter and Alan Bjerga – 2 March 2018
“HA”, …… was it House Republicans or House RINOs that were blaming the Russians?
There is “no way in Hades” that Russian operatives or Russian-sponsored agents could possibly be at fault for all of the US activity concerning “inflammatory social media & News stories, anti-Fracking Laws, anti-Pipeline Construction Laws, anti-CO2 Emission Laws, State Governor’s mandates, State Attorney General’s law suits ……. and delusional “enviro” liberal’s anti-fossil fuel protests, sit-ins, tree huggings, destruction of property, etc., etc.” …… that have been commonplace for the past 30+- years.
Russian-sponsored agents should not be used as “Whipping Boys” by members of the US Congress.
As I said who needs the Russians when we have the US Democrats doing the same thing, though both probably appreciate the other’s help. Could this be considered collusion?
If this continues, one will be told that the Russians created the Republican and the Democratic Parties to divide the united “peoplekind” of America… Bet the Secession War was Russians too?
As a european i am able to understand the proactive attitude of the Russians against the USA and their Nato-vassals . Being overrun 3 times during the last 200 years by europeans and after suffering the yoke of Stalin , their attitude is more like never again nad cosquently undermining the enemy in their eyes , US imperialism . Putin is well-trained secret service man , specialized in weaponizing lying and cheating , the general qualities of secret service-employees . Neverthless by doing this he is keeping us at our toes , for which we should be grateful .
Ridiculous! Western Russia is itself European! Its proper place is as a partner in Europe. Russia’s historical connection to its Eastern empire has only retarded its development. Putin feeds on this as a past glory when it was really a massive historical blunder derived from 19th century empire building and Communist expansionary fantasies.
Putin’s actions are those of a aself serving crocodile.
Nato vassals?
Way to discredit yourself in your first sentence.
That is right, looks like Turkey is not a vassal. That makes one at least… LOL
I’ve always found it fascinating how certain people are utterly convinced that the US runs the world.
Evidence to the contrary is just proof of how deep the conspiracy runs.
As a european i am able to understand the proactive attitude of the Russians against the USA and their Nato-vassals . Being overrun 3 times during the last 200 years by europeans and after suffering the yoke of Stalin , their attitude is more like never again nad cosquently undermining the enemy in their eyes , US imperialism . Putin is well-trained secret service man , specialized in weaponizing lying and cheating , the general qualities of secret service-employees . Neverthless by doing this he is keeping us at our toes , for which we should be grateful .
It woz the Russians wot dun it!
Really!
RT is big on Climate Change too!
The whole intrigue is in fact about avoiding at all costs that this scrutiny would succeed…
The anti-fracking movie was made with Saudi funding.
Yet more evidence, if it was needed, that ‘Green’ Activists are useful Idiots. The US Democrats play exactly the same games with useful idiots as Putin and the Russians as they are fellow travellers.
For those old enough to remember the help that hollywood gave to dear uncle stalin about 1943, re. The whitewash of the show trials of his perceived enemies, bring up the film ” mission to moscow ”
Of course back then the ussr were the goodies & adolf was the real badie.
White horse & black horse, plus of corse riders. It was all to easy to sway public opinion, so nothing has changed.
Mje
Back in the nineteen seventies the Seven Sisters were funding the greenies to protest the Alaskan pipeline as they were fully committed bringing North Sea oil on line
One of the more effective methods I’ve found for rooting out a Russian troll is to mention something about the Ukraine or Georgia. That’s usually enough of a “hot button” issue to get them to “self identify”. 🙂
One of the more effective signs I’ve found for rooting out an uninformed American with preconceived idea is to have him tell he figured out one of the more effective methods he’s found for rooting out a Russian troll is blah, blah, blah 😉
Well it’s late in Donetsk, I should go to sleep now before Trudeau wakes up and Chrysta sends her grandpa’s regards.
Well Tom, in the late 60′ thru the early ’70s the easiest way to track KGB agents in Latina America was to pay off local customs official to report anyone entering a country that smelled bad.
Don’t know how you smell, so we can’t do that over the internet now can we?
“We are ready for any unforseen event that may or may not occur.” U.S. V.P. Dan Quayle, Cleveland Plain Dealer (27 September 1990)
Creatiing an education system to mold children into little “Progressives” has as collateral damage the creation of useful idiots that other ‘agents’ can make use of. Who would’a thunk?
Also, these damaged children can be called forth on a moment’s notice by the 100s of thousands across America by the left to “spontaneously” protest. They must have a suite of generic signs in their closets like the Swiss army has their uniforms and firearms for 40 years. Yeah. They are set up to be used and organizers paid to mobilize them.
The big question is, how do “Progressives” differ from the Kremlin in form and message? The former are progeny of the latter.
As anyone who’s dealt with the Russian’s before knows, disinformation is an old Russian game.
One of the more humorous incidents I heard of occurred in Argentina in early ’70’s. The U.S. State Department, arranged to have a significant number of tractors delivered to poor Argentina farmers. As the tractors were being processed thru Argentina’s ports, communist-backed trade-union stevedores marked the engine blocks with the hammer and sickle symbol and the words “Gift from the Soviet Union” (in Spanish).
The incident pissed the Washington-based bureaucrats off to no end. The local CIA guys found the whole incident hilarious. Dr. Kissinger, ever the genius, countered by arranging to have the CIA deliver an large shipment of farm implements, training manuals, and spare parts all clearly marked as gifts from the U.S. He also sent in CIA guys to help train the farmers in the use of the tractors, how to repair them, and how to use the farm implements.
All in All, the Russian effort back-fired on them. Since all the manual’s clearly showed the tractors were made in the U.S. the farmers figured out pretty quickly they’d been duped. After a few evenings over a bit of Bacardi, the farmer’s “coaxed ” the CIA guys into telling them how the hammer & sickle’s got stamped on the engine blocks… and everyone had a good laugh at the Russian’s expense.
Is that you Brennan?
My father was an intelligence officer from the ’60’s until his death in the mid ’00’s. Lots of family stories. Lots of ground covered. Lets just say I had an unusual childhood. Get over it.
I heard it skipped a generation…
Interesting how the pro-Russian trolls have to so quickly resort to insult.
Just more evidence that Putin is running short of money.
It’s gold, Mark, gold… Well, in Ottawa, not so much. LOL
Really Tom? Is “Rude” your last name or simply a description of your usual behavior?
If you must… Lets see. Just one of my contributions to this nation’s defense was helping to manage the development of the Explosive Destruction System (EDS). A system for destroying unstable chemical weapons.
Over all system see here:
https://youtu.be/v-XcpezpX6U
An example of the neutralization process seen here:
https://youtu.be/T9_iG5jfyUU
I was a EDS systems manager for the Non-Stockpile Chemical Materiel Project (NSCMP), on loan from my parent agency, from 2000-2003. I worked on the Prototype System, the Phase 1 System, and the Phase 2. System. I also worked on the Rapid Response System and served, briefly, as the NSCMP’s Chemical Weapons Treaty Compliance Officer.
I was a System manger during two declared national emergencies including a mission at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal near Denver Colorado in 2000-2001 and the mission at Former Camp. Sibert, Alabama in 2002. I was also a System manager during the first mission to destroy chemical weapons at the Spring Valley site in Washington D.C. in 2003 and numerous other missions. After these missions was asked but declined, for family reasons, missions unrelated to the EDS system in both Albania and Russia.
I was decorated with the “Commanders Award for Civilian Service” for my contributions during the Rocky Mountain emergency, You can look up the qualifications for receiving the decoration here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_Commanders_Award_for_Civilian_Service
Tell me Tom. Are you man with initiative, guts, and sense of service? If so, what have your contributions to our nation been? Or are you simply a small-minded blow-hard that needs to make snarky comments to make himself feel good?
I’m willing to assume you’re simply having a bad day. An humble man would consider making an apology.
When can I expect yours?
“Is that you Brennan” was not that far off…
But seriously, very impressive credentials. I noticed they were particularly in use… in your own country destroying your own stockpile that other impressive credential people created at taxpayer’s expense, which irony is biting: we would not want you guys to blow yourself up… As weather patterns would send the pollution up North in your country’s Second Ukrainian Dominion, ooops, I meant Canada.
My contribution to your country is nil. My contribution to my country is nil. My contribution to Canada is nil beyond spurious amount of taxes they dare charging me. What else?
Nothing. I do apologize: I thought you had humor. You don’t.
So, your “Contribution to Canada is nil” and your “contribution to my [your] country is nil”… suggesting your an immigrant to Canada from an unidentified nation.
“Nil” pretty much sums up your character doesn’t it?
Clearly there is no reason to take you seriously and nothing more to say.
QED
Bottom Line: CO2 causes Russian meddling.
+ 10
Bravo Jo Nova!
http://joannenova.com.au/2018/03/russian-troll-farm-sought-to-undermine-us-government-energy-climate/
Let me guess she’ll soon be accused of being a Russ…
Check out Charles Ortel’s current work in exposing the Clinton Foundation’s Charitable Tax Fraud.
With what has been happening on the west coast it would appear they are tied in tight with the progressives and environmental groups.
From the article: “Russian agents attempted to manipulate Americans’ opinions about pipelines, fossil fuels, fracking and climate change.”
Sounds like the American Leftwing News Media. They try to manipulate Americans’ opinons on every subject every day.
The American Leftwing News Media is much more dangerous to your personal freedoms than are the Russian trolls. The American Leftwing News Media spreads its leftwing propaganda from a position of authority in society, which is what makes them dangerous.
Russian saboteurs and American Leftwing News Media:
How can you tell them apart? I cannot. Their message is the same.