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‘Putin’s chef’ admits to interfering in U.S. elections

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Re: ‘Putin’s chef’ admits to interfering in U.S. elections

#11
post #4

My impression (mostly from coverage that I've seen at UnderstandingWar.org ) is that Yevgeny Prigozhin might be happy to admit to quite a few things - whether or not he'd actually done them - so long as doing so advanced his public image (hint - neither "weak" nor "pro-American") and political ambitions. Pass the salt?

Yeah this is all an internal power game. Shoigu is a laughingstock, and everyone is angling to be next-in-line by advertising what they've actually accomplished (and presumably, for the presidency after Putin retires).

Re: ‘Putin’s chef’ admits to interfering in U.S. elections

#12
post #4

My impression (mostly from coverage that I've seen at UnderstandingWar.org ) is that Yevgeny Prigozhin might be happy to admit to quite a few things - whether or not he'd actually done them - so long as doing so advanced his public image (hint - neither "weak" nor "pro-American") and political ambitions. Pass the salt?

Yeah this is all an internal power game. Shoigu is a laughingstock, and everyone is angling to be next-in-line by advertising what they've actually accomplished (and presumably, for the presidency after Putin retires).

> after Putin retires

He ain't retiring. The only way he is leaving the Kremlin is in a casket.

Re: ‘Putin’s chef’ admits to interfering in U.S. elections

#14

Fun fact, many, many other foreign governments have "interfered" in our elections also. In addition the US has interfered in their elections as well. Its been happening for a very long time.

Yeah, everyone's so mortified when the US has been legitimately couping South American nations for a few decades. Like election interference is just an aspect of the global political chess game. America isn't immune from it just because we're "egalitarian" (which it really isn't, we have terrible health outcomes and literacy that have been spackled over by large financial success, we're essentially seeing our decline from a global superpower to a middle-tier player in real time)

Re: ‘Putin’s chef’ admits to interfering in U.S. elections

#15

Fun fact, many, many other foreign governments have "interfered" in our elections also. In addition the US has interfered in their elections as well. Its been happening for a very long time.

I don't know many educated people who are surprised that countries are meddling in foreign elections. Money has been funneled to opposition groups probably since time began. What did surprise me was the effectiveness and return on investment that has come about with technology, as well as the long term effects that seem to continue well beyond the elections. There are plenty of resources out there to discover meddling and disprove misinformation, but people are seemingly adverse to using them.

Re: ‘Putin’s chef’ admits to interfering in U.S. elections

#16
post #10
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Salvador Allende was nearly 50 years ago. I think the US does a lot less of this now. IMO The Iraq War was the last colossal bullshit thing to date. Many Americans (self included) were against it and we're a few presidents removed from that shitty decision. Around the time of the invasion, Putin cited it as something that excuses his current behavior. But saying the US did something years ago does not justify one's o…

Venezuela was 2 years ago.

The situation in Venezuela is much more complicated than "US bad, Maduro good, Guaidó = USA".

Re: ‘Putin’s chef’ admits to interfering in U.S. elections

#17
The timing of this information suggests that while it may be true, its very disclosure may also be meddling in foreign elections -- i.e. casting doubt on their legitimacy helps many within the US who are actively trying to propagate that narrative.

EDIT: A word

Re: ‘Putin’s chef’ admits to interfering in U.S. elections

#18

Fun fact, many, many other foreign governments have "interfered" in our elections also. In addition the US has interfered in their elections as well. Its been happening for a very long time.

The point of these warnings is not to say "oh gosh it happens whatever" or "we need to launch the ICBMs directly at Moscow right now." The point is to gird the public so that they know the manipulation is happening and can try to compensate for it. There is a lot of denial about this interference happening out there (please do not make me link to it, it's five seconds on Google) and people who are in denial about this stuff absolutely cannot defend themselves.

* Obviously this entire reply assumes an ideal world where people are responsible and prominent political movements want to prevent foreign interference (even when the interference arguably benefits them.) I realize we don't live in that world anymore, but how about let's pretend we do for the purposes of this thread.

Re: ‘Putin’s chef’ admits to interfering in U.S. elections

#19
post #17

The timing of this information suggests that while it may be true, its very disclosure may also be meddling in foreign elections -- i.e. casting doubt on their legitimacy helps many within the US who are actively trying to propagate that narrative. EDIT: A word

> it's very disclosure may also be meddling in foreign elections

As other comments have mentioned, this is more likely posturing in anticipation of an internal power struggle.

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