Friday, April 14, 2017

It turns out the Syrian hoax meme was the result of Russian propaganda.

Ah you Americans are ever so easy to manipulate. You are like children.
Courtesy of ABC News:  

As Syrian president Bashar al-Assad called videos of last week’s chemical attack a “fabrication,” a piece of propaganda promoted by a Russian cyber operation and bearing the hashtag #SyriaHoax has gained traction in the United States, analysts tell ABC News. 

Following the chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of civilians on Tuesday, Al-Masdar News, a pro-Assad website based in Beirut, published claims that "something is not adding up in [the] Idlib chemical weapons attack." Its author cited "holes" in the accounts provided by the "Al-Qaeda affiliated" White Helmets leading to the conclusion that "this is another false chemical attack allegation made against the government." 

That hoax story was promoted by a network of Russian social media accounts and ultimately picked up by popular alt-right personalities in the United States, including Mike Cernovich, one of the leading voices in the debunked 'Pizzagate' conspiracy theory. Cernovich popularized its new hashtag -- #SyriaHoax -- and sent it soaring through cyberspace. According to Trends24, within hours of the retaliatory missile strike President Donald Trump launched on Thursday night, #SyriaHoax was the No. 1 trending Twitter topic in the United States. 

J.M. Berger of The International Centre for Counter-Terrorism at The Hague, who studies propaganda and social media analytical techniques, said #SyriaHoax is "a clear example of a Russian influence campaign" designed to undermine the credibility of the U.S. government. 

"The point of an influence campaign is to get people involved who wouldn't otherwise be involved," Berger said. "A lot of people in the alt-right would not necessarily characterize themselves as being pro-Russian, but they're receiving influence from this campaign."

It should be noted that some of the people clearly influenced by this propaganda include Alex Jones, Tulsi Gabbard, and of course Sarah Palin.

We all need to keep in mind that the Russian attempt to spread disinformation and shape our opinions did NOT end with the election. They are still doing it, and it does not seem that it will stop anytime soon.

We just have to be vigilant and make sure that our sources are from reputable news outlets, and not some faux Russian backed news website whose sole purpose is to keep us off balance and make us question reality itself. 

33 comments:

  1. Anonymous4:50 PM

    Sounds like a lot of this stuff happens on Twitter, and really, the only people I know that do twitter are in middle or high school. Same with Facebook, I don't know anyone except my partner that engages with Facebook and he only does it for his job. All this social media stuff is a morass of ignorance and lies, not sure why anyone would waste their time on it.

    I must confess that I tried both Twitter and Facebook for a few months after they first became available in the mid 2000's but it took very little time to find out they weren't for me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am proud to say I've never been on Facebook or Twitter.

      Twitter is nothing but gossip and conceited bragging. No one cares what you had for lunch. If I want news, I'll go to a vetted, authentic, reliable source. When I was growing up we knew better than to believe fifth hand information from your boyfriends brother's girlfriend's cousin's neighbor's hairdresser.

      Personally, I'm surprised Facebook is still in business considering what happened to MySpace. Anyone remember that?

      I won't do Flickr or Imagr or any of those other sites either because I know at least one of them has in their user agreement that if you upload your photos, you are transferring copyright ownership or permissions to them to use and SELL at their discretion with no compensation. No way will I agree to that. Pinterest I just find goddamn annoying since there are never any links and usually no information for the source of the picture so to me it's useless.

      I have some blogs which I keep private and only a few friends have access. We use it in place of e-mail and phone calls. It's a handy diary.

      But news? I wouldn't believe shit on Twitter or Facebook. If a legitimate news organization hasn't vetted that information, as far as I'm concerned it's gossip which until confirmed is akin to a lie or as has become popular lately, "FAKE news."

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:47 PM

      Actually mark facebook fuckerburg should be held accountable for thousands of crimes due to his genius idea of encouraging and allowing bullies and hackers to harm innocent kids and people. These sites should be removed along with Russia tv china tv and the rest of the hacks.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:51 PM

      Little children have committed suicide because of this garbage social scene stuff. All of it must be removed and TV producers and satellite corporations must be held accountable for their constant nasty garbage their putting out. Time for serious regulation of this shit.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous4:57 PM

    LOL!! The Russians don't need to spend a minute tu undermine the credibility of the US Government! Trump is doing a fine job making the US look like bumbling idiots to the whole planet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous5:37 PM

      You're absolutely correct, 4:57 pm.

      Delete
    2. And that 4:57 is WHY they helped to put him into the White House.

      To do that very thing.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:42 PM

      Its temporary. Trump has done a fine job taking down and exposing himself, family and the bumbling idiots, all his buddies. gonzo in one big sweep.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous5:58 PM

    Gryphen,do you read the Palmer Report? If you do, what's your assessment? I like that he links to reputable sources.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:27 PM

      Intel source: FBI discovers Kremlin is blackmailing Jason Chaffetz over Donald Trump and Russia

      This would explain why Chaffetz has been protecting Trump over Russia

      Hungarian sources: Donald Trump campaign collusion with Russia was headquartered in Budapest

      Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had close ties to Trump and Putin

      House Intel Democrat travels to Cyprus to track down Trump-Russia money laundering

      House Democrat spends recess hunting down dirt on Trump-Russia

      Source: foreign intel gives tape to FBI of Donald Trump’s kids engaging in criminal behavior

      https://www.palmerreport.com/category/politics/

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:38 PM

      Trump is having a grand old time in marslardgo, the shit coming down in the swamp for pepe is really really bad.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:15 PM

      Does that answer your question 558?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous1:04 PM

      Not really, because some of those articles referenced sources. For example, the House Democrat traveling to Cyprus had a link to Chicago Business website which gave more detailed information.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous6:30 PM

    Alt-Right Ringleader Mike Cernovich Threatens to Drop ‘Motherlode’ If Steve Bannon Is Ousted

    The Pizzagate conspiracy theorist claims to have a cache of dirty secrets that he’s willing to deploy.

    “If they get rid of Bannon, you know what’s gonna happen? The motherlode. If Bannon is removed, there are gonna be divorces, because I know about the mistresses, the sugar babies, the drugs, the pill popping, the orgies. I know everything,” said Cernovich.

    “If they go after Bannon, the mother of all stories is gonna drop, and we’re just gonna destroy marriages, relationships—it’s gonna get personal.”

    The Daily Beast reached out to Cernovich, asking who he meant by “they” and if he had documentation for the claims. He was on InfoWars’ radio show and livestream most of Friday afternoon, and did not respond at press time.

    Alt-right leaders have spent the week pushing a #KeepBannon hashtag on Twitter, less than a week after a #FireKushner hashtag prominently amplified by Cernovich became the No. 1 trend in the United States on Twitter.

    The hashtags refer to the falling out between Bannon and Jared Kushner that played out through planted quotes in websites like Breitbart, where Bannon previously worked as its CEO, after Trump’s son-in-law began to take over more responsibilities inside the Trump White House.

    http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/04/14/alt-right-ringleader-mike-cernovich-threatens-to-drop-motherlode-if-steve-bannon-is-ousted.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:35 PM

      Oh DO TELL.
      #OustBannon

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:35 PM

      So what. Might as well spill the beans to the world because it is already known. What the F do you expect from garbage like this? A cult of low life cockroaches being dirty nasty slobs? whats new? The hundreds of court hearings and trials should keep them busy for several years to come.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous6:33 PM

    Kremlin's getting busy, peeps -- keep your eyes on this one.

    https://twitter.com/20committee/status/853014782303186944

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous6:36 PM

    Congressman Investigating Trump Goes to Russia’s Money Laundromat, Cyprus
    The House Intelligence Committee sent one of its members to the Mediterranean country where Wilbur Ross, Paul Manafort, and sanction-dodging oligarchs have all had money.

    http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/04/14/congressman-investigating-trump-goes-to-russia-s-money-laundromat-cyprus.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:53 PM

      But paul registered as a laundry mat attendant.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous6:56 PM

    SURPRISE! Russian jets joining North Korean dog-wag distraction play #TrumpRussia

    https://twitter.com/LouiseMensch/status/852959285587980288

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:54 PM

      Trump friends are very special.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous4:12 AM

      Imagine the GOP uproar if a Democratic president had cozied up to Putin the way Trump has and then was being played by him in this way. As a nation, we've got to get to the bottom of this Russian/Trump/GOP mess.
      Beaglemom

      Delete
  8. Anonymous8:15 PM

    LOL
    http://www.rawstory.com/2017/04/alt-right-head-threatens-to-release-intel-on-the-personal-lives-of-gop-if-bannon-is-fired/

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous8:51 PM

    Off topic but i just had to see if you have seen this Gryph.

    Members pay two hundred thousand a year to possibly get sick.Con artist cheap skate Trump loves his well done steak for a reason.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/maralago-health-violations_us_58efc30ee4b0da2ff85f1a9e

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:58 PM

      Yeah after he spies and tapes his guest he extores, bribes and then poisons them. He went to putins kgb school for cockroaches and graduated but did not pay his tutition.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous9:05 PM

    Maxine Waters has called for Trump’s impeachment 22 times — and she’s just getting started

    http://shareblue.com/maxine-waters-has-called-for-trumps-impeachment-22-times-and-shes-just-getting-started/

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous11:10 PM

    Dons boyfriend looks so cute and sweet. That flirty smile and finger gently touching face. So inviting and sexy little guy he is.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous6:28 AM

    "...make sure that our sources are from reputable news outlets..."

    Could someone please point out those sources? I have a hard time trusting anything coming over the same 'airwaves' that cheer-leaded USa into Iraq (and every other quagmire).

    Thx for your attention in this matter.


    http://fair.org/home/five-top-papers-run-18-opinion-pieces-praising-syria-strikes-zero-are-critical/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:20 AM

      http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/4/13/1652206/-Cartoon-War-Beat-the-mag-for-journalists-with-missile-crushes

      Delete
    2. There are no reputable news sources. The news media has repeated one proven hoax from Syria after another - so one must just use one's own judgement.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous7:32 AM

    Gosh I wonder is sarah is a paid russian troll. For someone that is living the "good life" with no visible means of support, she must be "earning" money somehow now that her PAC is dead.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:52 AM

      Money laundering. That is obvious now. What income?
      She wouldn't know how to work if she tried.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous8:26 AM

      I knew that with her stupid "when he rears his head over airspace where does he go?" comment. Not to mention Marina, the BFF Bristol Russian whore.

      Delete

Don't feed the trolls!
It just goes directly to their thighs.