An influential right-wing think-tank has proposed a radical clampdown on politicians and other prominent figures sympathetic to Russia by "challenging their credibility," revealing their "insidious means of funding," and forcing them to reveal if they receive money for appearing on RT.
The new report, published by the Henry Jackson Society comes as the EU parliament prepares to debate how to resist "disinformation and propaganda" from Russia on Tuesday.
Comment: Between this, the recent 'fake news sites' story, and the creeping legislation aimed at banning certain corners of the internet, it sure looks like the powers that be have been shaken by the recent failures of Western mainstream media, and they are getting more desperate in their bid to remove their competition.
Called 'Putin's Useful Idiots,' the 17-page document was written by Andrew Foxall, the Director of the Russia Studies Centre at the conservative think tank. Foxall said that "Putin makes for a deceptive and dangerous friend" for "those on the left who can be relied upon to stand up for the West's enemies whoever and wherever they may be, and those on the right who see Moscow as a defender of conservative values."
Comment: Well, those so called 'West's enemies' do have legitimate grievances, and Russia is a defender of conservative values. There's only so long you can deny reality.
Among the examples on the right, are UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who has regularly appeared on RT for a decade, and Nick Griffin, the former BNP leader, who reportedly travels to Russia regularly to participate in nationalist conferences, and has said that he is open to funding from Russia for his anti-NATO activist group.
On the left, the report mentions the Stop the War coalition, which was once chaired by current Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, and the Scottish independence movement.
Foxall, a former Oxford University lecturer, called Russia's supporters "tools in [the Kremlin's] programme of active measures". The report also takes aim at RT, Sputnik and other foreign-language Russian media, branding them the result of "heavy investment" from the Kremlin, aimed at "influencing European public opinion and improving its international image," and even working as a means of funding Kremlin sympathizers.
"Many of those on the extremes of the political spectrum, particularly the left, have appeared on RT. If they received appearance fees, then they have also taken money from the Kremlin, thereby establishing financial links between themselves, their organisations and Moscow,"stated Foxall.
While the report said there is no "silver bullet" that could solve the "problem" of pro Russian opinion-makers, it suggested a list of comprehensive measures.
"Activists, journalists and politicians should point out the pro-Russian connections of individuals and parties on the left and right of the political spectrum and challenge the credibility of these entities via political debates," said the author.
Comment: It's too late for that. Various alternative media now has more and growing credibility in the eyes of many people, possibly even the majority. As for the credibility of the MSM, do we have to bring up the Iraq WMDs again?
"The personal and organisational connections of left- and right-wing parties and their Russian counterparts should be mapped across Europe," said Hoxall, claiming that Cold War-era KGB 'comrade networks' have either been resurrected or forged anew, to undermine the West.
"As movements on the left and right grow in influence across Europe, the continent must wake up to their insidious means of funding," continues the report, suggesting that "Parliament should amend current legislation or pass new legislation that forces politicians to declare all media appearances they make, whether they receive money for them or not."
'21st-century McCarthyism'
"I am shocked and appalled by this report - it is both dangerous and inflammatory. It should be condemned by anyone who believes in free speech" Marcus Papadopoulos, the editor of Politics First, a UK analytical magazine, told RT.
"In essence it says that any person who gives an interview to Russian media - including RT - is an 'idiot' and a traitor to Britain, and should be publicly named and shamed. It's a witch hunt, and 21st-century McCarthyism."
Annie Machon, a former UK intelligence officer, who has become a regular RT contributor, said she has experienced first-hand accusations of being a Kremlin "collaborationist."
"I appear on all sorts of different channels, including the BBC, which is state-funded. Most countries have their own publicly funded organizations and media, what is the problem?" she told RT from London.
Comment: And at least RT is upfront about it, unlike The Guardian, The Independent etc., who pretend to be independent but toe the same line on all of the 'big issues', I.E. foreign intervention by Western nations.
"I think there is also a knee-jerk reaction by a UK and US-funded think tank against the election of Donald Trump. The establishment in both countries is worried that he might forge a more cordial relationship with Russia."
The average very casual reader of so-called alternative news sites probably know about five hundred times more of what's going on in the world than these fricking idiots. It's just another fraudulent excuse for justifying spurious budgets, wage packets and pointless jobs.