Former Navy electronic warfare expert Bryan Clark and former Senior Advisor to the Director of the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Adam M. Smith discuss spoofing Russian troops and separating oligarchs from their hidden stashes in this episode. They delve into techniques of electronic warfare, the challenges of cyber warfare, the need for a cybersecurity treaty, enforcing sanctions, and the complexity of revealing Russian investments.
Electronic warfare can play a significant role in degrading Russian forces without direct confrontation.
Investigating and enforcing sanctions on Russian entities requires coordination and resources across multiple departments and agencies.
Sanctions alone cannot reverse Russian aggression, but a coordinated multilateral approach demonstrates a revitalized effort to confront the issue.
Deep dives
Understanding Electronic Warfare: Intercepting Messages, Blocking Communication, and Creating Deception
Electronic warfare, the ability to intercept and block enemy messages, as well as create deception with false transmissions, plays a significant role in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Experts in this field, like Brian Clark from the Hudson Institute, believe that the US can support Ukraine in this secret war without risking direct confrontation with Russia. By deploying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with electronic warfare systems, such as the Grey Eagle and Intrepid Tiger, the US can engage in non-kinetic operations that degrade Russian communications and disrupt radar and satellite communications. While the effectiveness of electronic warfare is not immediate, over time it can have a significant impact on Russian forces.
The Challenges of Investigating and Enforcing Sanctions Against Russia
Sanctions have been imposed on Russia by the West to pressure the government and its cronies, but effectively investigating and enforcing these sanctions is a complex task. Adam M. Smith, a former senior sanctions official, explains that unraveling the convoluted structures used by Russian entities to hide assets can be challenging. Intelligence agencies play a critical role in uncovering the ultimate beneficial owners of these assets. Various departments and agencies, including Treasury, Justice, and the US intelligence community, work together in enforcing these sanctions. However, the success of investigations and enforcement depends on the resources and political will available. Smith also discusses the role of other agencies, such as the Department of Commerce and the Internal Revenue Service, in ensuring comprehensive enforcement of export controls and financial compliance.
The Limitations and Impact of Sanctions Against Russia
While sanctions are a widely used tool to exert pressure and impose costs on targeted governments, their effectiveness in changing the policies of the Russian government depends on various factors. Sanctions alone cannot reverse the military actions in Ukraine or prevent further aggression. The size and importance of the Russian economy, as well as President Putin's determination to pursue his goals, pose significant challenges. Sanctions take time to have substantial effects, and their impact may not be immediately visible to the Kremlin. However, the coordinated multilateral approach taken by the US, EU, UK, and other allies demonstrates a revitalized effort to confront Russian aggression and address the issue of state-sponsored illicit funds hidden in Western jurisdictions.
The Role of Electronic Warfare in the Ongoing Conflict
Electronic warfare plays a critical role in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, allowing both sides to intercept and disrupt enemy communication systems. Ukrainian forces have electronic warfare systems obtained from the West, which they use to jam and disrupt Russian communication signals and cell phones. The US can further support Ukraine by deploying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with advanced electronic warfare systems. These UAVs can jam and deceive enemy communications, disrupt radar and satellite systems, and provide a crucial advantage on the battlefield. While electronic warfare provides an indirect and non-kinetic approach to the conflict, it can significantly impact the effectiveness of Russian forces.
The Complexity and Potential Outcomes of Sanctions Against Russia
Sanctions against Russia present significant challenges due to the complexity of Russian financial networks and the historical ties between Russian oligarchs and Western jurisdictions. Efforts to investigate and enforce sanctions involve multiple federal agencies, including Treasury, Justice, and the intelligence community. However, the resource constraints faced by some agencies can limit their effectiveness. Additionally, the impact of sanctions on Russian leadership and their policy decisions is uncertain. While sanctions can impose economic costs and create pressure, President Putin's determination and the deep ties between Russian elites and assets in Western countries make it difficult to predict the outcome. Good news lies in the cooperative efforts by Western allies in addressing Russian aggression and the focus on combating corruption and money laundering.
Former Navy electronic warfare expert Bryan Clark talks about techniques the US can use to spoof Russian troops, and Adam M. Smith, who focused on sanctions in the Obama administration, details the challenges of separating oligarchs from their hidden stashes. With cohosts Jeff Stein and Jeanne Meserve.
