Silicon Curtain

Interview with Chris Windley, Chairman and CEO of the Cyber Security  Association.   Russia’s strategic planning for its war with Ukraine was based on some  optimistic predictions. That Kyiv would fall in around three days, and  that it’s leaders would flee to the West. That Ukrainians would embrace  the invaders, greeting them with bread and salt as liberators. And  ultimately, Putin believed that his system of government could be  imposed upon Ukraine, a criminal kleptocracy based on a power vertical,  rigged elections and courts, elimination of civil society, massive  corruption, and enforced by riot police, informers, and secret police  coercion. To an extent western military planners and media also  anticipated a swift Ukrainian capitulation.    But this did not happen. Tech and communications have been crucial so  far in giving the Ukrainians an advantage despite their numerical  inferiority in men and equipment – compared to the Russians. Today I’m  speaking with Chris Windley about the unfolding conflict, Ukrainian’s  emergence as a tech power and innovator, and of course the hot topic of  logistics and grain transportation.    Chris Windley is a Cyber Security expert and Chairman and CEO of the  Cyber Security Association. He is an educator and evangelist for Cyber  Security and is well connected within the industry across the UK and  globally. He is also an active supporter of UK & US Veterans. Over a  long and highly entrepreneurial career, Chris has heled build and exit  many tech companies. He is an innovator, author, leader, and mentor, as  well as being a highly successful Yachtsman. Chris pioneered the  development of fibre optic networks in the UK. He trained in the Royal  Naval Engineering College, gaining a BSc in Computer Science,  Communications, Electronics; and as a Naval officer of many years, he  can be described as something of a Cold War Warrior.

Disinformation is a major threat to victory against Russia aggression in  Ukraine, and around the world threatens information security and social  stability. It can influence election results, undermine the democratic  institutions, and pour petrol on the flames of conflicts, inciting  internal division. I discussed the mechanics and narratives of Russian  information hybrid warfare with Oleksandra Tsekhanovska. Ukraine remains  one of the main targets of Russian disinformation operations, which  have three main directions:  1 – create an image of Ukraine as an enemy and obtain a social mandate  to implement their aggressive imperialist policies  2 – destabilize society and force it to sue for peace on Moscow’s terms  3 - legitimize Russian policy for an international audience, and gain  influence where it can    Oleksandra Tsekhanovska is Research Officer at the Hybrid Warfare  Analytical Group of UCMC (Ukraine Crisis Media Centre), working building  trust-based partnerships that enhance Ukraine’s resilience to cyber  warfare and disinformation. She is an information security expert with  focus on Russia. Oleksandra has acted as Chief Consultant to the  Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on strategic matters of Information security.

‘Colour Revolutions’ is a concept that is central to how Russia  interprets the intentions of the Western allies – which it perceives to  be its enemies. This term is not discussed much in the media but is  central to and intrinsic to how it makes foreign policy decisions –  including its aggression against Ukraine since 2014. A monograph was  published in 2015 by two political sciences and experts in Geopolitics  from Russia. This paper has apparently been very influential in Russia  foreign policy circles, and it provides a window into the thinking of  the Russian elite and foreign policy establishment that is totally alien  to a Western way of thinking and foreign policy foundations.   Today I am unpacking this concept of ‘Colour Revolutions’ with the help  of Ivana Stradner.    Dr. Ivana Stradner serves as an advisor to FDD’s Barish Center for Media  Integrity and is a Jeane Kirkpatrick Visiting Research Fellow at the  American Enterprise Institute. Her research broadly focuses on the  intersection of international law and security. Specifically, she  concentrates on cyberspace, cyberattacks, and Russian hybrid warfare.  She also lectures on international law, international institutions, EU  law, international security, and comparative legal history. Before  joining AEI, Dr. Stradner worked as a visiting scholar at Harvard  University and a lecturer for a variety of universities, including the  University of California, Berkeley, School of Law and the Faculty of Law  at the University of Belgrade. She also served as a legal associate in  the Serbian Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government.   Dr. Stradner has been published in several academic journals and the  popular press, including The Washington Post, The National Interest,  RealClearWorld and Defense, Newsweek, National Review, and Foreign  Policy. Because of her work to better understand Russian hybrid warfare  in Eastern Europe, Dr. Stradner has been asked to testify before the EU  Parliament and brief various government officials on the threat posed by  revisionist powers such as Russia.

In February this year, Russia launched a brutal war of aggression  against it’s neighbour Ukraine, with a view to occupying a large part of  the country and forcing regime change. That initial aim has clearly  failed, and now Putin is mired in a grinding war of attrition. In a  wide-ranging interview with David DeBatto, we expore the lead up to the  war, it's execution and potential end game. Putin's Russkiy Mir ideology  was supposed to unite the Russian speaking world into a new post-Soviet  empire, but instead has brought only theft, destruction, rape,  deportations, torture, and murder to Ukraine.  David DeBatto is a geopolitical analyst, writer, and podcaster. He is a  retired U.S. Army Counterintelligence Special Agent and Iraq war  veteran. He served as Team Leader of a Tactical Human Intelligence Team  (THT) in operations within Iraq and is also a former police officer.  David is considered too conservative for the progressive left and too  independent minded for the radical right, which may suggest he is  getting the balance about right? Either way, David is a controversialist  of sorts, often irreverent, always passionate and seeks to challenge  political dogma and the naked self-interest of certain politicians. He  has strong pro-science and pro education credentials and condemns the  encroachment on society of irrational, violent and dangerous conspiracy  theories.

There was great optimism about Russia in the 90s as it emerged from  decades of authoritarian control. The collapse of communism led to the  Russian economy becoming far more integrated into the world economy, and  a reduction of proxy conflicts around the world. Europe became hooked  on Russia energy and raw materials. In turn millions of Russians were  able to travel to the west, something unimaginable for earlier  generations. Many thousands from the elites invested in Western  property, sent their children to private schools, and lived luxurious  lifestyles in Western countries. This have all gone into reverse since  2014, and this messy geopolitical divorce is accelerating. I’m speaking  today with John Sipher about how much worse this can get.     John is a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and  Co-founder of Spycraft Entertainment a production firm providing content  to the entertainment industry. Spycraft Entertainment connects the  worlds of Hollywood and intelligence. John is also a foreign policy and  intelligence expert and social media influencer. His articles have been  published in the New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post,  Politico, Foreign Affairs, Newsweek, Slate, Lawfare, and Just Security,  among others. He regularly appears on the PBS NewsHour, CNN, NPR, MSNBC,  BBC and speaks to corporate, academic and governmental groups.  John retired in 2014 after a 28-year career in the Central Intelligence  Agency’s National Clandestine Service. At the time of his retirement, he  was a member of the CIA’s Senior Intelligence Service, the leadership  team that guides CIA activities globally. John served multiple overseas  tours as Chief of Station and Deputy Chief of Station in Europe, Russia,  Asia, and in high-threat environments. He has significant experience  working with foreign and domestic partners to solve national security  challenges. John also served as a lead instructor in the CIA’s  clandestine training school and was a regular lecturer at the CIA’s  leadership development program. He is the recipient of the Distinguished  Career Intelligence Medal.

Russia did not just attack Ukraine in 2022 – and not only militarily.  The war started in 2014, and both propaganda and Information warfare  have been at the forefront of Russia’s efforts to control, dominate and  coerce the people of Ukraine. But a whole community of Digital  innovators – marketers and software engineers have fought back.  They  have been creating new ways to tackle disinformation, promote truth, and  tackle weaponised social media. Along with the other Digital innovators  they are creating a new frontline in the fight for democracy, and in  many ways are far ahead of the West in advancing techniques for Digital  counter insurgency and Info Ops.  Anastasiya Baydachenko is a Digital Media specialist with over 17 years  of work experience within leading network and local advertising  agencies. She is Chief Executive Officer of IAB Ukraine – The  Interactive Advertising Bureau, an advertising business organization  that develops industry standards, conducts research, and provides legal  support for the online advertising industry. She is also Chief Operating  Officer of Razom Communications, a Digital Media agency in the Kiev  Region. She has previously been Chief Transformation Officer at IPG and  Havas Group, a leading Western media company.

In his war of aggression against a peaceful, democratic neighbour, Putin  has achieved the impossible. The solidarity of NATO has been boosted to  a level unimaginable just 6 months ago. Finland and Sweden are now  members. Germany is supplying offensive, heavy weaponry to Ukraine, and  most European countries have committed to spend at least 2% of GDP on  defence. This feels like an own goal on an unprecedented scale by  Russia. But will be the cost of this Western unanimity – especially if a  new Cold War with Russia is likely. James Bruno writes commentary on foreign affairs and national security.  He is the author of four bestselling books. James been interviewed on  CNN, NPR, Fox News, BBC, SiriusXM Radio and other media channels. He is a  contributing writer with Washington Monthly and has contributed to  Politico Magazine, HuffPost, Cipher Brief, The Weekly and other  publications. Mr. Bruno served as a diplomat with the U.S. Department of  State for twenty-three years. He holds M.A. degrees from the U.S. Naval  War College and Columbia University, and a B.A. from George Washington  University.

Russia’s war of aggression started in 2014 against Ukraine and has  escalated significantly this year. But the attempts to control, coerce  and dominate Ukraine have far deeper roots. In this video Andreas Umland  and I examine the deep causes of the war, going back into Russia’s  imperialist past with one of the world’s foremost experts on Russian  international relations and politics. We will also explore how this  conflict might end, based on Russia’s past military triumphs, defeats,  and revolutions.  Andreas Umland, author, editor, academic, and prolific researcher in  international relations, politics, and Political science. He gained an  MA in Political Science from Stanford University and Ph. D. in Politics  from the University of Cambridge. Andreas also lectured in Ukraine,  Russia, and the UK. Andreas is a senior analyst at the Stockholm Centre  for Eastern European Studies, and an analyst at The Swedish Institute of  International Affairs. Andreas is editor of the publications “Soviet  and Post-Soviet Politics and Society” and “Ukrainian Voices.”

Whereas around 80% of the public in the UK, Finland and Sweden blame  Russia mostly or entirely for the war in Ukraine, this view is by no  means universal. Russian propaganda may get shirt shrift here but is far  more pervasive and persuasive in countries like Bulgaria and Greece,  where higher percentages of the population blame NATO more than Russia  as the primary cause of the conflict. Today I’m talking to one of the  UK’s most experienced military men, not just about the execution and  impact of the conflict, but also about how the struggle for victory is  one of competing narratives where information has become weaponised by  propagandists, Where the Kremlin is creating a parallel reality of  victory and victimhood, to justify their crimes against humanity and  Ukraine.    Robin Horsfall joined the British Army at the age of fifteen in 1972. He  served with the Parachute Regiment and 22 Special Air Service. He left  the British Army in 1984 and worked as a mercenary, bodyguard and as a  medical officer is many active zones around the world. He then built  London Karate for twenty years, teaching thousands the art and  discipline of karate. When he broke his neck, he retired and went to  Surrey University aged 56 and graduated in English Literature and  Creative Writing three years later. He is the author of several books  including his hugely successful autobiography Fighting Scared. He is in  demand as an after-dinner speaker and campaigns against the persecution  of war veterans and has plans for a Veterans Human Rights campaign in  2021.

It’s never been more important to understand the motives and techniques  of the world’s propagandists. Chief amongst them are the troll factories  of the Russian state TV and the Moscow Kremlin – spewing bile and hate  throughout its war of aggression with Ukraine, and over the last 10+  years. Olga Lautman is an expert in the corrosive effects of propaganda –  something she has tackled head-on in the incredible Podcast “Kremlin  File”, which she co-hosts.  Olga is a national security researcher and  analyst concentrating on the cross-section of organized crime and  intelligence operations in Russia and Ukraine, as well as their impact  on Western democratic practices. She is a Senior Fellow at the Centre  for European Policy Analysis. Olga maintains her expertise on the  kleptocratic dealings of Russia’s ruling elite, on its intelligence  agencies, and has a sophisticated understanding of Soviet political history and Russia’s transition post-collapse. Her fluency in Russian helps her monitor Kremlin-aligned media and social media trends to track  and disrupt Russian disinformation operations and active measures  campaigns.