I
appreciate Watts' understanding of the use of social media for
propaganda and other influence. I was not as interested in his
personal accounts of his dialogue with terrorists as I was with
information on Russia. I now understand how Russia became so much
better than the U.S. at using all aspects of media.
A
few surprising concepts for me. I was shocked how Putin's
favorability among Americans recently doubled in two years. (175) I
am amazed how propaganda can be targeted. (I am not sure I am going
to “like” anything on Facebook any more.) What a disappointment
to find, “America sucks at information warfare, absolutely sucks.”
(189) America is not only lacking in a message that resonates but
also in an effective way to deliver that message. (192) And unwitting
Americans fall for Kremlin's message time after time. (193)
America
was caught off guard by foreign experts in social media propaganda.
It is scary to think of the little being done to correct that.
Defense contracting has been less about getting the job done than
getting money to certain people, such as former military and
intelligence officers. (206) The billions of dollars spent by the
U.S. is still not as effective as the adversaries low budget
operations. (207) It is embarrassing. Watts argues that the
Department of Homeland Security should notify the public of
falsehoods and smears regarding domestic issues and the State
Department should do the same about falsehoods related to U.S.
foreign policy. (209) But they don't so we common citizens get duped.
I
recommend this book. There is much to wade through to get to the good
points, but it is worth it. Watts gives great techniques for testing
social media posts for their truthfulness.
My
rating: 4/5 stars.
Clint
Watts is a Robert A Fox Fellow in the Foreign Policy Research
Institute's Program on the Middle East as well as a senior fellow at
the Center for Cyber and Homeland Security at George Washington
University.
Harper,
304 pages.
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