Originally Posted by klinton

actually, this article is really well written and balanced, I recommend reading it
Russian Active Measures and Influence Campaigns - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Also, one quote from it:
Since Russia cannot compete toe-to-toe with the West, its leaders have embraced a wide range of tools?information warfare in all its forms, including subversion, deception, dis- and mis-information, intimidation, espionage, economic tools, including sanctions, bribery, selective favorable trading regimes, influence campaigns, etc. This toolkit has deep historical roots in the Soviet era and performs the function of the equalizer that in the eyes of the Kremlin is intended to make up for Russia?s weakness vis a vis the West.

another quote:

Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election is likely to be seen by the Kremlin as a major success regardless of whether its initial goal was to help advance the Trump candidacy. The payoff includes, but is not limited to a major political disruption in the United States, which has been distracted from many strategic pursuits; the standing of the United States and its leadership in the world have been damaged; it has become a common theme in the narrative of many leading commentators that from the pillar of stability of the international liberal order the United States has been transformed into its biggest source of instability; U.S. commitments to key allies in Europe and Asia have been questioned on both sides of the Atlantic and the Pacific. And last, but not least, the Kremlin has demonstrated what it can do to the world?s sole remaining global superpower.

and another quote, makes me sad about all these brainwashed Russians, typical fucking crooked government raping its nation to get more power:
Whereas there are some voices inside Russia who, like the leading anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny, have challenged the many domestic failings and authoritarian leanings of the Putin government, there are hardly any who have challenged its foreign policy record. Worse yet, the Kremlin propaganda has been apparently so effective, and the legal constraints imposed by it so severe, that few Russian opposition voices dare to challenge the government?s foreign policy course for fear of being branded as foreign agents, enemies of the people, and fifth columnists.
it of course works the other way too - ie: "Snowden is a traitor and Russian spy, we should hang him etc."
fucking crooks everywhere