Disinfo: The Assange case represents Donald Trump's capitulation to the Deep State

Summary

One thing we learned during Donald Trump’s presidency is that the Deep State is real: during the last three years we have seen it launching plot after plot to get the elections nullified, starting with the false “Intelligence Evaluation” of former CIA director John Brennan about Russia’s involvement in the elections in 2016. One of the things that candidate Trump did to become a target of the Deep State was to praise Wikileaks repeatedly. But then he was elected, and the real tragedy of Trump’s presidency is best represented by his 180-degree turn about Wikileaks and its founder Julian Assange, now facing a sentence of 175 years in prison. The same Deep State that Trump is serving by persecuting Assange is the same that is plotting his overthrow.

Disproof

This is a conspiracy theory with no evidence provided to support any of the multiple claims. It follows several recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives, one denying any Russian interference in foreign elections (despite overwhelming evidence, both in the US and in other countries), and another about global elites secretly ruling the world, and specifically a so-called ‘Deep State’ in the United States that, among other things, aims to prevent US reconciliation with Russia. You can find many examples of the first narrative in the EUvsDisinfo database, such as allegations that neither the US Intelligence Committee report nor the Mueller report found any evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 US elections, or that “absurd” accusations against Russia are an attempt to demonise it. The second narrative aims to question the legitimacy of democracy and Western institutions, through examples such as unfounded stories about the “true rulers of the globe” like the "Skulls and Bones" fraternity to which all US presidents belong, a secret oligarch groups based in Switzerland, Jews and Masons, the Vatican, the Rothschild and Rockefeller families or billionaire George Soros, who allegedly uses the G7 as a facade and controls the world through mechanisms like manipulation of public opinion, thought control, climate change, immigration, and even the coronavirus outbreak.

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es.news-front.info (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 188
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 03/03/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Spanish
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: US
  • Keywords: Wikileaks, Julian Assange, Deep state, Donald Trump, Conspiracy theory
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Disinfo: Washington is testing options for invading the Kaliningrad region

About 37,000 soldiers from 18 countries will take part in the military exercise “Defender Europe 2020”. 20,000 of them are American military personnel. The main goal is to practice the rapid deployment of American forces to the Russian border. Experts believe that Washington is testing options for invading the territory of the Kaliningrad region.

Mar 02, 2020
Disproof

This article is in line with the pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative of encircling Russia, claiming that US-led military exercise "Defender-Europe 2020" is directed against Russia. Find similar cases here. Exercise Defender-Europe 2020 is the deployment of a division-size combat-credible force from the United States to Europe, the drawing of equipment and the movement of personnel and equipment across the theatre to various training areas. The aim of the exercises is to increase strategic readiness and interoperability by exercising the U.S. military’s ability to rapidly deploy a large combat-credible force and equipment from the United States to Europe; and alongside its allies and partners, quickly respond to a potential crisis. "The joint, multinational training exercise is scheduled to take place from April to May 2020, with personnel and equipment movements occurring from February through July 2020. The exercise supports objectives defined by NATO to build readiness within the alliance and deter potential adversaries. Approximately 37,000 U.S., allied, and partner nation service members are expected to participate with roughly 20,000 soldiers deploying from the U.S," states the official web site of the exercises. Eighteen countries are expected to participate, with exercise activities occurring across 10 countries. More details about the exercise can be found here. At a press conference in Berlin on January 14, 2020, the Deputy Commander of the US Armed Forces in Europe, General Andrew Rawling, announced that Defender 2020 is not directed against Russia or against another country: "These manoeuvres are not related to any particular country. In this, they differ from past exercises of the Cold War. It is a question of defence in general under various crisis scenarios." Read similar cases about the Kaliningrad region being threatened by NATO and US.

Disinfo: Euromaidan was a coup d'état carried out by oligarchs

The events of 2014 are not even Maidan, it was a coup d’état.

We see that the coup d’état was made artificially. It was not a revolution for people, it was just a coup d’état that the oligarchs carried out.

Mar 02, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives painting the 2013-14 Ukrainian revolution as a coup d'etat that was artificially orchestrated. It was also alleged that the Euromaidan was led by fascists and neo-Nazis and carried out by Western intelligence.

The demonstrations which began in Kyiv in November 2013 – called "Maidan", or "Euromaidan" – were a result of the Ukrainian people's frustration with former President Yanukovych's last-minute U-turn when, after seven years of negotiation, he refused to sign the EU–Ukraine Association Agreement and halted progress towards Ukraine's closer relationship with the EU as a result of Russian pressure. For more cases about the Euromaidan protests, see here.

Disinfo: Ukraine is a quasi-state with failed economy

Ukraine is a quasi-state. Everything that has happened over the past 30 years has worsened the situation of these territories. Ukraine is one of the few examples in the post-Soviet space when the economy has not only ceased to improve over 30 years but has been in a recession.

Mar 02, 2020
Disproof

No evidence given. Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Ukraine as a failed state. Consistent with pro-Kremlin narratives alleging that Ukraine is a degrading state that has failed to become Europe.

Ukraine has a functioning government and economy, it is a member of many international organisations, such as the United Nations and the Council of Europe, and a party to international agreements. Ukraine has bilateral diplomatic relations with the majority of states.