…the link below the fold should definitely put the issue (if not one’s mind) to rest. Russian strategic culture now either a) believes the “Colour Revolution as directed weapon” interpretation sold by so many Internet hucksters, or b) has placed a massive agitprop investment in selling the frame at the highest levels. I don’t know which of these options scares me more. I can only hope that the intelligence professionals over there don’t buy this simplistic tripe and actually realize how much more beyond intentional control things really are.
From Cordesman, views into Russian thinking from the Moscow Conference on International Security (see the slides in the pdf): csis.org/publication/russia-and-color-revolution.
To you guys that sold this crap so assiduously over such an extended period, gee thanks. I’m sure you’ll be right there manning the line trying to deal with the consequences of what you sold and avoid the butcher’s bill. <- sarcasm
Are you saying the West had no role in the various “Colour Revolutions”?
Not to say other countries haven’t done the same, but has there been a period since WWII when the West – particularly America – hasn’t been interfering covertly in many countries? Prior to WWII, we focused mostly on Latin America, but later expanded our meddling considerably.
And if things are indeed “beyond intentional control”, they will only wind down when resources – arms, people, money – run out. I think the problem is that attempts to control events will may turn out to be more destructive than beneficial (to anyone).
The issue is whether they had a directive role. I would view the role of Western powers as far, far more reactive that the Russian strategic frame. Are they involved? Sure. Are they trying to shape events once kicked off to their advantage? Sure. Does this reflect an over-arching guiding plan under actual directive control the way that the Russian precept (and the Internet interpretation) would have us believe? Absolutely not. Would that it did – then it could actually be turned off.
Little short of actual conflict scares me more than one side thinking that the other side has control and that observed events are necessarily calibrated signalling.
A great deal of the world seems to be out of anyone’s control. 90% of what governments do is reactive; trying to get in front of the crowd to appear to be leading it.