CNN: State Department touts counter-propaganda funds without mentioning Russia

[highplainsdem]

Not posting this in LBN since there's already a similar story there, but it's one that doesn't focus on Russia not being mentioned:

https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/26/politics/state-funding-counter-propaganda/index.html

The State Department will get $40 million in new funding to fight disinformation from foreign countries, the agency said Monday in a long-awaited announcement that avoided mentioning Russia by name.

The funding for the State Department's Global Engagement Center had been a source of tension between Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and lawmakers -- not because it wasn't available, but because Tillerson waited months before requesting the money from the Department of Defense.

Congress had mandated the initiative to counter propaganda and disinformation after Russia's meddling in the 2016 US election. Lawmakers and career foreign service officers were deeply critical when Tillerson didn't move to use any of the funding, and cited his inaction as another example of the agency's dysfunction.

In Monday's announcement, the State Department said the $40 million will be used, in part, to create an Information Access Fund that will support public and private partners who focus on fighting back against foreign disinformation.

-snip-

"This funding is critical to ensuring that we continue an aggressive response to malign influence and disinformation and that we can leverage deeper partnerships with our allies, Silicon Valley, and other partners in this fight," said Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Steve Goldstein.

-snip-

So I guess Russian interference and cyberwarfare can be read into that reference to "malign influence and disinformation"...but of course Russia can't be specifically mentioned for fear of offending Putin and his puppet in the White House.

[highplainsdem]

1. John Schindler's comment on this: Welcome to 2018.

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