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Comment by marviel | Hacker News Reader

The timing of this information suggests that while it may be true, its very disclosure may also be meddling in foreign elections -- i.e. casting doubt on their legitimacy helps many within the US who are actively trying to propagate that narrative.

EDIT: A word

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> it's very disclosure may also be meddling in foreign elections

As other comments have mentioned, this is more likely posturing in anticipation of an internal power struggle.

Very possibly both.

I doubt russia has any interest in swaying results in democrats favour. If anything republicans have already said they would reduce sent to ukraine. To win, putin needs a few weeks or months of ukraine undersupply.

While I agree that the findings would be "Putin helped the Right by meddling in foreign elections" -- the ability to plant the idea "your elections should not be trusted" may on-balance make it irrelevant to Russia's ends which party the meddling was initially associated with. The events of January 6th make it evident that many on the right are of the belief that elections are no longer free or fair.

All that is to say it's kind of ironic. If I'm correct, the information that Putin helped the right by meddling, will be reduced and spun by many outlets to go from "there was meddling in our elections that helped the right" into just "our elections are untrustworthy".

That is what a lot of people are missing with this: The goal of Russian propaganda has always been to create chaos and get people to disengage by creating a feeling that nothing is true, or at least that the truth is unknowable. Hence the constant stream of extremely transparent lies and BS.

In other words, the point of their election interference is not primarily to manipulate the election successfully, but to create the belief that they did.

This. What a powerful tool - try to get people to believe what you want, but if you fail, steer the landing so it just further adds to the confusion, rather than being evidence of dishonesty.

Russian interference is a pretty one sided thing. If it happened, it was to Trump benefit.

Such declaration will be dismissed by conservatives as Democrat narrative. And democrats will just get comforted in their position.

Russia would be stupid to say anything that would help democrats. They would be much better off with a republican house and senate.

I think there are smarter things to say if they wanted to muddy the waters.

I've seen that narrative in Conservative circles. However i've seen just about everything over there, so it's really difficult for me to know what is "sticking" and what is just clumps of people agreeing to random things.

Ie what i'm referencing is more than just a single comment, it was many in agreement; but i've tended to see these "pockets of fringe" where in any larger thread i can expect to see just about anything being discussed and agreed upon.

Makes it really hard to discern larger beliefs.

I think you're thinking short term. I don't think Russia cares democrat or republican, they want exactly what's happening - lack of confidence in the election process. Trump benefitted because he's reading from the same playbook - push a lack of confidence in the election process.

From Russia's standpoint, they can't take down the US. The US can certainly destroy itself from the inside though.

If we assume the GOP is already questioning all election results, then this most recent comment from Russia will bring more of the left in to question the results. When everyone questions the results, the US has a big problem.

You think Russia has no preferences between option a) party that has been providing Ukraine with weapons systems that are demolishing their military and option b) party that has vowed to end all aid to Ukraine?

Really?

The war in Ukraine is obviously the #1 most important, most critical issue for Putin right now. It is as close to do-or-die as a dictatorial nationstate can get and the situation is getting worse by the day for Russia.

> Really?

If someone were to believe what you're saying is true then Putin would have invaded Ukraine under a Republican President, Trump. Russia only seems to fuck with Ukraine when a Democrat is President. Why would Putin invade Ukraine or fuck with Ukraine when the party in power hates Russia and will spend untold billions to stop Russia.

Your argument makes absolutely no sense.

> Why would Putin invade Ukraine or fuck with Ukraine when the party in power hates Russia and will spend untold billions to stop Russia.

Wait so... why would he? Considering this is exactly what he did?

Could it be that there are other components to a decision to invade than merely who is in power halfway around the world? There's nothing incompatible with this and the idea they he'd prefer Trump, or any NATO-withdrawing and foreign-aid withholding party, in power.

We'll IF Trump is so "friendly" to Russia and he is Russia's pocket why wouldn't Putin invade when Trump (Putins ally according to the left) is controlling the US military.

Why would Putin invade when a Democrat is president. It makes zero sense.

I didn't claim any of those things my dude. I claimed that Putin has a preference for Trump, at least in 2016, as stated by Putin himself and as confirmed independently by the USIC after investigating Russia's influence campaigns.

The party that spent 20 years complaining about the billions we spent on military support to prop up corrupt but US-friendly regimes now claims that not spending billions to prop up a corrupt but US-friendly regime is evidence of collaboration with the enemy.

It is already well documented that while part of what you say is true (favouring maga gop) that sowing the divisions in any way, shape or form is a goal is also true.

Source : actual kgb agents who did this[0]

0: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5WjRjz5mTU

It is officially documented that Russia's campaigns have supported varying ideologies. While they do have some preference for foreign policy, it is also in their interest to increase division.

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