As has been the case for a long time, wars today are not only fought on the battlefield, but also in another realm: our minds.<\/p>\n
Psychological operations in Western armed forces<\/big><\/p>\n To some it may seem absurd, but it is not. Almost all armies have units dedicated to psychological and influence operations<\/strong>, since this is a very important issue that can decisively contribute to the success or failure of a military operation. In Spain, the Spanish Army has the Information Operations Regiment No. 1 (ROI 1)<\/a>, based in Valencia. Until two years ago, the US Air Force even had aircraft dedicated to this type of operations<\/a> (the EC-130J Commando Solo III).<\/p>\n In 2022, the US Army's 4th Psychological Operations Group showcased its work with a magnificent video<\/a>, entitled \"Ghosts in the machine\". In the article I dedicated to that video<\/a> I explained the purpose of that group as follows: \"Their mission is not to kill or wound, but rather to persuade and erode the enemy's morale<\/strong>, even causing them to surrender, while motivating friendly forces<\/strong>.\"<\/em><\/p>\n Russian Psychological Operations: GRU Unit 54777<\/big><\/p>\n Russia also has psychological operations units.<\/strong> The most notable of these is GRU Unit 54777<\/a> (GRU is the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Russian General Staff). The GRU is best known in Spain today because<\/strong> a left-wing journalist worked for it, which was discovered after the journalist was arrested by Polish counterintelligence and eventually exchanged for Moscow. Putin himself went to greet him at the airport,<\/a> along with the director of the Federal Security Service (FSB), the successor to the famous KGB.<\/p>\n In May 2021, Meduza, a Russian opposition outlet, revealed the actions of GRU Unit 54777<\/a>, claiming that \"disinformation created by the GRU is spread first to peripheral<\/strong>, lesser-known websites before it\u2019s republished by other, more popular Western resources with pro-Russian leanings<\/strong>.\"<\/em> Meduza noted that the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service described Unit 54777 as \"the GRU\u2019s chief psy-ops division\"<\/em> and linked it to \"an extensive network of organizations and websites that spread disinformation from a single headquarters in Moscow<\/strong> located at 13 Krzhizhanovskogo Street, Building 2.\"<\/em><\/p>\n Is regretting anti-militarism in the West a 'psychological operation'?<\/big><\/p>\n I say all this because today a well-known Spanish reserve military officer<\/strong>, whom many refer to with admiration as \"my colonel\", commented on a news item in the newspaper El Mundo lamenting the damage that anti-militarism has done to society<\/a>, in relation to the European situation in the face of Russian threats and the need to prepare for possible attacks by Moscow on allied countries. On this issue, this colonel affirms:<\/p>\n \"They continue with the gradual strategy. Are there Russian psychological operations in the West?<\/big><\/p>\n
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\nLittle by little, they are making us European citizens aware of the urgency of preparing for a war<\/strong> that they predict is imminent.
\nA brilliant psychological and influence operation<\/strong> to convince us not only of the need, but also of the \"benefits\" of a war.
\nLet's not fall into the trap!<\/strong>
\nWe have to rebel against those who want to lead us to the slaughterhouse.<\/strong>
\nWhat the people need are sensible politicians who talk about peace, not war.\"<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n