Unable to highlight the virtues of its own political system, Russia seeks to discredit U.S. politics and spread the idea that “all systems are equally flawed.”
Cyberattacks surrounding the U.S. presidential election aim to erode democratic values themselves, mirroring tactics used by China and South Korea against Japan.
With major elections approaching across Europe, the need for effective counterstrategies is growing ever more urgent.

Unable to emphasize how admirable their own political system is, Russia can instead highlight how flawed American politics appear.
2016-12-18
What follows is a continuation of the previous chapter.
Text between asterisks reflects my emphasis.

— During the U.S. presidential election, cyberattacks targeted the Democratic camp of candidate Clinton, and the U.S. government concluded that Russia was involved.

“Cyberattacks have become tools of international political conflict.
During the campaign, President-elect Trump at one point suggested that he might challenge the results depending on the outcome, raising the possibility of political turmoil in the United States.
Such attempts are aimed at damaging the democratic values that the United States and European countries hold dear.
Unable to promote the excellence of their own political system, Russia appears to have sought to create a situation in which the shortcomings of American politics were highlighted, thereby spreading the perception that ‘both sides are equally bad.’
This is precisely the same kind of operation that China and South Korea carry out against Japan.
Next year, elections will be held one after another across Europe, including presidential and parliamentary elections in France and parliamentary elections in Germany, and concerns about instability remain.”

— How should cyberattacks be addressed.

“The United States and the United Kingdom, like China and Russia, possess not only defensive but also offensive capabilities in the cyber domain.
In the United Kingdom, intelligence gathering using cyber technology is handled by the Government Communications Headquarters, which belongs to the Foreign Office and operates in close coordination with the military.
There is also domestic debate suggesting that if Russia were to launch a cyberattack causing serious damage to national interests, the country should be prepared to retaliate immediately using similar means.”

“To gain the upper hand in cyberspace, where a kind of combat is unfolding with Russia and China, it is only natural that we too must possess superior technologies and tools.
In addition to the United States and the United Kingdom, Germany and France are also investing substantial budgets in cyber defense, based on the judgment that they are exposed to the threat of cyberattacks.”

To be continued.