Information operations · Information Warfare · Russia

US Senate: Countering Russia: Assessing New Tools

Joel Harding

A long video is embedded in the page.

The three witnesses, Dr. Leon Aron, Ms. Elizabeth Rosenberg, and Mr. Daleep Singh gave testimony, outlining the situation in Russia. They concentrated on US Election interference, referring to proposed legislation. They were asked for measures to counter Russia.  Dr. Aron gave the most damning assessment of measures to deter Russia, stating that nothing would have an effect on Russia in the short or mid-term.  Putin is putting on a show for his domestic audience and really doesn’t care about the feelings or language from outside the country – he has not yet achieved a total police state yet, so internal opinion still counts. He also stated that sanctions against the oligarchs surrounding Putin would not the desired effects since they are more managers than directly handling their investments. Ms. Rosenberg gave three suggestions, as did Mr. Singh. Their testimony is downloadable below. 

The bottom line, which they highlighted well, is that the United States does not have a coherent strategy.

We’re fumbling around to find something that works and not approaching Russia with a holistic perspective.

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United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
FULL COMMITTEE HEARING

Countering Russia: Assessing New Tools

DATE:   Wednesday, September 12, 2018TIME:  02:30 PM LOCATION:  Dirksen Senate Office Building 538

https://www.senate.gov/isvp/?comm=banking&type=live&stt=0&filename=banking091218&auto_play=false&wmode=transparent&poster=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ebanking%2Esenate%2Egov%2Fthemes%2Fbanking%2Fimages%2Fvideo%2Dposter%2Dflash%2Dfit%2Epng

OPEN IN NEW WINDOW

TOPIC

THE COMMITTEE ON BANKING, HOUSING, AND URBAN AFFAIRS will meet in OPEN SESSION to conduct a hearing on “Countering Russia:  Assessing New Tools.”  The witnesses will be Dr. Leon Aron, Resident Scholar and Director of Russian Studies, American Enterprise Institute; Ms. Elizabeth Rosenberg, Senior Fellow and Director of the Energy, Economics and Security Program, Center for a New American Security; and Mr. Daleep Singh, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council; and Adjunct Professor, Johns Hopkins University.  Additional witnesses may be added at a later date.

All hearings are webcast live and will not be available until the hearing starts. Individuals with disabilities who require an auxiliary aid or service, including closed captioning service for webcast hearings, should contact the committee clerk at 202-224-7391 at least three business days in advance of the hearing date.

MEMBER STATEMENTS

  1. Chairman Mike Crapo (R – ID)

WITNESSES

  1. Dr. Leon Aron
    Resident Scholar And Director Of Russian Studies
    American Enterprise Institute
  2. Ms. Elizabeth Rosenberg
    Senior Fellow And Director Of Energy, Economics And Security Program
    Center for New American Security
  3. Mr. Daleep Singh
    Senior Fellow, Adjunct Professor
    Atlantic Council, Johns Hopkins University