Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 25 (January 2022)
Russia Is A Terrorist State: Part 2 (2000s)
Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 25 (January 2022)
“NATO Russia Ukraine Locator” by Sbb1413 under CC BY 4.0.
In January 2022, the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol riot continued to dominate headlines and discussions. Capitol rioters who expressed remorse for their actions were not spared from jail time, emphasizing the seriousness of their crimes. The event revealed the power of Christian nationalism and its influence on the attack, prompting discussions about its role in American politics.
As the midterm elections and the 2024 presidential race approached, former President Donald Trump's political operation ramped up. His hold on the Republican Party remained strong, and his rallies underscored the tension within the GOP over how to secure victories in the upcoming elections.
Meanwhile, attention turned to international tensions, particularly between Russia and Ukraine. U.S. intelligence suggested that Russia was preparing a "false-flag" operation as a pretext for invading Ukraine, raising concerns about the possibility of military escalation. NATO allies sent additional ships and jets to enhance deterrence and defense in Eastern Europe, highlighting the efforts to strengthen collective security in the region.
Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, received a glimmer of hope when a UK court ruled that he could appeal the decision to extradite him to the United States. This development marked a potential turning point in his long-standing legal battle.
Amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions, Russia's disinformation campaigns and cyberattacks garnered attention. The U.S. Department of State identified Russia's top five persistent disinformation narratives, shedding light on the tactics employed by the Russian government. Efforts to sow confusion and division were seen as more likely than disruptive cyberattacks.
The threat of ISIS also remained a concern, with the group proving its resilience in unstable regions. Michael Flynn, a former national security advisor to President Trump, made baseless claims that COVID-19 was invented to steal the 2020 election, highlighting the persistence of misinformation in public discourse.
The month concluded with the UK considering a major military offer to NATO in response to the escalating tensions with Russia. Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed willingness to boost NATO troops if Ukraine was invaded, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.
In January 2022, the aftermath of the Capitol riot, international tensions, the legal battle of Julian Assange, and the spread of misinformation shaped the news cycle. These events highlighted the ongoing challenges posed by domestic extremism, geopolitical conflicts, and the manipulation of information in the digital age.
Written in part in collaboration with ChatGPT on June 5, 2023
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Putin Is A War Criminal
Russia Is A Terrorist State:
Part 1 (1990s)
Part 2 (2000s)
Part 3 (2011 - 2016)
Part 4 (2016 - 2019)
Part 5 (2020 - 2021)
Part 6 (2022+)
Sources for Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 26 (January 2022):
Capitol rioters’ tears, remorse don’t spare them from jail – AP News January 2, 2022
The U.S. Is Naive About Russia. Ukraine Can’t Afford to Be. – The Atlantic January 3, 2022
As Midterms and 2024 Loom, Trump Political Operation Revs Up – The New York Times January 4, 2022
A Year After Capitol Riot, Trump’s Hold on G.O.P. Is Unrivaled – The New York Times January 5, 2022
Rejecting the January 6 Attack in Christ’s Name | Opinion – Newsweek January 5, 2022
January 6 in photos: How the insurrection unfolded in real time – Business Insider January 6th, 2022
The Next Big Lies: Jan. 6 Was No Big Deal, or a Left-Wing Plot – New York Times January 6, 2022
Boosting NATO’s presence in the east and southeast – NATO January 7, 2022
A significant third party candidate will declare in 2022 – Forward with Andrew Yang January 9, 2022
Seditious conspiracy: 11 Oath Keepers charged in Jan. 6 riot – AP News January 13, 2022
What is seditious conspiracy? Rare, but now part of Jan. 6 – AP News January 13, 2022
Inside Estonia’s approach in combating Russian disinformation – PBS January 15, 2022
Trump Rally Underscores G.O.P. Tension Over How to Win in 2022 – The New York Times January 15, 2022
For Oath Keepers and founder, Jan. 6 was weeks in the making – AP News January 16, 2022
At doom’s doorstep: It is 100 seconds to midnight – Bulletin of the Atomic Sciences January 20, 2022
Russia’s Top Five Persistent Disinformation Narratives – U.S. Department of State January 20, 2022
Read the never-issued Trump order that would have seized voting machines – Politico January 21, 2022
GOP Blames Biden for Russian Aggression. Don’t Forget About Trump. – Daily Beast January 21, 2022
For Many Who Marched, Jan. 6 Was Only the Beginning – The New York Times January 23, 2022
Trump Supporters Left Death Threats for Election Workers. We Called Back. – Vice January 25, 2022
PM statement on Ukraine: 25 January 2022 – GOV.UK January 25, 2022
Johnson: UK would boost Nato troops if Ukraine invaded – BBC January 25, 2022
Ukraine: How will we know if war has started? – BBC January 25, 2022
Putin’s No Chess Master – The Atlantic January 26, 2022
ISIS, Thriving in Unstable Places, Proves It’s Still a Threat – The New York Times January 29, 2022
Michael Flynn Claims COVID Invented to Steal 2020 Election – Newsweek January 30, 2022
PM considers major military offer to NATO – GOV.UK January 30, 2022
Trump’s Grip on G.O.P. Faces New Strains – The New York Times January 31, 2022