The West's True Enemy - The War Monitor

In an era where information spreads faster than ever before, adversaries have found ways to exploit divisions within Western societies to undermine democratic institutions and destabilize the West. Two primary forces, Russia and Iran, have emerged as major players in this disinformation war. While Russia focuses on influencing the far-right, stoking anger, racism, and nationalism, Iran, alongside terrorist groups like Hezbollah, targets the far-left, exploiting humanitarian sympathies and vulnerabilities, such as our children. These seemingly opposing strategies converge into a unified goal: to weaken the West, especially the United States.

By utilizing a “good cop, bad cop” approach, Russia and Iran have effectively divided Western societies along ideological lines, but make no mistake—they are working together toward the same outcome. This disinformation campaign is a two-sided coin, where both nations use different tactics to push the same agenda of destabilization, leveraging polarization to their advantage.

Far-Right Propaganda

Russia’s expertise in manipulating the far-right stems from its understanding of how to fuel existing societal tensions. By targeting groups aligned with nationalism, fascism, and deep-seated racism, Russian disinformation campaigns have created a breeding ground for chaos. Their objective is clear: undermine trust in democratic institutions and erode the West’s political cohesion, particularly in the lead-up to elections.

In the U.S., wealthy figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk have amplified this disinformation through social media platforms, further inflaming divisions. Musk’s acquisition of X (formerly Twitter) has given Russian disinformation a broader platform. By adopting a “free-speech” absolutist stance while selectively moderating content, Musk has allowed Russian trolls and bots to continue spreading false narratives about elections, immigration, and race relations, often to far-right audiences. These tactics align with Russian state media’s agenda, amplifying messages that deepen societal discord. Trump, who has famously claimed that “the enemy is within,” has further fueled these divisions. In reality, the true threat comes from external forces like Russia, manipulating internal conflicts to destabilize the U.S. from the outside.

Helsinki Summit 2018 #TrumpRussia
🇷🇺 Trump Backs Putin on Election Interference https://t.co/32KMFrq4KX pic.twitter.com/K7FXuHsosm
— 🌻Justice⚖Now 🌟🇺🇸 (@ChrisJustice01) October 14, 2024

Media figures such as Tucker Carlson have also played a pivotal role. Carlson’s sympathetic coverage of Vladimir Putin, his opposition to U.S. involvement in Ukraine, and his willingness to spread conspiracy theories have been repurposed by Russian state media to reinforce their disinformation efforts. Carlson’s rhetoric doesn’t merely stoke far-right discontent—it aligns with Russian interests, acting as a megaphone for Moscow’s narrative in the West.

Far-Left Manipulation

On the opposite side of the political spectrum, Iran and its allies, including Hezbollah and Hamas, have targeted the far-left, particularly young students sympathetic to civilian victims of conflict in the Middle East. These students, driven by a desire to end wars and support humanitarian causes, are often unaware that their activism is being exploited by foreign powers with ulterior motives. Iran uses this vulnerability to spread anti-Western sentiment, cloaked in the language of social justice, among Western university campuses.

A Hezbollah official recently outlined their strategy: “We’re currently investing in protests and demonstrations in Western countries, especially among college students… it’s the Western students themselves who will destabilize their own countries.”

Iran, using groups like Hezbollah, exploits far-left ideals to create division within Western societies, encouraging protests that often turn violent. These movements, seemingly driven by humanitarian concerns, are orchestrated by individuals with ties to terrorist organizations, many of whom have links to Iran or are influenced by Iranian propaganda.

Hezbollah official: “We’re currently investing in protests and demonstrations in Western countries, especially among college students.

We already have Muslim students agitating, but it’s the Western students themselves who will destabilize their own countries.”

This is the… pic.twitter.com/PldIKI3eRu
— Dr. Maalouf ‏ (@realMaalouf) October 20, 2024

Iran’s influence among the far-left relies on a similar disinformation structure to that used by Russia on the far-right. Both nations seek to exploit ideological extremism to weaken democratic cohesion. By targeting vulnerable groups, they use humanitarian causes as a smokescreen to advance their geopolitical agenda, all while actively working together to destabilize the West.

Horseshoe Theory and the Convergence of Extremes

The disinformation campaigns led by Russia and Iran highlight a concept known as the “horseshoe theory.” This political theory suggests that the far-right and far-left, despite their apparent opposition, eventually converge in their methods and goals. The extremes on both ends of the political spectrum tend to mirror each other, often using authoritarian tactics, rejecting democratic norms, and promoting radical changes that destabilize society.

In the case of Russia and Iran, this horseshoe effect is evident in how both regimes exploit their respective ideological ends—Russia on the right and Iran on the left—yet they work toward the same outcome. While the rhetoric used to fuel far-right and far-left discontent differs, the endgame remains the same.

This phenomenon is perhaps best exemplified by the seemingly contradictory actions of figures like Donald Trump. While Trump’s base is driven by nationalism, xenophobia, and opposition to liberal values, Iran’s targets on the left are often motivated by humanitarian concerns and social justice. Yet, both extremes fall prey to the manipulation of foreign adversaries, with Trump’s followers embracing Russian disinformation and far-left activists unknowingly advancing Iranian agendas.

The effort to sow discord among the most impressionable populations cannot be underestimated, as it has been a recurring tactic throughout history, used time and again by those seeking to destabilize societies and manipulate the vulnerable for their own agendas.

Two Sides of the Same Coin

Though Russia and Iran may appear to be separate geopolitical players with different goals, they are in fact two sides of the same coin. Both nations have forged a strategic alliance, united by their shared interest in destabilizing the West.

Russia, through its disinformation and manipulation of the far-right, spreads chaos and instability. Iran, meanwhile, exploits the far-left, particularly young students, to generate protests and unrest. Though they approach the West from opposite ends of the ideological spectrum, they are working together to achieve the same goal: the erosion of democratic values and the destabilization of the United States.

This alliance is not new. Russia and Iran have collaborated militarily in the Middle East, particularly in Syria, where both countries supported the Assad regime against Western-backed opposition forces. Their joint efforts to spread disinformation and influence public opinion in the West are simply an extension of this partnership, utilizing social media, state-run propaganda channels, and covert influence operations to divide and weaken their adversaries.

Fighting Back

“Some individuals on the far left, particularly young students driven by their sympathy for civilian victims and a desire to stop wars, are being exploited by adversaries who prey on their idealism and inexperience. Meanwhile, the far right is being manipulated for their ignorance and deep-seated hatred, as they push for conflict and violence, eager to start a civil war. Both extremes, though motivated by opposing goals, are being used by those who seek to destabilize societies for their own agendas. The only way to beat these attacks on our societies is for both the left and the right to set their differences aside and work together against their common, and true, adversaries abroad. But first, they’re going to have to admit and agree on who the real adversaries are. Part of that involves admitting fault that they were played by an enemy who misled them into believing otherwise. It’s easier to be conned than to admit to being conned.” -The War Monitor

To counter these sophisticated disinformation campaigns, a multi-faceted approach is required. The first step is increasing public awareness of how disinformation spreads and educating individuals on how to critically evaluate the sources of their information.

Social media platforms also have a crucial role to play in this fight. Companies like X and Meta need to take more proactive steps to combat disinformation, identifying and removing false narratives before they can spread. While these platforms claim to champion free speech, they must also balance this with the responsibility to protect users from the harmful effects of foreign propaganda, instead of using the chaos that results for their own benefit.

Moreover, governments need to hold accountable those who amplify disinformation for personal or political gain. Figures who have helped spread Russian propaganda, must face scrutiny for their role in undermining democracy. Additionally, public figures who legitimize far-left protests driven by Iranian funding must be called out for their complicity in these efforts.

The greatest threat to Western democracies comes not from within, but from the external forces that exploit our divisions. By understanding the tactics of Russia and Iran, and fostering resilience against disinformation, we can begin to protect our societies from the destabilizing effects of foreign influence—assuming, of course, that it’s not too late.

Sources:

“Russia, Russia, Russia” by The War Monitor, Chapters on Right-Wing Media, Election Misinformation, and Social Media Influence.
Hezbollah statements regarding protests among Western students.
Case studies on Russian disinformation campaigns in the 2016 and 2020 U.S. elections, including Fox News and Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit.
Research on Iran’s influence on far-left activism in Europe and the U.S., including ties to Hezbollah and Hamas.
Social Media, Primarily X and Facebook.