Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Blaine Holt and retired Army Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer discussed on Monday how Russian President Vladimir Putin is shaping the narrative in the aftermath of a tragic attack on a concert hall near Moscow, which resulted in the loss of 137 lives and left 182 others injured.
While the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack and the U.S. has accepted this claim, Russia has cast doubt on the involvement of the Middle Eastern terror group and pointed fingers at Ukraine.
Holt emphasized the significance of the information war unfolding, stressing that Putin’s narrative holds immense sway in Russia. He pointed out Putin’s immediate attribution of blame to Ukraine, highlighting the escalating tensions on the Ukrainian front, particularly with the recent use of hypersonic missiles. Holt urged proactive diplomacy from Washington, emphasizing the need for direct communication between President Biden and Putin, given the gravity of the situation involving a nuclear power with a formidable arsenal.
Shaffer echoed Holt’s sentiments, underscoring Putin’s adeptness in manipulating information to his advantage. He noted the shift in Russian dialogue towards Ukraine, despite contrary assertions from Western sources.
Shaffer also hinted at possible U.S. accountability in the concert hall attack, suggesting that the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan may have inadvertently facilitated the resurgence of ISIS-K, the group believed to be behind the Moscow tragedy. While not directly blaming President Biden, Shaffer implied that the U.S. could have done more to prevent such attacks by maintaining a stronger presence in Afghanistan to counter ISIS-K’s resurgence.
