Psychological warfare: A chilling prediction about contemporary America from former KGB member Yuri Bezmenov

Yuri Alexandrovich Bezmenov, a former KGB agent, asserted in 1984 that Russia harbored a long-term objective of ideologically subverting the U.S. Describing it as 'a great brainwashing,'. Bezmenov outlined four fundamental stages of this process, with the initial stage, termed 'demoralization,' expected to take about two decades. In 1954, during the early stages of the Cold War, the Soviet Union established the Committee for State Security, more commonly recognized as the KGB in the West. This group assumed control over the Soviet Union's internal security, secret police, and both domestic and foreign intelligence operations. Throughout the world, the KGB deployed various tactics to counter pro-Western and anti-Soviet political movements and figures. These tactics included the assassination of political leaders, support for leftist groups—especially in developing nations—and the infiltration of U.S. intelligence agencies by KGB moles, the exact number of which remains uncertain. The long-term plans of the KGB regarding the U.S. were unclear, but insights came from Yuri Alexandrovich Bezmenov, a former KGB agent who defected to Canada in 1970. Bezmenov claimed to possess details about a Soviet plan to undermine the U.S. not through military means but by influencing the American public psyche. In 1984, Bezmenov conducted an interview with G. Edward Griffin, wherein he made a profoundly disturbing revelation. He emphasized that Russia had implemented a protracted plan aimed at defeating America through psychological warfare and 'demoralization.' This strategic game unfolds over decades, potentially already yielding results. Contrary to popular belief, Bezmenov stressed that the KGB's primary work did not involve espionage. Instead, 85% of it consisted of a slow process termed 'ideological subversion,' encompassing active measures and psychological warfare. Bezmenov characterized demoralization as an 'irreversible' process, asserting that by 1984, he believed America was already demoralized. He predicted it would take another generation and a couple more decades for people to shift their thinking back to patriotic American values. A poignant excerpt from the interview described the state of a 'demoralized' individual, highlighting their inability to comprehend true information and a reliance on narratives and opinions over facts. Upon completion of demoralization, the second stage, ideological brainwashing, involves 'destabilization.' Bezmenov suggested a two-to-five-year period during which essential structural elements of a nation—economy, foreign relations, and defense systems—are targeted, significantly weakening the nation. The third stage, 'crisis,' could bring a country to the brink within six weeks, resulting in a violent change of power, structure, and economy. This crisis would pave the way for the final stage, 'normalization,' wherein a country is taken over, living under a new ideology and reality. Bezmenov warned that unless America eliminates individuals leading it to crisis, it is destined to undergo this process. He emphasized that failure to recognize the impending danger would jeopardize the nation's freedom. It's worth noting that when Bezmenov made these statements, he specifically cautioned against certain individuals, including baby boomers and Democrats of that era. In another unsettling revelation, Bezmenov asserted that the United States, despite appearing to be at peace, was actively engaged in an undeclared, total war against Russia. He pointed to American politicians, media, and the educational system as actively contributing to training a generation oblivious to this state of war against the foundational principles of the American system.