[Raellus]

It's still too early to reach any definitive conclusions. This whole effed-up situation is even more difficult to parse given that two of its lead actors- Putin and the IS- are incredibly unreliable narrators.

The Associated Press and the BBC are both reporting that the US shared intelligence about a planned IS operation against Russian soft targets at around the same time the State Department issued its public warning to US citizens living abroad, despite frosty relations between the two nations.

Undoubtedly, Putin will seek to use this horrific event to further demonize Ukraine and the US with the Russian people. He's already claiming that four of the attackers were apprehended whilst trying to reach Ukraine, and that the Ukrainians had prepared a "window of escape" for them.

Unfortunately, since Putin controls all media in Russia, this is the only story that the Russian people will hear, regardless of its dubious veracity.

IMHO, NATO really needs to step up its information warfare efforts in Russia. I wonder if Radio Free Europe broadcasts reach Moscow.

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