View Full Version : Russian Spy Network in US Busted
Gutshot John
06-28-10, 17:15
Long-term deep cover operation broken up on US soil. (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20009073-503544.html)
Dragon Slayer
06-28-10, 17:37
If anybody here thinks the Cold War is over and the Russkies are our friends I have a bridge to sell you in the middle of the desert.:rolleyes:
Gutshot John
06-28-10, 17:50
An astoundingly incisive observation. :rolleyes:
ABC kept calling them "the illegals"......... I was thinking they were Mexican. :D
Dragon Slayer
06-28-10, 19:37
An astoundingly incisive observation. :rolleyes:
I am happy you found it so, coming from you it is a great compliment.:rolleyes::p:D
FromMyColdDeadHand
06-29-10, 01:08
I saw mention that they were trying to influence decision makers and groups here. Any word on which ones? Pretty sure the tea party is safe from association.
If anybody here thinks the Cold War is over and the Russkies are our friends I have a bridge to sell you in the middle of the desert.:rolleyes:
actually the original london bridge is in Arizona ?
heeheh sorry had to do that :)
but I agree with ya
Seems like the FBI and CIA are taking a cue from hollywood these days and looking for press with the sequels.
Hey Dragon: The Cold War is over. It's a different ball game now, it's called de-regulated global capitalism. It's a little different, and ten times more deadly.
They could have saved alot of time and money and just checked their targets twitter accounts.
CarlosDJackal
06-29-10, 05:48
I'm puzzled why people think that this is earth-shattering news. :confused: I even heard one of the local talking heads describe Russia as "our former Cold War enemy".
Did people think that since the USSR broke up into multiple countries that they became less of a threat? :rolleyes:
Why was I not warned of this? I'll have to check back with Moscow...
Oops... maybe I should not have said that out loud...
LOL
I really don't see these people as having influence on anything more than their local PTA. Its not like they were rich Wall Street types hangingo ut with the Secretary of the Treasury. I think this is a little blown out of proportion though I am sure parts of it are true.
The media does sensationalize things from time to time... ;)
Two things: I've maintained from Day One here that the US and Russia are still opponents with Bill Clinton pursuing encirclement that Bush expanded and, from what it appears, so shall Obama. Very much "old news".
The second is that there HAS to be more to this than claimed as they were doing nothing that could not be accomplished with an Advanced Google search. It's perhaps understandable that the White House is keeping everything guarded.
Gutshot John
06-29-10, 08:01
I'm puzzled why people think that this is earth-shattering news. :confused:
Who said anything about it being "earth-shattering"? Does this mean war with Russia? almost certainly not, it is however important and it does have some pretty significant implications and consequences.
The Cold War is over (so indeed "former" applies) but I've never heard anyone call them friendly. Even ALLIES spy on each other and I've no doubt we're spying on them. That this spy ring has existed since 1991 is pretty startling.
The timing of the arrests is particularly interesting given the pretty 'farce' Obama/Medvedev put on last week. The ramifications are very far reaching given the recent SALT talks as well as Obama throwing Poland and Georgia under the bus.
I'd be curious as to how much of this data lost made it to Iran, North Korea and other powers...I doubt we'll ever know.
I'm dismayed however at the number of people in this forum/thread who don't seem to think that it's any big deal. If people don't understand that the failure to secure our intel over the course of decades as important than why even bother to respond to this thread?
CarlosDJackal
06-29-10, 16:31
Who said anything about it being "earth-shattering"? Does this mean war with Russia? almost certainly not, it is however important and it does have some pretty significant implications and consequences.
The Cold War is over (so indeed "former" applies) but I've never heard anyone call them friendly. Even ALLIES spy on each other and I've no doubt we're spying on them. That this spy ring has existed since 1991 is pretty startling.
The timing of the arrests is particularly interesting given the pretty 'farce' Obama/Medvedev put on last week. The ramifications are very far reaching given the recent SALT talks as well as Obama throwing Poland and Georgia under the bus.
I'd be curious as to how much of this data lost made it to Iran, North Korea and other powers...I doubt we'll ever know.
I'm dismayed however at the number of people in this forum/thread who don't seem to think that it's any big deal. If people don't understand that the failure to secure our intel over the course of decades as important than why even bother to respond to this thread?
My comment about people getting surprised about this refers to the "mainstream" media who is supposed to be on top of things (inadvertently deleted from this post).
Those of us who "don't seem to think that it's any big deal" are far from it. It's more like "business as usual" than anything else. There is a reason the DoD mandates security briefings annually. I guess as someone who works in the Intelligence Community and is still serving; I am still well aware of these types of activities. Operational Security is something we all should be aware of even if we do not work in the field. It's no different than being aware of phishing, trojan horses and other ways you can be separated from your money/information.
Anyone who up until now thought that Russia no longer has any evil intentions towards the United States are living an Ostrich's existence. :rolleyes:
Gutshot John
06-29-10, 17:44
Those of us who "don't seem to think that it's any big deal" are far from it. It's more like "business as usual" than anything else. There is a reason the DoD mandates security briefings annually. I guess as someone who works in the Intelligence Community and is still serving; I am still well aware of these types of activities. Operational Security is something we all should be aware of even if we do not work in the field. It's no different than being aware of phishing, trojan horses and other ways you can be separated from your money/information.
Anyone who up until now thought that Russia no longer has any evil intentions towards the United States are living an Ostrich's existence. :rolleyes:
Once again no one thinks "that Russia no longer has any evil intentions towards the United States." The case is noteworthy for its timing, its ineptitude and its duration.
This should be big news to anyone in the "intelligence community" as a rather startling failure instead of business as usual.
My bad.
Preferred User
06-29-10, 20:44
Seems like the FBI and CIA are taking a cue from hollywood these days and looking for press with the sequels.
We have to get some good PR every once in a while otherwise everyone thinks we are always behind the curve. That's the problem with playing defense most of the time.
Dragon Slayer
06-30-10, 01:02
Seems like the FBI and CIA are taking a cue from hollywood these days and looking for press with the sequels.
Hey Dragon: The Cold War is over. It's a different ball game now, it's called de-regulated global capitalism. It's a little different, and ten times more deadly.
Wow deregulated Global capitalism,:rolleyes: that sounds scary maybe we should all go back to Marxism or at least Socialism to protect our selves from the Capitalist pigs.:rolleyes:
variablebinary
06-30-10, 01:25
Wow deregulated Global capitalism,:rolleyes: that sounds scary maybe we should all go back to Marxism or at least Socialism to protect our selves from the Capitalist pigs.:rolleyes:
Go back?
Anyone who up until now thought that Russia no longer has any evil intentions towards the United States are living an Ostrich's existence. :rolleyes:
In all fairness, I don't see this as being at all what he said. Can't even find an inference to the suggestion.
It is serious and it is a significant failure for the intelligence community to ponder over the next few years. To suggest that such a vast, hostile network is commonplace and should be ignored by those of us outside your stated network simply holds no water.
Dragon Slayer
06-30-10, 11:13
Go back?
Sorry I meant go towards. Or become Socialist/Marxist.:(
CarlosDJackal
06-30-10, 11:31
In all fairness, I don't see this as being at all what he said. Can't even find an inference to the suggestion.
It is serious and it is a significant failure for the intelligence community to ponder over the next few years. To suggest that such a vast, hostile network is commonplace and should be ignored by those of us outside your stated network simply holds no water.
I was wondering what you were referring to until I re-read my responses. I was actually referring to the members of those who are supposed to be the "watch dogs of democracy: The Press.
I ended up taking out the first paragraph from my last response after I reviewed it. I should have left in the first sentence that went something like: "My question about people getting surprised about this refers to the "mainstream" media who is supposed to be on top of things".
Sorry about that. This is what happens when you don't get enough sleep.
theblackknight
06-30-10, 16:14
One of them>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2010/06/29/GA2010062904907.html
Dayum
Note that none of them has been charged with espionage so far.
Preferred User
07-01-10, 22:30
Note that none of them has been charged with espionage so far.Probably because the crime of espionage is very carefully defined by United States Code 792-798 (and Article 106 UCMJ).
However that is not to say further charges will not be brought as the cases progress.
Probably because the crime of espionage is very carefully defined by United States Code 792-798 (and Article 106 UCMJ).
However that is not to say further charges will not be brought as the cases progress.
This will be interesting to observe. Based on what has been portrayed in media, none of them was in position to provide any meaningful intel. If this holds true and they weren't taken down for fear of loss of sensitive data, that would mean they were taken down to send a message, wouldn't it?
variablebinary
07-02-10, 05:47
If they are found guilty they should executed
Spies should be shot.
Gutshot John
07-02-10, 08:50
This will be interesting to observe. Based on what has been portrayed in media, none of them was in position to provide any meaningful intel. If this holds true and they weren't taken down for fear of loss of sensitive data, that would mean they were taken down to send a message, wouldn't it?
If that were the case the Russians would have arrested some of our people as a "reply."
If you don't think that getting inside information on trade, military or other policies especially vis-a-vis ongoing diplomatic negotiations is "meaningful" intel than I'm not sure what to say.
You don't have to give "the keys to the kingdom" to either be a spy or be meaningful, especially if the intent is there and you are working as an agent for another government outside of diplomacy.
If they were doing nothing wrong why would they need "handlers" and run front companies?
If that were the case the Russians would have arrested some of our people as a "reply."
True. Russians may simply have nobody to arrest, or may not bother to send out one of our embassy staff.
You don't have to give "the keys to the kingdom" to either be a spy or be meaningful, especially if the intent is there and you are working as an agent for another government outside of diplomacy.
If they were doing nothing wrong why would they need "handlers" and run front companies?
Never said they weren't doing anything wrong or weren't agents. I am sure they had intent, I wonder if they actually have intel.
If you don't think that getting inside information on trade, military or other policies especially vis-a-vis ongoing diplomatic negotiations is "meaningful" intel than I'm not sure what to say.
I put a key word in bold. Based on what have been disclosed so far, these people appear not to have been on inside of anything trade, military or political. Think this way: they must've been watched for some time, if anything, then just to build a compelling case; I am curious why they were taken down now as opposed to any other time?
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