dagblog - Comments for "From Russia with Love: A Tsar is Born (updated)"

Thanks for the recommendation

A Guy Called LULU — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 18:06:25 +0000

Thanks for the recommendation, NCD. I agree with most of what the author says as setup and background even though I am unconvinced of his conclusion. I think the introduction is particularly good.

Good points. There is a

NCD — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 20:13:21 +0000

In reply to Good read, makes me think

Good points. There is a reason Snowden wound up in Moscow, and it's not because Putin is opening a hostel for wayward do gooders.

Good read, makes me think

PeraclesPlease — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 07:32:14 +0000

In reply to As an explanation of the

Good read, makes me think they cut their teeth on the Sanders operation and then continued into the generals.

The "asymmetry" mentioned is striking - that presumably the do-gooder is in theory condemning all governments or persons in violation of this ideal, but only actually does anything against one. Where else have we seen this recently?

Snowden's timeline is interesting & worth considering, including when he stopped posting to Ars, as well as what happened with the "bungled" escape from Hong Kong.

I do think there's a bit too much glib excusing of NSA/FBI activities, as there are documented cases of entrapment that certainly utilize these services, but it would seem easier to enforce/prevent the entrapment through policy overall. (the jail-breaking of the iPhone incident also had quite a bit of FBI posturing in it)

I would add this, a Glenn

NCD — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 01:29:45 +0000

In reply to As an explanation of the

I would add this, a Glenn Greenwald attack on journalists who are writing about Trump-Putin connections,

Greenwald: "If you're in a political argument & aren't sure what to say next, just tell your adversary they love Putin, then walk away with head high."

from this summer. Sputnik news, Moscow.

As an explanation of the

NCD — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 01:07:20 +0000

In reply to So this says Snowden works

As an explanation of the Snowden 'operation', taking his jobs, movements, actions, and his flight and where he is now, Lucas says it is possible if not likely he was an idealistic loner who was duped by 'actors' or 'assets' of Russian intelligence.

To copy a million or more documents which Lucas believes are almost certainly now in the hands of Russian intelligence.

He mentions Wikileaks having a record of being 'useful' to Russian intelligence in various ways. And the book was written before the Hillary email Russian/Wikileaks partnership.

Recall PFC Manning, and how he was upset at the US helicopter killing the journalists.

When Wikileaks/Greenwald got hold of him Manning leaked 1/2 million documents. Most he never read.

They milked him for all he was worth sealing his fate and profiting themselves from the journalistic notoriety.

Snowden also took more than he needed for exposing the privacy issue.

Lucas believes he was encouraged and duped into doing so, he was used and was naive as to what was going on as to Russian hands manipulating him and his contacts.

Lucas thinks it is sheer folly and wishful thinking to believe Snowden or anyone else has been able to keep this huge amount of material out of Russian hands.

I would suggest you read the book. It is 76 pages.

So this says Snowden works

PeraclesPlease — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 23:34:18 +0000

In reply to Wikileaks gives every

So this says Snowden works for Wikileaks, Snowden passed on passwords to Russians and/or WIkileaks, or some other combination?

Wikileaks gives every

NCD — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 23:05:36 +0000

In reply to From Russia with Love: A Tsar is Born (updated)

Wikileaks gives every indication of being an 'asset' of Russian intelligence.

Edward Lucas, intelligence expert and former Moscow bureau chief for the UK Economist magazine, book The Snowden Operation posits the case that Snowden, a idealistic narcissist dupe, was manipulated by Russian assets to steal 20+ coworker passwords and over a million documents. He made off with far more than necessary for his purported reasons.

Whistleblowers report on what they know through their job. They don't illegally aquire 20 or more passwords of others unless the mission is espionage.

Lucas as says Snowden's location is secret, but appears to be in an area controlled by Russian intelligence agencies.

The book is only 99¢ Kindle, free for Prime, and about 76 pages.