What's the deal with this Russian 'spy ring' deal?

[deValcourt]

Originally Posted by EricFG

After reading Philskiy's explanation it all makes sense. A media mountain out of a mole hill. I can't wait for this summers lurid 'shark attack!' stories on the news.
Is there a simple BS filter I can buy somewheres so I don't even have to worry about crapola like this????

Eric, you should see how crestfallen most of the TV weather people were when they've had two storms blow through the Gulf, but neither became a named hurricane. They won't be happy until a category 5 blows over the oil mess so they can see if they were right about it "raining oil" inland.

Originally Posted by desantnik

Don't worry. They do.

And besides, Esteban, if you knew they were beautiful Russian spies, they wouldn't be very good at their jobs, now would they.

Phillip

[ph3s]

I would like to talk about conspiracy theory and committee of 300, but my pragmatism says it's just new old game tho. Governments need enemy to keep peoples mind busy and a little scared. To have an excuse for spending budge on new weapons, research. Prove how' great ' they are and how match they care for peoples , democracy, justice for all, etc (underline appropriate one) And the best thing, one more time prove, that people need those who rules.

[Esteban_cool]

Originally Posted by ph3s

I would like to talk about conspiracy theory and committee of 300, but my pragmatism says it's just new old game tho. Governments need enemy to keep peoples mind busy and a little scared. To have an excuse for spending budge on new weapons, research. Prove how' great ' they are and how match they care for peoples , democracy, justice for all, etc (underline appropriate one) And the best thing, one more time prove, that people need those who rules.

You hit the nail 100% with that.

[Greg Collins]

Been reading the thread and thinking about the now famous Russian Spy swap where we traded Russians for... Russians , our learn-ed media , the defense budget , and our continued involvement in Afghanistan . I've come to some conclusions:

1. The Russian spy ring gave the FBI a chance to draw attention to itself and the media, as has already been said, to make a mountain out of a mole hill.

2. The media seems to care more about how they look on T.V. and whether they are "politically correct" rather than the content of what they are reporting.

3. The US continues to pour money into a defense budget, saturated with the latest in technology, to fight folks with small arms on Honda 50's- and they seem to be winning. And what is to be gained by being in Afghanistan anyway? Better deals on rugs?

4. And, after all, didn't the Chinese already win the "Cold War" (we sure as hell didn't). Seems to me they did in a very real way $$$. So, back off the Russians! It seems they have more in common with us and have the same interests as we do. A sincere, strong alliance could be mutually beneficial.

[Esteban_cool]

I´ve had the strong suspicion these last weeks that Marshal Catov may be behind all this or at least has something to do with it.

[deValcourt]

An older article from The New York Times (July 6) had two poignant passages about the situation:

"Prosecutors have not accused the defendants of passing classified information to their Russian handlers. But a resolution would allow the United States government to avoid a long legal battle in which sensitive information about intelligence techniques could be exposed."

In other words, we want the attention but not the hassle of fighting it out in court. When did they ever? It is right out of one of the final few episodes of 24.

"Such a deal would also eliminate the possibility that a high-profile case would serve as an irritant to relations between the United States and Russia. Although both countries have made clear they do not expect the charges to damage relations, the case has dominated worldwide news accounts in the past week, and indictments and potential trials could keep the case on the front pages for months to come."

Greg, your observations are not only correct, but they are supported by the very people who were partially responsible for making the story a bigger deal than necessary.

If somehow we were to unearth all of the spy swaps that went on quietly from 1960-1990 I think people would be at first overwhelmed, then bored into indifference.

Oh, and the FBI has needed some "good press" for about a decade or so now of poor public image.

Phillip

[EricFG]

Originally Posted by Esteban_cool

I´ve had the strong suspicion these last weeks that Marshal Catov may be behind all this or at least has something to do with it.

Tha Anna Chapman part he was all over.

[deValcourt]

Originally Posted by EricFG

Tha Anna Chapman part he was all over.

She reminds me of Tori Amos in her "better" days before I fell asleep during her last concert.

Actually, it's getting out of hand with offers from a publishing company and now a porn studio ($250,000???!!!). She stands to make way more being caught than she would have as a really good spy.

Phillip