US arrests 10 Russian deep-cover spies

[gparks1989]

@Fog: I'm 21 as a matter of fact. My apologies, I didn't see the portion about international relations. I couldn't agree more that Russia thwarts us at every turn and thus I'm confused why Obama is so dead set on repairing that relationship. Having said that, I don't see what the big deal is over the spies. Of course it represents a credible threat to our security network and a breach of safeguards etc, however, it doesn't seem that out of the norm. As such, I don't see how it is a barometer or US-Russian relations as it shouldn't come as that big of a surprise that Russia is using HUMINT to gain a better understanding of our intentions.

 

[Yardstick]

I've seen this before. Doesn't Bourne figure out who he really is in this one, blow up some stuff, and oust all injustice contained in the shadowy corners of the world of espionage?

nope you're thinking about jack bauer, 24 season 8

 

[Fog]

gp89: You're a good man, and I agree that the 10 spies probably represented no [yet] real threat to american security. As you've likely read, another former soviet agent estimated that Russia likely has 60 or so such resident, long-term nationals in the USA. I guess they consider it analogous to wildcatting for oil: doesn't cost too much, and, hell, you might strike a gusher one day. Obama is not the 1st american president to delude himself w/ the power of his supposed personality. Certainly GW Bush & Clinton engaged in some of the same ego trips. At age 67, the more I read history & current affairs, the more I am personally convinced that the U.S. has only 2 real friends in this world: Great Britain & Israel. That's why it pisses me off so much to see this president screw up those relationships w/ his ego & ideology. Maybe I'm wrong. I sure hope so. If not, our last best chance is November 2012.

 

[mmx1]

Certainly GW Bush & Clinton engaged in some of the same ego trips. At age 67, the more I read history & current affairs, the more I am personally convinced that the U.S. has only 2 real friends in this world: Great Britain & Israel.

If they're our good friends, why do they spy on us? Frankly at this point, they're getting far more out of this "friendship" than we are.

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

If they're our good friends, why do they spy on us? Frankly at this point, they're getting far more out of this "friendship" than we are.

Why do Defense Contractors spy on one another? It's to get the upper hand; whatever that might be. It would seem to be the same here. :icon_wink

 

[Fog]

If they're our good friends, why do they spy on us? Frankly at this point, they're getting far more out of this "friendship" than we are.

OK, Einstein: tell us who is the greater threat to U.S: security, GB & Israel or the PRC & Russia? I'm pretty sure of one thing: they [GB/Israel] don't even have any contingency plans to nuke us.

 

[mmx1]

The world is not simply divided into good friends and people that hate us. They all act out of their own interests. GB's are mostly aligned with ours. Israel, not completely. The ideology conflict of the Cold War is mostly gone; we are competitors for power with the USSR but does that mean they hate us? Or are we supposed to continue a hostile relationship as if the Cold War never ended? To borrow Alpha_Echo's analogy, does Boeing hate EADS?

 

[Jim123]

Hate to say it, but Wiktionary says you're both very slightly off...

Zut alors! Merde!

 

[HackerF15E]

You guys are retarded if you think we're not doing the same thing to them, and to many many other countries out there -- even the ones we're "friends" with.

If anyone is looking for a good read, download "The Big Breach", which was written by a British MI6 agent about his recruitment, training, and time spent in the UK spy business. It provides some tantalizing details about just how vast the spy networks of western nations are all over the world. It's a free PDF download.

http://cryptome.org/tomlinson-mi6.htm

 

[pourts]

So are the Israelis...ne c'est pas?

I am hoping you posted that link without actually reading most of it. I really don't think this thread is the place for conspiracy theories that claim Mossad perpetrated 9/11.