Ignatius: Goal of Russia's sloppy spycraft not intel but chaos
Looking at Russias competing spy services, their overlapping operations against the U.S. and their sometimes careless tradecraft, some CIA veterans are wondering if the Russian spooks actually want to get caught.
The truth is, President Vladimir Putin probably doesnt mind that his intelligence activities are so blatant that theyre a subject of daily public debate. His goal isnt to steal secrets but to destabilize Americas political system. The more people obsess about the swarms of Russian spies, the better, from Putins perspective.
Russian intelligence activities over the past several years have become not only more energetic, but more eclectic, explains former CIA Director John Brennan in an email. Its a diverse, entrepreneurial and frequently competitive ecosystem.
Some of their work is really, really good, showing exquisite tradecraft. Other stuff, not so much.
Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, a former CIA Russia specialist, sees a generational change in Russian intelligence. The price of the shift to a faster, quick-kill approach is an increase in sloppiness. Ill-advised decisions are common. Theres less oversight by older, more experienced cadre.
The new freewheeling, anything-goes style is evident in Russias 2016 assault on the U.S. political system. The Kremlin attacked from three directions: GRU military intelligence, the FSB security service, and a social-media troll farm known as the Internet Research Agency, managed by one of Putins oligarch pals.
The Russians floated their covert-action propaganda through Facebook, Twitter, WikiLeaks and other social-media outlets. Who knows whether there was collusion, but Russian officials maintained contact in 2016 with a string of Donald Trump associates, high and low, in ways the FBI couldnt miss. It was the opposite of a subtle campaign of manipulation. Operation Chaos might be a good name.
https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/ignatius-goal-of-russias-sloppy-spycraft-not-intel-but-chaos/?utm_source=DAILY+HERALD&utm_campaign=8aa72f4399-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d81d073bb4-8aa72f4399-228635337
2naSalit
(86,048 posts)dalton99a
(81,065 posts)How to defeat your enemy without firing a shot
Crutchez_CuiBono
(7,725 posts)All it takes is some willing insiders. I think the willing insiders have shown themselves, and unless we proactively act at some point, the jigs going to be up, and we will have hell to pay to restore ourselves. Thats why Treason can be a capital offense. Bc it's serious and endangers the entire Country and our way of life.
BigmanPigman
(51,430 posts)Chaos is the name of the game.
murielm99
(30,656 posts)Good thinking, 99.
I know it isn't funny, but I think of KAOS every time I consider what Putin is doing.
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)it's about creating disruption and just letting the chips fall where they may.