Give Terrorism a Break: Russian Spies are Back!
Posted: Tuesday, June 29, 2010
by Jennifer Stewart
Stepping out of History
Once upon a time the word "spy" struck a chord of terror into people's hearts, including my own. Now it is a benign word with no capacity to scare, because frankly, who cares? So long as they don't have bombs. Once you've known terrorism, spying is child's play. Not to the Feds, though. These guys have awfully long memories. Just about a week ago, the Russian president paid the US a visit. Probably just wanted to say hi, how're y'all doin. In Russian of course. Everybody probably shook hands and chatted about the good old days. Actually, Presidents Obama and Medvedev allegedly spoke about strengthening ties. I think that means peace, right?
But you just can't trust those Russians, can you? A week later, ten of them were arrested under suspicion of Being Agents engaged in a hush-hush, deep-under-cover, mysterious, long-term Mission. One of them was a journalist who lives in the US and writes for "El Diario", a Spanish newspaper. Very damning evidence, I'd say. Another is named as Anna Chapman. Well, with a name like that, please, it's a no-brainer, it's obviously she's a trained intelligence operative.
They have apparently been worming their way deep into the US's cache of secrets. What secrets nobody seems to know. The words forged identities, secret communications, money drops, private wireless communications, invisible ink, are being bandied about, and it seems Ms. Chapman has a friend called Semenko and the two of them are in contact with a Russian government official. How? They were in a bookshop together and the official drove past.
The FBI have been watching these guys since the 1990's, secretly video-taping them, breaking into their homes. Ooh, very cloak and dagger. Very film noir. Doesn't quite sound real, but frankly, if that's all the FBI have got on their plates, it's a bit of a relief.
Let's hope this isn't the beginning of an excuse for a war. Think about this: major opposition to the man who has taken on the almost impossible task of cleaning up the mess the last President left behind. Impossible why? Because the people who supported that last president don't want to acknowledge what a mess he made. Why the opposition? Fear of losing status quo? Everybody loves a scapegoat?
Well, whatever the reason, opposition is amassing. A big headline is needed. Let's make up something about the Russians. The President wants to make friends with them, knowing that they are spies. He's trying to take down the US. Our very own President! We always knew there was something about him. That should get rid of him. Then we can get the old one back, and we can have a war, that'll fix the economy.
I know, I'm a raving lunatic. I read too many spy novels, and watch too many movies. I didn't make up the arrests, though, or the FBI activities. True as Bob.
They have apparently been worming their way deep into the US's cache of secrets. What secrets nobody seems to know. The words forged identities, secret communications, money drops, private wireless communications, invisible ink, are being bandied about, and it seems Ms. Chapman has a friend called Semenko and the two of them are in contact with a Russian government official. How? They were in a bookshop together and the official drove past.
The FBI have been watching these guys since the 1990's, secretly video-taping them, breaking into their homes. Ooh, very cloak and dagger. Very film noir. Doesn't quite sound real, but frankly, if that's all the FBI have got on their plates, it's a bit of a relief.
Let's hope this isn't the beginning of an excuse for a war. Think about this: major opposition to the man who has taken on the almost impossible task of cleaning up the mess the last President left behind. Impossible why? Because the people who supported that last president don't want to acknowledge what a mess he made. Why the opposition? Fear of losing status quo? Everybody loves a scapegoat?
Well, whatever the reason, opposition is amassing. A big headline is needed. Let's make up something about the Russians. The President wants to make friends with them, knowing that they are spies. He's trying to take down the US. Our very own President! We always knew there was something about him. That should get rid of him. Then we can get the old one back, and we can have a war, that'll fix the economy.
I know, I'm a raving lunatic. I read too many spy novels, and watch too many movies. I didn't make up the arrests, though, or the FBI activities. True as Bob.
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Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)With this new threat, terrorism and Mexico unraveling right under our nose...literally...I feel safe in saying it's time to be afraid....very afraid.Great read!I actually find it hard to take the Russian thing seriously. It just sounds like something fabricated!
Hi Jennifer.I am so tired of the drama. Can't we all just settle down and get down to the business of leading happy, well-adjusted, non-violent lives? Apparently not. I really do wish we didn't have a history of using wars to fix the economy. Because it worked in the past the temptation to use it in the future is just too great. I'm talking real wars here, as I imagine you were. Not these silly things we are doing in the Middle East that are draining the money from our country that we could be using to fix it. Argh! Well, I've said my mind. Thanks for the platform. Guess you can tell that your article struck a nerve in me. Good Job!Actually, it's very well written as are all your articles.Big hugs,DianneThanks, Dianne, and you're welcome to the Argh Platform!I switched onto Sky news last night to see what they were doing with the Russians, and got so disgusted with the hype and total lack of intelligent comment, and the absolute stupidity of it all. I just got sick of it - I hit my own nerve! Too much noise.I'd rather be sailing - well, actually I don't sail. Horse-riding? Singing...Jxxx
Big business and and big money will use their puppets in the government to do anything to distract attention from the wealth disparity in America. Thanks Jennifer.You put it so succinctly, e. This is so blatantly ludicrous I can't believe anyone's believing it.
hi Jen,Good to read someone trying to contain useless hysteria.AbhyThanks, Abhy.
It could be a red herring thrown into the pond... then again maybe not- we may be fooled by the crocodile sunning himself on the banks- We cannot afford to be fooled by Russia-It's hard to know, isn't it, whether it's hype or something real.
Hi Jennifer,Being a student and teacher of most things Criminal Justice I know a little of how this works. This type of thing has been going on for years and is still going on. The Russians and Chinese want our "stuff" and have plants in our country. The US wants their "stuff" and has agents looking to get info from them. The word is that the Russians and Chinese are more patient than Americans and keep plants established for years and years where the US works at spying differently. No conspiracy, just good old fashioned James Bond spy stuff without the cool stuff.Too bad it's all about destructive things. Imagine if they all worked together. Mind you a lot of people would be without a job and a Mission. But then they could all just switch to the movies! Thanks for the info, Steve.
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