Comments on: Spies Like Us: Russian Spy Ring…Many Intel Experts Ask “Why”?

By: RJ

RJ — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 17:01:19 +0000

My guess is that there is an FBI mole or higher and they want to know how embedded he/she/it is….possibly software….and like Maiya says, this was that test of the ‘emergency broadcast system’ to see how it is functioning. Being a relic of the cold war and having spent 2 decades in the bloc nations including the CSSR, I can assure you they are old school for a reason: results. Nothing can compare to offerings of sex, money, appealing to pride, and good old revenge. These are key proven motivators for players and high tech gadgets are simply things for holly/bollywood. To be sure, this is not over.

By: Mike C

Mike C — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:55:24 +0000

Well they for sure kept US agents and resources that would have been engaged otherwise busy.

By: Brooke

Brooke — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 02:02:39 +0000

I laughed when I heard that they intercepted one of the spys emailing, ftp’ing or similar, some “Intelligence” to Moscow. If they were real spies they would setup a VPN or use ssl or similar.

By: Maiya J

Maiya J — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:19:21 +0000

Well I’m not an IC member or and IA, but I am outta the box kinda gal, so this is what I think:

Option 1:
They are just immature, and in the mood for spy game – less likely

Option 2:
They had a plan, but they didn’t look at it from all angles, they thought they are on to something and it failed – somehow likely

Option 3:
They are testing the water for the real thing – more likely
They were testing old fashion methods and they gained an estimate of the FBI capabilities to detect those methods. Since this could be just a test, they made sure [if] get caught, that they would be found hard to prove guilty, since nothing was of classified nature.
Even if option 3, is not likely, they already have gained some insights to the system, more than the obvious gossip that they could’ve gotten off the internet, as of now they know the following:
1- Methods that can be detected and how.
2- FBI capabilities to detect, and know-hows.
3- Location of possible FBI agents, may be even identity of some of the FBI agents, areas and cafes’ that are now red zone locations for next time, if there is a next time, or a real thing.
4- They went through the process, so the if there is to be a real thing to take place, they are prepared. They are the test pilot.

It just hard to believe that all what they have done, was random; just looking at it from different perspective.