Speaking today at an event in Washington DC, FBI Director James Comey rejected the idea that the US was not doing anything about “Russian cyber threats” and allegations of hacks by Russia against US interests, saying that the lack of public response doesn’t mean the US isn’t doing anything.
“We have a variety of tools that we as a government can use to deter behavior on the Internet outside of norms,” Comey insisted, adding that a lot of the things the US can do against the Russians or others wouldn’t necessarily be visible to the public.
Absent in his comments are the paucity of actual evidence that Russia was involved in the hacks that officials have blamed them for, which have centered on the argument that Russia probably wants to meddle in the election, so anything with any impact on the election is probably Russia.
There were already speculations over the past few months, however, that US officials had launched cyberattacks against Russian infrastructure. So far there hasn’t been much evidence for this either, though Comey’s comments will doubtless raise speculations of that.
Our own allies are distancing themselves visibly and pointedly from the Russia craze. Particularly Asian powers, Japan and Korea. By insanely pushing the Russia card, we lost Turkey. We lost Iran for similar reason — either you are our vasal, or else. Else it was — but the ultimate threat was not achievable for the lack of global support. We are losing Pakistan in order to desparately show some “wins” in India. A phyrric victory — as India has also firm foothold in Russia-China camp. We are loosing Phillipynes. Japan is openly turning to Russia for economic and energy cooperation. Korea is going to participate in the development of Russia’s Far East and has a huge economic stake in China. Our President talks of Russia’s economy as if in depression, even though it is many times healthier then our debt crushed economy. As Trump said — we are just not winning any more. It is a polite way yo say we are losing big time. And he is also doubly right that we have an ideology based foreign policy — not based on interests. And now in the name of an ideology of a small cabal — US will engage in harming the livelihood of other people that have not harmed us. Time for the cabal to go. And it will not be long that the Deplorables in Germany and France get their ossified leaders out of power to revive economy.
While I’m reluctant to see a further reduction in the US standard of living — my kids and grandkids live here, too — I must say for the sake of the rest of the world and the ultimate survival of humanity, “faster, please.”
If the Russian government or intelligence services are in any way involved with these recent hacks, they are just as likely to be retaliation for NSA hacks already committed against Russian technology as the sequence Comey is suggesting. Since everything is secret, by definition we will never know.
However, we do know of Snowden’s revelations, and we know what Stuxnet was and who was behind, a far more serious breach of “norms” than mere theft and leak of information. Is the hand-wringing over the election a case of guilt and projection?
One of my fears at this point is that if the wrong person wins the election in November, the elites have set the narrative that the Russians stole the election for Trump. This could be used as an excuse to justify a military coup.
Never believe the FBI or any other three letter agency. Jun 13, 2016 ISIS-inspired citizen known to FBI: Facts behind deadliest US mass shooting in Orlando
The attacker had worked for the world’s largest security services firm G4S since 2007 and carried a gun as part of his duties, the company said, adding that the company has been trying to ascertain whether any guns used in the attack were related to Mateen’s work.
https://www.rt.com/usa/346438-orlando-massacre-citizen-isis-fbi/
I agree and would like to point out that applies to ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, NPR, CNN and BBC.
On the other hand, RT is only two letters. Press tv, Canary are more than three. All are far more trustworthy sources of information than the three letter outfits.
I have discovered that over the last decade. Thanks for your advise. I also know ad share this with others who are young.
9/23/1975 Tom Charles Huston Church Committee Testimony
Tom Charles Huston testified before the Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities, commonly known as the Church Committee, on the 43-page plan he presented to the President Nixon and others on ways to collect information about anti-war and “radical” groups, including burglary, electronic surveillance, and opening of mail.
https://www.c-span.org/video/?408953-1/tom-charles-huston-testimony-church-committee