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Subject: Russian Spying in Great Britain back to Cold War Levels
stratego    10/26/2004 10:26:55 AM
From the Independent, via todays' Drudge Report "Russia has resumed Cold War levels of spying and intelligence gathering in Britain, senior Whitehall and security sources have told The Independent. Among the spies are at least 32 Russian diplomats who are attempting to obtain secret information about the United Kingdom's military, technical and political capabilities, according to authoritative sources. The spy network is also collecting information about opponents and critics of Vladimir Putin, the Russian President and a former KGB officer, who are exiles in Britain. A Whitehall source said: 'The level of espionage by the Russians in the UK is back to Cold War levels: it is business as usual for the spies.' MI5, the counter-intelligence agency, has warned David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, of the growing Russian spying activities. It is concerned that funding for counter-espionage work has been cut by half because resources have been reallocated to deal with al-Qa'ida. A confidential document, Espionage Threat, based on information provided by M15 and MI6, the Secret Intelligence Service, also reveals that Russian spies have been monitoring the movements of military aircraft in the UK. The classified paper, written by military intelligence earlier this year, said the agents were using the internet to target military specialists with access to secret information... ...Alex Standish, editor of Jane's Intelligence Digest, said: 'We are seeing a steady increase in the number of diplomats being posted in the UK. If you look at the profile of the individuals you see a significant proportion of these people are linked to the SVR. Putin is rapidly building up intelligence systems that have been allowed to fall into decline under the Yeltsin era.' A spokesman from the Russian Embassy, based at Kensington Palace Gardens, in west London, said: 'No comment'. " http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=576076 Couple things I can't understand. Why would Russia spy on Britain, now that the "ideal of communism" is no longer the guiding force of their government? The key things are: 1) We can still rest assured that, unlike the 60's when the Russians (Soviets) infiltrated organizations like the Weathermen, Russia has no covert involvement with the US now, and 2) Unlike in the Cold War, when the Russians (Soviets) ran terrorism in the world (albeit through surrogates like the East Europeans), they have absolutely nothing to do with any terrorism today. Couldn't be that they are still connected to it (even though the goals, methods, modus operendi are all pretty much the same). 3) It is just coincidence that about half the most senior leaders of Russia, including the President, are former KGB members. Their goal is democracy and capitalism.
 
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KiloHound    RE:Russian Spying in Great Britain back to Cold War Levels   10/26/2004 4:16:53 PM
//Couple things I can't understand. Why would Russia spy on Britain, now that the "ideal of communism" is no longer the guiding force of their government?// Quite simple. Powerful ex-oligarch Boris Berezovsky is residing in Great Britain. There is also Chechen terrorists lobby. The Rusians should keep an eye on those guys. And finally, GB as a NATO country. //2) Unlike in the Cold War, when the Russians (Soviets) ran terrorism in the world (albeit through surrogates like the East Europeans), they have absolutely nothing to do with any terrorism today. Couldn't be that they are still connected to it (even though the goals, methods, modus operendi are all pretty much the same).// Why on earth could Russia be connected with terrorism? //3) It is just coincidence that about half the most senior leaders of Russia, including the President, are former KGB members. Their goal is democracy and capitalism // KGB was a serious organisation. Its staff was made of men, loyal to the state, capable and disciplined and talented. Why shouldn't they compose the goverment now? BTW wasn't George Bush a CIA officer?
 
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KiloHound    BTW, British intelligence never stopped to spy on Russia   10/26/2004 4:24:55 PM
BTW, British intelligence never stopped to spy on Russia. Following the breakup of the KGB, Western intelligence agencies increased activities, especially in the Caucasus region. Were they connected to terrorism? Given the number of British citizens - mercs and so called 'journalists' killed in Chechnya, it's quite possible, I think.
 
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Big Bad Pariah    RE:Russian Spying in Great Britain back to Cold War Levels - stratego   11/17/2004 12:16:14 PM
"Couple things I can't understand. Why would Russia spy on Britain, now that the "ideal of communism" is no longer the guiding force of their government?" Err...strategic interests transcend government idealogy. Those interests shrunk with the collapse of the USSR. However, NATO is still a major Russian concern. "2) Unlike in the Cold War, when the Russians (Soviets) ran terrorism in the world (albeit through surrogates like the East Europeans), they have absolutely nothing to do with any terrorism today. Couldn't be that they are still connected to it (even though the goals, methods, modus operendi are all pretty much the same)." LOL, the Soviets were the sponsor of global terrorism? Just in case the propaganda has converted you to ignorance, I'll remind you the US also supported its fair share of terrorism e.g. Islamists in Afghanistan, Contras in Nicaragua.
 
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Yimmy    RE:Russian Spying in Great Britain back to Cold War Levels - stratego   11/17/2004 1:27:25 PM
Wait, so the Russians are spying on us again loads? Are they using the same techniques? I mean, could I go down to the bar by the MI6 building, pass myself off as a spy, and get seduced by a beutiful Russian girl trying to get information off me the morning after?
 
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Nomad32    RE:Russian Spying in Great Britain back to Cold War Levels - stratego   12/14/2004 1:46:58 PM
>LOL, the Soviets were the sponsor of global terrorism? >Just in case the propaganda has converted you to ignorance, I'll remind you the US also supported its fair share of terrorism e.g. Islamists in Afghanistan, Contras in Nicaragua. Great BBP - it is refreshing to know that the left is no more steeped in reality than it was in the lat 80's. Keep up the good work...
 
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stratego    RE:Russian Spying in Great Britain back to Cold War Levels - Yimmy   1/13/2005 12:41:25 AM
According to former GRU agent Suvorov (Inside the GRU), the Soviets almost completely rejected any "volunteer" agents, except in the most special circumstances. Your post being one case in point as to why.
 
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