Recent spying story raises more questions than clarifications.
The scandal that occurred this week involving eleven “Russian spies” seems to be the strangest espionage story in modern history. Here are three observations.
First – the Russian intelligence agencies work so unprofessionally as to allow “the enemy” to disclose a whole “network of moles” planted deep into American soil. As former spymasters like Oleg Kalugin say, even in the worst Soviet times there were no more than ten ‘illegals’ in the US.
Spymasters know that it takes years to prepare and embed a deep-cover professional who won’t arouse suspicion particularly in this era of advanced technology and open communication among individuals and government agencies. But even if in the recent round-up there were so many “illegals” to be found, and all of them were promptly reported, that means that Russian intelligence agencies have simply forgotten how to function. This is doubtful. Even if their professionalism has degraded since the Soviet times, it is difficult to imagine that it has really become so awful.
The second explanation – the FBI and other American law enforcement agencies are not revealing the whole story, preferring to give over to the public the most enticing parts. Although even they look odd and recall more the colorful novels of Ian Fleming and his James Bond adventures than real life. For instance, it is hard to imagine a thirty-something guy who uses invisible ink instead of an iPhone or laptop.
In fact, laptops also appear in the story, they were used to exchange some kind of private wireless messages, though some of them, adduced in the released pieces looked also strange. For instance, the network was tasked with reporting on Obama’s view toward Russia prior to his last-year visit to Moscow.
Perhaps, Russian intelligence officers are somehow unaware that all kinds of such information are openly available in the US through newspapers, on-line wires and State Department daily briefings, but it is hard to accept this.
Another task from the “C” (“Center” – Russian external intelligence headquarters, which also recalls old espionage movies) was to collect some data about “the interim kitchen” of the White House. This sounds strangest considering that the White House is located in DC, not in New Jersey, where some “spying couples” lived and subsequently were arrested.
It is also hard to admit that members of the group brought cash in suitcases from, as it was said, some Latin American country. One needn’t be a distinguished expert in US affairs to know that for years with increased international vigilance toward money laundering, any person carrying unreasonably large amounts of cash will immediately come under suspicion. Russia, which is quite active in the international money-laundering fight, must know that.
The explanation about the timing of the arrest, just a day after President Medvedev’s first official visit to the US, seems a bit peculiar. It was announced that one of the “illegals” was to leave the country, and that demanded prompter movement by the law enforcement agencies. This begs the question: it was exposed that almost all members of the “cell” were living in the US for years, if not decades, with houses and children in school. What would be the reason for one of them to leave the country exactly a day after President Medvedev’s visit to the US? As Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov said, “The moment when this was done was chosen with a certain elegance.”
The FBI apparently was justified in arresting all these people, but there are still more perplexing questions than answers. It is notable that the group is not accused of forwarding classified data to the Russian government, but of unregistered lobbying, money laundering and using false IDs.
And there is a third conjecture that the truth is in fact somewhere in the middle, that the real story was slightly exaggerated.
It is easy to presume, even without being a big conspiracy theorist that this is meant to spoil the bilateral relationship that has just slightly improved.
Perhaps, there are still many in the US (as in Russia) who would be more content if the state of mind and affairs remained closer to that of Soviet times, marked by mutual suspicion, aggressiveness and additional budgets for preemptive military plans. These folks would adamantly oppose any drift never considering whether it is really dangerous to have workable relationship between the US and Russia.
Prior to Medvedev’s visit, there were accusations that Barack Obama supposedly was conceding everything to Russians. However, no one could explain what precisely the US president was giving up. Were there billion dollar contracts or huge concessions given to Russian companies, or military and political favors to the detriment of the US? None of this. There is, however, a set of long-standing perceptions that Russia is still a threat or at least a rival.
Fortunately, either the White House or the Russian officials, accustomed to tougher responses in such past situations, are trying to avoid a flare-up and instead are expressing confidence that the scandal won’t affect the recent bilateral goodwill. “They have committed no acts directed against US interests,” said the Russian MFA spokesman. Phillip Gordon, Assistant Secretary of State affirmed that “we’re beyond the Cold War.”
If we may be allowed to kid around of it, perhaps, both sides should feel a certain appreciation: they are still interesting to each other, and when the scandal is over, they can put out a brilliant movie that will eclipse all the Bond sequels.
The opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti.
WASHINGTON, DC (RIA Novosti correspondent Svetlana Babaeva)
