Article

2014-02-08 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

US Accuses ~~NSA~~ Russia of Bugging Cussin' Diplomat's Phone

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Posted by Omavising Ebbemp9815 2014-02-08 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11127 views ] Top

#1 Rooters is claiming the call was on an unencrypted (aka plain vanilla) cellphone. One endpoint of the call was in the Ukraine. This sounds more like garden-variety bugging than genius tradecraft.

Seems to me, ignorant as I am, that if you are in the middle of an international mess in a foreign country, its reasonable to assume someone is listening and watch what you say if you are using an insecure channel. But then this is the US State Dept, eh?

Posted by SteveS 2014-02-08 00:35|| 2014-02-08 00:35|| Front Page Top

No, not wittingly.

Posted by Besoeker 2014-02-08 03:59|| 2014-02-08 03:59|| Front Page Top

#3 Look - many high level DoS folks don't think gravity applies to them. Basic OPSEC is violated on a daily basis. Most of them are clueless. I deal with this on a regular and routine basis ("Why can't I bring phone into the SCIF? I'm expecting an important call.")

Posted by Bangkok Billy 2014-02-08 06:37|| 2014-02-08 06:37|| Front Page Top

#4 ("Why can't I bring phone into the SCIF? I'm expecting an important call.")

.....I only lost 3 collateral laptops and 1 dip passport last year, why the fuss.

Posted by Besoeker 2014-02-08 07:52|| 2014-02-08 07:52|| Front Page Top

#5 WTF do you mean someone from my office left classified documents in the gift shop ?

Posted by Besoeker 2014-02-08 08:01|| 2014-02-08 08:01|| Front Page Top

#6 I wonder if Mossad has recordings of "our friends the Americans" deciding who should be in Israel's government.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2014-02-08 08:32|| 2014-02-08 08:32|| Front Page Top

#7 "I wonder if Mossad has recordings of "our friends the Americans" deciding who should be in Israel's government."

You can bet your last shekel they do.

http://www.solargeneral.com/jeffs-archive/free-speech/jews-demand-firing-for-anti-israel-comment/

Posted by Bangkok Billy 2014-02-08 09:04|| 2014-02-08 09:04|| Front Page Top

#8 BB, I'm sure such discussions took place. What I wonder is whether Mossad has recordings.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2014-02-08 10:35|| 2014-02-08 10:35|| Front Page Top

#9 Certainly there is a fuss that the the Russians bugged the call, but that the Obama administration is complaining about it is the pot calling the kettle black.

On the other hand, "f**k the EU" is a sentiment that we all share.

of course, a stopped clock is correct twice a day.

Posted by ptah 2014-02-08 10:57|| http://www.crusaderwarcollege.org 2014-02-08 10:57|| Front Page Top

#10 Ptah, yeah, I'm still wondering what the controversy is here...

Posted by Steve White 2014-02-08 11:18|| 2014-02-08 11:18|| Front Page Top

#11 The controvery is that "they" leaked.

Posted by Shipman 2014-02-08 12:12|| 2014-02-08 12:12|| Front Page Top

#12 Unlike the US, the national security apparatus of Russia only leaks in favor of their nation.

Posted by OldSpook 2014-02-08 18:28|| 2014-02-08 18:28|| Front Page Top

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