Why Russia Keeps Getting Away with Hacking America
bloomberg.com
bloomberg.com
a) There's no proof Russia was behind the DNC hacks
b) Even if they were, why does no one care about the corruption that was uncovered? Don't shoot the messenger...
c) Does no one remember the whole Snowden/NSA thing? Every state hacks every other state, the US does it more than most, other countries don't whine nearly as much.
Recent weeks have also shattered the idea of the US 'free media'. So much propaganda Stalin would be proud...
You know, the ones that were deleted years ago.
He was not asking Russia to hack anything, he was asking that if the Russians had already got access to those emails (due to their own hacking) then they should provide them to the FBI. It's a subtle but important difference.
It's also worth noting that this is well within the scope of a treaty [0] between the US and Russia (signed by none other than Bill Clinton) covering mutual legal assistance in criminal matters (which this surely is).
If you believe that Trump is encouraging Russia to hack various people in order to influence the US election, you have probably been deliberately misled by various media outlets.
I say deliberately because if you look at the media outlets driving this story, it's the same ones the DNCleaks show are in direct collusion with the DNC. The DNCleaks also contain information on a strategy that the DNC would try to distract the public from Hillary's email scandal if anything was released from that by trying to put the blame on Russia trying to influence the election (playing to the general public's confirmation bias that Trump and Putin are buddy-buddy).
The thing is though, that if there was enough evidence of wrongdoing in those deleted emails that they could influence the outcome of the US election, then Hillary Clinton probably shouldn't be running for president in the first place.
Here's a thought experiment:
Imagine if the deleted emails contain incriminating content that would cause Hillary to lose the election. Imagine Russia hacked Hillary's server and got access to them. Imagine if they don't release them. Imagine if Hillary becomes president.
Congratulations, now Russia has something they can use to blackmail the president of the United States.
Either there's nothing of importance in the emails and Russia providing them (assuming they even had them) would have no influence on the election, or there is something of importance in them and that disqualifies Hillary as a suitable candidate.
Either way, none of that is on Trump.
0: https://www.congress.gov/treaty-document/106th-congress/22
So it is necessary for anyone in discussion to keep in mind that there is always a higher chance that the perception on Russia is worse than it really is.
I suppose you would also say that Russia had nothing to do with with Litvinenko's murder, Nemtsov's murder, Shooting down MH-17, having no soldiers in Eastern Ukraine, etc.
And concerning your comment about Stalin (Russians always did adore their Tyrants), he would have been very proud today.
Over 50 % of Russians have embraced him.
http://www.newsweek.com/putin-russia-economy-communist-party...
> For the first time this year, a majority of Russians (52 percent) indicated in an annual opinion poll that they considered Stalin’s bloody rule “probably” or “definitely” a positive thing.
Just because Russia is guilty of some things, does not mean that they are automatically guilty of others.
> nothing to do with with Litvinenko's murder
Probably the Russian government was involved.
> Nemtsov's murder,
Nothing has been proven, it is just pure speculation. I really don't think the government benefited by killing him on red square -- it created a huge embarrassment.
> Shooting down MH-17,
Russia may have provided assistance to rebels (e.g. in the form of air defense). But there is no proof at all that a civilian plane was shot down on purpose on orders of the Russian government. In most probability it is a tragic accident (as happened earlier: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberia_Airlines_Flight_1812). These accidents are bound to happen when civilian planes fly over warzones.
> comment about Stalin (Russians always did adore their Tyrants),
Russians have a complex and tragic history. It is not that easy to reject all of your history (the good and the bad).
I wonder if you are equally vocal about neighbouring countries who still adore their Nazi independence fighters...
This isn't Reddit. The folks around here are quite Intelligent.
As for Russians' somewhat positive opinion about Stalin, it might have to do with the Great Patriotic War aka. World War 2, in which some 20% of citizens of the USSR were casualties. Think of the scale of their suffering, the threat they faced, and the fact that Stalin was their leader when they fought back and defeated Nazi Germany.
The US has never in its whole history suffered catastrophes even close to what Russia has suffered multiple times in the last century. You have to remember that when you think about why Russia is the way it is today (it actually goes for most eastern slavs - my grandparents were Ukrainian and the slavic psyche you could say is a mix of stoicism and cynicism - probably due to constant conflict and catastrophe, invasions by enemies, brutal despots not to mention the harsh climate).
Agreed. Let's start with the NSA.
It's like somebody shooting themselves in the foot, why would they? Everyone is looking out for themselves --sometimes with intent to help others too.
Do as I say, not as I do.
Clearly it's because they all do it to each other. Besides, I have a hard time believing the US is not the best and most advanced at it. Other countries would be stupid not to follow in their capabilities in this absurd game of chicken.
The NYT had an article about "How should Obama retaliate for the hack of the DNC?" That is not just putting the cart before the horse, thats dragging out the cart when there is not even evidence indicating a horse is there!
The DNCleaks showed that the DNC directly colludes and influences various media outlets. They also revealed that the DNC strategy for dealing with any leaks of emails (originally for Hillary's private server) would be blamed on Russian hacking.
What we are seeing is basically the DNCs strategy coming in to play, except it's over the DNCleaks instead of anything from Hillary's email server.
The level of media manipulation and propaganda that is happening in this election campaign is astounding.
Well, repeat a falsehood often enough and it gets into the group consciousness and becomes accepted as truth.
Mission accomplished!
In the US we have the best propaganda news networks in the world. IMO rivaling even North Korea.
Its all 24 hours non-stop political agenda, 365 days per year. It never stops.
As far as I understand, its mostly impossible to be certain who did what in hacking since the location doesn't really determine who it is.
Don't think for a moment that the US Gov doesn't know who did this. The problem is how to approach it without giving away too much.
It is my feeling that all Russian Networks have been compromised including the Kremlin's. There is no other country on Earth the has the reach the USA does.
So better to sit quietly and give them nothing. Let the media make the assumptions and suggestions.
Most small nations that use backdoored devices and software don't have the means to investigate.
I read the same in the "I advise not to prosecute Clinton for the classified emails on her server" statement by the FBI investigator. Can you imagine advising to prosecute, then she becomes your boss.
At some point I'd imagine, all the "experts" and heads of agencies will expect a little promotion, or other favor for contributing to her campaign -- diverting attention from the contents of the email to the hacking itself.