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MeatsimPD t1_iyawp0u wrote

Reply to comment by Thoughtful_Mouse in Antiwar Activists Who Flee Russia Find Detention, Not Freedom, in the U.S. by ThisIsNotCorn

> Two intellectually inclined fighting age Russians showing up? Yea, those might be spies, ya'll

Why? Because they are intelligent and of "fighting age" which I assume means like 18 to 30? That really doesn't represent what actual Russian spies have looked like. I mean it covers some but not most

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegals_Program

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Butina

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Abel

Most spies are actually Americans who are turned for one reason or another, not actual Russians. The ones who are actually from Russia are more educated and worldly than your average person from Russia. That's true for any country's spies since of course spying is difficult and you have to be educated and worldly to forge those human relations necessary to do it and understand the operation you are part of.

The last person you'd want to invest resources into and trust to carry out an illegal espionage operation is a poorly educated refugee who barely speaks English.

And they are all scrutinized, but honestly if you're worried about Russian influence it's been clear as day in their information operations and funneling of money to select politicians. Refugees are not a threat by any means

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Thoughtful_Mouse t1_iyb1hys wrote

These refugees are not poorly educated. You didn't read the article.

History is replete with examples of spies leaking through borders as refugees or disguised as travelers from nearby countries. This is a ploy so old and so ubiquitous throughout history it almost defies reasonable discussion.

It's an appealing strategy exactly because of the low resource investment required.

You think a country that will spend millions on counter-intelligence and bribes won't spend two bodies on a cheap shot like this?

It is absolutely worth scrutinizing people from hostile nations attempting to immigrate. Don't be a twit.

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MeatsimPD t1_iybb3fv wrote

> History is replete with examples of spies leaking through borders as refugees or disguised as travelers from nearby countries. This is a ploy so old and so ubiquitous throughout history it almost defies reasonable discussion.

It certainly defied your ability to provide an example

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Thoughtful_Mouse t1_iybdmal wrote

I mean, there are examples in Herodotus' account of the Greco-Persian war...

... so since the beginning of recorded western history.

This is like asking me to cite examples of why 2 and 2 are 4. You're just being petty and argumentative, and I'm done here.

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echaa t1_iybevql wrote

>Most spies are actually Americans who are turned for one reason or another, not actual Russians.

I don't think you know what a spy is...

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