The CIA released another video Monday appealing to Russians disillusioned with the country’s leaders, offering them a way to pass secrets to the American spy agency.
Titled “Why I contacted CIA: the motherland,” the Russian-language video, posted on Telegram and other social media platforms, attempts to connect with Russians’ sense of patriotism and the disparity between soldiers’ making sacrifices on the battlefield and the comfortable lives of the country’s elites.
The CIA posted two similar videos last year on social media.
“We are seeing more outreach from Russians as a result of these videos,” a CIA spokesperson said. “If it weren’t working, we wouldn’t be on video number three.”
Like I said, their intelligence gathering is fine, I was not complaining about that.
Their counter-intel is fine. This is a public campaign designed to generate awareness and make as many people aware as possible. They see the uprising. HUMINT from thousands of widowed women may give them valuable information that otherwise could’ve slipped past.
Fair point. Though I still do not think their “counter-intel is fine”. Ukrainian counter-intel appears strong, but ours is lacking, unless you count the work of journalists. The work of civilians like Christo Grozev should not be necessary though.
You only hear about their failures and campaigns they want you to hear about. Like when Trump gave up info that outed some of our top Russian spies, and like this.
I am well aware that much of the work occurs behind the scenes. However, that does not excuse numerous failures. I am not willing to simply give them the benefit of the doubt and my trust, a position that I simply find prudent. They are an agency of my democratic government, and we should pay attention and be critical.