1stclassalan
Well-Known Member
Well, looky here - we have yet another Wikileaks inspired spy drama hitting the headlines.
A certain Mr Snowden, whom, we are informed, used to work for the American National Security Authority - which is rumoured to be a sort of superspook operation - so dark 'tis almost wicked!
It's uncertain what he has access to or what his job actually was but after a merry jaunt half way around the world, he is apparantly holed up in the transit lounge at Moscow airport applying for political asylum to any country that has running water and decent coffee.
Already, he is being vaunted in the press and Medja as a "whistleblower" and much credibility is being placed on what he has to say and the American authorities are helping that along by rushing through various legal instruments to get him back home.
The thought occurs to me that this is all complete hogwash. I'm helped in this opinion by the appearance of a document marked "Top Secret" - the Americans don't have a catagory by this name - all their secrets are merely "Classified" and the grade of such classification is very much down to the guys who produce it. Much of it is no more than a discussion topic and that is all this lowly guy would ever likely get his hands on. In my opinion - if you see a document marked "Top Secret" - you are watching a film!! James Bond features in a ripping yarn entitled "For your eyes only" - even this is WRONG as the correct designation is "eyes only" ( no "For" or "your") there will then be a subscription list on the cover - if you're name isn't on the list - you are in contravention of the Official Secrets Act even opening it.
He could also be a plant! If he has his laptop with him - it probably has some dire trojan inside waiting for anyone so bold as to plug into it - ready to infect any Russian or Chinese computers - only fair after all because they've been doing that for years!
A certain Mr Snowden, whom, we are informed, used to work for the American National Security Authority - which is rumoured to be a sort of superspook operation - so dark 'tis almost wicked!
It's uncertain what he has access to or what his job actually was but after a merry jaunt half way around the world, he is apparantly holed up in the transit lounge at Moscow airport applying for political asylum to any country that has running water and decent coffee.
Already, he is being vaunted in the press and Medja as a "whistleblower" and much credibility is being placed on what he has to say and the American authorities are helping that along by rushing through various legal instruments to get him back home.
The thought occurs to me that this is all complete hogwash. I'm helped in this opinion by the appearance of a document marked "Top Secret" - the Americans don't have a catagory by this name - all their secrets are merely "Classified" and the grade of such classification is very much down to the guys who produce it. Much of it is no more than a discussion topic and that is all this lowly guy would ever likely get his hands on. In my opinion - if you see a document marked "Top Secret" - you are watching a film!! James Bond features in a ripping yarn entitled "For your eyes only" - even this is WRONG as the correct designation is "eyes only" ( no "For" or "your") there will then be a subscription list on the cover - if you're name isn't on the list - you are in contravention of the Official Secrets Act even opening it.
He could also be a plant! If he has his laptop with him - it probably has some dire trojan inside waiting for anyone so bold as to plug into it - ready to infect any Russian or Chinese computers - only fair after all because they've been doing that for years!
Last edited: