We trade spys not kill them

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
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ummmk

bets on when anna chapman is hosting a reality show about spying and/or poses for playboy/other mag?
 

theeedude

Lifer
Feb 5, 2006
35,787
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That woman is gonna make a ton of money, though she may have a hard time getting a visa to go spend it :)
 

ichy

Diamond Member
Oct 5, 2006
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These guys were pretty small fry, and didn't do any real damage to US national security. Trading them was the right thing to do. The fact that Aldrich Ames and Robert Hansen weren't executed is what's really outrageous.
 

hal2kilo

Lifer
Feb 24, 2009
26,471
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These guys were pretty small fry, and didn't do any real damage to US national security. Trading them was the right thing to do. The fact that Aldrich Ames and Robert Hansen weren't executed is what's really outrageous.

You got that right. Probably got some of our spies killed.
 

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
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Does this make anyone nostalgic for the good old days when foreign policy was a game of chess and not whack-a-mole?
 

PottedMeat

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
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In exchange for the 10 Russian agents, the U.S. won freedom for and access to two former Russian intelligence colonels who had been convicted in their home country of compromising dozens of valuable Soviet-era and Russian agents operating in the West. Two others also convicted of betraying Moscow were wrapped into the deal.

Seems like a good deal - 10 crappy russian 'spies' for 2 intelligence colonels and 2 others. The CIA probably thought they owed the people that gave them Ames and Hansen their freedom at the very least.
 

werepossum

Elite Member
Jul 10, 2006
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These guys were pretty small fry, and didn't do any real damage to US national security. Trading them was the right thing to do. The fact that Aldrich Ames and Robert Hansen weren't executed is what's really outrageous.
Agree completely.
 

theeedude

Lifer
Feb 5, 2006
35,787
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They basically traded 10 allegedly unregistered agent amateurs facing 5 years for 4 convicted spys, a couple of whom would have been legitimately executed for treason had Russia not suspended the death penalty. So it was a good trade. This would be like Russia scooping up some American expats, accusing them of spying, and then trading them for Ames and Hansen.
 

ModestGamer

Banned
Jun 30, 2010
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Why not just shoot them. Seems like a practical solution. Something is afoot in the politics of this mess.
 

palehorse

Lifer
Dec 21, 2005
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Interesting take on this issue from a 30-year veteran of the CIA -- a specialist in Russian affairs, no less...

Spy swap was a mistake

I especially happen to agree with this statement:
"I don't necessarily advocate having kept these people in prison for decades, but a year or two in prison before offering a swap would have sent a strong message to Putin and the SVR."
I personally believe that Obama moved too quickly on this one.
 

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
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Interesting take on this issue from a 30-year veteran of the CIA -- a specialist in Russian affairs, no less...

Spy swap was a mistake

I especially happen to agree with this statement:
"I don't necessarily advocate having kept these people in prison for decades, but a year or two in prison before offering a swap would have sent a strong message to Putin and the SVR."
I personally believe that Obama moved too quickly on this one.

Tell that to the people we swapped them for.
 

RedChief

Senior member
Dec 20, 2004
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We probably did move to fast but we got a good deal. Engineers are worth a lot more then Academics/Journalists.
 

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
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BTW what message would we be sending by imprisoning them for a few years? Not to send spies? Why would Putin care whether his spies are imprisoned or not?
 

fantolay

Golden Member
Dec 6, 2009
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BTW what message would we be sending by imprisoning them for a few years? Not to send spies? Why would Putin care whether his spies are imprisoned or not?

He might not think of Obama as such a pussy. Obama has no sack and just slaps Putin on the wrist.
 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
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Retarded. It's like trading gold for silver .... The ruskies are 20 years at least behind us while we actually have something to steal. Head shots all of them. But I don't expect the pussy bitch ass asshole in WH to understand he endangers us further every day.
 

Narmer

Diamond Member
Aug 27, 2006
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The spies for America must feel like they won the lotto since they will now be in the West while those being deported probably don't want to live in Russia.
 

Budmantom

Lifer
Aug 17, 2002
13,103
1
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These guys were pretty small fry, and didn't do any real damage to US national security. Trading them was the right thing to do. The fact that Aldrich Ames and Robert Hansen weren't executed is what's really outrageous.

And you know they were small fry because...?... that's what was reported.

We all know this administration wouldn't lie.
 

BeauJangles

Lifer
Aug 26, 2001
13,941
1
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Retarded. It's like trading gold for silver .... The ruskies are 20 years at least behind us while we actually have something to steal. Head shots all of them. But I don't expect the pussy bitch ass asshole in WH to understand he endangers us further every day.

Yup. Piss off another nuclear power for absolutely no reason, risk having our own spies in Russia killed, and all for what gain exactly? Sending a "strong" message that we won't tolerate spying? This sort of solution is what has gotten us in trouble in the past.