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Putin Hints At US Election Meddling By 'Patriotically Minded' Russians (nytimes.com)

Two anonymous readers share a report: Shifting from his previous blanket denials, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia said on Thursday that "patriotically minded" private Russian hackers could have been involved in cyberattacks last year to help the presidential campaign of Donald J. Trump (Editor's note: the link could be paywalled; alternative source). While Mr. Putin continued to deny any state role, his comments to reporters in St. Petersburg were a departure from the Kremlin's previous position: that Russia had played no role whatsoever in the hacking of the Democratic National Committee and that, after Mr. Trump's victory, the country had become the victim of anti-Russia hysteria among crestfallen Democrats. Raising the possibility of attacks by what he portrayed as free-spirited Russian patriots, Mr. Putin said that hackers "are like artists" who choose their targets depending how they feel "when they wake up in the morning."

15 of 195 comments (clear)

  1. Throwing them under the bus by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Oh, come on. Nobody is fooled by this, are you? Of course when Putin gave his cyberwarfare people their marching orders, they all knew that if caught they'd be disavowed by the State. Standard operating procedure. Every nation on the planet that has covert intelligence organizations does the same exact thing. Nothing to see here..

    1. Re:Throwing them under the bus by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Nonsense. What Putin wants is to make Russia into an empire again, but without all the baggage the Soviet Union had. A weak U.S. is a step towards weakening NATO, which is a major roadblock standing in the way of the conquest of Eastern Europe. Wouldn't at all be surprised if Russia was influencing the UK with regards to Brexit, since the UK leaving the EU will weaken the EU as well, which is to Russias' advantage, too. In general: Foment chaos in Europe, making it easier to build an empire. That's what Putin is after.

    2. Re:Throwing them under the bus by DickBreath · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Nailed it in one Mr. Garibaldi.

      The point was to create a weak, ineffective US. That is done by installing a weak, ineffective illiterate impotent president who is unable to think or speak in complete sentences. He will then install weak ineffective people into top government positions. Often people at odds with the very government function they are supposed to be running. Then leave vast numbers of government positions vacant -- running on autopilot. It's a plus if the president is unable to control himself with women in professional situations. Unable to be told NO on anything. Unable to take advice. A vindictive person without class who must not only win, but must utterly humiliate his perceived enemies.

      Alienate the press. Alienate our allies. Get foreign heads of state to to make fun of you behind your back. Treat a NK missile launch as if it is after dinner entertainment for your resort guests. Let one of your rich guests get a picture with the nuclear football guy. I could go on and on, but I'll get near a point . . .

      Does anyone actually believe that if a major international crisis broke out right now that the US administration would have a clue how to handle it? The current president doesn't seem to even be aware of who he is, or where he is during a solemn ceremony honoring fallen soldiers.

      --

      I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
    3. Re:Throwing them under the bus by Nidi62 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      On top of that, nobody that claims they wanted Trump to win can cite a single benefit that they have or would gain by having Trump in place,

      Except for the fact that Russia had regular contact with multiple people in Trump's campaign who were in place to have considerably powerful roles in a Trump administration: Flynn, Manafort (until he got run out), Kushner, Sessions apparently, Page. And those are just the ones we know about. And don't forget the intercepts we have with the Russians stated that they believed they could influence Trump through Flynn. Other than putting a complete puppet into office, just about the best thing a state can hope for is an ability to directly influence the policies of a rival. Trump himself may not have had ties or contacts with the Russian government, but the Russian government was doing everything they could to make sure they had a man inside Trump's administration.

      --
      The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
    4. Re:Throwing them under the bus by ch0knuti · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Come on mods, Flamebait? I thought that he was honestly voicing his opinion. If you don't agree with his opinion that doesn't make it a flamebait. IMHO the DNC hack was a service to American democracy, despite the result. (not a suppoter of Mr. Trump)

  2. Big surprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Can they all get the eff off of slashdot now?

  3. Here it comes by smooth+wombat · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The unraveling of the denials begins. This is the exact same process Putin used when Russia stole Crimea from Ukraine. For months Putin denied Russian troops had been sent in to steal the land. Denial after denial was given.

    Then, miraculously, Putin admitted he ordered Russian troops to seize the land. The excuse he used was those Russian troops were "helping" the Crimean sefl-defense forces. And by helping he means the Russian troops were doing the dirty work.

    So now the excuse of "patriotic" Russians doing the hacking is being tossed out. What patriotism? Is he now admitting they were helping Trump win the election? That would be an interesting admission since he's denied any Russian meddling in the election despite the overwhelming evidence.

    --
    We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
  4. Patriotic Russians & TREASONOUS Americans by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    I'm sick of watching Americans line up to enthusiastically defend or hide Russia's attack on our democracy.

    You fucking traitors will have to live with your actions for the rest of your lives.

    I will not forgive any of your jackasses without a full apology and acknowledgement of your treasonous behavior.

    1. Re:Patriotic Russians & TREASONOUS Americans by poity · · Score: 2, Insightful

      American democracy was attacked when the secret ethical misconduct of the DNC was revealed to the public. In order to preserve American democracy, misdeeds must remain guarded and kept from the public eye.

      --
      your thin skin doesn't make me a troll
    2. Re:Patriotic Russians & TREASONOUS Americans by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

      Ah, well, you make the mistake the GP made worse by minimizing it. Which was the GP's point, if I'm not mistaken.

      The Russian meddling in the US election might not be treason, but it certainly is criminal. This is something rather more serious than "disagreeing".

      The political Right has continually denied Russian interference. The evidence keeps piling up and bit by bit, the Right is now altering their denials:

      1). There was no Russian interference!
      2). The Russians only hacked the DNC, which isn't the whole election, so that doesn't count!
      3). Hacking the DNC gave us information, and information is good, thus the hacking was good!
      4). The Russians hacked both the DNC and the RNC, but the RNC was morally spotless and no dirt was found, and so the hacking was good!
      5). The Russians hacked both the DNC and the RNC, didn't release dirt on the RNC but the RNC was my side and so the hacking was good!
      6). The Russian hacking happened but it didn't affect my vote, so the hacking was ineffective!
      7). The Russian hacking happened but it didn't affect anyone's vote, so the hacking was ineffective!
      8). Everyone hacks, so talking about hacking is pointless. Stop talking about Russian hacking!
      9). The hackers weren't Russian!
      10). The hackers were Russian, but they weren't state sponsored!
      11). The hackers were Russian, and they were state sponsored, but Putin didn't know!
      12). The hackers were Russian, and they were state sponsored, and Putin knew, but Trump badly wants a Russian friend, and so we'll overlook it!
      13). We won't overlook the hacking. We'll send a strongly worded memo to Putin and his feelings will be hurt!
      14). We'll take strong measures. We will refuse to accept Russian sovereignty in the Crimea!
      15). We'll take strong measures. We will consider sending a strong memo over Russian actions in Syria!
      16). We'll take strong measures. We will actually send a strong memo over Russian actions in Syria! ... etc.

      The apologists cannot accept reality, and won't listen to facts or evidence. Why would they? Trump denies facts and evidence all the time, and this ultimately comes back to the Trump electoral campaign.

  5. The same 'Patriotically Minded' Russians by plague911 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That invaded Ukraine and Georgia. Nothing to do with their government at all. Nothing.

    Seriously Putin's word as a man is a joke

  6. Do we really learn anything new ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The only people who still believe that Putin did not try to interfere in any way with the U.S. election are the same people who believed that Clinton ran a pedophile ring from the basement of a pizza restaurant.

    `Nuff said.

  7. Re:More fake news from the New York Times by DickBreath · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Don't you mean "the failing New York Times"? Do you not quote your own orange clown in chief? Are you an incompetently programmed bot?

    Fake News? Did, or did not Putin say this?

    What about the Reuters article link that was provided? Is that also fake news?

    --

    I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
  8. Re:Russian Patriots? by SpankiMonki · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Not in my book. Exposing wrongdoing is a good thing, no matter who it embarrasses.

  9. Fear Built on a House of Falsehoods by Texmaize · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sadly, the above post is typical of modern slashdot, where group think and unsubstantiated attacks are modded up as "smart.".

    Statement 1: Weak and Ineffective US: This statement is founded on the premise that the United States is somehow weak and ineffective. There is no reasons given to back this claim, and non that could be possibly substantiated. What exactly do you suppose as made the U.S. weaker? Is it the call to increase U.S. industry by undoing horribly lopsided trade deals that drain our wealth? Is the U.S. made weaker by asking NATO members to actually contribute to their defense at a proportion to the GDP as ours? Is it made weaker by asking the press to cover both political parties with the same zeal, instead of cheerleading for one? I am confused by how weaker?

    Statement 2: Illiterate President. As is well known, he has ran a successful multibillion dollar corporation. Although he did start with wealth, he increased it several times. A good analog would be Elon Musk, turning a small company Zip2 into larger ones through sales and mergers. Success at these levels is rarely the work of an illiterate. Disagreeing with someone does not make the illiterate, but it if you think it does that means you are intellectually close to one.

    Furthermore, we know he graduated from Fordham and Penn with and economics degree. We do not know his GPA. In contrast, the previous president had failing grades at a private high school (read his autobiography) yet somehow got admitted to an Ivy league school, and his grades are also not known, but was not reported to be a great student. Did you hold him to the same criticism?

    Alienate the press: CNN actually gave his opponent the questions for the debate. The coverage on the other networks were laughably biased, with numerous other errors and gaffs made. The press in the U.S. is no longer the press, but an arm of the democrat party. This is dangerous and tragic and should not be applauded. The press should be about uncovering truth, not suppressing it. Speaking of which... The whole Russia is blame part of this thread. Lets be clear about what happened. Hillary Clinton and the DNC conspired to fix the democrat primary. They controlled the media, the timing of events, and funding to make Berny Sanders seem like a buffoon and have no chance. In all honesty, he had drawn many of the same concussions about the system being corrupt as Mr. Trump, but offered different solutions. The press knowingly helped burry the story of the unfair primary election.

    The Russian hackers helped bring to light these issues. Through them, we learned that the Sanders supporters were denied a legitimate shot. The Russians did not report anything that was untrue. Do you understand that? The Russians were the force of truth and light in this election. For that, we in the U.S. should be ashamed.

    In this thread and others like it today, people are acting like the Russians made up horribly untruths and it cost Hillary the election. For some reason of nothing less than extreme stupidity, there are posters who conveniently seem to forget what the so called fake news was, and why it worked. Hillary attempted to fix the fucking election, and thankfully, despite a biased media, she got caught. The people who got cheated were angry, and did not vote. Its that simple.

    So, instead of feeling this false righteousness because you hate the current president for no particularly good reason, look in the mirror. Please stop the bullshit character assassinations. Try to grow up, and hold all politicians to a high standard, instead of just one.

    --
    "Liberalism is a very noble idea, currently controlled by some very bad people. Be sure you do not get the two confused.