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Russian Submarines are 'Prowling Around' Undersea Internet Cables (thehill.com)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the oceanic-investigations dept.

An anonymous reader quotes The Hill: Russian submarine activity around undersea cables that provide internet and other communications connections to North America and Europe has raised concerns among NATO officials, according to The Washington Post. NATO officials say an unprecedented amount of Russian deep-sea activity, especially around undersea internet lines, constitutes a newfound "vulnerability" for NATO nations. "We are now seeing Russian underwater activity in the vicinity of undersea cables that I don't believe we have ever seen," said NATO submarine forces commander and U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Andrew Lennon. "Russia is clearly taking an interest in NATO and NATO nations' undersea infrastructure."
"The Russian Defense Ministry did not respond to a request for comment about the cables," reports the Washington Post, adding that "prowling around" the cables "could give the Kremlin the power to sever or tap into vital data lines, officials said."

They cite the commander of NATO's submarine forces, who says "We know that these auxiliary submarines are designed to work on the ocean floor, and they're transported by the mother ship, and we believe they may be equipped to manipulate objects on the ocean floor."

79 of 175 comments (clear)

  1. Why is Russia suddenly so much cooler than us? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Man, they've really been kicking sand in our faces lately. It's somewhat embarassing.

    1. Re: Why is Russia suddenly so much cooler than us? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      It's very likely heading that way.

      Making sure you can cut ground comms is a big step in attaining that. Keep the people confused and break the interwebs. Half of the people today addicted to facebook aren't going to know what to do with themselves and will probably start crying.

      I could totally see something stupid, unhelpful and altogether wasteful kicking off between russia, china and the us.

    2. Re: Why is Russia suddenly so much cooler than us? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      There's not much cool about being a repressive regime with a struggling economy and rampant corruption.

    3. Re: Why is Russia suddenly so much cooler than us? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You're being silly, comrade. If they wanted to cut the cables they'd do that instantly. A depth charge could accomplish that without even needing a diver.

      The threat is if they can install splices and listening devices. Any idiot with an anchor can take out a fiber cable as happens periodically.

    4. Re:Why is Russia suddenly so much cooler than us? by gtall · · Score: 2

      Really? Look at their mortality rate. They aren't cool.

    5. Re:Why is Russia suddenly so much cooler than us? by AHuxley · · Score: 1

      Russia hunts terrorists and removes their bases and support structures. A very simple mission that everyone can support and understand.

      The USA is doing regime change, supporting color revolutions globally.
      So the USA has to create, support and supply "freedom fighters" all around the world.
      That gets difficult to spin as been good news.
      Faith based groups funded and supported by the USA trying to take over normal governments who do not want to fall to US backed faith based insurgents.

      Russia has one simple mission to help stop terror.
      The USA has to help remove governments globally supporting anyone who wants to become a freedom fighter.

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    6. Re: Why is Russia suddenly so much cooler than us? by SvnLyrBrto · · Score: 2

      Umm. No.

      Russia can never become a 3rd-world country. They're 2nd-world and always will be, so long as they exist. That's literally the definition of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd world countries:

      1st world: The US, UK, and their allies.
      2nd world: Russia and its satellite states
      3rd world: Everyone else.

      The only way Russia can cease to be 2nd world and enter the 3rd world is for it to collapse entirely and cease to exist as Russia.

      --
      Imagine all the people...
    7. Re:Why is Russia suddenly so much cooler than us? by vtcodger · · Score: 1

      The concern is what? The Russians might interfere with NSA monitoring gear installed on the cables?

      Why the folks in Washington, London, Brussels, and Bonn are determined to make enemies out of Russia, Iran, and -- if possible -- China eludes me. (North Korea is perhaps a somewhat different case as Kim Jong-un may actually be crazier than Trump -- assuming that to be possible). As Rodney King once said, "Can't we all just get along?"

      Anyway, IMO the chances of worldwide digital communications remaining up for more than a few hours in the event of serious conflict between advanced countries are about zero. The undersea cables and satellite links will stay up just long enough to take down most of the internet connected critical infrastructure on both sides. I make it about six hours between the first "shot" and the last cat picture being received from the last functioning ISP.

      But that's only a guess.

      --
      You can't see ANYTHING from a car, You've got to get out of the goddamned contraption and walk...Edward Abbey
    8. Re: Why is Russia suddenly so much cooler than us? by BoFo · · Score: 1

      The US and UK have already tapped the underwater cables. That is the whole story behind Edward Snowden's revelations -- that was how the NSA and GCHQ got around encryption, by tapping the unencrypted lines between, for instance, Google servers. The US and UK also hacked into Proximus in Belgium in order to listen in on GSM conversations. https://www.theatlantic.com/in... As usual, this is more NATO agitation, designed to muddy the waters and develop excuses for further demonization of Russia. The sooner NATO is dissolved and the EU takes control of their own defense, the safer the world will be.

  2. US used to (still does?) tap Russian cables.. by TigerPlish · · Score: 5, Informative

    The US used to (still does, I bet) tap Russian cables. Turnabout is fair play?

    Read "Blind Man's Bluff" for stories of us playing all sorts of crazy sub games against the Russians.

    Kinda feels like we've got a new Cold War, don't it? Only now it's an Information / Data / Commerce thing, not a Nukes thing.

    --
    The "Civilized World" jumped the shark ca. 1973.
    1. Re:US used to (still does?) tap Russian cables.. by Kenja · · Score: 4, Funny

      Do unto others as you forbade them doing unto you!

      --

      "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
    2. Re:US used to (still does?) tap Russian cables.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Turnabout is fair play?

      There is no "fair." Grow up please.

    3. Re:US used to (still does?) tap Russian cables.. by currently_awake · · Score: 2

      The Russians are probably trying to trace how/where the USA taps undersea cables. Following those taps would tell them where the American intelligence bases are located around the world, and help them develop countermeasures against anyone tapping their cables.

    4. Re:US used to (still does?) tap Russian cables.. by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 1

      The US used to (still does, I bet) tap Russian cables.

      No, former US President Jimmy Carter is NOT tapping undersea cables . . . he is building new houses for poor folks.

      Well, he does plant a few bugs in the homes . . . might as well do that while the studs are still bare.

      Oh, and I guess Carter does a wee bit of cable tapping: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

      But we're the good guys, so tapping is OK for us to do.

      --
      Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
    5. Re:US used to (still does?) tap Russian cables.. by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 1

      Does the word 'escalation' mean anything to you?

    6. Re:US used to (still does?) tap Russian cables.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      My money is on the idea that Russia is doing whatever it can covertly to destabilize or destroy NATO, which would enable Putin to begin invasions (either covert or outright) with little to no resistance, due to no co-ordination in the EU. Divide and conquer. Remember NATO was formed to keep Russia in check. I'm pretty sure that's chafed Putin's backside his entire life.

    7. Re:US used to (still does?) tap Russian cables.. by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 2

      The US used to (still does, I bet) tap Russian cables. Turnabout is fair play?

      Read "Blind Man's Bluff" for stories of us playing all sorts of crazy sub games against the Russians.

      Kinda feels like we've got a new Cold War, don't it? Only now it's an Information / Data / Commerce thing, not a Nukes thing.

      Besides, this activity has been vetted and approved by the Republican party. It's part of th eparty platfoem now.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    8. Re:US used to (still does?) tap Russian cables.. by AHuxley · · Score: 4, Informative

      The West likes to think nobody can recall Ivy Bells.
      That was within territorial waters and off limits to foreign vessels.
      Operation Ivy Bells https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    9. Re:US used to (still does?) tap Russian cables.. by mikeiver1 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Was going to bring up just this same thing... We tapped the undersea cable in the sea of Okhotsk in the early 70s, operation Ivy bells was the name of it. So they are sniffing around the cables? Big whoopy. The fact is that they can monitor/ interrupt data just fine by compromising the network infrastructure that the internet runs on. I suspect that they are looking at the easiest locations to sever the cables in a time of war. Remember that the Chinese are also out there in the cyber war arena as well. Throw in the North Koreans and the Iranians and the environment is pretty grim. The fact is that they are all facing the American industrial and military as targets of their cyber efforts to even the technological fields and to be ready for possible disruption. We are good but they are many. That and we train them in our schools and then send them home...

    10. Re: US used to (still does?) tap Russian cables.. by Cochonou · · Score: 1

      Indeed, the Jimmy Carter submarine is believed to be specialized in that task. Of course, all of that outrage is fake - it is just part of the international game. For both parties, it just makes encryption even more worthwhile.

    11. Re:US used to (still does?) tap Russian cables.. by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      The US used to (still does, I bet) tap Russian cables. Turnabout is fair play?

      Nope, this is geopolitics, not a game.

      Kinda feels like we've got a new Cold War, don't it

      Yup, and just like any war, I want my side to win. (Also, not commit war crimes. But short of that, all is supposed to be fair.)

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
    12. Re:US used to (still does?) tap Russian cables.. by Luckyo · · Score: 1

      I'll take that bet. How much money are you willing to gift me on the bet of "Russian invasions of NATO"?

    13. Re:US used to (still does?) tap Russian cables.. by Luckyo · · Score: 1

      Geopolitics by definition is a game.

      Just because stakes are high doesn't make it any less of one.

    14. Re:US used to (still does?) tap Russian cables.. by Freischutz · · Score: 1

      The US used to (still does, I bet) tap Russian cables. Turnabout is fair play?

      Read "Blind Man's Bluff" for stories of us playing all sorts of crazy sub games against the Russians.

      Kinda feels like we've got a new Cold War, don't it? Only now it's an Information / Data / Commerce thing, not a Nukes thing.

      And the Russians spied on the US, got a hold of US naval cipher machines, decoded US naval signals traffic into the 1980s, stole all kids of other military information and industrial trade secrets, compromised and blackmailed politicians, the list goes on. It's not as if the Russians were somehow unfairly victimised and that we should let them tap our signals traffic wholesale to make up for our past unfair transgressions against poor mother Russia because there weren't any. I say chase these subs off, if they refuse to leave sink them. If they claim their subs are't there the won't be missed when they are torpedoed. That's what the Russians would do if NATO subs refused to stop skulking around their undersea cables and no mistake about it. One thing is for sure, the NATO countries had better start checking these cables every couple of months or so for bugging devices. Either way, you'd better start encrypting all of your signals traffic, if the Russians aren't listening it's the NSA, the Brits, the French, the Germans, the Chinese .....

    15. Re:US used to (still does?) tap Russian cables.. by Megol · · Score: 1

      And still NATO behave like children apparently.

      Now THAT'S scary!

    16. Re:US used to (still does?) tap Russian cables.. by ElizabethGreene · · Score: 1

      Thanks to Mr. Snowden, the US programs that do this are Tempora, Oakstar, Stormbrew, Blarney, and Fairview.

      "Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." Matthew 7:5

    17. Re: US used to (still does?) tap Russian cables.. by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      Umm... short of new tech hat needs to be addressed, yes? I'm not sure what not-covered thing you think is unjust...

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    18. Re:US used to (still does?) tap Russian cables.. by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      Just because it has multiple competing actors doesn't make it a game. There is no universal set of rules (with the exception of the war crimes mentioned earlier) that govern how nation-states act, and certainly no referee to appeal to. It's a competition, but not agame because a game is better organized, has clear win conditions, etc.

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
    19. Re:US used to (still does?) tap Russian cables.. by hey! · · Score: 1

      The Soviets screwed up by assuming that cables at the bottom of the ocean couldn't be tapped. It's now public knowledge that they can be tapped. So tapping data lines does them no good unless they can break encryption that is routinely used these days.

      So looking at exploit scenarios, there's two that stand out. The first is that Russia discovers (or plants) a weakness in some commonly used crypto software, and then quietly uses that with their taps. The second is that they simply disrupt communications at some point where it will do maximal damage.

      --
      Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
    20. Re:US used to (still does?) tap Russian cables.. by McFortner · · Score: 1

      They have. As soon as somebody figured out you could use submarines to do this to underwater cables and not get noticed doing it, both sides started from the early telegraph lines, to phone lines, to internet. Everybody who can spies on everybody else, even their friends. Remember the old Russian saying, "Trust, but verify."

      --
      Beware of Sales Reps bearing gifts.
    21. Re:US used to (still does?) tap Russian cables.. by Luckyo · · Score: 1

      So any game that doesn't have clear win conditions, or isn't well organised isn't actually a game?

      When you have to redefine meanings of words to suit your narrative, you concede.

    22. Re:US used to (still does?) tap Russian cables.. by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      I'm not redefining words. Please give me your definition of game.

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
    23. Re:US used to (still does?) tap Russian cables.. by Luckyo · · Score: 1

      Common definition.

  3. How is this news? by argStyopa · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I'm astonished: either the news-makers are amazingly stupid (the US has more or less openly discussed their task-specific subs capable of tapping such cables for twenty years...which means they've been able to do it for at least thirty), or this is another mendacious effort to paint the Russians as some sort of special bogeyman (they're still our primary strategic competitor, as they have been more or less for decades even after the cold war...an idea the previous president openly mocked, I'll remind everyone).

    Either way this isn't news: it's either ignorant or manipulative. In neither case is it worth listening to.

    --
    -Styopa
    1. Re:How is this news? by AHuxley · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Everyday slashdot has to get its "Russia" story pushed out.
      Today its about submarines.

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    2. Re:How is this news? by sound+vision · · Score: 2

      It's worth listening to if you're concerned with how Cold War II is playing out, which is among the most important geo-political developments of the 7 to 10 years. What would be ignorant is if you choose to ignore what's going on in the world.

    3. Re:How is this news? by fafalone · · Score: 1, Insightful

      It's because it's righteous and just when we do something, but evil when Russia does the same thing. Come on, everyone knows that.

      I don't believe for one minute that the NSA doesn't have every major undersea cable tapped.

  4. Re: Why is Russia suddenly so much cooler than us by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    That was the point he was making. Russia does seem much cooler.

  5. Just another chapter or banter in this game by no-body · · Score: 3, Interesting

    towards well, your guess as good as mine..

    Fact is that nervousness is increasing with all the little acts some "not so smart" people are undertaking.

    How did wars start? Some event, be it a shot or some other rocket started, when the exciting level is pushed up and the spark ignites.
    Are people learning from the past, looking at the current actors, definitely no. All feeding their own insanity and the millions either seduced by emotional excitement or staying remote in disgust are suffering from those the games those jerks play.

    Truly amazing that this nonsense still happens.

    System failure, reset & reboot, but on what hardware???

  6. More concerning by Okian+Warrior · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The US used to (still does, I bet) tap Russian cables. Turnabout is fair play?

    Read "Blind Man's Bluff" for stories of us playing all sorts of crazy sub games against the Russians.

    Kinda feels like we've got a new Cold War, don't it? Only now it's an Information / Data / Commerce thing, not a Nukes thing.

    A more concerning question is: Have they installed cable severing devices that can be remotely triggered? I suppose a remotely-triggered bomb would be easy enough, but it might be something more sophisticated, such as a method to turn off a repeater and then turn it back on again later.

    If we ever get into a war with a country that has submarines (or Disney, for that matter), expect intercontinental internet and phone service to be gone for the duration.

    This would be a crippling economic tactic, so long as the US would suffer more than the country at war. For most countries it would be a net win for them.

    I can't think of any realistic way to protect this asset, either.

    Maybe satellite internet (per previous Slashdot article) isn't such a bad idea?

    1. Re:More concerning by mysidia · · Score: 2

      A more concerning question is: Have they installed cable severing devices that can be remotely triggered? I suppose a remotely-triggered bomb would be easy enough, but it might be something more sophisticated,

      Well..... we should help our carriers inspect our cables, and if anyone's installed such a device, then that in itself is an act of war and must be met with sanctions against the country responsible.

      In fact.... we really should NOT tolerate foreign nations poking about with ANY craft on the ocean floors between other countries without permission from the countries adjoined by that section of ocean --- they're only allowed to transit their vessels through that space; the ocean floor itself and any cables is clearly the right of way and property of the countries that cables across that floor would intersect, And no other country has any legitimate business or right messing with, affecting that property, or "mapping out" cables in the first place...

    2. Re:More concerning by Freischutz · · Score: 1

      Maybe satellite internet (per previous Slashdot article) isn't such a bad idea?

      It is, right up until they start shooting down each others satellites. On the bright side though, whoever finds an economic way to clean up massive amounts of orbital debris stands to make a killing once the shooting stops.

  7. Instant Internet kill switch... by willy_me · · Score: 4, Interesting

    You can bet that there will be explosives placed in various locations under the main internet communication links. Should it be required, a remote detonation signal could be sent and then say goodby to the internet. I suppose if they were going to go that far then they would also disable / destroy any satellites. Europe and the US would have almost all communications cut - good luck responding to a Russian threat in a timely manner.

    This is all theoretical but if I were Russia, I would do it. Much easier then tapping into cables and there would be no way to find said explosives.

    1. Re:Instant Internet kill switch... by guruevi · · Score: 1

      Not sure if you knew but the Internet is designed to route around damage. There are plenty of lines running between the US and Russian-controlled waters, what would blowing one up accomplish?

      Even if they managed to take out everything in the Atlantic, there would still be capacity via satellite, radio and Pacific links. The only "use" of this exercise would be to tap traffic, but then what idiot throws about valuable data unencrypted on the Internet. Additionally, if they managed to tap a line, then they would have to install their own line to be able to actually listen to it which would be very noticeable.

      In the end this is just warmongering and spreading FUD, there are better ways of destroying the Internet or valuable infrastructure, they have access to the source code of Microsoft Windows, they could probably power down the entire Navy fleet and the majority of government offices remotely since they're still running XP.

      --
      Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
    2. Re:Instant Internet kill switch... by willy_me · · Score: 2

      All Internet connection would not have to be severed - all it would take is the majority of underwater cables being severed at the same time. Such an event would cause sufficient gridlock to make the Internet useless. The "self healing" nature of the Internet can barely correct for accidents - let alone deliberate sabotage. That is why I described a scenario involving explosives triggered by a remote signal. Sending underwater transmissions is difficult. There are severe bandwidth limitations with huge antennas are required. But such signals will travel around the globe and it does not take much bandwidth to send an activation signal.

      It is difficult to imagine a more efficient way of disabling global Internet communications. Admittedly, satellite communication would also need to be severed in order to be effective. But this would be one important step if Russia ever performs an aggressive move in Europe. Even if the military can use their dedicated radios, it prevents the vast majority of people from communicating.

      The point would not be to kill the Internet so much as limit communications thereby blinding the enemy. It is a discussion involving tactics and theoretical scenarios. Only when it is reported that military subs are crawling the underwater cables does it become concerning. As you stated, all important information is encrypted. What other reason could Russia have for doing this?

    3. Re:Instant Internet kill switch... by mysidia · · Score: 1

      Such an event would cause sufficient gridlock to make the Internet useless.

      No.... the internet would continue to function in the US, but it could create many network partitions, and communications between the US and other countries would be harder and slower.

    4. Re:Instant Internet kill switch... by Black+Parrot · · Score: 3, Funny

      How would they troll Facebook if they cut the cables?

      --
      Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
    5. Re:Instant Internet kill switch... by mikeiver1 · · Score: 1

      I suspect that we know just where they are working around the cables... Ever hear of hydrophone strings? Locating the devices would not be to hard. We are all racing towards quantum entangled communications, the Chinese especially. This will render brute force attacks on the physical links between Europe and the US of minimal value at best. I give it 10-20 years before they are them. None of the countries want any major war, it is easier to hose the people with banks, insurance companies, and shitty business practices. Dead people have no need for such things and that is bad for business.

    6. Re:Instant Internet kill switch... by argStyopa · · Score: 1

      If you were Russia, the reason your subs are 'sniffing around' is just to make sure all those charges are still good after their 10th or 20th year maintenance check.

      --
      -Styopa
    7. Re:Instant Internet kill switch... by guruevi · · Score: 1

      No, communication would be slower and it would be "useless" only to consumers that want instant load times but we used to have network links that were much, much slower, more fragile and had more packet loss.

      I can communicate with Japan at gigabit rates these days, anyone remember Sourceforge Japan, that site had an effective bandwidth of a 56k modem here in the US, it still worked though for the rare occasion you needed something from it.

      --
      Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
    8. Re:Instant Internet kill switch... by currently_awake · · Score: 1

      Or they sever all connections that don't route through Russian controlled nodes, where traffic can be "Changed" or deleted as required. Our internet still works, but we can't see the pictures of Russian tanks invading Germany.

    9. Re:Instant Internet kill switch... by mysidia · · Score: 1

      Our internet still works, but we can't see the pictures of Russian tanks invading Germany.

      If Russian tanks invade germany, then there are channels of communication such as HF Radio stations and Satellite which do not rely on the internet.

    10. Re:Instant Internet kill switch... by chihowa · · Score: 1

      I wonder how you remote detonate explosives underwater. There some special radio for that? Does it work from more then 1 mile away?

      Extremely low frequency radio

      Can it be triggered accidentally? Would a lightning strike on the water above the bomb cause any trouble?

      Coded control messages. The probability of an accidental trigger drops significantly.

      Are they wired into the internet so you can detonate them from anywhere on the net? What if some hacker figures out how to trigger them?

      No. Why would you do that?

      How long do the explosives last while sitting in saltwater? Will they still go boom after 1 year of immersion?

      A solved problem: Parts of some World War II naval minefields still exist because they are too extensive and expensive to clear. It is possible for some of these 1940s-era mines to remain dangerous for many years to come. Even circa 1870's mines lasted "several years" submerged.

      Lots of issues with the old "put a bomb on it and wait decades for war" plan.

      Solvable issues that were tackled centuries to decades ago.

      --
      If you want a vision of the future, imagine a youtube comments section scrolling - forever.
    11. Re:Instant Internet kill switch... by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      Do the links from Germany to France & Britain go through Russia? Sounds pretty unlikely to me.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  8. Imagine a future Bitcoin Economy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Imagine the disruption to a future Bitcoin Economy if international communication links could not be maintained. Ha!

  9. drop some depth charges on them by FudRucker · · Score: 1

    isnt that what your supposed to do to submarines that dont mind their own business?

    --
    Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
  10. Re: Why is Russia suddenly so much cooler than by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

    Well, aren't condoms designed to protect our dicks from the crushing pressure of vaginas?

    --
    #DeleteFacebook
  11. Re:Simple solution by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

    A few thousand miles of murky dark to keep eyes on. That'll work.

    Well, if it's going to work why wouldn't they do it?

    --
    #DeleteFacebook
  12. Re: Why is Russia suddenly so much cooler than u by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Specially design submarines have underwater diving bell type airlock compartments that can be positioned above a cable, the cable hauled up and the splicing work is performed with the airlock.

  13. Hello? by easyTree · · Score: 1

    Russia have already been 'the enemy' within living memory. You're supposed to choose a new one to keep people guessing. Doh!

    --
    Requiem for the American Dream
  14. Re:Slashdot needs a Russia filter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Sure, just plug your fingers in your ears and say "laa laa laa, it's not happening! fake news!" Plenty of people here have figured that one out... jeez, get with the program.

  15. Re: Why is Russia suddenly so much cooler than us by Type44Q · · Score: 1

    The California National Guard alone can project more global military power than Russia.

    Had to quit reading when I got to the above.

  16. Re: Why is Russia suddenly so much cooler than us by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I love how the liberals all think Trump is Putin's stooge. Putin is the enemy, but he really doesn't give a fuck about Donald Trump. Putin's real game is to divide the USA between left and right, white and black. He is doing it very effectively. If the liberals really wanted to give a finger to Putin they would support Donald Trump and join forces with the conservatives and unite behind the flag of the United States.

    The conservatives should do the same thing and unite with the liberals. Support black lives matter along with the stars and stripes, and realize that there is no reason to be divided internally when Russia, China, and Mexico are all united together against the USA.

  17. Re:Encryption? by JcMorin · · Score: 1

    I agree with you, I don't think you can connect the wire and get all the data in clear text...

  18. Re:Slashdot needs a Russia filter by Tablizer · · Score: 1

    Can we have a method to filter out all the Russia stories?

    Sure, you just need to Putin the right pluggin.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  19. Re: Simple solution by Luckyo · · Score: 1

    Read the wording of these stories. They don't know jack shit. They assume, because that's what they have been doing for a long time.

    Read up on Jimmy Carter.

  20. Warning came against a background of proposed cut by qaz123 · · Score: 2

    "Russia could cut off internet to nato countries british military chief warns" 2017 DEC 14
    https://www.theguardian.com/wo...
    Peach’s warning came against a background of proposed cutbacks to the UK’s armed forces, including a reduction in the number of marines from 7,000 to 6,000 and the scrapping of two amphibious landing ships as part of a Cabinet Office security review scheduled to be announced early next year.

  21. Re:silent by Luckyo · · Score: 1

    And preparing ICBMs to attack US, since MAD is in effect.

  22. Re: Why is Russia suddenly so much cooler than us by vtcodger · · Score: 1

    Hmmm. Our memory doesn't go back to Vietnam much less the American Revolution does it? The message of history is pretty clear. Occupying forces from a dominant military control the ground they stand on completely. ... And if they are so motivated, the guys in black pajamas or homespun clothes control everything else.

    --
    You can't see ANYTHING from a car, You've got to get out of the goddamned contraption and walk...Edward Abbey
  23. Re: Why is Russia suddenly so much cooler than us by vtcodger · · Score: 1

    Mexico? Surely not. After all, Mexicans share a common language and culture with 40% of the population of California and Texas. There are wide swaths of the LA basin where you'll be hard put to find a sign in English.

    --
    You can't see ANYTHING from a car, You've got to get out of the goddamned contraption and walk...Edward Abbey
  24. Re:Simple solution by vtcodger · · Score: 1

    I'll be very surprised if there is much about Russian military capability that is not known to the US. And vice versa. It's really hard to keep secrets these days.

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    You can't see ANYTHING from a car, You've got to get out of the goddamned contraption and walk...Edward Abbey
  25. Re: Why is Russia suddenly so much cooler than u by Nidi62 · · Score: 1

    No sane person thinks Putin likes Trump, but Trump thinks he does. Putin is trying to keep the US divided and knows as long as he keeps praising Trump, Trump's ego will keep him from doing anything while Putin does whatever he wants. Trump is very much a stooge, and like most stooged unwittingly so.

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    The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
  26. Re: Why is Russia suddenly so much cooler than us by dougdonovan · · Score: 1

    you do realize that trump and putin do talk IT. why would the US waste time ( time is $ ) when putin can do the work then hook up with trump.

  27. Re: Why is Russia suddenly so much cooler than us by dk20 · · Score: 1

    thought the exact same thing, and stopped reading at the same point. Not sure what "projecting military power" means but i dont think a few coast guard cuters trying to rescue stranded fishermen does that?

  28. Re: Why is Russia suddenly so much cooler than us by Plus1Entropy · · Score: 3, Funny

    Golf war

    Trump is out there fighting it every day.

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    Only crack the nuts that crack. You don't put the ones that don't crack in the sack.
  29. So funny by McFortner · · Score: 1

    This has been done since Submarines were reliable enough to do so. Hell, surface ships were pulling up submerged cables to put taps on them around a century ago.

    You Millennials are so cute thinking you are the first to think of an idea and act on it.

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    Beware of Sales Reps bearing gifts.
  30. pow by BrandonGinn · · Score: 1

    NUKE EM

  31. Old is New Again... by MercTech · · Score: 1

    I hate to disappoint "The Hill" but this kind of thing was stock and trade for cold war era antics.
    And the way the article was written; you would think it was edited by a 2nd grader that can't find the term DSRV anywhere or look up the evolution of deep diving vessels that manipulate things on the ocean floor.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep-submergence_rescue_vehicle

    Gad, you can rent one for repairing underwater oil pipelines from offshore rigs.
    https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5b/7c/15/5b7c158be3ce5919e596f468b6a1ac4f.jpg

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    NRRPT/RCT
  32. The US has been doing the same for years by maxcelcat · · Score: 1

    The US has been poking around underwater cables off the coast of Russia, and previously the USSR, for years. Here's a fun example from the late 70's early 80's: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... Also lets not forget that the USS Jimmy Carter is probably up to this stuff right now: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...