Slashdot Mirror
US Treasury Sanctions 16 Russians For Hacking, Election Meddling (engadget.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Engadget: The Treasury Department has leveled sanctions against 16 current and former GRU intelligence officers (some of whom were targeted in earlier indictments) for their involvement in multiple campaigns against the U.S., including the Democratic National Committee hacks, World Anti-Doping Agency hacks and election meddling efforts. The targets include Elena Khusyaynova, the primary accountant for the Project Lakhta influence campaign that included the Internet Research Agency. The sanctions also target associated entities like the Federal News Agency.
As with the indictments, the sanctions will only have a limited effect. The measure blocks all property and interests from these people that might be in U.S. jurisdictions, and Americans are "generally prohibited" from conducting transactions with them. The targets live in Russia, though, and it's doubtful that they'll travel to countries where the sanctions will hit them. This is more a symbolic gesture than one intended to curb Russian hacks and manipulation attempts.
As with the indictments, the sanctions will only have a limited effect. The measure blocks all property and interests from these people that might be in U.S. jurisdictions, and Americans are "generally prohibited" from conducting transactions with them. The targets live in Russia, though, and it's doubtful that they'll travel to countries where the sanctions will hit them. This is more a symbolic gesture than one intended to curb Russian hacks and manipulation attempts.
Thing is that the sanctions mean that most Western banks are prohibited from providing them with services because they are also present in the USA. That's a lot more problematic.
Further plenty of countries will be happy to arrest them pending extradition to the USA, including pretty much the entire EU amount others. They will also be unable to get diplomatic passports for pretty much anywhere now, and if Russia issues false identities to get them diplomatic passports they are invalid and that diplomatic immunity is out the window.
For reference just ask Meng Wanzhou how that is working out for her...
Basically if they ever want to step outside Russia they need to be very very careful where they go.
Be careful what you wish for.
Spies in 2012-2014 caught trying to recruit US:
"Evgeny Buryakov, 39, who posed as an employee in the New York City office of a Russian bank [VTB bank], according to the federal complaint. The man he met regularly for the handoffs was Igor Sporyshev, 40, "
https://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/27/us/new-york-alleged-russian-spy/index.html
They went around New York developers offering lucrative Moscow property deals in exchange for getting sanctions lifted against Russia.
VTB bank, the bank involved, were sanctioned, the spies were prosecuted and their diplomat handlers kicked out.
This is why Trump was negotiating Trump Tower Moscow all through the election, which would have seen him basically receive $130 million in name licensing fees, and it's why VTB bank was to finance the project.
This is why he lied about the deal, despite knowing he'd already signed onto the deal, and continued to lie until Cohen's trial.
This is why his lawyer, Giuliani, lied about him signing the deal, only admitting Trump had signed it when confronted with the contract.
This is Moscow hid the deal, and went along with Trump's lie, helping him conceal it. They knew he was lying, they had a copy of the letter of intent he so carefully hid from the FBI... yet they cooperated in the lie.
You see why Trump just handed control of Syria over to Moscow? There's trust there, Trump knew Putin would conceal the lies he was telling to the FBI.
Actually, deliberately spreading false statements in an effort to sway voters one way or another sounds like election meddling to me -- trying to add votes is called fraud, not meddling.
US, UK, Italy, Brazil,... People are falling for it everywhere.
Flynn: no lawyers in his multiple FBI interviews
Hillary!: nine lawyers in her one FBI interview, no notes by FBI allowed
Flynn: failed to register as a foreign agent while he was a private citizen
Hillary!: made millions via Clinton Foundation from Russia while she was Secretary of State approving Uranium One deal.
Flynn: going to jail
Hillary!: Free despite setting up a private email server, almost certainly hacked by multiple foreign intelligence services, and putting classified data on it. Free despite having her uncleared maid handle top secret information. Free despite directing subordinate to remove classification markings and send classified data via her insecure email.
ALL those stories were created by the Russians to discredit Clinton to get Trump elected. I cannot believe you're so gullible - but there are millions of people like you in this country and coupled with Republican election rigging, we now have a baboon in the White House who ruined Obama's great economy, got played by the North Koreans like the idiot he is, saddled future generations with debt and environmental ruin, committed treason, made the CFPB worthless, we never got that trillion dollars in infrastructure spending that he promsied ... I'm getting tired of typing - I'd be here all day with Trump's failures.
Actually, deliberately spreading false statements in an effort to sway voters one way or another sounds like election meddling to me -- trying to add votes is called fraud, not meddling.
And who is the anointed judge of which statements are true, and which are false?
You, presumably.
Truth exists. You can ignore it or call it lies, but you can't ignore the consequences of ignoring it. Many things were said by Trump and the Russian aids that were trivially proven untrue, usually with a 30 second Google search.
The fact that Trump defends this behaviour after the fact by minimizing it and ignoring it, or flat out lying, is extremely shameful and a complete and total violation of his oath of office. He swore to protect the country against ALL enemies foreign and domestic. Any entity that promotes propaganda and lies is an enemy, for a democratic society depends on truth for its proper functioning.
That includes Obama's failed attempt to influence the UK Brexit Referendum in 2016.
One of the main reasons many of us voted Leave.
If Obama ordered me to drink a triple Glenmorangie, I would seriously consider not doing so.
I am sure that there are many other solipsists out there.
The average voting American citizen has the equivalent of the 8th grade education. (they may have a higher degree in actuality, but after 8th grade, most students start to diverge and focus on their specialties).
So think about your political knowledge back in 8th grade, you have a general idea on how the US government power is distributed, what the elected officials in general do. But most of your view on politics is based on your Family, friends, church and neighbors.
Myself I grew up near a blue state capital (most of my friends and neighbors where State Employees and very Democrat), but my family is very republican. So I grew up with conflicting messages, probably why I am a moderate today, because I can understand the points made and realize the other side isn't the evil monster as partisans tend to express.
So what did the Russians hackers do that meddled in the elections? Realizing the general naivete of the population, they were able to find what topic they feel strongly about (not overly political), find a group of people with an opposing idea. Befriend both sides and radicalize them, so topics like police shooting unarmed minorities, because they assume they are dangerous because of their looks, becomes political. And they are painted as only caring for the minority and not the general population. While the other side is painted as racist.
So now we have Hillary Clinton who was a public servant vs Donald Trump, who was a boastful personality. Your Russian Friends who are now influencing you and your feelings and pushing your view on topics to the extreme, have now either turned you in a loud mouth radical, or seeing the other side (mainly Clinton) as the enemy.
I heard a lot of Trump Voters who voted for him, not because they liked Trump, but because they were afraid of Clinton, because to them the Clinton Supporters seemed like crazed LiBeRaLs who wanted to bankrupt the country with all their welfare, and because of e-Mails which in the grand scheme of things was just stupid. While Trump with Russian Facebook influence was moderated down, and outraged was calmed, to well he will change after becoming president.
If the Russian Trolls were saying they were Russians pushing a political agenda in America it wouldn't be so bad, as people would take it as such. But they pretend to be peoples friends, and are US Citizens like them. Just to influence the elections and the government.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
Truth exists. You can ignore it or call it lies, but you can't ignore the consequences of ignoring it. Many things were said by Trump and the Russian aids that were trivially proven untrue, usually with a 30 second Google search.
Whether truth exists, as you say, or not is a question that philosophers have been arguing about for several thousand years - and they still haven't decided.
Imagine a world with no human beings, or reasoning animals of any kind. In that world, does truth "exist"? What is, certainly is. But where does "truth" come into it? Truth is a feature of statements: we say that some are true and others are false. No people, no statements, no truth or falsity.
It is a bit worrying that your concern for truth seems narrowly focused on Mr Trump and his supporters. Do you understand that other people tell lies, too? And people often say things that are untrue without realising it - which are not lies, just mistakes. (Just saying...)
Lastly, your innocent remark about relying on "a 30 second Google search" to establish the truth knocks the bottom out of any credibility you might have had. Google? Really?? I suppose the 30 seconds is how long it takes you to look down the list of Google hits and find one that suits your particular bias.
I am sure that there are many other solipsists out there.
story you should read.
Yep, Clinton paid Steele to get Russian contacts to write up fake info on Trump so she could... challenge a lawful election if she lost. You morons fell for it. The guy who made it all up is literally laughing at how stupid you are.
Hillary Clinton paid for lies, you bought it, and are screaming your head off repeating it. Face it, you don't like democracy and refuse to accept the outcome of an election, something that Clinton had said was "horrible" to think anyone could do it. Yet here you are doing it.
I bet you are so stupid this is the first time you've ever even heard that this Russian collusion thing has been a hoax since they beginning paid by Clinton to challenge an election she lost.
Idiots.
This is the begining.
After 16 people were able to reverse the "natural" outcome of the elections of the "greatest democracy in the world", Major powers will change democracy in a way that you can only vote parties previously approved by real powers. No people will be able to create new parties or run for president except for designed ones... just like happens in IRAN, Middle East "democracies", and other repressive countries.
The brainwashing against democracy has begun, once people has realized the false statements of previous politicians.
In some years people will riot against democracy (which has never been thanks to the successful media brainwashing up to now)
Leftists may have their heads in the clouds, but they're trying to help.
Pelosi said she is going to take away the only significant tax cut I've had in my life.
Kate Stynle was killed by an illegal felon using a firearm, they did not convict him and still refuse to protect US citizens by their sanctuary cities and refusing to protect the border.
They are unwilling to accept the outcome of a lawful election that got Trump into the White House
They are attempting to pass an amendment to overturn free speech because of Citizens United case.
Obama shipped thousands of firearms to Mexico killing hundreds there in an attempt to make a narrative that US guns are killing Mexicans.
Obama used the IRS to silence political opposition during an election.
Obama illegally used FISA (for terrorists) warrants to spy on a political campaign during an election
This is "trying to help". Sounds like you are the asshole, not your family.
Words are one thing; sending hundreds of thousands of dollars to influence foreign elections is another.
Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
At worst this was inappropriate vetting of an NGO. The whole "Obama used State Department cash to undermine Netanyahu" is nothing more than a conspiracy theory with no evidence. Even the article you link to makes it clear that OneVoice probably used the money in a fashion not intended for.
The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
A few things you need to learn...
Citizens United v FEC was to keep "the government from restricting independent expenditures for communications by nonprofit corporations, for-profit corporations, labor unions, and other associations". Not just corporations. But your selective choice of words speaks volumes...
President Obama topped the list of Saudi arms offers, more than any other Administration. Yet you conveniently left him out of your list, skipping from Trump to Bush - why?
California is suing the Federal Government about the border - specifically about their right to control their border, rather than the Federal Government. This is contrary to what you state.
The IRS apologized for targeting conservative groups, because it did. Yes, there were some non-conservative groups targeted, but they were overwhelmingly conservative.
Shall we continue?
Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
They are unwilling to accept the outcome of a lawful election that got Trump into the White House
Who told you that? They're a liar, and you're an idiot. No one is challenging the outcome of the election. Although, since you mention it, there have been multiple signs of every kind of election meddling on the part of the Republicans. Vote fraud, voter fraud, Russian collusion... It's like they went down a list of possibles.
Too bad all of your examples are bullshit. Bullshit like that is typical religious reich "trying to help". Help themselves.
What do you call the "Resist" movement then?
"Not my president!" ; "Impeach Trump!" (on what grounds??) "He lost the popular vote, he shouldn't have won!"
You Leftists have absolutely denied the legitimate outcome of the election, from wanting to scuttle the electoral college itself to working feverishly with the baseless "Russian Collusion" story that Clinton, FusionGPS, and her cronies cooked up to de-legitimatize the election results.
All Mueller has really found indicates that some Russians paid for some ads and that Flynn and Manafort lied about things they either didn't need to or didn't have a bearing on or relation to the election itself, despite some ridiculous amounts of exaggeration from media pundits.
Voter "fraud" is much heavier on the Democrat side, with videos surfacing of people proudly claiming to vote multiple times under pseudonames, of dead people still conveniently registered to vote, but most of all, the bullshit excuses and refusal to allow VoterID laws that would actually reduce voter fraud drastically. If you were really against voter fraud, you'd require ID. It's NOT too expensive for people to get, anyone who's already registered to vote already has some form of ID on them; those that aren't either don't care to vote, or can easily get an ID when they register.
Look back up at my post, now look back down, you're on the Internet. Now look back up. I'm a signature.
The fuck? Here is one of many that he used to justify splitting up families. You think that isn't important?
Here is one of many that he used to try and subvert the democratic process. This is what our country is based on. I will just tell you if you can't understand this: this is important.
Here is one that he used to justify cutting taxes even further for the 5,000 richest people in the country. I think that's important, because *someone* still needs to pay those taxes. These tax cuts have not come with matching budget cuts. I think that's really important.
Those are just a few. Trump's list is 33 pages long, and he's only been president for two years. And you're waving all that away because you don't know what primary elections are? Fine: primary elections are a means that private organizations (political parties) use to determine their candidates. Primaries can be conducted in any way and in any order that the parties choose, and in the United States they're primarily organized at the state level. (Remember in 2008, when the Florida Democrats held their primary out of order and the results were disqualified by the DNC? The Democratic party can do that, because primaries are an internal decision-making process of a private organization.)
Any non-American posting anything on social media visible in the U.S. for/against any candidate in the 2020 Presidential election can now be told, "please delete your post or you could be accused of election meddling, and face sanctions prohibiting Americans from conducting any transactions with you in the future."
I agree with the principle that people who can't vote in an election shouldn't be allowed to influence it. But I simply don't think that's a goal that's realistically achievable without completly breaking other freedoms of social interaction.
Barring foreigners from commenting on elections in a country is of course silly and pointless [1], but barring organized false-flag comment campaigns seems very reasonable to me. We call this shilling, and it is frowned upon in all social media.
[1] I must assume the same principles apply if the country is the USA or any other country.