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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
US Accuses NSA Russia of Bugging Cussin' Diplomat's Phone
2014-02-08
In the recordings, US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and Washington's Kiev ambassador frankly discuss which opposition figures should go into the new Ukrainian government -- comments that play directly into Russia's charges of Western meddling in its neighbour's affairs.

"That would be great I think to help glue this thing and have the UN glue it and you know, f**k the EU," Nuland says at one point.

Nuland herself did not dispute the authenticity of the call while refusing further comment.

"I will not comment on a private diplomatic conversation," Nuland told reporters in Kiev on Friday.

"It was pretty impressive tradecraft," she added. "Audio quality was very good."

The US State Department immediately pointed an incriminating finger at Russia for allegedly bugging diplomats' phones.

"Certainly we think this is a new low in Russian tradecraft," US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.
Posted by:Omavising Ebbemp9815

#12  Unlike the US, the national security apparatus of Russia only leaks in favor of their nation.
Posted by: OldSpook   2014-02-08 18:28  

#11  The controvery is that "they" leaked.
Posted by: Shipman   2014-02-08 12:12  

#10  Ptah, yeah, I'm still wondering what the controversy is here...
Posted by: Steve White   2014-02-08 11:18  

#9  Certainly there is a fuss that the the Russians bugged the call, but that the Obama administration is complaining about it is the pot calling the kettle black.

On the other hand, "f**k the EU" is a sentiment that we all share.

of course, a stopped clock is correct twice a day.
Posted by: ptah   2014-02-08 10:57  

#8  BB, I'm sure such discussions took place. What I wonder is whether Mossad has recordings.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2014-02-08 10:35  

#7  "I wonder if Mossad has recordings of "our friends the Americans" deciding who should be in Israel's government."

You can bet your last shekel they do.

http://www.solargeneral.com/jeffs-archive/free-speech/jews-demand-firing-for-anti-israel-comment/
Posted by: Bangkok Billy   2014-02-08 09:04  

#6  I wonder if Mossad has recordings of "our friends the Americans" deciding who should be in Israel's government.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2014-02-08 08:32  

#5  WTF do you mean someone from my office left classified documents in the gift shop ?
Posted by: Besoeker   2014-02-08 08:01  

#4  ("Why can't I bring phone into the SCIF? I'm expecting an important call.")

.....I only lost 3 collateral laptops and 1 dip passport last year, why the fuss.
Posted by: Besoeker   2014-02-08 07:52  

#3  Look - many high level DoS folks don't think gravity applies to them. Basic OPSEC is violated on a daily basis. Most of them are clueless. I deal with this on a regular and routine basis ("Why can't I bring phone into the SCIF? I'm expecting an important call.")
Posted by: Bangkok Billy   2014-02-08 06:37  

#2  No, not wittingly.
Posted by: Besoeker   2014-02-08 03:59  

#1  Rooters is claiming the call was on an unencrypted (aka plain vanilla) cellphone. One endpoint of the call was in the Ukraine. This sounds more like garden-variety bugging than genius tradecraft.

Seems to me, ignorant as I am, that if you are in the middle of an international mess in a foreign country, its reasonable to assume someone is listening and watch what you say if you are using an insecure channel. But then this is the US State Dept, eh?
Posted by: SteveS   2014-02-08 00:35  

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