5 ms·

The allure seems to be there: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/navy-nuclear-engineer-and-his-wife-charged-with-trying-to-share-submarine-secrets

The allure seems to be there: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/navy-nuclear-engineer-and-his-wife-charged-with-trying-to-share-submarine-secrets-with-a-foreign-country/2021/10/10/c461aff2-29d9-11ec-baf4-d7a4e075eb90_story.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/navy-nuclea...

baybal2 5y ago
> Toebbe allegedly asked for $100,000 in cryptocurrency, saying “I understand this is a large request. However, please remember I am risking my life for your benefit and I have taken the first step. Please help me trust you fully.” Well, that not not even funny, more of cringeworthy.
- vmception 5y ago
  > “Your thoughtful plans indicate you are not amateur,” the FBI wrote to Toebbe. “This relationship requires mutual comfort.” LOL, I like to play with salespeople because I know their responses are scripted. So although I like being commended on my intelligence, I change my job title and pedigree just to see if that gets the same accolades “You’re a lightbulb repairman so I know you’re smart, you can see this offer is the best for you” says the person making an offer that is not the best for me. Helps me keep a clearer head in negotiating
  - geoduck14 5y ago
    >You’re a lightbulb repairman so I know you’re smart If you can provide for your family by JUST repairing light bulbs, you are probably REALLY good at it.
    - sunshineforever 5y ago
      You might be surprised to learn that a lot of meth smokers are into very basic glassblowing.
    - vmception 5y ago
      A perspective, but the sales person really wants the financing commission from the shadiest high interest rate lender instead of whatever they’re actually selling, if you cant afford full upfront payment. So if by provide you mean how miraculous it is for someone to be approved for subprime credit and make the interest payments for awhile, then sure, ok, low bar but ok.
dillondoyle 5y ago
That story is wild! First: this leaker simply mailed a packet to a random foreign government address which allowed usps to flag it?! Otherwise seems pretty shot in the dark they found it. 1234 Russia KGB, Russia ;) Second: the FBI either got the cooperation of said unknown country, or was able to somehow make a signal looking like it originated from their embassy (maybe as comical as we'll fly our countries flag, which happens to always be flying). Maybe it's an ally? Third: this person had a good amount of access? It sounds like schematics/info on the small nuclear reactors in the subs? Maybe that's not super valuable info? So much I want to know! Would make a good dramedy someday if it's as dumb as it sounds.
- weare138 5y ago
  Definitely need the Coen brothers to make that movie. It's like something right out of Burn After Reading.
- Telemakhos 5y ago
  > 1234 Russia KGB, Russia The foreign country has not been identified, but Russia is not the one on most rumor-mongering lips. There's precedent (Pollard, Nozette) for Israeli intelligence interest in US Naval secrets.
  - dillondoyle 5y ago
    I was making a joke! But I would LOVE to know what country it is?! What's the rumor you're hearing?
    - boomboomsubban 5y ago
      From the thread about it, France seems like the most likely possibility. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28823344 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28823344

baybal2 5y ago

> Toebbe allegedly asked for $100,000 in cryptocurrency, saying “I understand this is a large request. However, please remember I am risking my life for your benefit and I have taken the first step. Please help me trust you fully.” Well, that not not even funny, more of cringeworthy.

vmception 5y ago
> “Your thoughtful plans indicate you are not amateur,” the FBI wrote to Toebbe. “This relationship requires mutual comfort.” LOL, I like to play with salespeople because I know their responses are scripted. So although I like being commended on my intelligence, I change my job title and pedigree just to see if that gets the same accolades “You’re a lightbulb repairman so I know you’re smart, you can see this offer is the best for you” says the person making an offer that is not the best for me. Helps me keep a clearer head in negotiating
- geoduck14 5y ago
  >You’re a lightbulb repairman so I know you’re smart If you can provide for your family by JUST repairing light bulbs, you are probably REALLY good at it.
  - sunshineforever 5y ago
    You might be surprised to learn that a lot of meth smokers are into very basic glassblowing.
  - vmception 5y ago
    A perspective, but the sales person really wants the financing commission from the shadiest high interest rate lender instead of whatever they’re actually selling, if you cant afford full upfront payment. So if by provide you mean how miraculous it is for someone to be approved for subprime credit and make the interest payments for awhile, then sure, ok, low bar but ok.

dillondoyle 5y ago

That story is wild! First: this leaker simply mailed a packet to a random foreign government address which allowed usps to flag it?! Otherwise seems pretty shot in the dark they found it. 1234 Russia KGB, Russia ;) Second: the FBI either got the cooperation of said unknown country, or was able to somehow make a signal looking like it originated from their embassy (maybe as comical as we'll fly our countries flag, which happens to always be flying). Maybe it's an ally? Third: this person had a good amount of access? It sounds like schematics/info on the small nuclear reactors in the subs? Maybe that's not super valuable info? So much I want to know! Would make a good dramedy someday if it's as dumb as it sounds.

weare138 5y ago
Definitely need the Coen brothers to make that movie. It's like something right out of Burn After Reading.
Telemakhos 5y ago
> 1234 Russia KGB, Russia The foreign country has not been identified, but Russia is not the one on most rumor-mongering lips. There's precedent (Pollard, Nozette) for Israeli intelligence interest in US Naval secrets.
- dillondoyle 5y ago
  I was making a joke! But I would LOVE to know what country it is?! What's the rumor you're hearing?
  - boomboomsubban 5y ago
    From the thread about it, France seems like the most likely possibility. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28823344 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28823344