3 ms·

"the West" is normally understood to be a certain collection of governments, people, ideas, and institutions. The police of Spain and Spanish intelligence would

"the West" is normally understood to be a certain collection of governments, people, ideas, and institutions. The police of Spain and Spanish intelligence would be included here. They should've made sure that the defected soldier could, if he wanted, remain totally anonymous.

namaria 3y ago
The Spanish government is optimized to win elections in Spain, not to secure foreign operators who appear to have defected from selected countries. This sort of armchair security policy analysis skips over reams of complexity for the sake of shaking fingers at single events that get published. The intelligence operations that succeed don't get published. If we decry western incompetence at each apparent Russian assassination, the FSB is achieving its goals.
- anonzzzies 3y ago
  Also, why do these guys always go to Russian enclave and tourist sea side towns? It is very easy to disappear in Spain, but not in the type of places where he was killed. If you want to flee from something, you go throw a dart somewhere under or above Madrid, far from the sea. No one wants to be there, there are no Russians and the post office cannot find you so you don’t even get mail IF you register there (which you wouldn’t if you are trying to hide). For some reason people go to Marbella, or other well known mainland coastal places or, of course, Ibiza. Good for vacation (if you enjoy that type of thing), but how is it smart for disappearing of the fsb grasp.
  - namaria 3y ago
    Southern Spain is Russian organized crime playground. There are probably a lot of connections available there for all kinds of operators from Russia.
    - anonzzzies 3y ago
      Exactly. So if you are trying to get away from the Kremlin, you wouldn't go there. And yet, he did.
      - namaria 3y ago
        You have a very simplistic view of things. I don't think Andalucia's Russian criminal underground is a very united or pro-Kremlin crowd.

namaria 3y ago

The Spanish government is optimized to win elections in Spain, not to secure foreign operators who appear to have defected from selected countries. This sort of armchair security policy analysis skips over reams of complexity for the sake of shaking fingers at single events that get published. The intelligence operations that succeed don't get published. If we decry western incompetence at each apparent Russian assassination, the FSB is achieving its goals.

anonzzzies 3y ago
Also, why do these guys always go to Russian enclave and tourist sea side towns? It is very easy to disappear in Spain, but not in the type of places where he was killed. If you want to flee from something, you go throw a dart somewhere under or above Madrid, far from the sea. No one wants to be there, there are no Russians and the post office cannot find you so you don’t even get mail IF you register there (which you wouldn’t if you are trying to hide). For some reason people go to Marbella, or other well known mainland coastal places or, of course, Ibiza. Good for vacation (if you enjoy that type of thing), but how is it smart for disappearing of the fsb grasp.
- namaria 3y ago
  Southern Spain is Russian organized crime playground. There are probably a lot of connections available there for all kinds of operators from Russia.
  - anonzzzies 3y ago
    Exactly. So if you are trying to get away from the Kremlin, you wouldn't go there. And yet, he did.
    - namaria 3y ago
      You have a very simplistic view of things. I don't think Andalucia's Russian criminal underground is a very united or pro-Kremlin crowd.