Maria Butina, Russian spy in disguise as a South Dakota cowgirl.
After spending almost half a year in solitary confinement Siberian yuppie networker Maria Butina has given up and pled guilty to something or other in a federal action that could see her spend some more time incarcerated and eventual deportation back to Vladimir Putin's hell on earth. As with all those targeted by the federal judicial apparatus, the modern-day Mata Hari faced an opponent with unlimited funding which she and her possible allies could never hope to match. Federal prosecutions have a conviction rate in the neighborhood of 99%, mostly through plea deals. The defense always runs out of money. Not for food or cable access but for payoffs to lawyers.
The point is that Americans should be very happy that Uncle Sam, who had the lass under surveillance as soon as she entered the country, has managed to corral her and prevent the fall of the Empire of Democracy to the Russian horde. The reality is that she didn't have any more access to important information than that available to any average American or perhaps anybody else with an internet connection anywhere in the world. Her real crime, if it can be called that, was circulating around and schmoozing with people, a definite threat to democracy.
In any civilized society strangers are the recipients of hospitality, not suspicion and fear. Americans denigrate tribalists but few "primitives" would lock up a young woman by herself in a cell for half a year just because she was a stranger.
At least Maria won't be able to shoot her big gun at any loyal Americans. Sure, it seems to indicate that the US might be more fragile than commonly thought if the activities of this babe are such an existential threat. But why take any chances?
And what about her South Dakota friend? Russians are expected to be bad guys but heart of America product Paul Erickson? That's a little tough to take. He's yet to be indicted, however.
No comments:
Post a Comment