The UAE’s secret hacking team of U.S. mercenaries

Re:The UAE’s secret hacking team of U.S. mercenaries by skh on Thursday January 31, 2019 @08:32PM (#19050852)

The goals you mention between the governments you spoke are indeed different. This is not an unimportant point. I believe you are correct in that. I don’t claim that there are no moral people working for American intelligence agencies. I don’t claim there are only immoral people working for UAE intelligence. What I do claim is that I don’t look down on people doing dirty shit for UAE while not looking down on similar bad actors for American intelligence. What I do claim is that over the last 50 years or so the distinction between UAE and the U.S. in terms of governmental morality has blurred and I no longer see the U.S. government as a one deserving of support or the benefit of the doubt.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The UAE’s secret hacking team of U.S. mercenaries by gdy on Saturday February 02, 2019 @09:35AM (#19063157)

"the distinction between UAE and the U.S. in terms of governmental morality has blurred"

But imagine UAE or KSA by the will of Allah get the military and economic power of the US?

What would they be doing?

Bombing and sanctioning countries until they convert to their particular brand of Islam and accept sharia law?

I'd bet the distinction will get unblurred pretty quickly.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The UAE’s secret hacking team of U.S. mercenaries by skh on Saturday February 02, 2019 @10:16PM (#19067586)

We do just that but for a set of beliefs that are not religious.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The UAE’s secret hacking team of U.S. mercenaries by fossuser on Thursday January 31, 2019 @08:49PM (#19050921)

I think we actually agree on most things then.

I think bad actors in both places should be viewed negatively and be accountable for bad things they do. I do think risk is higher in a place with fewer rules (or bad laws), but that's more of a separate thing.

I'm generally suspicious of giving any powerful group the benefit of the doubt - it's good to be skeptical.

Our main difference is that I think the US government is still worth supporting (even if the current administration is absolutely not). I also see a significant difference between the US and the UAE.

Anyway - I appreciate the nuanced discussion, thanks.

[ Parent | on HN ]