RandVal30141

" (actually exclusively) "

I guess you didn't check my submission history then. If you want to discuss incivility, trying to frame someone up to meet the metrics for banning seems awful uncivil.

>And no, none of the presented arguments there are "but Russians wouldn't possibly do that this way".

"“If the guys are really good,” says Chris Finan, CEO of Manifold Technology, “they’re not leaving much evidence or they’re leaving evidence to throw you off the scent entirely.” How plausible is it that Russian intelligence services would fail even to attempt such a fundamental step?"

"On the other hand, sloppiness on the part of developers is not entirely unknown. However, one would expect a nation-state to enforce strict software and document handling procedures and implement rigorous review processes."

"The strings in the code quite transparently indicate its intent, with no attempt at obfuscation. It seems an odd oversight for a nation-state operation, in which plausible deniability would be essential, to overlook that glaring point during software development."

Acting befuddled is not a reasonable means of helping to cast suspicions aside.

Nothing can change who these attacks, sharing the same infrastructure, targeted. Opponents of Russia's current ruling order. Very specific frame up jobs against Putin's political opposition and phishing against civilian analysts who just happened to be making news regarding MH17? Come on now.

That is not really a critical look. It is "but Russians wouldn't possibly do that this way" rehashed several times over.

Nevermind that the target of the hacks, hacks who share the same infrastructure, all focus on entities of Moscow's interest.

Navalny, MH17, DNC, Syria, Bellingcat. Gee wonder what the common thread here is.

Yes. Multiple times over now. Same group involved with election hackery were also phishing my peers after they caused Moscow trouble regarding MH17 and Syria[1].

This is an on-going prolific attack against civilians in addition to the usual military/political targets. Much as Ru MoD regularly targets civilians in Syria such as medics and emergency responders.

All part of Russia's war on the world.

[1] https://citizenlab.org/2017/05/tainted-leaks-disinformation-...

""Bana" is a media campaign."

A child.

I helped disseminate numerous live feeds of demonstrations, ones people flippantly suggest locals were incapable of organizing, like this one from Houla Syria[1].

Months later a massacre[2] was committed there by government forces.

Yea, I have an agenda.

[1] http://bambuser.com/v/2394719

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houla_massacre

"accuse"

Not accused, found culpable by OPCW[1] along with ISIS. The chlorine attacks have been on-going, including the siege of Aleppo, on Hama and north Homs, and in the Damascus area. Method of delivery has been air dropped[2] or IRAM type.

" And frankly, how does a protest like that get organised in the first place by the locals"

I'm hoping this is not a joke. Local coordination committees[3] have long been involved in organizing demonstrations and media exposure. People voted on the weekly theme[4] for Friday protests even. When you see logos of Syrian media on CNN and other outlets it is often bearing the logos of these groups.

Yes, locals and organize protests among themselves and others in their nation.

[1] https://www.opcw.org/news/article/opcw-executive-council-ado...

[2] https://youtu.be/PiDntC_E0SY

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Coordination_Committees_...

[4] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/8...

"I wish there were more definite sources detailing what the actual conflict is about. "

The death of Hamza Khateeb[1] comes to mind. Political and civil unrest was already underway, but the open violence against civilians including children sent Syria down a path. The government butchered that child among others caught for demonstrations or showing dissent.

"The attitude of the government against the people of Syria has not changed"

Laughable commentary in the face of regular chemical weapons attacks by the regime and it's paramilitary forces/Hezbollah allies.

This is a government that besieges and pummels civilian areas with indiscriminate weapons until they accept forced displacement under the 'reconciliation' campaign. To say it's attitude has not changed since before the protests is absurd.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Hamza_Ali_Al-Khateeb

"(And then issue diplomatic protests when Russia bombs them.)"

US has literally never complained when Russia has bombed Nusra. People complain when Russia bombs people then calls them ISIS/AQ. Inanimate grain silos? IS oil facilities according to RU MoD. Hospitals? Nusra strongholds according to RU MoD.

This is what people complain about. If you want to say otherwise please substantiate your claim.

Good to hear.

CIA allied with groups that have died fighting al-Qaeda. Just because theft and corruption means material aid given to the groups ended up in AQ's hands doesn't mean CIA allied with al-Qaeda, it shows quite the opposite. SAA goods end up in ISIS's hands by the tons but that doesn't mean they allied with them either.

"Too bad the public is made a to be a sucker"

Who is the sucker here?

"And yet, the press has done an about-face on Al Qaeda's, referring to its Syrian branch as 'Al-Nusra, a moderate rebel group."

Substantiate your claim.

"CIA getting into bed with Islamist terrorists"

This is tiresome, just because US govt allies with Muslims that Russia calls terrorists doesn't make them so. In fact, last time I checked Russia works on the ground with Hezbollah, a designated terrorist group. This argument can easily go sideways for people hoisting it up as a mantra.