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Intrepid_Method_ t1_iya3yti wrote

Russians seeking asylum in the US will probably be subjected to extra scrutiny. Espionage is a concern. Would a European or Asian nation be friendly for Russians?

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Thoughtful_Mouse t1_iya5li4 wrote

Word.

Like, we don't need to be dicks about it, but the negation of being a dick doesn't mean being blindly trusting.

Two intellectually inclined fighting age Russians showing up? Yea, those might be spies, ya'll. As politely and empathetically as possible those folks need to be detained and scrutinized.

Sorry-not-sorry.

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[deleted] t1_iyap87n wrote

[deleted]

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Thoughtful_Mouse t1_iyatisl wrote

In the same way that a plumber with your skill set might not be able to do more than work a plunger, a spy with your skill set might not be able to do more than move into government assisted housing and work a shit job.

You have to imagine not what you would do given that situation, but what a spy would do.

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MeatsimPD t1_iyawp0u wrote

> Two intellectually inclined fighting age Russians showing up? Yea, those might be spies, ya'll

Why? Because they are intelligent and of "fighting age" which I assume means like 18 to 30? That really doesn't represent what actual Russian spies have looked like. I mean it covers some but not most

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegals_Program

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Butina

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Abel

Most spies are actually Americans who are turned for one reason or another, not actual Russians. The ones who are actually from Russia are more educated and worldly than your average person from Russia. That's true for any country's spies since of course spying is difficult and you have to be educated and worldly to forge those human relations necessary to do it and understand the operation you are part of.

The last person you'd want to invest resources into and trust to carry out an illegal espionage operation is a poorly educated refugee who barely speaks English.

And they are all scrutinized, but honestly if you're worried about Russian influence it's been clear as day in their information operations and funneling of money to select politicians. Refugees are not a threat by any means

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Thoughtful_Mouse t1_iyb1hys wrote

These refugees are not poorly educated. You didn't read the article.

History is replete with examples of spies leaking through borders as refugees or disguised as travelers from nearby countries. This is a ploy so old and so ubiquitous throughout history it almost defies reasonable discussion.

It's an appealing strategy exactly because of the low resource investment required.

You think a country that will spend millions on counter-intelligence and bribes won't spend two bodies on a cheap shot like this?

It is absolutely worth scrutinizing people from hostile nations attempting to immigrate. Don't be a twit.

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MeatsimPD t1_iybb3fv wrote

> History is replete with examples of spies leaking through borders as refugees or disguised as travelers from nearby countries. This is a ploy so old and so ubiquitous throughout history it almost defies reasonable discussion.

It certainly defied your ability to provide an example

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Thoughtful_Mouse t1_iybdmal wrote

I mean, there are examples in Herodotus' account of the Greco-Persian war...

... so since the beginning of recorded western history.

This is like asking me to cite examples of why 2 and 2 are 4. You're just being petty and argumentative, and I'm done here.

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echaa t1_iybevql wrote

>Most spies are actually Americans who are turned for one reason or another, not actual Russians.

I don't think you know what a spy is...

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amateur_mistake t1_iya7cip wrote

A bunch of Asian countries have accepted a lot of russian refugees. Kazakhstan, for examples, has received tens of thousands of fleeing russians. It's definitely causing problems for them though.

As forgedbygeeks pointed out, we need to work on how we receive refugees in general. And russians should definitely be getting extra scrutiny right now.

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sjfiuauqadfj t1_iyb9dcl wrote

ehhh idk about extra scrutiny. actual russian spies have infiltrated us for a long time and they dont need to pretend to be a refugee to do so. plus, given how incompetent the russian military is, maybe we should lower our expectations of what theyre capable of

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seamustheseagull t1_iyccysb wrote

I mean there's a legend over 3,000 years old about this very thing - hostile forces breaching the border on the pretence of good will. It's such a basic and fundamental security concept that we use the phrase "trojan horse" to refer to various scenarios.

I appreciate that 99% of refugees are genuinely fleeing danger, but the danger posed to some countries by that 1% is quite dramatic.

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Leftleaningdadbod t1_iybkduq wrote

Of course. Sensible action. Kazakhstan isn’t so cautious. The US shouldn’t be compared to an ex-Soviet state.

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SameRandomUsername t1_iyer9m1 wrote

If they can't prove that they are being persecuted then they are not "activists", Twitter posts saying "Russia sucks" doesn't count as activism.

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quietguy_6565 t1_iyf7cwa wrote

Why don't they flee to Belorussia, Iran, china,or north Korea. Why flee to the west /s

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StifleStrife t1_iybu7n2 wrote

Idk what a Russian can do if they are monitored and not allowed to join the armed forces and shit. They have like the most text book Asylum case. Its better to grant it.

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