There are two real stories here. 1) What motivated these three (anonymous) officials to put forward ideas exonerating Russia and the ships concerned, ideas instantly dismissed by (named) shipping experts as nonsensical? 2) What led the Washington Post to lead on those ideas not the real story? - ThreadSky

keirgiles.bsky.social • 33 days ago

There are two real stories here.

1) What motivated these three (anonymous) officials to put forward ideas exonerating Russia and the ships concerned, ideas instantly dismissed by (named) shipping experts as nonsensical?

2) What led the Washington Post to lead on those ideas not the real story?

Reposted from Keir Giles

(The willingness of some US officials to state that vessels in Russia's shadow fleet can drop anchor and then drag anchor and chain for 100 miles *by accident and without noticing* will be a gift to these campaigns to claim Russia is not at fault.)

[10/14]

www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

Comments

keirgiles.bsky.social•33 days ago

"Get a source you can trust for 99p."

Not today thank you Washington Post.

balmachreuchie.bsky.social•33 days ago

"Inauguration sale" - that is so unwittingly on the nose

halfbrickmccurdy.bsky.social•33 days ago

TBF the journalist gave the anonymous intelligence folk what they wanted, which turns out to have been to clown themselves. The officials got to say their piece, an actual expert then explained they're talking "total B.S.”

freedabees.bsky.social•33 days ago

"The Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous sources involved in the investigation, said Russian intelligence instructed the ship’s captain to damage the cables with the ship’s anchor.

The vessel and its crew were later detained by the Royal Danish Navy for questioning and a

freedabees.bsky.social•33 days ago

detailed review of its course and actions near the telecommunications cables. Reports identified the ship’s captain as Russian citizen Alexander Stechentsev.

Ahead of the suspected attack, the Russian Black Sea Fleet corvette Merkury arrived in the Kattegat area to conduct

freedabees.bsky.social•33 days ago

reconnaissance for the Yi Peng 3, relaying classified information to headquarters in Kaliningrad."

Doesn't sound like The Journal agrees with the Post. Bezos is likely trading the Posts voice for political influence, essentially doing to the Post what Musk has done for Twitter. Tech bros stink.

rodg3rdodg3r.bsky.social•33 days ago

Seems they're test driving new slogans 🗞️🤣

bluenote1866.bsky.social•33 days ago

And why did S Joshi from the Economist go along with it?

sidmeister3.bsky.social•33 days ago

This. So much this.

motoreiter.bsky.social•33 days ago

I thought that it had been reported that the ship stopped by the Finns was carrying Russian spy gear? But no mention in the story?

organik.bsky.social•33 days ago

One source claimed so and everyone just ran with it, but the Finnish police confirmed later there was no spy gear on board.

harmless-de.bsky.social•33 days ago

I'd need a source for the latter.

motoreiter.bsky.social•33 days ago

How about the Economist snd Lloyds List? Also reported in many others.

https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/01/01/finlands-seizure-of-a-tanker-shows-how-to-fight-russian-sabotage

https://www.lloydslist.com/LL1151955/Russia-linked-cable-cutting-tanker-seized-by-Finland-was-loaded-with-spying-equipment

harmless-de.bsky.social•33 days ago

I wanted a source for this claim:

"but the Finnish police confirmed later there was no spy gear on board."

organik.bsky.social•33 days ago

Unfortunately I only have one I Finnish: https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000010935799.html

francis-lematt.bsky.social•33 days ago

It is encouraged to name and shame (possibly find links to ᵣus💩ya and choina) the authors and editors of such articles.

scottmurray-me.bsky.social•33 days ago

Oli-owned = Propaganda

astrocalvin.bsky.social•33 days ago

Maybe the Washington Post is moving into "Entertainment", instead of "Journalism", like the Onion and "Fox News". Good timing.

"Reporter" probably paid off by the Kremlin in some fashion.

quiquaequod.bsky.social•33 days ago

Who among us hasn’t accidentally dragged an anchor across miles of open ocenan

peterandree.bsky.social•33 days ago

I haven't done anything like that. But I have to confess that I quite frequently forget to tie my shoelaces. Basically the same, right?

quiquaequod.bsky.social•33 days ago

Especially if you completely accidentally, accidentally take down internet access for your entire country when you trip.

mlh-3.bsky.social•33 days ago

🤦‍♀️

stevesecretfella.bsky.social•33 days ago

So "three (anonymous) officials" have briefed that russia is not the enemy. I'm betting two will be found high up in the Trump administration and the "European" will be from Hungary.
Willing to stake the cost of my WAPO subscription on it. Seems better use of the money.

https://www.csce.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Spotlight-on-the-Shadow-War-Website.pdf

sperplexitas.bsky.social•33 days ago

The well-known expertise of current Hungarians in Sea affairs...I'd bet for Germany, as the most "friendly" and very tolerant Baltic state.

massdisillusion.bsky.social•33 days ago

WaPo should close

paremmintietaja.bsky.social•33 days ago

WSJ was reporting of a definite Russian involvement a month back. I can't access the story, but presumably they were talking with some other anonymous officials.

arcadianvision.bsky.social•33 days ago

Putin => Trump => Bezos.

espacey.bsky.social•33 days ago

Brown envelopes

caffeineislife.bsky.social•33 days ago

🤣🤣

plasticpraetor.bsky.social•33 days ago

Simple.

They don't want to be at war with Russia, so they choose to ignore any evidence that Russia is already at war with them.

Wilful self-deception.

boboblue.bsky.social•33 days ago

Exactly, we should not shoot the messenger if these statements are authentic.

techunitedukraine.bsky.social•33 days ago

My gut feeling is, that roughly 1 in 5 American's are hard core MAGA and they are pro-Russian (i have heard MAGA cultists claim "I'd vote for Putin), so maybe that translates into the workplace and roughly 1 in 5 in any American workplace *may* be MAGA sympathisers and it pervades their work output.

frank201.bsky.social•33 days ago

Crooked people in high places. But we don't believe their stories. We will vote accordingly.

papadelta.bsky.social•33 days ago

The answer to both questions is the same:
Three coincidentally occurring aspects:
- well masked stupidity
- lack of education & expertise
- poor judgement
(One might add also no practical experience)
Deadly combination of above three will be seen more frequently starting today.

aspid.bsky.social•33 days ago

Your aspects do not include malicious intent.

frederickdguy.bsky.social•33 days ago

Ukraine seen as EU concern. Digital platform owners happy with an international division of labor in which emerging Asian markets make things and America controls networks. Europe (& Japan) don't fit this picture & resist digital tolls. Tech bros would send EU, like Lina Khan, to sleep with fishes.

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