Russia Suspected of Plotting to Send Incendiary Devices on U.S.-Bound Planes (opens in new tab)

Gift link: https://www.wsj.com/world/russia-plot-us-planes-incendiary-d...

If the intension was to figure out air cargo routing (which doesn't exactly require covert ops), why were they using DHL to try to get things into passenger air cargo? DHL has their own planes. Do they have a bunch of moles in DHL working for them?

(Edit: the article says DHL occasionally uses passenger flights, an arrangement that I'm suspect is being heavily scrutinized or denied after this incident)

> Western intelligence agencies have questioned whether such a plot could be the result of Russian spies carrying out a plan without the full authorization of the Kremlin, according to people familiar with the matter.

In an authoritarian society the incentive structure punishes taking initiative without approval. Kremlin recently jailed or killed even some pro-war nationalist journalists who appeared to act independently. I'm sure that Kremlin gave this a full authorization.

Quite amazing how little traction this story is getting. Back in the 1950s-2000s, when Russia's influence on the West was rather subdued, this would have been the only news in town.

Instead it's more like "nothing to see here, kindly vote in our puppet candidate X, thanks!" for various local values of X.

Earlier today I said “after Jan 6th, nothing short of Putin invading to help sway the outcome of the election could shock me”

Maybe I’m in for a shock