EUCFR paper on Russian intelligence agencies

[Cain]

May be of interest

http://www.ecfr.eu/publications/summary/putins_hydra_inside_russias_intelligence_services?utm_content=buffer5db3d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Far from being an all-powerful "spookocracy" that controls the Kremlin, Russia's intelligence services are internally divided, distracted by bureaucratic turf wars, and often produce poor quality intelligence – ultimately threatening the interests of Vladimir Putin himself.

Drawing on extensive interviews with former and current intelligence officials, "Putin's hydra: Inside Russia's intelligence services" explains how the spy agencies really work, and argues that Europe's view of them is patchy and based on outdated caricatures.

The paper punctures the myth that the agencies are the power behind the throne in Russia. They are firmly subordinated to the Kremlin, and Putin plays them off against one another. They are not a united bloc but a disparate group, whose solidarity disappears as soon as there is an opportunity to make money or avoid blame.

[The Wizard Joseph]

So they are run EXACTLY like a modern criminal empire, but Europe is still under the impression that it's run more like a cold-war era criminal empire? I'll read the article, but have I grasped the quote here?

[Cain]

Sort of.

The old KGB was also an extremely powerful political actor, whereas their modern successors seem far more in thrall to Putin than independent actors in their own right.

Among other things, this may mean Putin is only getting the information he wants to get, that intelligence is being cherry picked and slanted to appeal to his already existing ideas about the world.  Putin in an echo-chamber...not a comfortable thought.

[Faust]

"The people of the world were cheering your ban on homosexuality my president".
"Very good, I was afraid it would cause a backlash, perhaps I did not go far enough?"

[Junkenstein]

The agencies reinforce his assumptions and play to his fantasies rather than informing and challenging his worldview

Echo chamber sounds about right, and would explain more than a few decisions.

It also allows the Ukraine/Crimea ongoing fuckery to make a lot more sense to me. Multiple competing plans attempting to win favour resulting in the inevitable shitshow.