HN Explorer

"Fuck the EU" – Phone call intercept (Google translate) (translate.google.com)

15 points by sentenza ↗ HN
Somebody, possibly the Russian government, intercepted a phone call between the "Europe person" in the state department and the US ambassador in Ukraine. The phone call was then put on Youtube, see [1].

[1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSxaa-67yGM

13 comments

[ 4.2 ms ] story [ 40.3 ms ] thread
sentenza
Accompanying text: Somebody, possibly the Russian government, intercepted a phone call between the "Europe person" in the state department and the US ambassador in Ukraine. The phone call was then put on Youtube, see [1].

[1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSxaa-67yGM

allthatisgold
A rare glimpse at the geopolitical game that is played behind the scenes every day.
sentenza
In a now deleted comment somebody claimed that this info didn't contribute much. After all, this isn't reddit. However, while I was at first hesitant to submit it, there are IMO a few aspects to this that are relevant to the HN community specifically:

1. If the US state department can't keep its communications secure, how are we supposed to do it with the communications between our web services and customers?

2. Russia is using a very smart "marketing" tactic to discredit the US: Instead of making stuff up, they leak uncomfortable parts of the truth to the public. They have been doing so for quite some time now, though most of it remained below the radar.

3. Even though many of us (here in Europe) have been led that we're equal to the US and its citizens, these things serve as a reminder that the EU-Europe has yet to assert itself on the international stage (and in the digital realm for that matter, see the state of the startup scene in Europe).

aquadrop
I don't understand what USA even doing there. Why should they interfere, when there's clearly 3 parts involved: Ukraine, EU, Russia.
joyofdata
Well "rare" ... the Wikileaks embassy cables are GBs of intra-governmental communication.
nmc
No problem with German news, but please remember how poor Google Translate is. When you have the option, try to pick an English article — or do a proper translation yourself.

http://world.time.com/2014/02/06/victoria-nuland-leaked-audi...

sentenza
Ah, thank you for that link. I so far hadn't seen an English-language article on the incident, so I submitted the German one with some more context in the comments.
[deleted]
(comment deleted)
sentenza
At first I was hesitant to submit it, but then saw that there are quite a few relevant aspects to this:

1. If the US state department can't keep its communications secure, how are we supposed to do it with the communications between our web services and customers?

2. Russia is using a very smart "marketing" tactic to discredit the US: Instead of making stuff up, they leak uncomfortable parts of the truth to the public. They have been doing so for quite some time now, though most of it remained below the radar.

3. Even though many of us (here in Europe) have been led that we're equal to the US and its citizens, these things serve as a reminder that Europe has yet to assert itself on the international stage (and in the digital realm for that matter, see the state of the startup scene in Europe).

smsm42
1. That wasn't "their communications", it was a phone call between two officials using common phone line. I don't think US state dept has dedicated direct secure lines available to everybody in diplomatic corps everywhere. It would be way too expensive. Without that, every communication can be - and is - listened to. Looks like State Dept hasn't realized it yet.

2. I'm not sure how that discredits the US. American diplomat uses the word "fuck"? Or humanity! What we came to! Or that American diplomat thinks EU approach is wrong? It's known that there is disagreement there. Of course, discussing it in public is not how diplomats do it, but I don't see how it discredits anything.

vrepsys
Not a long time ago, similar youtube video with Russian subtitles appeared with a phone conversation of a Lithuanian (where I'm from) ambassador in Azerbaijan having a conversation with another official. This was as well with a goal to discredit Eastern Partnership (a cooperation agreement between the EU and several post soviet states).

One of the conclusions: diplomatic lines in many countries close to Russia are tapped by Russians. Ironic that Snowden is taking refuge in a country which has even less regard for privacy than the US. Not saying he had a choice..

On another note, not completely clear from the audio why the US diplomat is saying 'fuck the EU'. Wouldn't be surprised that EU is not being effective in making hard decisions in helping solve the Ukraine crisis.. causing disappointment among US diplomats. EU should be taking the lead in this IMO, but it's possible it's hugely ineffective due to lack of power (EU is not a state, it has to get a mandate to do things from member countries).

It's just a speculation, however.

aquadrop
You don't know if it was intercepted by Russia, but you sure ready to blame (Snowden part). I read that security service of Ukraine made the interception, which seems logically since one of parts was in the Ukraine. As of privacy, I think US did the same, did you forgot that foreign governments was spied on? Merkel wasn't happy about that. I don't think any government in the world would be happy to know that protesters actively contact foreign powers and discuss who will be in the new government.

Of course we don't know if that tape is 100% real, at least someone have to check they sound the same as in public recordings.

beloch
If you get publicly caught bugging world leaders like Germany's Merkel, it's open season on your own diplomats.