HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019709.jpg
1.66 MB
Extraction Summary
2
People
9
Organizations
3
Locations
4
Events
2
Relationships
4
Quotes
Document Information
Type:
Book page / congressional exhibit
File Size:
1.66 MB
Summary
This document appears to be a scanned page (p. 221) from a book, likely by Edward Jay Epstein (indicated by filename 'Epst'), titled 'The Russians Are Coming' (chapter title). The text analyzes Russian geopolitical strategy following the year 2000, specifically focusing on the leadership's view of the Soviet collapse as a disaster and efforts to counter US hegemony through alliances with China and military upgrades. It contrasts the legal constraints of the US NSA with the broad domestic surveillance powers of Russian intelligence (FSB) via the SORM system. The document bears a House Oversight Committee Bates stamp, suggesting it was used as evidence in a congressional investigation.
People (2)
| Name | Role | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Vladimir Putin | Leader of Russian Federation (implied) |
Referred to as "he" in the text; described as taking power in 2000 and seeking to prevent US hegemony.
|
| Civilian Contractors | IT/Network personnel |
Mentioned as running computer networks for American intelligence, numbering in the tens of thousands.
|
Organizations (9)
| Name | Type | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Russian Federation |
Subject of the geopolitical analysis.
|
|
| United States |
Described as the singular dominant power.
|
|
| Soviet Union |
Referenced regarding its 1991 breakup.
|
|
| China |
Described as Russia's principal ally.
|
|
| NSA |
National Security Agency; discussed regarding technological capabilities and legal limitations.
|
|
| Congress |
Limited NSA's legal mandate.
|
|
| FBI |
Mentioned as necessary to investigate civilian contractors.
|
|
| FSB |
Required to monitor domestic communications under SORM.
|
|
| House Oversight Committee |
Implied by the Bates stamp 'HOUSE_OVERSIGHT'.
|
Timeline (4 events)
Locations (3)
| Location | Context |
|---|---|
|
Country discussed.
|
|
|
Country discussed.
|
|
|
Country discussed.
|
Key Quotes (4)
"global hegemony"Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019709.jpg
Quote #1
"a geopolitical disaster"Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019709.jpg
Quote #2
"The last measure was essential because China was Russia's principal ally in opposing the extension of American dominance."Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019709.jpg
Quote #3
"Here the Russian intelligence services had a clear advantage. They had a lawful mandate to intercept any and all domestic communications."Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019709.jpg
Quote #4
Full Extracted Text
Complete text extracted from the document (2,463 characters)
The Russians Are Coming | 221
of the Russian Federation in 2000, he made no secret that his goal
was to prevent the United States from obtaining what he termed
"global hegemony." His logic was clear. He judged the breakup of
the Soviet Union in 1991 to be, as he put it, "a geopolitical disaster."
He argued that the breakup had provided the United States with the
means to become the singular dominant power in the world.
was to prevent the United States from obtaining what he termed
"global hegemony." His logic was clear. He judged the breakup of
the Soviet Union in 1991 to be, as he put it, "a geopolitical disaster."
He argued that the breakup had provided the United States with the
means to become the singular dominant power in the world.
He sought to prevent that outcome by moving aggressively to
redress this loss of Russian power. He upgraded Russia's nuclear
force, modernized Russia's elite military units, and greatly strength-
ened Russia's relations with China. The last measure was essential
because China was Russia's principal ally in opposing the extension
of American dominance. Yet there was still an immense gap between
them and the United States in communications intelligence.
redress this loss of Russian power. He upgraded Russia's nuclear
force, modernized Russia's elite military units, and greatly strength-
ened Russia's relations with China. The last measure was essential
because China was Russia's principal ally in opposing the extension
of American dominance. Yet there was still an immense gap between
them and the United States in communications intelligence.
Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, the NSA had continued to
build up its technological capabilities, while Russia teetered on the
edge of collapse in the early 1990s. But as previously mentioned,
the NSA's legal mandate had been limited by Congress to foreign
interceptions (at least prior to 9/11). As a result, it was required to
separate out domestic from foreign surveillance, a massive process
that not only was time-consuming but could generate dissidence
within the ranks of American intelligence. It also could not legally
use its surveillance machinery to monitor the telephones and Inter-
net activities of the tens of thousands of civilian contractors who ran
its computer networks—at least not unless the FBI began an inves-
tigation into them.
build up its technological capabilities, while Russia teetered on the
edge of collapse in the early 1990s. But as previously mentioned,
the NSA's legal mandate had been limited by Congress to foreign
interceptions (at least prior to 9/11). As a result, it was required to
separate out domestic from foreign surveillance, a massive process
that not only was time-consuming but could generate dissidence
within the ranks of American intelligence. It also could not legally
use its surveillance machinery to monitor the telephones and Inter-
net activities of the tens of thousands of civilian contractors who ran
its computer networks—at least not unless the FBI began an inves-
tigation into them.
Here the Russian intelligence services had a clear advantage. They
had a lawful mandate to intercept any and all domestic communica-
tions. In fact, a compulsory surveillance system called by its Russian
acronym SORM had been incorporated into Russian law in 1995.
It requires the FSB and seven other Russian security agencies to
monitor all forms of domestic communications including telephones
(SORM-1), e-mails and other Internet activity (SORM-2), and com-
puter data storage of billing information (SORM-3). Not only did
Russia run a nationwide system of Internet filtering in 2013, but it
required its telecommunication companies to furnish it with world-
wide data.
had a lawful mandate to intercept any and all domestic communica-
tions. In fact, a compulsory surveillance system called by its Russian
acronym SORM had been incorporated into Russian law in 1995.
It requires the FSB and seven other Russian security agencies to
monitor all forms of domestic communications including telephones
(SORM-1), e-mails and other Internet activity (SORM-2), and com-
puter data storage of billing information (SORM-3). Not only did
Russia run a nationwide system of Internet filtering in 2013, but it
required its telecommunication companies to furnish it with world-
wide data.
The NSA also had to deal with many peripheral issues other than
Epst_9780451494566_2p_all_r1.indd 221 9/30/16 8:13 AM
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019709
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019709
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