[xtian]

Here’s a question I expect you’ll never answer: is it within the capabilities of any groups within the West (state-sponsored or otherwise) to fabricate the information you’re using to make those assessments? And if so, how have you decisively eliminated this possibility?

I ask because it’s broadly accepted that there are extremely powerful and wealthy entities in the West who benefit from an aggressive US foreign policy and heightened geopolitical tensions.

[boomboomsubban]

There are several sections of the Vault 7 leaks that showed the CIA had tools that could be used to fake the attribution of attacks. Some argue there's other uses for those tools besides faking the source of an exploit, but knowing they have the capability makes it impossible to eliminate as a possibility.

[throwawaylinux]

Probably, but even more simply they have the capabilities to just direct intelligence agencies, politicians, and news corporations, and big internet and social media companies to put the blame wherever they like. There is no need for a perfect technological solution.

Hack something shoddy together, go to war/regime change/etc, and worst case if it does come to light that the "intel" was wrong, a well-placed "whoopsie-daisy" is enough to wash hands of all responsibility or scrutiny.

[xtian]

Uh oh that’s starting to sound like Russian disinformation

[jamesmishra]

Why do you have to prefix your question with, "Here’s a question I expect you’ll never answer"?

[xtian]

I don’t have to, it just makes me look good when he never answers.

[jasonwatkinspdx]

No, it does not.

[xtian]

Agree to disagree