Section 702: USA today is currently attempting to catch two rabbits under the Biden administration making Ukraine win is the first priority and the second is to break Russia apart. Sadly, it seems he cannot achieve either of these goals in his mad rush. Well, well, 2022 was just the beginning, the real tussle between Russia and the United States will occur in 2023 and beyond. Biden has sparked the revival of the Cold War, and this time it’s official.
In a jolting announcement, the Biden administration has announced the revival of spy espionage against Russia. According to a media report by PBS, officials from the Biden administration pleaded with Congress on February 28 to renew the surveillance program. The program, which is covered by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), gives American spy agencies broad authority to monitor and examine the communications of foreign nationals located outside the United States. If Congress does not agree to extend it, it will expire at the end of the year.
Biden administration representatives have attempted to publicly argue for the importance of the statutory authorities that are in danger of expiring as they brace for a contentious debate on Capitol Hill about reauthorizing the program. The officials have claimed that the program has recently provided useful insight into ransomware attacks on crucial infrastructure, assisted in thwarting potential terrorist attacks and efforts to recruit spies, and contributed to the drone strike that killed Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in August 2022.
Therefore, it is necessary to renew it with Section 702 in their bid to gather intelligence amid the Ukraine war. The question that arises now is what Section 702 is and why the Biden administration is primarily pressing for this clause to get passed.
The Section 702 and Russia’s alert
Well, Section 702, allows spy agencies to collect huge swaths of foreign communications without a warrant, which critics argue is unethical and illegal. It gives the US government the ability to gather electronic communications of non-US persons located outside of the United States without a warrant, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) is divisive.
This clause also allows the government to access the emails, texts, and other communications of people who are not suspected of wrongdoing. Critics argue that Section 702 is overly broad and lacks sufficient oversight and transparency, allowing for abuse and potentially unconstitutional surveillance. Section 702 was first added to FISA in 2008 and was renewed for six years in 2018. The Biden administration is now attempting to renew it again as part of their bid to gather intelligence amid the Ukraine war.
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In response to this development, even Russia has given a clarion call to FSB agencies to brace up for a new round of CIA vs. FSB. As per a report by Reuters, Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for increased efforts to counteract espionage and sabotage against Russia by both Ukraine and Western powers during a speech to members of the FSB, the country’s domestic security service.
Putin has instructed the FSB to take appropriate and adequate actions to strengthen the security of Russia’s infrastructure, stop Western security services from reactivating terrorist or extremist cells within Russia, and prevent the infiltration of “sabotage groups” from Ukraine. Putin’s call for increased counter-espionage efforts suggests that Russia perceives itself as being under threat from foreign intelligence agencies seeking to undermine its security and stability. The FSB’s increased activity may involve increased surveillance, information gathering, and counterintelligence measures to prevent espionage and sabotage activities from foreign entities.
Back to Square one
So, it’s all coming back to where it all started. The cold war style spying. Even in history, the United States, engaged in heavy espionage activities to somehow bring down the the Soviet Union. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had a major role in these activities, including the use of spy planes and satellites to gather information on Soviet military capabilities.
The US also used high-tech gadgets and devices, such as miniature cameras and recording devices, to gather intelligence on Soviet activities. Along with espionage spying, both the US and the Soviet Union engaged in a variety of covert operations and acts of sabotage against one another based on the collected information. For instance, Operation Mongoose was a covert US operation that sought to topple Fidel Castro and weaken the Cuban government, which was supported by the Soviet Union.
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In contrast, the Soviet Union engaged in a number of covert operations against the US and its allies as part of its counteroffensive, including funding left-leaning political movements and using propaganda to sway the public. As both sides competed for every advantage in the high-stakes geopolitical competition between the US and the Soviet Union, espionage and covert operations played a significant role in the Cold War. However, with the gradual collapse of the Soviet Union, Cold War ended and ushered in a new era of global politics
Walking down the path
But now, both of the nations have started walking down the path of the Cold war again. It appears that Russia’s declaration of abandoning the START treaty has played a significant role in this revival of the Spy Game.
The New START treaty, the only remaining arms control agreement between Russia and the US, was suspended last week. Additionally, the Russian government made a signed decree available online. The law ending the Russian Federation’s participation in Council of Europe international treaties was signed by Putin himself. The treaty, which was signed in 2010 and extended for an additional five years in 2021, aims to limit and control the strategic nuclear forces employed by the US and Russia.
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Without the START treaty in place, the risk of an arms race between the two nations has already increased. And now, both of the nations have decided to play the espionages. It breaks the heart to even consider the possibility of a cold war 2.0. The mere thought of it stokes fear and dread. If such a catastrophic event were to occur, the consequences would be disastrous, not just for one country or region, but for the entire world. We cannot afford to let this happen.
It’s deeply concerning to see the man in Washington D.C., who holds so much power, refusing to take steps to reduce tensions. Lets just hope and pray that he doesn’t leave the White House amid a global war. Because the way senile Joe is working, anything is possible.
