No Coincidence ..

Vladimir Putin was born in Leningrad, renamed Saint Petersburg in 1991 - he was raised there, he went to University there (graduating from law school), he then became a foreign intelligence officer with the FSB, rising to Lt. Colonel after 16 years of service. His first job on the "civilian" side of government was in Saint Petersburg's mayoral office, where he remained for 6 years before entering Moscow political life in 1996 - Vladimir Putin is very much 'of Saint Petersburg'.

Target Selection ..

Saint Petersburg is Russia's second largest city, compared to Moscow, and it is the nation's cultural center, once being the seat of power for the pre-revolutionary Tsars. Security in Moscow is undoubtedly substantially greater than in Saint Petersburg, but not that much greater .. there are far easier, well-populated targets - it is located on the periphery, and so easier to reach by out-of-state actors, perhaps entering from Europe.

Mass media based in the United States, and "private" intelligence generating organizations, who often sell their product to government, are all predictably pointing at the usual suspects from the southern states. The main target for "separatist terrorism" has traditionally been Moscow, with the very clear intent of making the politically powerful feel a profound lack of security.

There is a plausible alternative perpetrator, given recent events.

In the wake of Edward Snowden's escape, the supposed "meddling" with the US political process, and the Vault 7 leak, it is not beyond reason that a US Intelligence Agency, or a number of them, may have engineered a clear message, meant for one man .. it is a message that a long-serving foreign intelligence officer would easily recognize.

Personal Thoughts ..

Russia, or rather Mr. Putin himself, was very much hoping to gain a non-threatening partner, with the election of President Donald Trump, one who would ally with him in a concerted effort to destroy ISIL. ISIL in Syria, is a real and currently harmful threat to Russia's internal security and economic well-being. If an FSB-based "hacking" (more correctly cracking) capability was utilized, or external talent enlisted, in order to assist in that process .. it is no surprise to me, and it should not be a surprise to the United States .. they have been interfering with, and overtly sabotaging foreign elections and governments, non-stop for nearly 100 years.

The destruction of ISIL, as a result of a cooperative effort by Russia and the USA, was the 'only' reason I personally wanted to see Donald Trump in the White House, and it is a damn shame that effort has been so severely derailed by the out-going Democrats, calling foul and causing more long-term harm than they know.

UPWARD & OUTWARD!​

Thanks for taking time to give me a read!
- @kurtbeil