Dirty tricks

Good sense from security analyst, Paul Buchanan.

By the time the ex-GCSB head was interviewed the headline changed to 'Spy agency dirty trick claims dismissed

This has not appeared in the headlines of the print media.

There are some big revelations coming from Snowde/Greenwald on New Zealand's part in dirty tricks against out allies

Revelations of NZ spying to come - analyst

The former head of the Government Communications Security Bureau says claims about possible dirty tactics by New Zealand's intelligence agencies and speculation this country spies on its trading partners give the agencies too much credit for their capabilities.

Radio NZ,

26 February, 2014

The American journalist who broke the story of US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has released documents on tactics given to member countries of the Five Eyes intelligence network Australia, Britain, the US, Canada and New Zealand.

The documents released by Glenn Greenwald show how spy agencies can discredit targets by setting honey traps, writing fake blogs and contacting the target's colleagues, neighbours and friends.

And intelligence and policy analyst Paul Buchanan from consultancy 36th-Parallel said seriously damaging reports about New Zealand's spying on trading partners may be revealed as soon as next month.

Former GCSB head Sir Bruce Ferguson, told Radio New Zealand's Morning Report programme it would be naive to suggest that the Russian or Chinese spy agencies were not using tactics such as electronic intercepts and viruses.

However during his time at the GCSB he was unaware of any illegal activities and would be very surprised to learn they had occurrred.

"I think people are giving the New Zealand agencies too much credit for their actual abilities," he said. "The capabilities that are being alluded to are not within New Zealand's gambit."

Dr Buchanan, a former US Defense Department employee, said Edward Snowden may soon reveal the Government Communications Security Bureau tapped into trading partners such as Japan and Indonesia.

He said by sharing intelligence with the other members of the Five Eyes network, New Zealand would have benefited during trade negotiations.

"They have a very distinctive advantage in approaching negotiations with those other states and needless to say if that is revealed then we could pretty well expect that New Zealand will suffer a diplomatic backlash as a result."

HERE is an article on Paul Buchanan