"She really did not pass on anything that you couldn't find in the local newspapers..." -Julie WheelwrightThe arrest of Maria Butina hardly seems a case of Mata Hari, but the quote seems apropos at first glance. But then, things get interesting and we can begin to understand why the indictment is vague and only alludes to, rather than names, certain facts.
However, before we go where the Department of Justice dare not name in the indictment, it should be noted if guilt by association is the DoJ standard, then Butina should be exposed as a quadruple agent in circumstance (of fantasy) too embarrassing to the Americans to pursue in open court.
First, the official BS, excuse me, trial and conviction by Western press, including disingenuous neo-liberal foreign press which insists Butina is:
"None other than the assistant to a Russian Central Bank executive"Well, yes, that's one small part of the story but what is missing should change the perception completely. The Russian Central Bank is historically 'liberal' territory in post Soviet Russia. Putin is not the flat-out autocrat portrayed by Western media, it's much more complex than that. What Putin must do is balance competing interests and economics is where a solid portion of the Russian liberal element is partnered with Putin.
Comment: South Africa's short-sighted policy will come back to bite them down the road. Their agricultural 'brain drain' will bring hardship to that country in the future.