Category: Selected Articles

#CIA  #Russia  #History
I would say, go deeper and further,  back to Genghis Khan.
x.com/mikenov/status/2053878…
Search: “A new essay explores the weird origins of Russia’s distrust of the West, tracing it back to wild WWI spy plots involving eccentric agents and stolen clothes.”
AI Overview:
Based on recent discussions of espionage history, this narrative likely refers to accounts of British intelligence activities in Russia during World War I and the subsequent Bolshevik revolution, which established a foundational “siege mentality” in Moscow. [1, 2]
Key elements of this historical narrative, as discussed by experts like Michael Weiss, include:

The “Lockhart Plot”: Named after British diplomat and spy Robert Bruce Lockhart, this 1918 operation aimed to overthrow the Bolshevik government and bring Russia back into the war against Germany.
Eccentric Agents: The plot involved colourful characters, such as Sidney Reilly (the “Ace of Spies”), who operated in a chaotic, undercover capacity.
Wild Plots: The conspiracy included plans to bribe Bolshevik guards, use stolen motor cars and clothing to bypass security, and stage a coup in Moscow.
Long-Term Impact: The failure of this plot, coupled with other Western interventions during the Russian Civil War, is considered a key origin point for the Soviet—and later Russian—view of the West as an eternal, treacherous enemy. [1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7]

These historical events are frequently cited to explain how the Kremlin portrays the West as actively seeking to sabotage Russian stability. [1, 8]

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1]  euvsdisinfo.eu/the-myth-of-b…
[2]  rte.ie/brainstorm/2022/0226/…
[3]  x.com/michaeldweiss/status/2…
[4]  walter-maria.com/2023/07/04/…
[5]  belfercenter.org/publication…
[6]  youtube.com/watch?v=2CV-gvPj…
[7]  youtube.com/watch?v=2CV-gvPj…
[8]  euvsdisinfo.eu/the-myth-of-b…
–

AI Mode:
The essay you’re thinking of is likely a 2026 piece by journalist Michael Weiss titled “The Lockhart Plot: The Strange Origins of Russia’s Lasting Paranoia”. [1, 2]
The essay dives into a chaotic period of World War I and the Russian Revolution, highlighting several “wild” and eccentric elements: [1]

The “Lockhart Plot”: Weiss explores the 1918 attempt by British agent Robert Bruce Lockhart to overthrow the new Bolshevik government and bring Russia back into the war against Germany.
Stolen Clothes: One of the most bizarre details Weiss mentions is a British plan—involving Latvian double agents—to kidnap Lenin and Trotsky and humiliate them by parading them through the streets of Moscow without their trousers.
Eccentric Agents: The story features a colorful cast, including Sidney Reilly (the “Ace of Spies”) and even Nick Clegg’s “saucy” great-great aunt, Moura Budberg, who was rumored to be a double or triple agent.
Impact on Distrust: Weiss argues that while the plot was largely bungled and “eccentric,” it provided the Soviet state with a foundational narrative of Western betrayal and “encirclement” that continues to fuel Russian paranoia and distrust of the West today. [1, 3, 4, 5, 6]

[1]  x.com
[2]  michaelweissjournalist.com
[3]  maynoothuniversity.ie
[4]  warfarehistorynetwork.com
[5]  professionalsecurity.co.uk
[6]  facebook.com
-Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) #Security and  #Intelligence:  #Analysis of Russian historical paranoia
Global Friction and Surveillance Debates Heat Up: Deep dive into Russian historical paranoia — A new essay explores the weird origins of Russias distrust of the West, tracing it back to wild WWI spy plots involving eccentric agents and stolen clothes.  thenewsandtimes.blogspot.com…—  https://x.com/mikenov/status/2053878013725450536

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 11, 2026

#CIA  #Russia  #History
I would say, go deeper and further,  back to Genghis Khan.
x.com/mikenov/status/2053878…Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) #Security and  #Intelligence:  #Analysis of Russian historical paranoia
Global Friction and Surveillance Debates Heat Up: Deep dive into Russian historical paranoia — A new essay explores the weird origins of Russias distrust of the West, tracing it back to wild WWI spy plots involving eccentric agents and stolen clothes.  thenewsandtimes.blogspot.com…—  https://x.com/mikenov/status/2053878013725450536

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 11, 2026

#Security and  #Intelligence:  #Analysis of Russian historical paranoia
Global Friction and Surveillance Debates Heat Up: Deep dive into Russian historical paranoia — A new essay explores the weird origins of Russias distrust of the West, tracing it back to wild WWI spy plots involving eccentric agents and stolen clothes.  thenewsandtimes.blogspot.com…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 11, 2026

Trump is scheduled to travel to Beijing this week to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping: What does he plan to achieve?
share.google/aimode/5Z9S7vNG…
Conflict Resolution in Iran: A major priority is securing Chinese diplomatic support to help end the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump aims to leverage his personal relationship with Xi to curb Chinese purchases of Iranian oil and ease global energy price pressures.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, for a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 14–15. His primary goal is to stabilize the bilateral relationship and secure immediate “commercial wins” ahead of the November midterm elections. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
Key Strategic & Economic Objectives
The Trump administration is pushing for several tangible outcomes to reduce the trade deficit and address geopolitical crises: [7, 8, 9]

Trade & Investment Mechanisms: A central aim is the formal announcement of a “Board of Trade” and a “Board of Investment”. These bodies would oversee the implementation of purchase commitments and manage non-sensitive trade sectors to provide more structure than previous ad-hoc measures.
Large-Scale Commercial Purchases: Trump seeks commitments from Beijing for significant purchases of U.S. goods, including:Agriculture: Specific targets for soybeans, poultry, and beef.
Aerospace: A long-stalled deal for up to 500 Boeing aircraft, specifically 737 MAX jets.
Energy: Increased exports of American coal, oil, and natural gas.

Conflict Resolution in Iran: A major priority is securing Chinese diplomatic support to help end the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump aims to leverage his personal relationship with Xi to curb Chinese purchases of Iranian oil and ease global energy price pressures.
Critical Resources: The U.S. is looking to extend a truce that ensures the continued flow of rare earth minerals from China, which are vital for American aerospace and automotive manufacturing.
Emerging Technologies & Security: Discussions are expected to cover a consensus statement on AI guardrails and safety risks, as well as longstanding tensions regarding Taiwan and North Korea. [3, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16]
While both leaders hope to prevent a breakdown of their current “fragile truce,” observers from CSIS and Brookings suggest the summit may be more about maintaining stability and avoiding escalation than achieving a major structural reconfiguration of the relationship. [4, 15, 17]
[1]  en.wikipedia.org
[2]  scmp.com

[3]  instagram.com

[4]  finance.yahoo.com
[5]  youtube.com
[6]  youtube.com
[7]  csis.org
[8]  rieti.go.jp
[9]  weforum.org
[10]  weforum.org
[11]  reuters.com
[12]  brookings.edu
[13]  reuters.com
[14]  reuters.com
[15]  capitaleconomics.com
[16]  theguardian.com
[17]  youtube.com

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 11, 2026

Trump is scheduled to travel to Beijing this week to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping: What does he plan to achieve?
share.google/aimode/5Z9S7vNG…
Conflict Resolution in Iran: A major priority is securing Chinese diplomatic support to help end the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump aims to leverage his personal relationship with Xi to curb Chinese purchases of Iranian oil and ease global energy price pressures.

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 11, 2026

share.google/aimode/G1plYJaQ…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 11, 2026

Trump News Today – 5.11.26 AM – Google Search  google.com/search?q=Trump+Ne…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 11, 2026

Putin News Today – 5.11.26 AM – Google Search  google.com/search?q=Putin+Ne…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 11, 2026

RECENT POSTS – NEWS REVIEW
#CIA  #FBI  #Mossad
x.com/mikenov/status/2053838…Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) #News  #US  #Russia
thenewsandtimes.blogspot.com…
Tracking Global Conflicts and Relations — There is a lot of buzz surrounding predictive analysis of how a conflict in Iran could reshape the delicate relationship between the United States and Russia.
Ongoing Focus on Russia and Ukraine — Global news cycles continue to be dominated by updates on the situation in Ukraine and the broader impact of Putin’s leadership on regional stability.—  https://x.com/mikenov/status/2053838155799781599

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 11, 2026

#News  #US  #Russia
thenewsandtimes.blogspot.com…
Tracking Global Conflicts and Relations — There is a lot of buzz surrounding predictive analysis of how a conflict in Iran could reshape the delicate relationship between the United States and Russia.
Ongoing Focus on Russia and Ukraine — Global news cycles continue to be dominated by updates on the situation in Ukraine and the broader impact of Putin’s leadership on regional stability.

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 11, 2026