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**JHyde** · 06-07-2010, 03:30 AM

This article made me laugh this afternoon.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/wor...public_rss

I'm actually stunned Spooks wasn't mentioned in it, as the author of the article is a fan.

tyme4t · 08-07-2010, 10:04 AM

Looks like there maybe a spy swap!

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/07/07...ap007.html

Although it's a lot less dramatic then meeting on a desolate road in the dark of night... Cool

lwhite53 · 09-07-2010, 02:19 PM

So now that the 10 spies have been sent back to Russia, my first thought is "how in the world are those kids, who were born and raised in the US, gonna' cope?" Living in suburban America, the land of conspicuous consumption, is a universe removed from Moscow.

**A Cousin** · (This post was last modified: 09-07-2010 03:52 PM by A Cousin.)

(09-07-2010 02:19 PM)lwhite53 Wrote: So now that the 10 spies have been sent back to Russia, my first thought is "how in the world are those kids, who were born and raised in the US, gonna' cope?" Living in suburban America, the land of conspicuous consumption, is a universe removed from Moscow.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/06...tmare.html

They may go. They may not go. It just makes my heart bleed for these kids.

lwhite53 · 09-07-2010, 04:06 PM

Ultimately, the minor kids will have to be reunited with their parents, especially as the parents aren't imprisoned and the extended families are in Russia -- there's no legal basis to do anything else. It will be interesting to see if the parents let the kids keep their American citizenship (which will make them dual American/Russian citizens) or if they denounce their American birthright.

Tea Lady · 09-07-2010, 04:09 PM

(09-07-2010 03:52 PM)A Cousin Wrote: They may go. They may not go. It just makes my heart bleed for these kids.

Now being a spy is one thing and so is being in deep cover, but to have kids while you are in deep cover!! Why would you do that? You would know that you may be discovered at some point and what that would do to your children, whatever age they were. If having kids was part of the deep cover story, then that sucks.

**JHyde** · 09-07-2010, 04:17 PM

The latest in this saga reminds me a lot of Graham Greene's 'The Human Factor'. Those of you who have read it will understand the comparison. Those of you who haven't, should.

lwhite53 · 09-07-2010, 04:18 PM

Yeah, I agree TL. Talk about "collateral damage." This would seem to me to be the ultimate betrayal -- having kids with the agent you were set up with to protect your cover, without giving a thought to the lives those kids might have to lead. Being a spy is just a job -- being an amoral, cold-hearted bastard is a conscious choice.

**A Cousin** · 09-07-2010, 04:43 PM

(09-07-2010 04:06 PM)lwhite53 Wrote: Ultimately, the minor kids will have to be reunited with their parents, especially as the parents aren't imprisoned and the extended families are in Russia -- there's no legal basis to do anything else.

If the parents want them you are right. I have been in the social services system from the foster parent perspective and as long as there are friends who are willing to foster or foster to adopt, it is possible as long as the parents legally relinquish the right to the kids. "Amoral, cold-hearted bastards" that they are (very well put BTW) this could go either way.

It just pisses me off to no end...! Angry

lwhite53 · (This post was last modified: 09-07-2010 09:34 PM by lwhite53.)

The latest from CNN.com re the minor children is: 4 of the younger kids are now in Russia with their parents, 2 older kids are no longer in the US but their location is unknown, and the final 2 are still in the US.