Spy Swap Breakdown: What Led to Russian Roundup?
Oh, to have been a table lamp in the room a month ago when key national security officials first discussed the possibility of swapping 10 Russian spies known to be in the U.S. for individuals the U.S. wanted released from Russian custody.
The meeting took place before any of the Russian spies were arrested.
Now that the spy swap has been consummated, more information about the case has been made available:
- It was last February when key White House aides first got word from the FBI, CIA and Justice Department about the Russians under surveillance. The agencies notified higher ups in the belief arrests of the Russians were imminent.
- President Obama was first briefed on June 11 about the 10 Russians. A White House official says Mr. Obama was given details of the individuals involved and was told what they've been doing over the past decade. He was informed of FBI concerns that some of spies were planning trips out of the U.S. this summer.
- Mr. Obama convened a meeting of his National Security Council a week later, June 18, to discuss the Russian spy matter.
Once the idea of a swap was approved, CIA Director Leon Panetta negotiated the matter with Russian officials.
The U.S. government designated which individuals in Russian custody it wanted released in exchange for the spies. A White House official said the selections were based on humanitarian and health concerns among other factors.
Panetta informed the Kremlin of the names, and soon after Russia agreed to the deal.
Though Mr. Obama learned of the Russian spies two weeks before his June 24 summit with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, a White House spokesman says the issue was not raised during the leaders' day of talks, which included a lunch outing for burgers and fries.
On June 28, the roundup of the spies became public.
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