• by Sean Hargrave , Staff Writer, October 4, 2018

The UK Government is not hiding behind diplomacy -- it is right out there telling it straight. Russian military intelligence unit, GRU, is behind hacking attacks that hit the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the US Democratic Party in the run up to the election in 2016.

It comes on the same day that the Dutch authorities have announced they expelled four Russian operatives after the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, based in The Hague, was targeted by hackers in April.

It underscores strong words on Russia from ministers throughout the Conservative Party Conference this week. The Home Secretary talked about the novichok attack in Salisbury alongside terror attacks, sending out a clear message that they are seen in the same light. The Prime Minister was equally strong on what she thought of Russians trying to assassinate British citizens with chemical weapons on our UK soil.

It paved the way perfectly for the announcement today that the Government is holding the GRU responsible for four of the biggest cyber attacks of recent years. In addition to the Democrats and WADA, a metro system, airport and bank were targeted in Ukraine in one attack, as was an unnamed small tv station in the UK which had content stolen.

It has led Defence Minister Gavin Williamson to up the ante and go so far as to label Russia a "pariah state." This is no longer the gentle world of diplomacy -- this is the kind of talk that goes on between countries when the proverbial gloves are off. 

It appears that the WADA attack was intended to embarrass athletes from countries that had not been banned from participating in the Olympics -- ie, everybody other than Russia. It would appear that is how details of British cyclists Bradley Wiggins and Chris Frome using a banned substance --perfectly legitimately under medical supervision -- were leaked. 

Which brings us on to the Democrats. All eyes in the UK will now be on America to act. By that I mean that all eyes are now on President Trump. The US is usually supportive of an ally when wrongdoing is exposed. Britain was highly appreciative of the USA's condemnation of the novichok attack in the UN being followed up by 60 diplomats being expelled.

it was an easy case to be outraged by. Trying to kill a former agent was bad enough, it goes against the gentleman's agreement that when spies are swapped they are never later assassinated. But attempting the murder on Britain's streets, then hiding the perfume bottle container in a bin where it would subsequently be used, killing an innocent Britain; that really is a step way too far. 

So, President Trump, how about the same unit being involved in hacking the Democrats? How about these guys almost certainly being behind the breach that led to Hillary Clinton's emails being made available to the Russians and then offered to the President's campaign team?

How about that case of GRU meddling? It is right in that sensitive area the Mueller investigation is currently looking into? Will Trump want to show he is outraged by the democratic process being undermined with further expulsions? Or is it a little too sensitive to deal with?

All British eyes are now looking to see what President Trump does next.

It's an interesting one, -- and at the time of writing, he has not tweeted about the development. Does he draw attention to the debacle by showing public anger and risk questions over whether he ultimately benefited directly or indirectly from any hacked information? Or does he dodge it and leave it to Mueller's investigation to decide if it concurs with the British? My money is on the latter.