KGB Taliban Bounty Story Was A Hoax

They never was any proof to run this story, and casualties of US servicemen never increased in Afghanistan. Another example of a press creating stories instead of actually verifying rumors.

While not saying it was a "hoax," U.S. intelligence has dialed down its characterization of the story, first reported by the Wall Street Journal .

On Thursday, the administration said U.S. intelligence had only “low to moderate confidence” in the reports of the alleged bounty program.

The administration expressly declined to link the latest sanctions and expulsions of Russian diplomats undertaken Thursday to the bounty reports.

But in listing the bounties as a point of tension with Russia alongside the SolarWinds hack of government and corporate computer systems and interference in elections—actions U.S. intelligence attributes to Moscow—the administration aimed to put Moscow on notice and to protect U.S. troops remaining in Afghanistan until the withdrawal is complete in September.

www.wsj.com/articles/intelligence-was-li...use-says-11618522983

OPINION: Inside the CIA and NSA disagreement over Russian bounties story

www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/insid...ssian-bounties-story

Does this mean CIA is right and NSA is wrong? Nope. Does this even mean NSA asserts that CIA is wrong? No; it means NSA wants documentary signals evidence whereas CIA is more likely to defer to HUMINT -- some of which is so well-guarded, it's not even shared with allies.