Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

The usual thinking goes something like; well, the US created the internet so why would they want to take it down? Yes, NSA spies and all that, but they need the internet up to do that and also as bad as NSA is, it's nowhere near as bad as China or Russia where they ... (ranges from censorship to eating babies alive)


> The usual thinking goes something like; well, the US created the internet so why would they want to take it down?

To pin it on someone else?

"17 Intelligence agencies told me Russia hacked our DNC thing" (Clinton).

So maybe it is now "Oh look they took down the whole internet as well".


>To pin it on someone else?

That's... kind of conspiratorial thinking? Would you cut off your own hand so you could blame it on someone else?


As someone else pointed out this is a classic false flag operation. Look up Gleiwitz incident and Operation Northwood. It can be very effective. With good opsec and anonymity online it can be even easier.

> kind of conspiratorial thinking?

You mean like lizard aliens infiltrating our planet? -No. But in the realm of "shooting down of passenger and military planes, sinking a U.S. ship in the vicinity of Cuba, burning crops, sinking a boat filled with Cuban refugees, attacks by alleged Cuban infiltrators inside the United States, and harassment of U.S. aircraft and shipping and the destruction of aerial drones by aircraft disguised as Cuban MiGs", yes.

It was mostly a reply to "US would have absolutely no reason for doing this" and the reply is there cold be a plausible reason.


It's called a false flag operation, and does happen.


And the ratio of false flag operations to false accusations of false flag operations is about 1:99. Lots of unlikely things "do happen," but if that's the immediate explanation you reach for you're going to be wrong most of the time.


> Lots of unlikely things "do happen," but if that's the immediate explanation

Where did I say it was my immediate explanation and this is _likely_ what is happening?


You might want to take this up with that "rdtsc" guy who wrote "As someone else pointed out this is a classic false flag operation." He seems to disagree with you on those points.


Oh right, I know him! He is a decent fellar. I think he was saying if US is attacking its own infrastructure, then a false flag operation is a plausible explanation. Talking to him a bit revealed he didn't say this US attacking itself.


Not suggesting this is a false flag operation, but pointing out the concept as some commenters seemed unfamiliar with it.


Of course, I just tried to explain how the thinking behind the sentiment that it obviously isn't the U.S., not saying I agree with it.




Consider applying for YC's Summer 2026 batch! Applications are open till May 4

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: