David Ensor: Putin might take spy expulsions personally

David Ensor

CNN National Security Correspondent David Ensor is in Washington, closely following the expulsions of diplomats accused of espionage in both the United States and Russia. Each nation has expelled 50 of the other nation's diplomats.

Q: How badly, if at all, does this set back U.S.-Russian relations?

ENSOR: It will hurt U.S.-Russian relations. It's not clear how badly yet. Some analysts believe that because he's a former KGB officer, (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin may take these expulsions personally. But Bush administration officials believe that the Russians will understand the expulsions in the same way they are seen in Washington: a separate issue from the rest of the U.S.-Russian relationship.

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Q: Give us some idea of the significance of this story. When was the last time such a tit-for-tat spy battle occurred between the U.S. and Moscow?

ENSOR: In 1986, when President Ronald Reagan expelled 80 Russian diplomats the U.S. said were involved in intelligence-gathering activities. The Russians then expelled a large number of Americans in response.

Q: If the Cold War is over, why is Russia apparently increasing its espionage activities against the U.S.?

ENSOR: Well, U.S. officials say it is because the Russians are weak; that they want more intelligence about what the U.S. is up to; what military weapons innovations might be occurring in this country, what economic intelligence they might be able to gather and use. U.S. officials hypothesize that it's because of Russia's problems, that it is all the more interested in gathering intelligence.

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