In The First Circle, a novel by Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn, Stalin suspects there is a spy in the Soviet Foreign Ministry. Scientists, working as slaves in a government laboratory, are asked to identify the spy by analyzing voice recordings.
The scientists report they have narrowed the suspects down to three. Good enough is the response from the dictator–we just shoot all three.
The Trump Administration reportedly has started a witch hunt to identify the author of the inflammatory NY Times editorial using textual analysis. This is unlikely to be conclusive–they may identify a number of suspects. What then, fire them all?
I don’t understand the intent of the unknown author. If part of a clique working to protect the republic, why blow the whistle?
