Why Claims of Russian Meddling Should Be Questioned

[anatta]

hat does one do when the country’s intelligence leadership is acting, well, not very intelligently? That is the inescapable question prompted by last week’s reports that a senior representative of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) told members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) in an official briefing that Russia is interfering in the 2020 U.S. presidential election and hopes to see President Donald Trump re-elected.


According to the New York Times account, Trump learned of this briefing only after the fact. And if press reports are accurate, the briefer cited no direct evidence of meddling on Trump’s behalf or of Russia’s broader intentions regarding U.S. presidential elections. Rather, the case was apparently based on inferences from such inherently ambiguous evidence as Russian hacking of the Ukrainian energy firm Burisma, supposedly done to help Trump dig up dirt on Hunter Biden. Such inferences were evidently reinforced by an assessment, lacking in analytical merit but redolent with politics, that the Kremlin would somehow naturally favor Trump over other 2020 presidential candidates.

Republican HPSCI members reportedly erupted in response. They disputed the plausibility of an assessment that Russia would prefer a president who has built up the U.S. military, proved willing to use force in the Middle East, greatly stiffened sanctions on Moscow, fought Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, and toughened other policies affecting Russia.
Why would Russians not favor Democrats who would cut the U.S. defense budget, balk at using military force, and impose a ban on fracking that would drive up global oil and gas prices and benefit Russia’s energy export earnings? Trump, in turn, called the allegation of Russian support a “hoax.

The Kremlin cannot fail to realize that any significant pro-Trump meddling would be exposed and would hurt rather than help his electoral prospects. This being the case, one might plausibly argue that the real reason Moscow might unveil some footprint of a pro-Trump campaign is because it would expect this to be discovered and actually harm Trump.

[anatta]

Likewise, it is not at all obvious how Moscow could play a meaningful role in swinging the elections either for or against Trump; activities of Russian trolls during the 2016 election cycle were small in scope, clumsy in execution, and of little discernible electoral consequence.

Since these facts are well known to the Kremlin, even if it were hoping for a Trump victory, why would it believe that he needs Russian assistance, or that best way to aid him would be through election interference? The Russians may be guilty of many things, but stupidity is not one of them.

All of this argues for considerable caution when it comes to assessing Russian actions and intentions toward the 2020 elections. There is much that we do not know about the content of the HPSCI briefing or the classified intelligence reporting that underlies the Intelligence Community’s judgments
But what we do know suggests that the IC has not demonstrated sufficient analytic caution or political acumen in addressing this important subject.

Having just closed a lamentable chapter in our country’s history in which some IC leaders trumpeted false charges that Trump had colluded with Moscow to steal the presidency, whilst hinting that they harbored classified reporting that proved their case, the current leaders should not have reopened the story absent strong evidence and unassailable logic. At a minimum, they should have ensured that they did not blindside the president and stoke suspicions that they regard him more as an opponent than as what they once called their “First Customer.”

Their failure to exhibit such due diligence has only intensified the broader political warfare surrounding the White House and IC.
It is clear that anti-Trump forces have embraced the intelligence cadre as part of what they call “the resistance.” They have applauded reports that a CIA analyst first blew a whistle on the president’s supposed solicitation of Ukrainian interference in the 2020 presidential election, and they have turned a blind eye to indications that the IC illegitimately spied on the Trump campaign and transition team.

Trump’s unprecedented series of anti-IC tweets and critical public remarks suggest that he has long seen intelligence professionals in much the same way, as a source of opposition not just to his policies but to him personally
Only a generation ago, partisanship stopped metaphorically at water’s edge. Now it gets amplified and distorted as foreign policy becomes increasingly hostage to domestic politics, and intelligence becomes an active player in advocating policies and shaping domestic perceptions. Fixing this regrettable situation is something that is in everyone’s vital interest. Getting our intelligence professionals out of the game of influencing American electoral politics is a good place to start.
https://nationalinterest.org/feature...992?page=0%2C1

[anatta]

Having just closed a lamentable chapter in our country’s history in which some IC leaders trumpeted false charges that Trump had colluded with Moscow to steal the presidency, whilst hinting that they harbored classified reporting that proved their case, the current leaders should not have reopened the story absent strong evidence and unassailable logic.

[Darth Omar]

There may not be a more ‘fact immune’ conspiracy theory than the Trump/Russian Hoax.

Trump is harder on Russia than either Bush or Obama: doesn’t matter.

Trump sold lethal weapons to Ukraine when Obama sent them blankets: doesn’t matter, Trump is still in cahoots with Putin.

It’s gotten beyond absurd. Even Tulsi Gabbard called them out on it the other day.

[anatta]

There may not be a more ‘fact immune’ conspiracy theory than the Trump/Russian Hoax.

Trump is harder on Russia than either Bush or Obama: doesn’t matter.

Trump sold lethal weapons to Ukraine when Obama sent them blankets: doesn’t matter, Trump is still in cahoots with Putin.

It’s gotten beyond absurd. Even Tulsi Gabbard called them out on it the other day.

the briefer cited no direct evidence of meddling on Trump’s behalf or of Russia’s broader intentions regarding U.S. presidential elections. Rather, the case was apparently based on inferences from such inherently ambiguous evidence

IC is part of "the Resistance"

[Darth Omar]

The FBI, CIA or any other intelligence agency should immediately stop smearing presidential candidates with innuendo and vague, evidence-free assertions. That is antithetical to their role in a free democracy. The American people cannot have faith in our intelligence agencies if they are pushing an agenda to harm candidates they dislike.

Any attempts to keep the American people quiet - with the threat that if they dare criticize the Democratic Party establishment, they will be labeled hostile foreign agents - are unacceptable and disgraceful.

This new McCarthyism must be renounced by every presidential candidate, otherwise we must conclude they lack the foresight and integrity required to lead our country. If candidates are too afraid to stand up against those who would suppress the voices of the American people with McCarthyist smears, they are not real leaders. They are just power-hungry, self-serving politicians whose goal is to play-act as president - rather than actually defend the freedoms enshrined in our Constitution.

It is now clear that the mainstream corporate media and the warmongering political establishment are seeking to do two things:

Create enough suspicion around Sanders, by falsely tarnishing him as a puppet of Russia, that he loses the election.

Or, at the very least, if Bernie wins the Democratic nomination, force him to engage in inflammatory anti-Russia rhetoric and perpetuate the New Cold War and nuclear arms race, which are existential threats to our country and the world.

That strategy worked very well with Trump. Trump has spent his entire presidency trying to "prove" to the media that he is not Putin's puppet by carrying out extremely aggressive policies that have brought us closer to nuclear war with Russia than we have been in decades.

If Sanders is the Democratic nominee, the corporate media will do everything they can to turn the general election into a contest of who is going to be "tougher" on Russia. This tactic is necessary to propagandize the American people into shelling over their hard-earned tax dollars to the Pentagon to fund the highly lucrative nuclear arms race the that military-industrial complex craves. In the most recent appropriations bill last year, the Pentagon was handed $738 billion - which includes a blank check for dangerous new nuclear warheads and destabilizing missile systems that increase the likelihood of catastrophic war with Russia.

The question facing any potential Democratic nominee is this: Am I going to allow myself to be manipulated and forced into a corner by overreaching intelligence agencies and the corporate media where, in order for me to win the presidency, I'm going to have to do what I know is not in the interests of the American people and world peace?

Or will I stand up to the corrupt neocon and neoliberal establishment, condemn their lies and smears, and act with the integrity and foresight necessary to forge a rational policy that will serve all our interests?

The problem with President Trump is that he talks tough against the media and the intelligence agencies, but he was not strong enough to stand up to their pressure. He was cowed into trying to prove that he's not a puppet of Russia, and as a consequence has brought us closer and closer to nuclear war. The Democratic nominee cannot make the same mistake; our country and the world are depending on it.

https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-b...mpression=true
_________________

I may not agree with much of Tulsi’s policy initiatives but she has more gonads than anyone on either side of the aisle—including Trump.

[Earl]

Having just closed a lamentable chapter in our country’s history in which some IC leaders trumpeted false charges that Trump had colluded with Moscow to steal the presidency, whilst hinting that they harbored classified reporting that proved their case, the current leaders should not have reopened the story absent strong evidence and unassailable logic.

Indeed.

Shifty, lying, Schiff said that he had proof of collusion.

The Mueller Report proved Schiff lied and he has never admitted it or apologized.

[Frank Apisa]

Wow...the fact that the "Dear Leader" you people all support appears to love Vlad Putin...really seems to be bothering you a lot.

Must be hard on the conscience to have to pretend as hard as you guys are doing for the Abomination.

Oh, well. It does have humor value...and for that, those of us watching this shit-show are grateful.

[Darth Omar]

Wow...the fact that the "Dear Leader" you people all support appears to love Vlad Putin...really seems to be bothering you a lot.

Must be hard on the conscience to have to pretend as hard as you guys are doing for the Abomination.

Oh, well. It does have humor value...and for that, those of us watching this shit-show are grateful.

That’s cute, Frank lol.

What *actual facts* do you have to support the theory that Trump loves Putin?

[Earl]

“We’ll leave it for readers to judge whether it was immediately clear that Schiff was purposefully giving his own dramatic representation that didn’t completely square with the facts. But here’s what we found about the statements the politicians have made about each other:

Trump said Schiff “actually took words and made it up.” That’s correct. Schiff didn’t give Trump’s exact words — a verbatim transcript isn’t available. Nor does Schiff give the exact words in a White House-released memo of the call, which was based on notes and recollections of staff.
Schiff said in his opening statement, and in TV interviews, that Trump had asked Zelensky to “make up” or “manufacture” dirt on Trump’s potential 2020 opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden. That’s not accurate. Trump asked Zelensky to investigate, not provide false information.
The president said in a tweet that Schiff’s comments “bore NO relationship to what I said on the call.” That’s incorrect. There are some parts of the chairman’s comments that are similar to the memo of the phone call.“
factcheck.org

[Earl]

The fact that the Russians were caught helping the Socialist fanatic, old Bernie, is proof that the Russians love Bernie and hate President Trump.

The Socialist fanatic, old Bernie loves Russia. He spent his honeymoon in...Russia.

How many American people spend their honeymoon in...Russia?

[Darth Omar]

“We’ll leave it for readers to judge whether it was immediately clear that Schiff was purposefully giving his own dramatic representation that didn’t completely square with the facts. But here’s what we found about the statements the politicians have made about each other:

Trump said Schiff “actually took words and made it up.” That’s correct. Schiff didn’t give Trump’s exact words — a verbatim transcript isn’t available. Nor does Schiff give the exact words in a White House-released memo of the call, which was based on notes and recollections of staff.
Schiff said in his opening statement, and in TV interviews, that Trump had asked Zelensky to “make up” or “manufacture” dirt on Trump’s potential 2020 opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden. That’s not accurate. Trump asked Zelensky to investigate, not provide false information.
The president said in a tweet that Schiff’s comments “bore NO relationship to what I said on the call.” That’s incorrect. There are some parts of the chairman’s comments that are similar to the memo of the phone call.“
factcheck.org

And the accurate parts in Schiff’s call ‘parody’ were ‘perfect’ lol.

[moon]

Why Claims of Russian Meddling Should Be Questioned

' Russian ' meddling ?





Haw, haw......................................haw.

[Frank Apisa]

That’s cute, Frank lol.

What *actual facts* do you have to support the theory that Trump loves Putin?

Ummm...Trump's own words and actions?

[Stone]

RUSSIA!!!!