'Russiagate’ Zealots Have Become a Major Threat to US National Security

[anatta]

Cohen argues that America is now in unprecedented danger due to two related crises. A new and more dangerous Cold War with Russia that is fraught with the real possibility of hot war between the two nuclear superpowers on several fronts,.
And the worst crisis of the American presidency in modern times, which threatens to paralyze the president’s ability to deal diplomatically with Moscow. (To those who recall Watergate, Cohen points out that, unlike Trump, President Nixon was never accused of “collusion with the Kremlin” or faced reckless, and preposterous, allegations that the Kremlin had abetted his election by an “attack on American democracy.”)

What Trump did in Vietnam last week was therefore vitally important and courageous, though uniformly misrepresented by the American mainstream media. Despite unrelenting “Russiagate” attempts led by Democrats to impeach him for “collusion with the Kremlin” (still without any meaningful evidence), and perhaps even opposition by high-level members of his own administration, Trump met several times, informally and briefly, with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Presumably dissuaded or prevented by some of his own top advisers from having a formal, lengthy meeting, Trump was nonetheless prepared. He and Putin issued a joint statement urging cooperation in Syria, where the prospects of a US-Russian war had been mounting. And both leaders later said they had serious talks about cooperating on the crises in North Korea and Ukraine.

What Trump told the US press corps after his meetings with Putin was even more remarkable—and defiantly bold. He reiterated his longstanding position that “having a relationship with Russia would be a great thing—not a good thing—it would be a great thing.”

To this Cohen adds that it would be an essential thing for the sake of US national security on many vital issues and in many areas of the world, and should be the first foreign-policy principle of both political parties.

Trump then turned to “Russiagate,”saying that Putin had again denied any personal involvement and that in this Putin seemed sincere.
Trump quickly added that three of President Obama’s top intelligence directors—the CIA’s John Brennan, Office of National Intelligence’s James Clapper, and the FBI’s James Comey—were “political hacks,” clearly implying that their declared role in “Russiagate” had been and remains less than sincere.
He also suggested that Russia had been too “heavily sanctioned” to be the national-security partner America needs, a point Cohen reminded listeners he himself had made many times.

The immediate reaction of liberal and progressive “Russiagate” adherents was, Cohen continued, lamentably predictable, as was that of their Cold War allies Brennan, Clapper, and Senator John McCain, who never saw the prospect of a war with Russia he didn’t want to fight.

Racing to their eager media outlets, they denounced Trump’s necessary diplomacy with Putin as “unconscionable.” New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow accused the president of “a betrayal of American trust and interests that is almost treasonous.”
He quickly deleted “almost,” declaring Trump’s presidency to be “a Russian project” and Trump himself “Putin’s dupe.” (In full retro Cold War mode, Blow also characterized the US president as Putin’s “new comrade,” apparently unaware that both leaders are known to be anti-Communists.)
Blow may be among the least informed and most hyperbolic of national columnists on these matters, but from his regular perch at the Times and on CNN, he speaks to and for many influential Democrats, including self-professed progressives.

From these recent developments, Cohen draws several conclusions, which he and Batchelor discuss:

§ The promoters of “Russiagate” seem to have no concern for America’s actual national-security interests and indeed, in this regard, are actively undermining those interests.

To the extent that “Russiagate” and the crippling of Trump as a foreign-policy president is becoming a major part of the Democratic Party’s national electoral platform, can the party really be trusted to lead the nation?

[anatta]

Trump has demonstrated consistency and real determination on one existential issue: Putin’s Russia is not America’s enemy but a national-security partner our nation vitally needs. The president made this clear again following the scurrilous attacks on his negotiations with Putin:

“When will all the haters and fools out there realize that having a good relationship with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing.”

§ Another indication that Trump is prepared to fight for his Russia policy was also remarkable.
He sent his own CIA director to speak with William Binney, a leading member of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity, which recently published a study concluding that the theft of e-mails from the Democratic National Committee during the 2016 presidential campaign was not a remote hack by Russia—the foundational allegation of “Russiagate”—but an inside job.
“Russiagate” zealots quickly dismissed Binney as a “crackpot conspiracy theorist,” but he is hardly that.

A retired longtime NSA official, he and his colleagues produced a serious alternative explanation of what happened at the DNC. Highly technical aspects of the VIPS’s report have been seriously contested, including by members of the organization itself—see the discussion in the Nation—but it cannot be lightly dismissed and certainly is no more “crackpot conspiracy theorist” than was the January 2017 “Intelligence Community Assessment”—itself a founding document of “Russiagate”—which alleged, without the slightest evidence, that Putin personally ordered what became known as the “attack on American democracy.”
(Trump pointed out, as have others, that the ICA report was not the conclusion of “17 intelligence agencies,” as purported, but instead a few “analysts” chosen by Brennan, Clapper, and possibly others.

Cohen wonders if Trump is suggesting, as Cohen has, that an Intelgate, instead of “Russiagate,” should be investigated.) This too enraged Democrats, who now defer to US intel chiefs as iconic truth-tellers, apparently having no knowledge of the Senate Church Committee investigation of intelligence agencies in the 1970s and its stunning revelations, or even their malpractice during the run-up to the not-so-remote Iraq War.)

We are, Cohen concludes, clearly at a fateful crossroads in US-Russian relations and in the history of the American presidency as an institution.
The crux should be American national security in the fullest domestic and international respects, not whether we are Trump supporters or members of the “Resistance.” Reckless denunciations make the two crises worse. The only way out is nonpartisan respect for verified facts, logic, and rational civil discourse, which “Russiagate” seems to have all but vaporized, even in once-exalted places
https://www.thenation.com/article/ru...onal-security/

[anatta]

Trump quickly added that three of President Obama’s top intelligence directors—the CIA’s John Brennan, Office of National Intelligence’s James Clapper, and the FBI’s James Comey—were “political hacks,” clearly implying that their declared role in “Russiagate” had been and remains less than sincere.

lamentably predictable, as was that of their Cold War allies Brennan, Clapper, and Senator John McCain, who never saw the prospect of a war with Russia he didn’t want to fight.

Trump pointed out, as have others, that the ICA report was not the conclusion of “17 intelligence agencies,” as purported, but instead a few “analysts” chosen by Brennan, Clapper, and possibly others.

Cohen wonders if Trump is suggesting, as Cohen has, that an Intelgate, instead of “Russiagate,” should be investigated.) This too enraged Democrats, who now defer to US intel chiefs as iconic truth-tellers, apparently having no knowledge of the Senate Church Committee investigation of intelligence agencies in the 1970s and its stunning revelations, or even their malpractice during the run-up to the not-so-remote Iraq War.)

[archives]

So in other words you want to complete dismiss what the overwhelming number of people including GOP politicians that Russia did orchestrate an espionage effort to influence the US election? KremlinGate isn't directly focused upon proving collusion, a misnomer conservatives employ, but investigating Russia's efforts

And why is Russia, who has been antagonistic toward US policies for decades, suddenly now so trustworthy and straightforward?

The opinion piece is bogus, what is "crippling" the President is the President, he is unprepared for the job, the moment he left Asia eleven other nations reached a trade agreement amongst themselves excluding the US

[anatta]

So in other words you want to complete dismiss what the overwhelming number of people including GOP politicians that Russia did orchestrate an espionage effort to influence the US election? KremlinGate isn't directly focused upon proving collusion, a misnomer conservatives employ, but investigating Russia's efforts

And why is Russia, who has been antagonistic toward US policies for decades, suddenly now so trustworthy and straightforward?

The opinion piece is bogus, what is "crippling" the President is the President, he is unprepared for the job, the moment he left Asia eleven other nations reached a trade agreement amongst themselves excluding the US

I do believe the ICA report is compromised. Clapper is a known 2x liar. He was the author
along with a couple hand-picked associates. That give me no confidence in his words.

And why is Russia, who has been antagonistic toward US policies for decades, suddenly now so trustworthy and straightforward?

The bigger scheme is the US Russian relationship,and here Russia is very important not to be a "relief valve"
for North Korea, as China increases taxes.

There is also cooperation on anti-terrorism,and one of these days we are going to have to address
the Arctic and it's resources.

I like Reagan's "trust but verify" -the problem is there is the US INTEL acting as a Deep State,
and Democrats acting like clueless wretched partisans that make it impossible to improve relations.

Add in the classic Russiaphobes like McCain/Graham.
We are shunning a partnership/relationship that could pay dividends, and ignoring
the 2nd largest military in the world

he left Asia eleven other nations reached a trade agreement amongst themselves excluding the US

TPP garbage

[Bill]

So in other words you want to complete dismiss what the overwhelming number of people including GOP politicians that Russia did orchestrate an espionage effort to influence the US election? KremlinGate isn't directly focused upon proving collusion, a misnomer conservatives employ, but investigating Russia's efforts

And why is Russia, who has been antagonistic toward US policies for decades, suddenly now so trustworthy and straightforward?

The opinion piece is bogus, what is "crippling" the President is the President, he is unprepared for the job, the moment he left Asia eleven other nations reached a trade agreement amongst themselves excluding the US

Yep............. So very sad that in one election so many have strayed so far following one man w/ ZERO EXPERIENCE & hardly known as an honest man.........

[anatta]

Yep............. So very sad that in one election so many have strayed so far following one man w/ ZERO EXPERIENCE & hardly known as an honest man.........

do you have any comments on the OP?

[Cancel 2020.1]

Personally, I think Trump bragging about classified intel in an oval office meeting is more of a threat.

But maybe that's just me.

[anatta]

Personally, I think Trump bragging about classified intel in an oval office meeting is more of a threat.

But maybe that's just me.

it was such a small tell, and no sources or methods were exposed.
The laptop threat needed to be shared, albeit Trump broke protocol

[Truth Detector]

Yep............. So very sad that in one election so many have strayed so far following one man w/ ZERO EXPERIENCE & hardly known as an honest man.........

What experience did Obama have? I'm amused that you dishonest lying liberals think a man running a billion dollar empire and flies around in his personal Boeing 757 has less experience than a Community Organizer. DUNCE.

[blackascoal]

This is absolutely INSANE.

Getting to the bottom of foreign interference in our elections is a threat to national security?

Insane .. and clearly demonstrates where the real threat comes from.

[Cancel 2020.1]

it was such a small tell, and no sources or methods were exposed.
The laptop threat needed to be shared, albeit Trump broke protocol

Stop making excuses all the time.

[Truth Detector]

Personally, I think Trump bragging about classified intel in an oval office meeting is more of a threat.

Wrong; but then you wallow in wrong. Demeaning the office of the President and our diction processes because the Democratic Party of the Jackass and the FAKE media were embarrassed by their stupid les and distortions is the REAL threat.

But maybe that's just me.

Yes, and your fellow lying liberal dumbfucks who think demeaning the office of the President and our election process leads to greater security. Dunce.

[blackascoal]

do you have any comments on the OP?

I do .. it's insane.

No disrespect intended.

[anatta]

Stop making excuses all the time.

put things in perspective