Read on Twitter
This should frighten you.
One of most effective questioning of Trump you’ve ever seen (by @jonathanvswan on #AxiosOnHBO)
Trump has NO GOOD response for NEVER raising Russian bounties/arming Taliban with Putin.
Plus: Russia may still be doing it.
One of most effective questioning of Trump you’ve ever seen (by @jonathanvswan on #AxiosOnHBO)
Trump has NO GOOD response for NEVER raising Russian bounties/arming Taliban with Putin.
Plus: Russia may still be doing it.
2. Trump’s former Special Presidential Envoy @brett_mcgurk said in this article:
Trump’s failure to raise with Putin “makes whatever Pompeo may have said irrelevant, as the Russians dismiss anything Americans officials say if not backed from the top.” https://www.justsecurity.org/71279/trump-pushed-cia-to-give-intelligence-to-kremlin-while-taking-no-action-against-russia-arming-taliban/
Trump’s failure to raise with Putin “makes whatever Pompeo may have said irrelevant, as the Russians dismiss anything Americans officials say if not backed from the top.” https://www.justsecurity.org/71279/trump-pushed-cia-to-give-intelligence-to-kremlin-while-taking-no-action-against-russia-arming-taliban/
3. Military sounded alarm on Russia arming Taliban
3/23/17: Gen Scaparrotti, NATO Commander, before Senate
3/29/17: Gen Votel, Commander, CENTCOM before House
4/24/17: SecDef Mattis and Gen Nicholson, presser
9/28/17: Mattis with Afghan Pres., presser
3/23/18: Gen Nicholson, BBC
3/23/17: Gen Scaparrotti, NATO Commander, before Senate
3/29/17: Gen Votel, Commander, CENTCOM before House
4/24/17: SecDef Mattis and Gen Nicholson, presser
9/28/17: Mattis with Afghan Pres., presser
3/23/18: Gen Nicholson, BBC
4. Why did US military stop raising it publicly?
Dunno, but...
7/5/18: Trump: "They’re going, President Putin is KGB and this and that.’ You know what? Putin’s fine. He’s fine”
7/16/18: Trump sides with Putin over US IC at Helsinki
9/18: Nicholson departs
12/18: Mattis resigns
Dunno, but...
7/5/18: Trump: "They’re going, President Putin is KGB and this and that.’ You know what? Putin’s fine. He’s fine”
7/16/18: Trump sides with Putin over US IC at Helsinki
9/18: Nicholson departs
12/18: Mattis resigns
5. Former Deputy Assistant Defense Sec. @mikercarpenter explained: the reason Russia would feel emboldened to do bounties is because Trump didn't press Putin on arms program.
We now know Trump chose not to breathe a word to Putin about either. Not a word. https://www.justsecurity.org/71213/why-is-trump-turning-a-blind-eye-to-russias-covert-warfare/
We now know Trump chose not to breathe a word to Putin about either. Not a word. https://www.justsecurity.org/71213/why-is-trump-turning-a-blind-eye-to-russias-covert-warfare/
6. Recall another signal Trump sent Putin over this time.
Trump was not just silent.
Trump pushed CIA to set up program to give the Kremlin ... US intelligence on counterterrorism.
This from CIA Senior Operations Officer @douglaslondon5 (served until end of 2018)
Trump was not just silent.
Trump pushed CIA to set up program to give the Kremlin ... US intelligence on counterterrorism.
This from CIA Senior Operations Officer @douglaslondon5 (served until end of 2018)
7. Timeline, which I hadn't noted before:
Early 2019: #RussianBounty in President's Daily Brief (before February 2020 PDB, per Associated Press).
March 2019: Bolton briefs Trump on bounties.
Trump pressure on CIA to share intel with Russia continues into 2019, at least.
Early 2019: #RussianBounty in President's Daily Brief (before February 2020 PDB, per Associated Press).
March 2019: Bolton briefs Trump on bounties.
Trump pressure on CIA to share intel with Russia continues into 2019, at least.
8. Associated Press on early 2019 PDB (by @JimLaPorta):
https://apnews.com/425e43fa0ffdd6e126c5171653ec47d1
Other reports that Russia bounty intel reached White House in early 2019:
@ZcohenCNN:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/30/politics/white-house-russia-afghanistan-bounties-intelligence-2019/index.html
Post's @karendeyoung1 @shaneharris @nakashimae @karoun:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/democrats-assail-administration-officials-for-not-forcing-trump-to-address-russian-operation-targeting-us-troops/2020/06/30/4744f408-badf-11ea-80b9-40ece9a701dc_story.html
https://apnews.com/425e43fa0ffdd6e126c5171653ec47d1
Other reports that Russia bounty intel reached White House in early 2019:
@ZcohenCNN:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/30/politics/white-house-russia-afghanistan-bounties-intelligence-2019/index.html
Post's @karendeyoung1 @shaneharris @nakashimae @karoun:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/democrats-assail-administration-officials-for-not-forcing-trump-to-address-russian-operation-targeting-us-troops/2020/06/30/4744f408-badf-11ea-80b9-40ece9a701dc_story.html
9. On dates of CIA intelligence sharing with Russia (my interview with @Mpolymer): https://www.justsecurity.org/71279/trump-pushed-cia-to-give-intelligence-to-kremlin-while-taking-no-action-against-russia-arming-taliban/
