All things Trump + Russia Part 4

[Ulf Nereng]

Well, what do you think is more likely?

Well, she hasn't reached the "18000 lies" level yet, at least to my knowledge, so she is more trustworthy less untrustworthy in my book.

 

[The Great Zaganza]

Can we please, once and for all, put to rest the notion that Republicans care more about the Troops than Democrats?

 

[Babbylonian]

Can we please, once and for all, put to rest the notion that Republicans care more about the Troops than Democrats?

To answer your [fixed] question: I already have.

 

[quadraginta]

Can we please, once and for all, put to rest the notion that Republicans care more about the Troops than Democrats?

It isn't so much that they actually care more, or at all for that matter. It's that they have made the claim such an essential core posture of their ideology.

And the regular core supporters of the GOP, who lack the financial wherewithal to shield their children from military service (Yes, I know. They aren't getting drafted. But military service is still a good path out of abject poverty even though the pay is pitiful.) still give a damn about the welfare of troops in combat, since they are more likely to be related to one (or several) of them.

Repugnican pols have to at least pretend in public that they care, and their actual lack of concern can't be too blatant.

 

[Minoosh]

I posted something in the presidency thread about why I don't think this will amount to much, even though I hope it will. Bottom line, GOP senators have to keep covering for Trump if they think he is their best hope for re-election. If they had the power to force him from office I think they'd wait until after the election (assuming he wins). They are gambling everything on Trump eking out another win. To me the question isn't even do they personally care about troops. It's whether they think national security scandals will drag Trump down soon enough to ensure they go down with him. They're all-in, no matter what they know, and IMO people like Bolton, Mattis, Kelly and many, many others are privately briefing them, but the senators are just not in a position to do anything about it, even if they're convinced the intelligence is accurate.

Too much sunk cost in their alliance with Trump.

 

[thaiboxerken]

There wasn't a consensus about the bounty on American soldiers. Foreign Intelligence Service, or SVR, found no such intelligence existed....

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

I agree that he was told. He's just lying. I'd try to act surprised at that, but I'm not that good an actress.

I'd be more inclined to believe it was in a written brief he didn't read.

 

[Bob001]

I'd be more inclined to believe it was in a written brief he didn't read.

The thing is that any normal person would have said something like "This is the first I've heard about this. I'm sure as hell going to get to the bottom of it, and there will be consequences." Trump says "I didn't hear about it, so it can't be true."

 

[timhau]

The thing is that any normal person would have said something like "This is the first I've heard about this. I'm sure as hell going to get to the bottom of it, and there will be consequences." Trump says "I didn't hear about it, so it can't be true."

Excellent point. He again made it all about himself and not taking responsibility.

 

[The Great Zaganza]

There wasn't a consensus about the bounty on American soldiers. Foreign Intelligence Service, or SVR, found no such intelligence existed....

and they ought to know!

 

[Andy_Ross]

American officials provided a written briefing in late February to President Trump laying out their conclusion that a Russian military intelligence unit offered and paid bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan, two officials familiar with the matter said.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/poli...le-russian-bounties-officials-say/ar-BB167bfV

 

[Andy_Ross]

Trump Retweeted

Geraldo Rivera
@GeraldoRivera
Here’s #RussianBounty story in a nutshell:
1-US raid randomly discovers wad of cash in Afghan hut (How much? In a safe? Under a bed? In Capone’s vault?)
2-Clever intell op exclaims, “Say I think this cash came from Moscow!”
3-During daily briefing @realDonaldTrump is told or not.

 

[Beelzebuddy]

Given that Trump provably lies about literally everything else, why do people believe him when he says he doesn't know something? Of course he knows. He's lying to your face.

Whether or not Trump "knows," the White House knew back in March... of 2019. Whether or not Trumps's been "briefed," he was told about it then... by John Bolton.

https://apnews.com/425e43fa0ffdd6e126c5171653ec47d1 [AP sources: White House aware of Russian bounties in 2019]

“He can disown everything if nobody ever told him about it,” Bolton said.

 

[Andy_Ross]

I wonder if Trump gets a commission on the bounty paid for each dead American soldier?

Because Trump ALWAYS takes his cut.

 

[The Great Zaganza]

I wonder if Trump gets a commission on the bounty paid for each dead American soldier?

Because Trump ALWAYS takes his cut.

He is collecting bigly on the bounty on covid-dead Americans.

 

[Horatius]

 

[Andy_Ross]

Trump Retweeted

Office of the DNI
@ODNIgov
Statement by DNI Ratcliffe: "I have confirmed that neither the President nor the Vice President were ever briefed on any intelligence alleged by the New York Times in its reporting yesterday." (1/2)

"The White House statement addressing this issue earlier today, which denied such a briefing occurred, was accurate. The New York Times reporting, and all other subsequent news reports about such an alleged briefing are inaccurate.” (2/2)

 

[The Great Zaganza]

So Trump's position is that his government is incapable of bringing important intel to his attention.
That, if anything, is worse than him just ignoring Russia paying to have coalition troops murdered.

 

[Resume]

Is this fake news Mr. President?

Top officials in the White House were aware in early 2019 of classified intelligence indicating Russia was secretly offering bounties to the Taliban for the deaths of Americans, a full year earlier than has been previously reported, according to U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the intelligence.

 

[Armitage72]

It was likely in the daily written briefings, which he never reads, but wasn't in the weekly oral briefings with accompanying colorful pictures, musical numbers, and party clowns to hold his attention.