Yes, yes, we know. “Russian asset” or Putin’s “useful idiot,” we know that. Not breaking news.
But when it comes from “spies” plural, and when it comes after the last week, after the G7 fiasco noted with heavy coverage here, and after the predicted “endgame” we made two weeks ago, the timing and the source matters. From a reporter at Business Insider:
NEW: US spies tell me Trump's fervent defense of Russia at the G7 summit was "a new low" that suggests he's either a "Russian asset sitting in the Oval Office" or a "useful idiot" for Putin. https://t.co/0pEq8mh5MH
— Sonam Sheth (@sonam_sheth) August 29, 2019
I do want you to note that he references “spies” and not “spy.” The reporting refers to a collection of people.
One doesn’t get to be a “spy” without discipline and loyalty to one’s country. There is no conceivable way that each source for the story believed themselves to be speaking out as an individual, individually deciding he or she had had enough. What I am saying is that the decision to speak out, call the POTUS a Russian “Asset” or the equivalent, was coordinated, timed, by multiple insiders, so as to have the maximum impact.
What they had to say individually was even more damning. We will start with the person willing to put his name next to the assessment:
”No question” that Trump is behaving like a “spy for the Russians. … The evidence is so overwhelming that in my 35 years in intelligence, I have never seen anything so certain.” — Glenn Carle, former CIA covert operative
“No question,” “Never seen anything so certain,” from a veteran of the service? This is an incredibly strong statement from someone who put his name to it. One wonders what Carle has heard from his friends still on the inside.
“We have a Russian asset sitting in the Oval Office. … There is no fathomable explanation for why the president said these things. Letting Russia off the hook for bullying smaller countries and then blaming Obama for it? It’s directly out of the Putin playbook.” — former senior Justice Department official.
No fathomable explanation? Actually, he hit the fathomable explanation out of the park, Russians assets will act on Russia’s behalf. The only problem is that U.S. law and the rules followed by the U.S. news media (as opposed to opinion press, here), prohibits such accusations without proof, multiple sources in a position to know. As obvious as it may be, it must be proven to move legally.
Perhaps it is proven to this person formerly on the inside.
“I think what’s going on right now is an Occam’s razor scenario. Trump wants to do deals with Russia when he leaves the presidency. We already know he was interested in building a Trump Tower in Moscow before and during the election. The best way of doing a deal with Putin is to be nice to him, so I think what Trump is doing is currying favor.” — Robert Deitz, former lawyer at the CIA and the National Security Agency
This is almost charitable to a fault. Trump may want to do “deals” with Russia when he leaves office. But the evidence is overwhelming that Trump wants to “pay for” the deals he has already made with Putin prior to taking office. Scotland? One must focus the lens correctly to view the matter as an obligation rooted in past acts, rather than the relative freedom to do deals looking to the future.
Regardless, I personally want to focus as much on the fact that the statements came out now, after what we have seen in the last two weeks. This might well be a coordinated effort to push Trump out. I submit it near has to be.
These people likely know each other. They likely hear from people still on the inside. Any plan to expose Trump involves people in the know speaking out. These statements also serve as encouragement to those still inside, the people with access to evidence, or more current theories, to speak, leak, come forward.
I will note one last time. Two weeks ago we saw Trump demonstrate mental instability, “King of the Jews,” “the Chosen One,” etc. etc. One weekend ago we saw the Russia-groveling and greed play out on the international stage, inviting Russia next year, having the meetings at Doral.
I think these statements are made in direct response, and meant to have an effect.
The slide continues. We marked the beginning of the end a week ago. Congress gets back to town early next week. Hold on, and not just in Florida. A storm is coming.
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Peace, y’all
Jason
Read Malcolm Nance’s book as soon as it came out. This is one big fucking “duh.” Witting, unwitting, useful idiot – 45 is a Russian asset. M=Money I=Ideology C= Compromise and the other big dug, E=Ego. Vlad and Oligarchs used and continue to use MICE to keep 45 as their asset IN THE FUCKING WHITE HOUSE! Wonder if Intelligence is not giving him all the information?
Mattis now speaking out and his new book. Congress comes back 9/9. Damn well better see extreme action and hear vociferously that 45 has to go and WHY!