John Brennan: President Trump's Claims of No Collusion Are Hogwash
When Alexander Bortnikov, the head of Russias internal security service, told me during an early August 2016 phone call that Russia wasnt interfering in our presidential election, I knew he was lying. Over the previous several years I had grown weary of Mr. Bortnikovs denials of Russias perfidy about its mistreatment of American diplomats and citizens in Moscow, its repeated failure to adhere to cease-fire agreements in Syria and its paramilitary intervention in eastern Ukraine, to name just a few issues.
When I warned Mr. Bortnikov that Russian interference in our election was intolerable and would roil United States-Russia relations for many years, he denied Russian involvement in any election, in America or elsewhere, with a feigned sincerity that I had heard many times before. President Vladimir Putin of Russia reiterated those denials numerous times over the past two years, often to Donald Trumps seeming approval.
Russian denials are, in a word, hogwash.
Before, during and after its now infamous meddling in our last presidential election, Russia practiced the art of shaping political events abroad through its well-honed active measures program, which employs an array of technical capabilities, information operations and old-fashioned human intelligence spycraft. Electoral politics in Western democracies presents an especially inviting target, as a variety of politicians, political parties, media outlets, think tanks and influencers are readily manipulated, wittingly and unwittingly, or even bought outright by Russian intelligence operatives. The very freedoms and liberties that liberal Western democracies cherish and that autocracies fear have been exploited by Russian intelligence services not only to collect sensitive information but also to distribute propaganda and disinformation, increasingly via the growing number of social media platforms.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/16/opinion/john-brennan-trump-russia-collusion-security-clearance.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur
N_E_1 for Tennis
(9,727 posts)Ill bet hes still in the loop as much as possible. Hes too valuable for a temper tantrum to stop his advice.
EndGOPPropaganda
(1,117 posts)Timmygoat
(779 posts)That the Kremlin is getting worried about the possibility of the dems taking control of congress, they say that Trump belongs to them!
KPN
(15,646 posts)Gotta love his refusal to write President before the traitors surname.
Butterflylady
(3,543 posts)Unfortunately they're to scared to do that.
Wounded Bear
(58,656 posts)he doesn't deserve it.
KPN
(15,646 posts)Dem elected officials would do the same. It would get to him eventually and he would do, tweet or say something publicly that would fully expose his mental illness to all even the Rs.
SunSeeker
(51,559 posts)Their statements are always couched in qualifiers: "may have," "appears to," "evidence may show," etc.
How much more fucking evidence do people need besides the Trump Tower meeting? Or Trump's "Russia, if you're listening.." invitation?
BlueWI
(1,736 posts)The goal of everyone extralegal operation, especially when the con is happening in plain sight in the public sector.
It's a test of the political will and courage among the rest of us, citizens and electeds alike.
AZ8theist
(5,464 posts)These individuals are free to talk. And thankfully, Mr. Brennan is doing plenty of that.
Besides, Dotard is only hurting the whole nation by doing this. Current Intel operatives often call on retired ones in order to help with investigations. Pulling his clearance just makes this harder, but not impossible.
SunSeeker
(51,559 posts)Pulling security clearances is also an intimidation tactic for current employees. Which is what Trump is doing with Ohr. https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211005218 No security clearance means no job.
In other words, Trump is committing witness tampering and obstruction of justice in plain sight. Again.
saidsimplesimon
(7,888 posts)When the CIA Director Brennan allowed the CIA to participate in "enhanced interrogation" torture, I was one of his critics. There are other actions that I found disgraceful during his tenure. Now, I find myself supporting James Comey and John Brennan for doing their job, protecting the US from foreign influence and a criminal cartel in the White House.
President Obama included Director Brennan during the capture of Osama bin laden. I have no doubt the CIA, under Director Brennan delivered the goods to end that reign of terror. I should be ashamed to admit that it gave me great joy to hear that the terrorist who plotted 9/11 was fed to the fishes.
NCjack
(10,279 posts)that he said it, that is a lie, and give examples of his collusion.
Botany
(70,508 posts)John Brennan, " ... his campaign colluded with the Russians to sway the 2016 election and is now desperate .... "
https://apnews.com/b8ecf72d127e42f99b877b791f08a357
Racerdog1
(808 posts)The Orange Asshole is correct. It is not collusion, it is CONSPIRACY and TREASON against us. Take the appropriate actions NOW!
Ohioboy
(3,243 posts)We need more men like Brennan.
dalton99a
(81,509 posts)Wounded Bear
(58,656 posts)Uncle Joe
(58,363 posts)Thanks for the thread demmiblue.