Trump has attacked U.S. intel agencies. Expect them to strike back.

[babylonsister]

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-weiner-trump-commentary/commentary-trump-has-attacked-u-s-intel-agencies-expect-them-to-strike-back-idUSKBN1K82AB

July 18, 2018 / 12:39 PM / a day ago
Commentary: Trump has attacked U.S. intel agencies. Expect them to strike back.
Tim Weiner


The foundations of American national security are under assault. The battle lines are drawn. On one side stand the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency. On the other: the commander-in-chief of the United States.

Donald Trump’s appalling performance in Helsinki was a subversive act. He rejected the conclusion of American intelligence that his election was aided by a hydra-headed act of political warfare controlled by the Kremlin. He did so with a wink and a smile for the smirking autocrat who led the attack.

Trump called the investigation of the Russian operation by special counsel Robert S. Mueller “a disaster for our country.” He accepted Vladimir Putin’s denial that anything of the kind ever happened. Trump likewise leapt at and embraced Putin’s cynical and empty proposal to cooperate with Mueller – “an incredible offer,” he said. The likelihood of Moscow’s spies willingly sharing secrets with the FBI is nil.

The display of fealty to Moscow was indelible. Then Trump tried to erase it. Back in the White House on Tuesday, he said he didn’t say what he meant or mean what he said.

snip//

Does another “Deep Throat” exist today? Likely so. Shortly after Trump took office, the Washington Post and the New York Times published stories about national security adviser Flynn’s secret telephone talks with the Russian ambassador. These stories, which led directly to Flynn’s resignation and his devastating guilty plea for lying to the FBI, clearly came from intelligence intercepts. The source was probably someone with access to top-secret information tightly held by the FBI and the NSA – which would make it a rare leak. Intelligence intercepts, or their gist, hit the front page about as often as presidents are accused of high crimes and misdemeanors.

Even paranoids have enemies, and Trump has made real enemies in the realm of American national security. He has struck blows against their empire. One way or another, the empire will strike back.

[Laurian]

1. I wish they'd hurry the hell up!

It's worse every stinkin' day and the republicans surely won't do anything to stop it.

[woodsprite]

2. My sentiments exactly!

Especially before he “fluffs” Putin in the Lincoln bedroom.

[leftieNanner]

3. Sometimes I feel like Charlie Brown

and Lucy with the football. I keep hoping that SOMEONE - ANYONE with an R beside their name will step forward. One senator would be enough. But no, not one of those (Flake? Corker? Murkowski?) will do the right thing and push Mitch McConnell aside.

[Golden Raisin]

9. And the IRS too!

[Boomerproud]

4. This only proves what an egomanic 45 is.

The alphabets do NOT play games, and will not be played.

[MarcA]

13. This is true. Wonder how McConnell, Ryan, the Kochs et al will align.

Wished we could get rid of them all. How far will Mueller be willing to go?

[lapfog_1]

5. Treadstone from the Deepstate

this time they can't use Nikky... it has to be Jason Bourne.

Jason Bourne:
You sent me to kill Wombosi.

Conklin:
Kill Wombosi? We can do that any time we want. I can send Nikki to do that, for Chrissakes. Mr. Wombosi was supposed to be dead three weeks ago. He was supposed to have died in a way where the only possible explanation was that he'd been murdered by a member of his own entourage. I don't send you to kill. I send you to be invisible. I send you because you don't exist.

[Cha]

6. I'm counting on IT!!!!!

[htuttle]

7. Noticed something interesting in the picture from that article

?itok=VpWn9nMH

Do you suppose that whatever department of US intelligence is capable of reading license plates from space would be able to use some of that 'Zoom in 500% -- Enhance, enhance' business to read Putin's notes that he's holding up so plainly for all to see?

Do you suppose he might be doing that on purpose for some byzantine reason?

[Farmer-Rick]

23. I bet they already have

It only appears to us as if the intell agencies are going slowly but they aren't. They know exactly what is going on they just don't prosecute quickly. They want to gather everything, every where and let the enemy hang themselves. Except with Hillary's magical mystery emails, thanks a**hole Comey. The intell agencies are afterall longtime, loyal RepubliCons.

[PearliePoo2]

8. Come on you Patriots, leak it, spill it!

This is a fucking emergency! 2018 Deep Throat, where ARE you?

[bdamomma]

21. There are intelligence agencies

in other countries, I don't think they are just sitting back watching our demise. On DU videos showed Keith Olberman May 2017 requesting for all other agencies to spill the beans, and called out to whistleblowers.

[czarjak]

10. Strong, powerful denials get him every time.

[xeodtech]

11. I really hope so..

I have been waiting for the smoking gun from a patriot willing to go to jail.. I know I am.. Don't ever introduce me to trump... It would be like meeting Hitler and the decision ... would be easy...

[oberliner]

12. Honestly surprised that there have not been mass resignations

[DeminPennswoods]

14. Coats and Wray speaking out now is telling

They are directly confronting Trump's lies about Russian election interference and doing so in very public ways. I don't think that's by accident.

[Scurrilous]

15. K&R

[Caliman73]

16. I hope they don't "Strike Back" but I hope they understand that Trump is not their friend

People working in the law enforcement and intelligence agencies tend to be more conservative and pro the "status quo". What I hope they understand is that Trump has no allegiance to this country or to anything but himself and that they are able to focus on the information and evidence that they are certainly gathering.

[Honeycombe8]

17. Have they yet? nt

[babylonsister]

24. Yes. Coats and Wray yesterday.

That's a good start.

[Honeycombe8]

25. I heard Coats reiterate his position. Didn't hear Wray at all. I didn't hear "striking" back.

Just reiterating what you said before isn't "striking back" in my book, although it's brave.

[George II]

18. One can only hope, but unfortunately they're patriotic Americans (unlike him) so....

....they will most likely do their jobs and leave their emotions at the door.

But I wish they WOULD retaliate.

[bdamomma]

19. the

empire will strike back. They will not get off clean.

[bucolic_frolic]

20. The IC

needs to figure out how to open the mental space of the rigid minded Trumpers.

Russia is engaged in active measures to influence our voters? Why aren't we on this? Zuck won't budge? Push him into it. We have no antidote to Russian propaganda? Hard to believe. It's like we're sitting ducks and can't do anything about it. We have more measures than antivirus software and cyber secure servers. Maybe they just don't tell us what they're up to. The idea that only the liberal side of the internet does anything seems absurd to me.

[Wounded Bear]

22. I think they just did...

the NYTimes article was pretty explicit.

[niyad]

26. KO pointed this out last year

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017502028