A theory about why CIA Director Gina Haspel visited McConnell

[steve2470]

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/525406-cia-director-meets-with-mcconnell-amid-speculation-over-possible-firing

Ok, here's my theory:

1- McConnell knows that Trump is an angry, pouting, depressed basket case right now, totally focused on his future and NOT on the country.

2- McConnell knows that Trump cannot possibly conduct foreign policy (or supervise the CIA) in his current state.

3- Pence is too scared to cross Trump by attempting to get any CIA briefings

4- McConnell does not give a shit if Trump gets angry at him, because McConnell's seat is very safe and he just survived an election.

5- McConnell, for whatever selfish or patriotic reason, thinks that he should contact the CIA director and get a briefing, because Trump is this totally selfish basket case.

6- McConnell calls CIA Director Haspel, and requests a basic summary of the threats facing the country right now.

7- Haspel obliges him, partially because Haspel hates Trump and would rather deal with someone semi-rational.

8- Haspel goes to Capitol Hill to brief McConnell on a brief summary of the current threats.

9- McConnell, for whatever selfish or patriotic reason, feels satisfied.

The end.

eta: corrected numbering, sorry

ETA2: Upon further education, it appears my theory is wrong. Apologies.

[riversedge]

1. But also remember that #moscowMitch and Haspel are Kentucky bred pals.

[steve2470]

2. ah did not know that, thanks! mt

[coti]

3. Maybe the CIA got info that GOP Senators got their elections

propped up by Russian hackers and wanted to discuss that with McConnell.

[BootinUp]

4. She asked for his help fending off Trumps axe. nt

[Hoyt]

5. Or she went to ask for McConnell's protection from trump.

[Ponietz]

6. Read today's David Ignatius column from the Washington Post:

[link:https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trump-will-leave-the-question-is-how-much-damage-hell-do-to-national-security-before-then/2020/11/10/551d31a4-239d-11eb-a688-5298ad5d580a_story.html|

It appears to be about Republican efforts to reveal sources and methods surrounding the Russia investigation.

President Trump’s senior military and intelligence officials have been warning him strongly against declassifying information about Russia that his advisers say would compromise sensitive collection methods and anger key allies.

An intense battle over this issue has raged within the administration in the days before and after the Nov. 3 presidential election. Trump and his allies want the information public because they believe it would rebut claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin supported Trump in 2016. That may sound like ancient history, but for Trump it remains ground zero — the moment when his political problems began.

CIA Director Gina Haspel last month argued strongly at a White House meeting against disclosing the information, because she believed that doing so would violate her pledge to protect sources and methods, a senior congressional source said. This official said a bipartisan group of Republican and Democratic senators has been trying to protect Haspel, though some fear that Trump may yet oust her.

Rumors have been flying this week about Haspel’s tenure, but a source familiar with her standing as CIA director said Tuesday that national security adviser Robert C. O’Brien and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows had both “assured her that she’s good,” meaning she wouldn’t be removed. Haspel also met personally with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Tuesday. She sees him regularly as a member of the “Gang of Eight” senior congressional leaders. But Tuesday’s visit was another sign of GOP support.

(cont.)

[steve2470]

7. thank you for that ! nt

[Ponietz]

10. So it looks like Rumpie wants to burn down our intelligence apparatus on his way out

[Stinky The Clown]

8. I don't think Haspel would risk that in broad daylight.

[dflprincess]

9. If McConnell were truly concerned he'd admit the biggest national security threat is Trump

and he would have included Schumer or Pelosi in the meeting.

[yonder]

13. Agreed.

[BainsBane]

11. and Trump wants to declassify intel on Russia

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trump-will-leave-the-question-is-how-much-damage-hell-do-to-national-security-before-then/2020/11/10/551d31a4-239d-11eb-a688-5298ad5d580a_story.html

President Trump’s senior military and intelligence officials have been warning him strongly against declassifying information about Russia that his advisers say would compromise sensitive collection methods and anger key allies.

An intense battle over this issue has raged within the administration in the days before and after the Nov. 3 presidential election. Trump and his allies want the information public because they believe it would rebut claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin supported Trump in 2016. That may sound like ancient history, but for Trump it remains ground zero — the moment when his political problems began. . .
The issue may have played a role in Trump’s surprise decision on Monday to fire Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper. According to the senior defense official, Esper wrote a letter last month to John Ratcliffe, the director of national intelligence, strongly endorsing Nakasone’s position and “urging that the information not be released due to the harm it would do to national security, including specific harm to the military,” the senior defense official said.

Trump’s ceaseless attempts to argue that the Russia investigation was a “hoax” — and to force the intelligence community to declassify information he believes would support this view — may animate some of his otherwise inexplicable moves.

[niyad]

12. You nearly owed me a keyboard. You used mitch and patriotic in the same sentence?

[Patterson]

14. Not a bad theory.

[riverwalker]

15. Junior has been attacking her

Calling her a “trained liar”. Why those words? I think she has the goods on Junior so he wants to discredit her. Junior is greedy, but sloppy and stupid. No doubt they have intelligence on him making side deals.