Alexander Vindman on Trump as "cult leader" and the line from Jan. 6 to Putin's war on Ukraine

[marmar]

Alexander Vindman on Trump as "cult leader" and the line from Jan. 6 to Putin's war on Ukraine
Salon talks to the retired Army officer about the many threats Donald Trump poses — foreign, domestic, existential

By CHAUNCEY DEVEGA
PUBLISHED AUGUST 9, 2022 6:30AM


The first eight House Jan. 6 committee hearings have conclusively proven that Donald Trump and his confederates attempted a coup to end American democracy and that their plot came very close to succeeding. Public evidence is mounting on the allegations that Donald Trump and his confederates committed seditious conspiracy, obstruction of justice, fraud and criminal conspiracy. Undeterred, Donald Trump and the Republican fascist movement are escalating their attempts to end American democracy with the goal of creating a new apartheid Christian fascist plutocracy that will rule unopposed.

For all of the undeserved and unearned praise that has been heaped upon them by the American news media and too many of the country's political class, the members of the Trump regime and other Republicans who testified before the House Jan. 6 committee are, with perhaps few exceptions, not heroes or role models. Almost to the one they are self-interested actors who, out of fear of legal consequences, public shaming or some other motivation, chose — after almost two years of being silent — to share what they knew about Trump's obvious crimes and the extreme threat he and his regime represented to American democracy and society.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, now retired, stands astride the Age of Trump and the horrible events of Jan. 6 as a type of Cassandra truth-teller and alarm sounder, in stark contrast to those members of the Trump regime who remained silent about the Trump White House's existential threat to American democracy. In 2019, Vindman, who was a member of the National Security Council, filed formal charges that would alert the American people and the world to how Donald Trump and his representatives were attempting to extort the Ukrainian government into helping him steal the 2020 election from then leading candidate Joe Biden. Vindman was then forced out of his position (thus prematurely ending a very distinguished decades-long military career) and subjected to death threats and other retaliation from Donald Trump and his agents.

....(snip)....

I kept thinking of you while I watched the House Jan. 6 hearings. These people who worked for the Trump regime knew that he was an enemy of democracy, an enemy of the law, and was plotting to nullify an election, yet they kept quiet. They kept quiet then and could have gone public. They stayed quiet for two years and could have spoken out, but are only doing so now because of fear of legal consequences or perhaps some tiny amount of shame and are trying to publicly rehabilitate themselves. Now the mainstream news media, too many Democrats, and the public are falling all over themselves to declare these Trumpists as "heroes." You spoke out when you witnessed Trump's crimes. There were other whistleblowers as well. How are you feeling given the hearings and this narrative?

We want to encourage people to step forward. We have to find a balance where we don't necessarily tear them down right now, even though they were involved in doing wrong things, if they are finally making a change. We should be focusing on encouraging the members of the Trump administration and others who may have information to do the right thing and come forward.

That having been said, I do believe that there are people who are beyond reform and getting that kind of consideration.

....(snip)....

Flynn told the House Jan. 6 committee that he would not commit to the peaceful transfer of power in this country. He basically would not condemn a coup or other political violence. How did you feel when you saw that video recording?

Michael Flynn is a person who should have never risen to the rank of a three-star general and Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. That he was able to do so demonstrates the shortcomings in the military leadership. .................(more)

https://www.salon.com/2022/08/09/alexander-vindman-on-as-cult-leader-and-the-line-from-jan-6-to-putins-on-ukraine/

[flying_wahini]

1. Vindman is a national hero. Couldn't Biden restore his service?

[IbogaProject]

2. He probably doesn't want to risk being under a R gov again

And I'd bet he's doing well as a defense consultant. I just read more and he would have been stationed in Alaska, so it makes sense that even if he'd reasonably expect to be promoted the bad assignment would've still derailed his career.