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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSusan Rice opinion piece in the NYT tonight: Why Does Trump Put Russia First?
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/30/opinion/trump-russia-afghanistan.html-snip-
Contrary to the spin-masters in the White House today, I would not have waited until we had absolute certainty. I would have said, Mr. President, I want to make sure you are aware that we have troubling reporting that Russia is paying the Taliban to kill our forces in Afghanistan. I will work with the intelligence community to ensure the information is solid. In the meantime, I will convene the national security team to get you some options for how to respond to this apparent major escalation in Russias hostile actions.
If later the president decided, as Mr. Trump did, that he wanted to talk with President Vladimir Putin of Russia at least six times over the next several weeks and invite him to join the Group of 7 summit over the objections of our allies, I would have thrown a red flag: Mr. President, I want to remind you that we believe the Russians are killing American soldiers. This is not the time to hand Putin an olive branch. Its the time to punish him.
This is what would have happened in any prior administration of either political party.
That it apparently did not is deeply troubling and raises myriad questions. If Mr. Trump was told about Russian actions, why did he not respond? If he was not told, why not? Are his top advisers utterly incompetent? Are they too scared to deliver bad news to Mr. Trump, particularly about Russia? Is Mr. Trump running a rogue foreign policy utterly divorced from U.S. national interests? If so, why?
-snip-
What must we conclude from all this? At best, our commander in chief is utterly derelict in his duties, presiding over a dangerously dysfunctional national security process that is putting our country and those who wear its uniform at great risk. At worst, the White House is being run by liars and wimps catering to a tyrannical president who is actively advancing our arch adversarys nefarious interests.
Contrary to the spin-masters in the White House today, I would not have waited until we had absolute certainty. I would have said, Mr. President, I want to make sure you are aware that we have troubling reporting that Russia is paying the Taliban to kill our forces in Afghanistan. I will work with the intelligence community to ensure the information is solid. In the meantime, I will convene the national security team to get you some options for how to respond to this apparent major escalation in Russias hostile actions.
If later the president decided, as Mr. Trump did, that he wanted to talk with President Vladimir Putin of Russia at least six times over the next several weeks and invite him to join the Group of 7 summit over the objections of our allies, I would have thrown a red flag: Mr. President, I want to remind you that we believe the Russians are killing American soldiers. This is not the time to hand Putin an olive branch. Its the time to punish him.
This is what would have happened in any prior administration of either political party.
That it apparently did not is deeply troubling and raises myriad questions. If Mr. Trump was told about Russian actions, why did he not respond? If he was not told, why not? Are his top advisers utterly incompetent? Are they too scared to deliver bad news to Mr. Trump, particularly about Russia? Is Mr. Trump running a rogue foreign policy utterly divorced from U.S. national interests? If so, why?
-snip-
What must we conclude from all this? At best, our commander in chief is utterly derelict in his duties, presiding over a dangerously dysfunctional national security process that is putting our country and those who wear its uniform at great risk. At worst, the White House is being run by liars and wimps catering to a tyrannical president who is actively advancing our arch adversarys nefarious interests.
Much more at the link. This is well worth reading in its entirety, and it should go viral.
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Susan Rice opinion piece in the NYT tonight: Why Does Trump Put Russia First? (Original Post)
highplainsdem
Jun 2020
OP
dhill926
(16,337 posts)1. seen her interviewed twice now...
very, very impressive...
Arazi
(6,829 posts)2. Big rec
2naSalit
(86,538 posts)3. K&R
tableturner
(1,681 posts)4. The next VP of the USA.....eminently qualified.....
Happyhippychick
(8,379 posts)5. Veep Rice
dalton99a
(81,455 posts)6. Kick
A perilous pattern persists that underscores Mr. Trumps strange propensity to serve Russian interests above Americas. Recall that, during his 2016 campaign, Mr. Trump publicly urged Russia to hack Hillary Clintons emails and praised WikiLeaks for publishing stolen documents.
He denied and dismissed Russian interference in the 2016 election, then took Mr. Putin at his word at a Helsinki meeting while undercutting the U.S. intelligence community, and obstructed the Mueller investigation and distorted its findings. Mr. Trump recklessly removed U.S. troops from northern Syria and allowed Russian forces to take over American bases.
Next, Mr. Trump unilaterally invited Mr. Putin to attend the Group of 7 meeting, a move that apparently upended the organizations annual summit. Subsequently, without any consultation, Mr. Trump announced his decision to remove nearly a third of U.S. troops from Germany a sudden and inexplicable withdrawal that weakens the U.S.-German relationship and harms NATO, while benefiting Russia.
Most recently, we have learned that even Russian efforts to slaughter American troops in cold blood do not faze this president. Mr. Trump brushes off the information, evades responsibility and fails to take action not even lodging a diplomatic protest. Now Mr. Putin knows he can kill Americans with impunity.
He denied and dismissed Russian interference in the 2016 election, then took Mr. Putin at his word at a Helsinki meeting while undercutting the U.S. intelligence community, and obstructed the Mueller investigation and distorted its findings. Mr. Trump recklessly removed U.S. troops from northern Syria and allowed Russian forces to take over American bases.
Next, Mr. Trump unilaterally invited Mr. Putin to attend the Group of 7 meeting, a move that apparently upended the organizations annual summit. Subsequently, without any consultation, Mr. Trump announced his decision to remove nearly a third of U.S. troops from Germany a sudden and inexplicable withdrawal that weakens the U.S.-German relationship and harms NATO, while benefiting Russia.
Most recently, we have learned that even Russian efforts to slaughter American troops in cold blood do not faze this president. Mr. Trump brushes off the information, evades responsibility and fails to take action not even lodging a diplomatic protest. Now Mr. Putin knows he can kill Americans with impunity.
Cha
(297,154 posts)9. Damn.. this should Go Viral!! TY dalton!
Most recently, we have learned that even Russian efforts to slaughter American troops in cold blood do not faze this president. Mr. Trump brushes off the information, evades responsibility and fails to take action not even lodging a diplomatic protest. Now Mr. Putin knows he can kill Americans with impunity.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213680679#top
oasis
(49,376 posts)7. "No Nonsense Susan" Rice would be solid pick for VP. nt
Nevilledog
(51,080 posts)8. Trump/Putin call summary since he was briefed on Russian Bounties
Posted this earlier, but it sank. Shows trump catering to Putin after being briefed
Great thread on events coinciding with trump calls to Putin
Thread unrolled
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1276871725578440707.htm
Cha
(297,154 posts)10. TY, hpd.. Excellent from Susan Rice.. I bet Putin's
not liking all these Patriotic Americans speaking out against him.
rusty fender
(3,428 posts)11. I've read press accounts that national
security officials did draw up options for POTUS because he was briefed. So why is Rice buying into Trumpasss narrative on this