McMaster says 'not concerned' after Kushner back-channel reports

[blue-wave]

Source: Reuters

Asked about reports that Donald Trump's son-in-law had tried to set up a secret channel of communication with Russia before the president took office, U.S. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said that so-called "back-channeling" was normal.

McMaster declined to speak specifically about the case of Jared Kushner, who serves as a senior adviser to Trump, but when asked if it would concern him if someone in the administration tried to set up a back channel with the Russian embassy or the Kremlin, he replied "no".

"We have back-channel communications with any number of individual (countries). So generally speaking, about back-channel communications, what that allows you to do is communicate in a discreet manner," McMaster said.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-kushner-idUSKBN18N0NA?il=0

---

WTF? They are trying to normalize this now? They can't dodge the law by trying to fool the public with false notions.

[sandensea]

1. "Hell, it's only treason."

"Why would should anyone worry about that - least of all a military officer."

[PubliusEnigma]

2. Do those backchannels normally exist in the Russian Embassy to prevent detection by US Authorities?

I don't think so, Mr. McMaster.

[Roy Rolling]

21. Like all those other "back channels"

Nothing unusual, it's like all those back channels Trump established with the U.K., France, Australia, Japan, and the rest of our allies around the world. I'm sure there are special communications between Trump and them, the same way he had a direct server-to-server links from Trump Tower to Russian banking connections.

That is sarcasm in case anyone misunderstands. The only back channel they have is with Vlad Putin.

[lastlib]

64. We did have saint Ronnie's missile-selling channel to Iran.....

...and his drug-selling, nun-killing, thug-buddies, the contras.....

But, hell, what's a little treason in high places among thug-buddies??

[Honeycombe8]

3. I'd like to know if the W.H. has ever had a back channel comm. with Russia before.

Or if this was the first time.

[sandensea]

12. It's the first time one was established by way of a bribe.

We've had many in the past - most famously, between Kennedy and Khrushchev during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Never, that we know, one that's basically a hustle.

[Honeycombe8]

14. The Cuban Missile Crisis was a crisis situation, though.

And that would not have been for a "friendly" reason.

I didn't read that a bribe was involved with Kushner & this channel. Just that he had made that request of the Russian rep.

[not fooled]

22. Surprisingly enough

the usually worthless Brian Williams jumped all over Hugh Hewitt last night when the latter tried to equate jarhead's actions with previous, historical cases of backchannel communications. As Williams pointed out, in the past such contact has been set up "for the good of the country", i.e. facilitating communication over sensitive matters. Not trying to collude with a foreign hostile power in order to grift and steal and evade legitimate scrutiny by our nation's intelligence services.

Of course, on another note, WTH is the execrable Hugh Hewitt doing on MSNBC, being passed off as a credible commentator? Pathetic attempt. But, lots of people watching don't know what a kook he is. I detect the slimy hand of Andy Lack.

[Honeycombe8]

61. Oh, that guy. Hugh Hewitt. I haven't seen him enuf to form an opinion, but I can guess. nt

[padah513]

72. Get used to seeing him

I read that MSNBC is giving him a show on the weekends. Sorry, don't know how to link.

[sandensea]

37. The bribe was in the form of millions of Russian "loans" to Trump and Kushner interests.

Both of which were disgraced and practically bankrupt before Putin's cutouts stepped in.

And God only knows what else.

[Honeycombe8]

62. Ahhhhh. I knew there were business deals, but not sure what exactly.

Yeah, then Putin has Trump and Kushner by the ya-yas. But Trump is not putting on an act when he acts like he loves the Russians.

[sandensea]

63. Amazing, isn't it. Republicans wanted someone who'd run the White House like his businesses.

And he certainly is.

[brush]

74. The huge difference here is Kushner tried to get a back channel set up with the Russians...

using THEIR crpytographic equipment.

Why would he do that? What is there to hide from our own intel agencies?

The dumb thing though is trying to set it up with the Russians on public lines with the Russian ambassador, whose communications are routinely monitored by our intel agencies.

Not too smart there, Kushner. You've moved into espionage territory.

[sandensea]

79. The stupid things people will do for money.

Thank you for that clarification, too. The news media often ignores key details like that, as if trying to somehow trivialize the scandal.

They'll have to build a new wing in some federal prison to fit everyone in the Trump White House. Don't drop the soap guys!

[WinkyDink]

28. NOT IN THE SOVIET CONSULATE, TO AVOID THE US GOVERNMENT.

[dalton99a]

4. McMaster should be treated like a traitor just like the rest of them.

[Honeycombe8]

17. Morning Joe pointed out that after McMaster's statement about Trump giving Russia secret....

When McMaster came out and made a weird statement implying that Trump had not given Russians any top secret classified intel, and then Trump admitted it the next day....Morning Joe says that should be McMaster's 60 second warning. If it happens again, McMaster, who doesn't need this job, should leave, so he doesn't ruin his stellar reputation. Everyone would respect his decision to leave. But if he stays and continues to become another Kellyanne Conway, he risks ruining his reputation, esp since he doesn't need the gig, in the first place.

[Ilsa]

50. Makes me wonder what they offered him to provide cover.

Is there kompromat on him? Debt? A desire to be richer so he can dump his family and start over comfortably?

I'm disappointed. I wonder why he is willing to trade his good name to give his nation over to Putin?

[Phoenix61]

55. IMO, it's too late

He's already ruined his reputation. I have no respect left for him.

[uponit7771]

82. +1

[beachbum bob]

5. sounds like an attempt to coverup.....

[Marthe48]

6. Lipstick on a pig

high heels on a guy with hairy legs

These traitors can dress up the back channel with sequins and cheap perfume, and it is still TREASON

[Still In Wisconsin]

7. So, McBastard is in on the coverup too.

All-righty.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. McMaster is not concerned because he is not involved; not at risk of prosecution. . . . . nt

[dawnie51]

9. I am afraid........

truly. I think the takeover is complete. These traitors are everywhere. The congress is full of them and refuse to do ANYTHING to stop this. Now the military. This McMaster, the shining light of reason, is complacent in the face of this bullshit. The press is silenced, not even allowed to have access to the administration. I fear it is done, and I am afraid for my children. I am an old lady, I will not have to tolerate this much longer. But my grandchildren will. God help us.

[onecent]

65. Yes dawnie51, I have the same considerations that you have. I just turned 72.

I am an old lady, and wonder what's going to happen to the grandchildren. What's going to happen to our Medicare.????
Will there be anything in it come Jan? What about social security, and my husband's Pension he was getting is cut in half,
for me starting in Jan.

Dump is making all these people think we were going to have a job, and a raise...and all this crap.....and none of the things
he has told them have ever come true.

I didn't vote for him, thank God, but all my friends did.......It's makes it hard to call them and give them what's going on
with Dump....they won't listen, think they know everything.....

I think I was born at the right time, and my end isn't far away...but sometimes I wish it was sooner... I remember always
battling Bush for 8 years.....I could hardly wait til he left.....I wish he was back now..... But I feel the same way with Dump,
that I am watching what is happening....but it's the same as when I was trying to get Bush out.

Oh well...I can't believe how much Dump pushes himself....no sleep, tweeting all night long....but he is such a simpleton, and why can't CIA OR FBI take care of him and his followers....???

[Honeycombe8]

67. I know how you feel.

I am trying to keep those feelings at bay. But I feel as if the Russians are in control of the White House, and partly the Congress. We've been shown ties among Ryan, McConnell & the Russians, now. Nunez, the former head of the House Intel Committee, in cahoots with the White House on the investigation.

I'm 63. I've never seen anything like this occurring in the country before. Never thought I'd see it.

BUT...take heart. The JUDICIARY hasn't been taken over. More than half the Congress hasn't been taken over. Our intel agencies haven't been taken over. We also have a Special Counsel, now, as well. We have the FREE PRESS. And we have constitutional protections for protest...for the time being, as well as protest-prone citizenry. We also have SOME Republicans who would put country over party (I hope).

All is not lost. We can't be sure that this is heading toward impeachment, but it looks like it may be.

It's the system that is supposed to be set up to protect us against this. Let's see if it works. Three branches of equal power, performing a checks and balances on each other. Trump has been unable to interfere with the Judiciary. We also have an opposing major political party: The Democrats. Though some have been weak in the past, I have been proud lately at the actions they've taken, and how they have stood up to Trump and the Republican Congress. Schumer & Pelosi, Franken, and the others are fighting like crazy & not letting anything slip by.

[mopinko]

71. sometimes i am glad i have no grandchildren.

not real likely i will. usually sad about that, but for the last few months, not so much.

[Mr. Ected]

10. Generally speaking?

"generally speaking, about back-channel communications, what that allows you to do is communicate in a discreet manner,..."

No, asshole, we're not speaking generally.

We're speaking very specifically. You know that, you no-good embarrassment to your uniform asswipe. This is about Jared, Trump and a plot to steal an election and then rob America blind behind our backs and beyond the scrutiny of our intelligence community.

Generally speaking only because it's a General speaking.

[shraby]

11. This happened BEFORE trump took office, so the "administration" did NOT do it because

it wasn't a trump administration yet.

His whole reasoning is false and a smoke screen. He needs to be dismissed from office.

[BumRushDaShow]

33. THIS

They were ALL "private citizens" because no swearing-in had occurred yet.

Funny how they act like when November 9th came around, Obama was "officially out of office" and the TFEE had "legally" taken over.

[MedusaX]

13. WTF? BackChannels might be SOP for IC /DoD but not for the mutherfukkking SIL of the PEOTUS.

wow

Apparently his closeted skeletons were found by Bannon prior to his appointment...

[Squinch]

15. Once upon a time, that guy had a good reputation. Now he's a joke.

[FM123]

16. Malcom Nance

Says he is disappointed in HR McMaster, and honestly, so am I...

[elleng]

58. Thanks. Wanted to see what M. Nance had to say about it.

[oberliner]

18. Wonder if he'd be more concerned if it was Hillary Clinton's son in law

What do you think?

[Kablooie]

19. Are those back channels secretly hidden from US law enforcement?

[WinkyDink]

29. Kushner was up to no good. There simply is no comparison, and that should be our SOP

Democratic response.

[jehop61]

20. We must remember

McMaster is still an active duty officer, and Trump is his commander in chief.

[atreides1]

51. Your point being???

He's suppose to blindly follow his orders, that was the excuse used by almost everyone tried at Nuremberg...it's bullshit and it shows that McMaster, who may have had integrity at one point, has decided that it isn't that important!!!

[TheDebbieDee]

23. "They can't dodge the law by trying to fool the public with false notions."

Yes they can... They can fool the poorly-educated/uneducated portion (which is the majority) of the US public over and over again. They've done it before and they'll do it again!

[blue-wave]

69. I agree with your statement

and I should have clarified mine better. What I meant is that they cannot escape the law, the law will catch them every time. Even when they try to cover it up and fool the public.

[kyburbonkid]

24. It's a damn spy ring

With the purpose of manipulating the actions of POTUS to favor russia. The fact that the republicans are enablers and supporters of this needs to be hammered into the heads of all Americans. If you support the republican agenda, you are by proxy supporting a filthy russian spy operation. When will they be locked up?

[WinkyDink]

27. Exactly, 100%. In 1943 Hitchcock would be making the movie. We are dealing with ESPIONAGE!

[WinkyDink]

25. McMaster revealed his lack of integrity the first time he spoke. Don't expect differently now.

[cisco man]

40. Actually...

he showed his lack of integrity when he took the freakin job! Remember how many people they WANTED & turned them down in this administration? It was obvious to virtually everyone with a brain. Some claim he took the job to be the "adult" in the room & save us from this monster, but I don't buy it. There are just too many boneheads in the military to make me think they are all exceptional. Remember...most of the military voted for this dick head.

[Leghorn21]

47. It was my understanding that, as an active member of the military, McMaster HAD to

accept this "post" or retire altogether - ie, he had very little choice in the matter (unlike Mattis) -
and rumor had it he was standing ground as far as staffing his office, and was getting yelled at by dumbfuck about it - and I thought, okay, hang tough, sir -

But yes, he's gone full treason here apparently, and it's pretty tragic.

Welcome to DU, cisco man!

[WinkyDink]

49. True dat.

[Alice11111]

26. Guess he is another kiss ass. He defended DTs talks w

Russians too, and he said DT did not disclose classified info, which obviously he did.

[Progressive dog]

30. McMaster went to work for a man

who advocated targeting the families of his enemies. He sold his credibility to work for the least ethical and nastiest person ever to hold the office of POTUS.
Anyway, Trump and his royal family have already demonstrated their willingness to openly communicate their love for Putin, Erdogan, Duterte, and even Kim-Jon-Un; they don't need back channels to our adversaries.
This attempt at normalization of espionage will be rejected by most of the news media.

[vlyons]

31. What's the deal with McMasters?

Why is a senior and distinguished US Army general defending and apologising for a treasonous greedy stupid little POS? What's in it for McMasters? Has he been corrupted with a nice retirement villa in the Riviera, a free membership at Mar-a-Lago? What' the deal? this is in no way normal. I'm saddened to see that even McMasters has been infected and slimed with Trumpitis. Sad.

[janterry]

38. I wonder about this, too

He knows this is BS. He also knows that the Joint Chiefs of Staff, everyone at the CIA, FBI and NSA knows that he's trying to mollify the public, at the expense of the truth.

I can't imagine..................

[not fooled]

39. Yeah

Another formerly distinguished military figure trashes his reputation and legacy by associating with dump. When will they learn that the fastest way to disgrace is to sign on with the dump admin?

[vlyons]

42. So very true

That was my second thought. It's not like Trump's vulgarity and criminality were a hidden secret before the election. Perhaps McMasters has always had an overweening sense of hubris, and he persuaded himself that signing on was his patriotic duty. But really? An intelligent and honorable person simply does not work for Donald Trump. Even Lieberman refused a job with him! A gentleman would have turned his back and simply walked away.

So much for duty, honor, country. sigh

[JDC]

32. "I was in the room, it didn't happen," says HR 'No Credibility' McMaster

[logosoco]

34. Really? Did the Clinton campaign have one?

I am pretty sure this is not normal. But yeah, they are working really hard to make it so.

[CentralMass]

35. It looks like McMaster s signed that loyality oath.

[Kablooie]

41. In any normal administration he would've been fired immediately.

Having a secret meeting with Russians and not reporting it on his security form is plenty of evidence to fire anyone.
After that they would probably go to trial.
It's in saying
It's insane that Trump staff can do these things and people talk about why it might be acceptable.

[onecaliberal]

43. No transition team had ever done anything remotely similar. Career. Respect. Lost.

[milestogo]

44. Well, I'm glad to know that our National Security is in such excellent hands.

[Initech]

45. Sorry Trumppers, Jedi Mind Tricks don't work in real life!

Thanks for playing!

[Ligyron]

46. Like Flynn, this man was once a good soldier.

Not anymore.

What do they have on him?

[perdita9]

48. Someone remind me about why Hillary's private server was a big deal

Because I am seriously confused by McMaster's reasoning

[lark]

52. If he was a decent person he would not have this job.

Only criminals or people who are ok with criminality need apply to work in drumpfland. McMaster isn't an idiot, so he's one or the other, either a criminal or one who tolerates them.

[RKP5637]

53. That level of Idiocracy is what we're up against! n/t

[Kablooie]

54. If he's not concerned it's because he's part of it.

I can see.no other reason he would say this.

[emulatorloo]

56. Another cover-up artist

[OregonBlue]

57. So McMaster is a Russian agent?

[matt819]

59. Bullshit

And McMaster knows it.

If McMaster learned that a senior aide had contacted the Russian ambassador with a request to open up a private line of communication directly to the Kremlin, he knows full well he would've had that aid up on charges and out of the military in a flash. So, like Rosenstein and so many others, he has sacrificed a 3-decade career to ensure that the first line of his obituary will be that he shamed himself by serving in this administration.

[The Wielding Truth]

60. McMaster should have known that working for Trump would ruin his reputation.

[OldRedneck]

66. WTF??????????????????

Excuse me, but just exactly how goddam ignorant is McMaster?

OF COURSE "We have back-channel communications with any number of individual (countries)." BUT, THOSE CHANNELS GO THROUGH OFFICIAL CHANNELS and are known to the people who have a need to know.

What Kushner was trying to do was set up a channel of communications that no one else knew about. Probably not even McMaster.

I don't give a rat's ass how many stars he has or how many books he's written. This comment is dumb, dumb, dumb.

[dchill]

68. McMaster auctioned his reputation,

and accepted the first bid.

[Amaryllis]

70. All those intel guys interviewed about it the past few days certainly disagree.

[DeltaLitProf]

73. This line in particular smells like BS to me:

"So it doesn't pre-expose you to any sort of content or any kind of conversation or anything. So we're not concerned about it."

What in the Hell does that actually say?

[onecent]

75. McMaster isn't even concerned about any job he does. He's over the hill.

Why can't we get some younger persons interested....This guy is unbelievable!!!

[Tatiana]

76. I'm on the fence about McMaster.

I think he might be the mole and working with others in the IC.

So, if he is, I want him to stay where he is. We need someone who can prevent something truly disastrous from happening on the inside of this traitorous cabal.

But, if he's carrying water for Trump I hope he gets what's coming to him.

His reputation is already trashed, so all he has at this point is duty to country.

[benld74]

77. E' tu McMaster??

[AgadorSparticus]

78. It must be contagious. McMaster has lost his mind too!

[kentuck]

80. Why would they want a "back channel" after they hacked our elections?

That doesn't make sense to me.

[jack69]

81. Jared's BFF, Bubba

will just love his back channel.