The Kremlin is done betting on Trump and planning how to strike back against U.S. sanctions

[TomCADem]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by muriel_volestrangler (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: MSN/Washington Post

MOSCOW — Your geopolitical nemesis is suffering a political meltdown and says you’re partly to blame. Angry legislators have slapped you with new sanctions, which their president says he will sign. What’s a resurgent autocracy to do?

In Moscow, it’s time for some game theory.

Regardless of whether the Kremlin believes its own denials of interfering in the 2016 elections, there is one undeniable truth: Russia is now Washington’s greatest political foe. Understanding that President Trump is “tied hand and foot,” as one foreign policy hawk here put it, Moscow is weighing options for retaliation.

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A common adage about Putin is that he is a canny tactician but a poor strategist. He has taken the upper hand in conflicts with neighbors such as Ukraine and Georgia, and in so doing, surrounded himself with enemies. With Trump’s growing political impotence, Russia’s cyber-intervention in the 2016 elections now seems similarly pyrrhic. “I don’t think he knows how this ends,” Kolesnikov said. “The rules are now being made up on the fly.”

Read more: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-kremlin-is-done-betting-on-trump-and-planning-how-to-strike-back-against-us-sanctions/ar-AAp1TRG

[Turbineguy]

1. So how far will

Putin go to get access to "his" money that is tied up because of the Magnitsky Act?

Remembering that Stalin had no compunction about causing the death of many millions.

[mobeau69]

2. Looks like maybe Putin kind of miscalculated.

He misunderestimated the idiots inabilities. He had no clue that his presidency would fall apart this fast resulting in not only no repeal of the Magnitsky Act but harsher sanctions to boot. Is the Pee tape his Ace in the hole? Oh my, what's president traitor to do?

[SergeStorms]

5. "Misunderestimated".......

that one still kills me! George W. couldn't put a complete sentence together, but he was far and away better than Trump could ever hope to be.

Why do people keep electing these morons? Remember, George W. was "our first M.B.A. President". That didn't work out so well, so I guess they thought they'd try a 'titan of the business world', with Trump. Problem is, all of Trump's vaunted proficiency in the business world WAS ALL LIES! He couldn't run a successful lemonade stand. He also lied about his net worth, hence his reluctance to produce his tax returns for examination.

I think we've had enough of these "businessmen" who think that translates to government so easily.

But hey, I'm rambling. "Misundersetimated".

[donco]

3. My bet is

that they gave a few tips to North Koreas Kim Jong-un.

[C Moon]

4. "...a canny tactician but a poor strategist."

Sounds like the GOP.

[nocalflea]

6. Thank god Trump is incapable of nuance.

What did the Russians really expect from such an imbecile ? A smarter "Moscow Candidate" would have been more subtle, way less obvious .His constant praise for Putin was a huge red flag.

The Russians totally underestimated not only our intelligence services and federal law enforcement agencies , but also the checks and balances inherent in our democracy. It's as if they don't understand that whole "tyranny" thing that was the basis for our revolt against the British. The fact that this country was literally born in and of freedom seems not to have been taken into account. We are not saddled with their low expectations. "We the people" is the mantra of this nation, not a platitude. Even Trump supporters, in all their blindness, pay heed to this.

The irony here is delicious.
This may very well be the beginning of the end for Putin. Russia beware .We will bury you.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

7. I think that Putin accounted for this & now puts Part B of his plan in motion

Putin's aim was to disrupt and weaken the USA by destabilizing its political system. They got lucky and actually pushed Trump over the line. So they waited (in vain) for a bunch of treats. Putin hoped that the RepubliCons would know how to govern better than events have shown and that they would enable tRump to make the US friendly to Russia. But he also knew that there was a better than even chance tRump would not change and would be a disruptive force all on his own.

Now that it is clear treats are not forthcoming, the destabilization strategy continues, but now Trump and Republicons will "have their time in the barrel".

Expect some odd leaks from odd directions. Expect the pee tape (assuming it exists) or other kompromat to be released. Putin may sacrifice a minor oligarch to prove money laundering against tRump. Depending on what exactly happened during the 2016 election, he may one by one sink Trump, then Pence, then McCONnell, though not necessarily in that order. If he judges the Republicon Congressional leadership strong, he may interfere and try to give Democrats a boost in 2018. Alternatively he may interfere and try to tilt (or even jigger) the vote to make the result as much of a deadlock as possible in the House and Senate.

The purpose of the destabilization is to give Putin a freer hand in Europe and the Middle East. He may push and shove in the Ukraine and possibly in the Baltic. He may make more overtures to China. He will continue to support Assad. He may dance with Iran. He may veto some US efforts in the UN.

Be strong. The United States of America will get through this crisis, scarred, but intact and still strong. There is a good chance that Putin won't get much in the end.

There is an even better chance that the Republicon brand will be damaged for decades.

Odds are good that the US will ultimately emerge recognizing itself as having the progressive, mildly liberal majority that it actually has.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. Putin is learning about how our legislative & judicial system

can throw up sudden roadblocks to agendas, and thus he will need to "cultivate more & different assets" to deal with that. But they would have to be higher level (like committee chairs), who would steer (or block) the legislation the way he wants.

Problem is that since they have been outed as interfering, it would have to be more a long game and he is going to be competing with the U.S. oligarchs who have their own agendas and are manipulating "their assets" the way they want.

[Le Gaucher]

8. So does that mean it will give up dirt on the dirty man

??

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Locking - the hosts feel this is analysis and opinion, rather than a breaking news story

The restrictions on diplomats were covered in an earlier thread ( https://www.democraticunderground.com/10141831935 ), and this is analysis of how things might play out. Please either continue discussion in the earlier LBN thread, or repost in GD or Editorials. Thanks.