Trump Ignores Russian Bounties on American Troops

[Boats]

Trump Ignores Russian Bounties on American Troops
By: James Joyner - Outside the Beltway News - 06-27-2020
Re: https://www.outsidethebeltway.com/tr...way+%7C+OTB%29

Note: The Administration has done nothing about intelligence reports of a grave escalation from Moscow.

A stunning report in the New York Times from Charlie Savage, Eric Schmitt and Michael Schwirtz: “Russia Secretly Offered Afghan Militants Bounties to Kill U.S. Troops, Intelligence Says.”

American intelligence officials have concluded that a Russian military intelligence unit secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing coalition forces in Afghanistan — including targeting American troops — amid the peace talks to end the long-running war there, according to officials briefed on the matter.

The United States concluded months ago that the Russian unit, which has been linked to assassination attempts and other covert operations in Europe intended to destabilize the West or take revenge on turncoats, had covertly offered rewards for successful attacks last year.

Islamist militants, or armed criminal elements closely associated with them, are believed to have collected some bounty money, the officials said. Twenty Americans were killed in combat in Afghanistan in 2019, but it was not clear which killings were under suspicion.

On the one hand, it’s not surprising that Russia sided with the Taliban militants against their arch rival. We, after all, did the same thing after their 1979 invasion.

Then again, we were open enemies at the time, on opposite sides of a Cold War. While we’re past the “Reset” of the early Obama years and now acknowledging that we’re in an adversarial relationship—whether “Great Power Competition,” “gray zone conflict,” “political warfare” or some combination—to brazenly pay people to kill the forces of the other is an act of war that eschews any shade of gray.

Still, that’s not the shocking part:

The intelligence finding was briefed to President Trump, and the White House’s National Security Council discussed the problem at an interagency meeting in late March, the officials said. Officials developed a menu of potential options — starting with making a diplomatic complaint to Moscow and a demand that it stop, along with an escalating series of sanctions and other possible responses, but the White House has yet to authorize any step, the officials said.

Granting that Trump has been cozying up to Putin going back to the campaign and has continued to pretend that there was no Russian interference in the 2016 elections, it’s one thing to ignore the interests of the country for selfish political gain. It’s quite another to ignore the killing of American soldiers under your command.

About this writer: James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College and a nonresident senior fellow at the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security at the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm vet.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One comment: From this site stated: Putin bailed him out financially. There may be more than that, but Trump has been laundering Russian mob money and it’s kept his bankrupt ’empire’ afloat. That’s why Putin helped get him elected, because he knew he had Trump’s balls in his pocket.

Another comment: From this site stated: I just checked Trump’s Twitter account, and he hasn’t mentioned a word about it yet. Then again, Fox News appears not to have reported it; at least, I can’t find any mention on their home page.

Since the story’s exploding all over the place (Jen brought it to our attention yesterday), you’d think Trump would have seen it some place. I would dearly love to know what Putin has on Trump.

Personal Note: There are several more comments posted on this site. I'm sure some will come to Trumps defense on this article. Ya never know anymore what's what? Comments are all over the place I have no opinion (as I don't want to start a firefight with Trump supporters!

[reconeil]

Never before heard such absurd granting like: "Granting that Trump has been cozying up to Putin going back to the campaign and has continued to pretend that there was no Russian interference in the 2016 elections, it’s one thing to ignore the interests of the country for selfish political gain. It’s quite another to ignore the killing of American soldiers under your command."

Missiles, airstrikes and sanctions against Putin and Russian Troops is: "Cozying up"?

NO ONE (Trump inclusive) ever pretended that there was no Russian interference in 2016 election.

Accusing Trump of ignoring the interest of the country for selfish political gain is truly absurd.
All know full well that Such is so obviously the typical Democrat Political Way of governing.

As to Trump ignoring the killing of American soldiers,...GET REAL all you People Deceivers.

Neil

[Boats]

Let's here it from Trump. He needs to say something - I'm sure. But these accusations are awful damming - if even untrue? Several sites are running rampid on this report. Lot's of folks are a little shaken by these postings on several web sites. I don't think he's that stupid but let's wait until the facts shake out. Snoope's will post something on this I will keep checking to see what they find!?

Also By: Rawstory News
Re: https://www.rawstory.com/2020/06/tra...ump-has-faced/

This site is running on this right now. The feed back is pretty upsetting to many. Trump will have to find a way to straighten this out (FAST) - God Help him if Putin has this in writing. (I would hope Trump has a reply dated against such a notification from Russia?

What we need are more facts and coming from Russia without something in writing back from Trump (not post dated) won't look good.

Boats

[reconeil]

Why is it solely Democrat Ruling Elite Political Supremacists like Nancy Pelosi and their also: "Holier than thou" echoing Democrat mainstream press/media keep harping on so many such False; "ACCUSATIONS" about President Trump, and continually always trying to deceive fellow Americans that same False; "ACCUSATIONS" are actually gospel or true???

China, Russia and some other nations also have Ruling Elite Political Supremacist rulers and mainstream press/media, where mere: "ACCUSATIONS" alone determines ones guilt. I hope America never gets that badly screwed-over by our Democrat Progressive/Socialist/Marxist Political Supremacists?

I also hope that most deceived Americans realize how well they've been: "Waltzed-around" by those TOTAL Power & Control Hungry Democrats and come to their senses.

At minimum if Progressive & Open Borders Democrats achieve TOTAL CONTROL of America,...we'll just become a Hong Kong West. At worst,...who-the-hell knows???

Neil