Susan Wright on the Right
Well, this is not particularly shocking, given what we know about President Donald Trump’s obsessive man-crush on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
It’s also becoming the norm. That is, finding that our president found yet, another opportunity to go around his advisers and Cabinet members, in order to engage in a cozy tête-à-tête with the former KGB agent.
It’s not just the intimate huddles, but the fact that he has shut out everyone, trusting in his own, broke brain to make decisions and decipher truth from lie, coming from a man who was trained to be a convincing liar.
What we know about Trump is that his ego, combined with his alarming lack of intellect leads him to base decisions on whoever he listened to last, whether it’s Lou Dobbs, Sean Hannity, or some despot he’s fan-boying over.
We know he came out of the July 2018 private meeting with Putin and threw our nation’s intelligence community under the bus, spouting Putin’s line about Russia’s interference in the 2016 election.
The Financial Times is reporting that in November 2018, at the G20 summit in Argentina, President Trump and President Putin had another meeting.
The White House had previously acknowledged that both leaders met for an “informal” talk but didn’t disclose that Trump had no official member of his team present. Putin did have someone, though: his translator, although it’s unclear if that person wrote anything down.
Since reports from their Helsinki meeting include the news that Trump confiscated notes from his translator, in order to keep anyone, whether his foreign policy aides or administration officials from knowing what was discussed, the natural assumption should be that they were not discussing things that he wants anyone to know about.
Why are there not bigger alarms over this?
There are, however, recent reports that suggest the room may have been bugged by Finnish officials, and those transcripts turned over to our intelligence community.
We can hope, because it’s almost certain that the Russians know what was discussed.
What sort of optics are being presented, here? The man and his campaign team have been under white-hot scrutiny for the past two years, because of all those Russian connections.
I’ll ask it again: How would a Russian asset act any differently?
And yes, I understand that when I pose that question, some of my colleagues on the right roll their eyes in exasperation.
I don’t care. Under the circumstances, it’s a valid question. I get the feeling that even those who have, in the past, been less than complimentary towards Donald Trump have been worn down by the MAGA assault and feel stuck between those forces and fear of finding common ground with the left.
Residual allegiance to a party that was once the party of men like Calvin Coolidge, William F. Buckley, Barry Goldwater, and Ronald Reagan holds them in place to a shell of what once was.
They would rather wallow in Trumpism and just play the partisan game than risk being called a “RiNo.”
Meanwhile, the well-being of our nation is at stake. While they quibble over image (party over country), a gilded toad is likely handing over the reins – as well as our position in the world – to hostile foreign powers.
How does Trump’s secretive meetings with Vladimir Putin hinder the work of our government, when it comes to foreign policy?
Shouldn’t they know what Trump and Putin are discussing? Isn’t this a national security issue?
So let’s consider what we have before us.
The 2018 G20 summit was held on November 30 and December 1. Somewhere in that time, Trump and Putin found a few minutes to get away to themselves. As it was with their other meetings, there was no one there to keep notes or advise. He has not shared what they discussed, other than some vague explanation about policy.
Hit fast forward by several weeks. Trump, much to the shock of everyone, including lawmakers and our allies in the region, announces that ISIS has been defeated in Syria and he would be ordering a “rapid withdrawal” of our troops from the region.
According to an administration official, as well as a Defense Department official, by the time the Trump blurted it out to the world, plans were already underway.
While off-balance, ISIS was anything but defeated, and any vacuum of power in the region would be filled by somebody.
So who would benefit most from the United States leaving our allies in a lurch and abandoning the area?
Russia. Russia would benefit most.
Imagine that.
While Putin praised the decision, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis resigned in protest.
The outcry has slowed Trump’s timetable for an “immediate” pullout of the region, but it highlights the need for transparency, when it comes to his communications with foreign leaders.
Let’s not forget. This is the same president that shared highly classified intelligence with Russia officials in May 2017, potentially risking the life of an Israeli spy embedded with ISIS.
This is the same president who, earlier Wednesday, took to Twitter to slam our intelligence community, once again, based on what he wants to be true about North Korea, and in opposition of what they say about Iran.
….Fighting continues but the people of Afghanistan want peace in this never ending war. We will soon see if talks will be successful? North Korea relationship is best it has ever been with U.S. No testing, getting remains, hostages returned. Decent chance of Denuclearization…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2019
…Time will tell what will happen with North Korea, but at the end of the previous administration, relationship was horrendous and very bad things were about to happen. Now a whole different story. I look forward to seeing Kim Jong Un shortly. Progress being made-big difference!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2019
The Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran. They are wrong! When I became President Iran was making trouble all over the Middle East, and beyond. Since ending the terrible Iran Nuclear Deal, they are MUCH different, but….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2019
….a source of potential danger and conflict. They are testing Rockets (last week) and more, and are coming very close to the edge. There economy is now crashing, which is the only thing holding them back. Be careful of Iran. Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2019
And now we have to wonder whose line he’s repeating?
I don’t put a lot of trust in Iran, but I do trust our intelligence community more than I trust Vladimir Putin.
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