"And that's why again, having been involved in a lot of counterintelligence cases over the years and seeing this pattern over and over again, my radar goes up when I see that the Russians are actively involved in a particular intelligence operational campaign and that U.S. persons are being contacted by Russian officials. " these are contacts that might've been totally, totally innocent and benign as well as those that might have succumbed somehow to those Russian efforts. --
Himes: "do Americans who are suborned in such a way " do they necessarily need to know that they are doing Russia's bidding?"
Brennan: "No, many times they do not. They do not even know that the person that they're interacting with is a Russian. Many times they know that individuals may be Russian officials, but they don't know that there is an intelligence connection or intelligence motive for behind it. --
No Doubts
Himes: "There's hardly anyone left today who doubts that Russia attacked us, but we have to realize the true thrust of the Russian attack is what they have triggered in us, the partisanship. Every time we refuse to face facts, every time we attack the messenger rather than confront the actions that happened, every time we undercut our allies in our alliances and our values, I think we're playing precisely in the Russians fondest hopes.
A scene from "Dr. Strangelove," in which the bomber pilot (played by actor Slim Pickens) rides a nuclear bomb to its target in the Soviet Union.
"We're doing something about that in my opinion, the gray, cold warriors, be it Ronald Reagan or Harry Truman would never have allowed."
Responding to Hines's comments, Page wrote: "This offers a precise depiction of the Clinton/Obama regime's playbook based on their continued false evidence regarding former Trump campaign supporters such as myself, in the wake of their sad disappointment as sore losers. Immediate disclosure of their falsified FISA warrant documents upon which these same tactics were based last year is an essential way to cease this process which has been weakening all Americans."
Page added, "Other gray, cold warriors of bygone eras had J. Edgar Hoover and Joseph McCarthy to do precisely this dirty work: attacking the messengers. In other words, attacking those who wanted to see positive changes in their country's policies based on realistic strategies which can benefit all citizens while creating a viable pathway to increased peace around the world."
A core problem with what Brennan and other Obama administration officials have set in motion is that the suspicions are so vague at this point -- even some 10 months into the investigation -- that a paranoia has taken over. There is a McCarthyistic element to these allegations, including guilt by association regarding any contact with any Russian or even some intermediary who might somehow be a Russian "false-flag." Anyone or everyone might be a Russian "mole."
So, yes, I get the desire to get rid of Trump because of his unfitness and ineptness. But the "Russia thing" -- as Trump calls it -- is unleashing an ugliness that many of us thought was a thing of the past, an era of evidence-free accusations of disloyalty and a crazed hostility toward the other nuclear superpower that could end in a miscalculation that could end life on the planet. Is this really what Democrats and progressives want to embrace?
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