Moving away from my relentless repetition about America’s mass media saturation information warfare strategy, which operates to allow one political party to control the 24/7 news cycle in America and operates very much like Soviet/Russian influence operations, well, here’s how the Russian “influence” operations work in the geopolitical and military realm:
“Khalifa Haftar toured Russia’s aircraft carrier anchored off the Libyan coast and held a video call with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the biggest sign yet of growing ties between the Kremlin and the eastern Libyan-based military commander.”
The story continues:
“Russia is seeking to restore some of its Soviet-era influence in the Middle East after turning the tide in Syria’s war through military intervention in support of President Bashar al-Assad. Russian President Vladimir Putin angrily condemned a NATO-led military campaign that overthrew Qaddafi in 2011 as a “crusade.”
Haftar visited Moscow twice in the past seven months, meeting with the Russian foreign and defense ministers as well as the national security chief to seek support. Russia printed 4 billion Libyan dinars ($2.8 billion) on contract for the Libyan central bank — and transferred it to an eastern city that is loyal to the military chief.”
So much for, “We came, we saw, he died!” and the great Obama liberation of Libya…
I admit to being a tad naive and influenced in my thinking by a lot of writings pushing Putin as someone we can work with and also into buying into some of the Russian provocations in Ukraine. Like many Americans who got frustrated with President Obama’s endless appeasement of Islamists and Iran, while exhibiting extreme weakness everywhere abroad, seeing Putin’s decisive moves has an appeal. Americans are used to being the strong horse in the world and being diminished and having America’s military hobbled by the Obama administration left me and many other Americans chafing at the bit for stronger leadership.
Of course, many Americans see Donald Trump as the answer to stronger American leadership and I remain convinced he’s a total fraud. Hopefully, some of the people he chose in key national defense positions are the real deal strong leaders, because America desperately needs men and women of principle at this time of increasing peril to world stability. Trump has had since November to demonstrate he’s the man to lead, but instead he doubled-down on engaging in his war against the media and Democrats via Twitter and he’s handed off serious policy to Mike Pence and aides.
Sure, I admit that I believe Trump is a corrupt, lying, con man and if the FBI and intelligence agencies do come up with solid evidence of nefarious criminal activity committed by Trump or any of his cronies, it won’t surprise me in the least. However the FBI and intelligence agencies should not be politicized so they should keep Congress and the Justice Department informed.
Here’s a tweet by Rep. Elijah Cummings today:
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@RepCummings: If the public knew what Members of Congress knew… We need to be doing more to investigate#RussianHacking &#FBIDirectorComey
House OversightDems Until the FBI and intelligence agencies go through proper channels, the leaks and innuendo by Democrats and their friends in the media are delegitimizing the FBI and intelligence agencies, just as much as Trump’s reckless tweeting. Here’s a report from McClatchyDC, that exemplifies my point:
“WASHINGTON
The FBI and five other law enforcement and intelligence agencies have collaborated for months in an investigation into Russian attempts to influence the November election, including whether money from the Kremlin covertly aided President-elect Donald Trump, two people familiar with the matter said.
The agencies involved in the inquiry are the FBI, the CIA, the National Security Agency, the Justice Department, the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and representatives of the director of national intelligence, the sources said.
Investigators are examining how money may have moved from the Kremlin to covertly help Trump win, the two sources said. One of the allegations involves whether a system for routinely paying thousands of Russian-American pensioners may have been used to pay some email hackers in the United States or to supply money to intermediaries who would then pay the hackers, the two sources said.”
(highlights are mine)
To the degree Trump’s erratic tweets on foreign policy have alarmed me, some of his picks for key national security positions, like General Mattis, General Kelly and Mike Pompeo have reassured me. Best for all Americans to remain optimistic and see what a Trump presidency turns out to be.
We have checks on power for a reason, so even if Trump turns out to be as terrible as his worst critics imaginings, I have faith in The Constitution, as should all Americans.
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