The resignation of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, surrounding questions about his pre-inauguration conversation with the Russian Ambassador, has brought a new round of media attempt to US-Russia relations. In Russia, however, it’s mostly just brought concerns.
A number of high-ranking Russian MPs reacted with anger at the news that Flynn was effectively forced out of his position, seeing the negative attention he got as a result of him being a supporter of US-Russia diplomacy, and saw the circumstances surrounding the case as underscoring how dangerous it is for US officials to negotiate, with Russia’s Senate Foreign Affairs Chairman Konstantin Kosachev sayying that Flynn’s “readiness for dialogue is perceived by the hawks in Washington as a thought-crime.”
Kosachev saw the ouster of a National Security Adviser for something he described as a “usual diplomatic practice” as a source of major concern, and said the fact that Trump hadn’t gone to bat for him suggested “Russophobia has permeated the new administration from top to bottom.”
A number of other Russian officials expressed doubt that President Trump would ever deliver on his previous talk of improved relations with Russia, seeing Flynn’s removal as ushering in a shift toward more establishment figures in Trump’s inner circle, and a continuation of the anti-Russia policy of the Obama years.
Trump has yet to meet with Putin, and no such meeting is expected until at least this summer, though there is a possibility Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the next few days. Whether this provides any new insight on a possible rapprochement remains to be seen.
It seems that an intelligence agency, apparently without a court order, has tapped a phone conversation between a top government official and the Russian ambassador and then anonymously leaked the contents to the press. Since there seems to be little outrage at this treachery, one could suppose that such tactics are OK as long as the leaker is not a patriotic whistleblower.
A perceptive comment.
That’s a serious offense, Tony, and I can deduce that only one of two agencies (NSA and CIA) had actually tapped a phone conversation between a top govt. official and the Russian ambassador, then anonymously leaked the contents to the press. I suspect the CIA; mainly, because that agency has more to gain from this crime than any other. Tapping a phone conversation between a high govt. official and a foreign ambassador w/o a court order and leaking the contents to the press is a crime. Period. It doesn’t matter whether or not such tactics are OK; it’s still a criminal offense.
You say that Flynn was a high government official Eileen. Gee Eileen, that’s about as dumb as you’ve ever gotten for us! Let’s face it, the fu–er was a private citizen committing treason against his country and probably should be strung up for doing it.
It was all intended to get Trump elected Eileen, even though a lot of you want to imagine that it was something to do with Trump being nice to Russia. Trump is far, far from being that deep dear.
Actually it doesn’t seem like that at all Tony. But I can understand that a lot of Americans would like to spin it that way.
In truth, it was info that was available from many sources all at once. Really gatepost stupid for Flynn to try to get away with it.
It’s just pretty hilarious to hear Trump’s goon squad voicing hope in Trump beating out the deep state.
They don’t want to take into consideration that the deep state, the Dems in congress, the American people, and now the R’s in congress one by one turning tail on their new president.
Impeach Trump and his crony fu–ers like Bannon, Sessions, and their ilk! Take no prisoners!
When almost the entire corporate media is urging the action that you suggest, you might wonder what, in fact, it is that you are supporting. Go to YouTube and listen to Rep. Kucinich’s statement on this subject.