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On the heels of explosive intelligence findings that Putin paid the Taliban a bounty to kill US soldiers, the White House is claiming Trump wasn't briefed on this allegation.
This #SundayMorning we're asking if Trump knew? And when did he know?
(THREAD) https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/28/politics/russia-us-troops-afghanistan-trump/index.html
This #SundayMorning we're asking if Trump knew? And when did he know?
(THREAD) https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/28/politics/russia-us-troops-afghanistan-trump/index.html
(2) Trump even commented that he suspected the intelligence was "phony," despite the fact that there is evidence money was exchanged. US intelligence shared the intel months ago and the National Security Council even held a meeting about it in late March. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/06/27/afghanistan-white-house-denies-trump-briefed-russia-bounty-report/3272352001/
(3) What are the chances that Trump didn't know? Pretty slim.
As the commander in chief, news regarding bounties for killing his soldiers would be a priority. And a failure to brief him would expose HUGE levels of incompetence within the administration. https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-national-security-officials-question-trump-russian-bounty-denial-2020-6
As the commander in chief, news regarding bounties for killing his soldiers would be a priority. And a failure to brief him would expose HUGE levels of incompetence within the administration. https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-national-security-officials-question-trump-russian-bounty-denial-2020-6
(4) "I don't believe this for a minute, but if it were true, it means that Trump is not even pretending to serve as commander in chief," commented Obama former national security advisor Susan Rice. https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-denies-knowing-about-russian-bounties-to-kill-soldiers-1021511/
(5) Senator Tammy Duckworth, a veteran herself, has demanded a hearing be opened with the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.
"Our troops deserve to know what the administration is doing to protect them and why Trump failed to take action." https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/russian-operation-targeted-coalition-troops-in-afghanistan-intelligence-finds/2020/06/26/ac710092-b80f-11ea-9b0f-c797548c1154_story.html
"Our troops deserve to know what the administration is doing to protect them and why Trump failed to take action." https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/russian-operation-targeted-coalition-troops-in-afghanistan-intelligence-finds/2020/06/26/ac710092-b80f-11ea-9b0f-c797548c1154_story.html
(6) The bounties are linked to 29155, a branch of Russia's GRU military intelligence agency.
The unit has been credited with assassination attempts throughout Europe, including the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, a Russian defector, in 2018. https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-taliban-money-kill-us-troops-afghanistan-2020-6
The unit has been credited with assassination attempts throughout Europe, including the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, a Russian defector, in 2018. https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-taliban-money-kill-us-troops-afghanistan-2020-6
(7) What's especially troubling is that while Putin was paying to have NATO forces targeted and killed by the Taliban, Trump was busy trying to help Russia join G7.
Other world leaders, likely armed with the same intelligence, emphatically refused. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/trumps-g7-invite-for-putin-will-encourage-more-war/
Other world leaders, likely armed with the same intelligence, emphatically refused. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/trumps-g7-invite-for-putin-will-encourage-more-war/
(8) Let's not forget that in addition to the bounties to kill soldiers, there's ample evidence Russia conducted a nerve agent attack on UK soil in 2018.
In fact, it's the same special forces unit that's implicated-Unit 29155. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43315636
In fact, it's the same special forces unit that's implicated-Unit 29155. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43315636
(9) Unit 29155 has been in operation for over a decade and Putin's little assassination squad is anything but subtle.
Their specific mission to destabilize Europe has been a poorly kept secret for years. They've even been linked to a coup in Montenegro. https://www.businessinsider.com/gru-unit-29155-proves-they-can-get-to-anyone-but-theyre-really-sloppy-about-it-2019-10
Their specific mission to destabilize Europe has been a poorly kept secret for years. They've even been linked to a coup in Montenegro. https://www.businessinsider.com/gru-unit-29155-proves-they-can-get-to-anyone-but-theyre-really-sloppy-about-it-2019-10
(10) In March, the National Security Council advised the White House to make a formal diplomatic complaint and even recommended increasing sanctions, but the administration failed to take any action.
Trump's claim he wasn't aware should be easy to verify. https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-nw-nyt-russia-afghanistan-us-troops-bounties-20200627-lpw7vzg2vved5fmfdi633jdqu4-story.html
Trump's claim he wasn't aware should be easy to verify. https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-nw-nyt-russia-afghanistan-us-troops-bounties-20200627-lpw7vzg2vved5fmfdi633jdqu4-story.html
(11) Whether Trump knew or not, it says volumes about an administration who uses the military as a badge of patriotism when it's convenient and then sacrifices American lives to Russian interests.
And it makes clear once and for all that this President doesn't work for us.
And it makes clear once and for all that this President doesn't work for us.
(END) Thanks to @bhdbgh for the #SundayMorning thread suggestion. Come back next week and we'll do this again.
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