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The DNC Attack and Putin
All signs point to Russia being behind the DNC hack, reports Wired:
Not reacting politically to the DNC hack is setting a dangerous precedent. A foreign agency, exploiting Wikileaks and a cutthroat media marketplace, appears to be carefully planning and timing a high-stakes political campaign in the United States that could escalate next week, next fall, or next time. Trump, ironically, is right: the system is actually rigged.
American inaction now risks establishing a de facto norm that all election campaigns in the future, everywhere, are fair game for sabotage—sabotage that could potentially affect the outcome and tarnish the winner’s legitimacy. Inaction also risks squandering the deterrent effects created by the White House’s reaction to North Korea’s role in the infamous Sony Hack, as well as the US Department of Justice indictments of Chinese and Iranian operatives. Remarkably, so far the only countries that have had the confidence to call out aggressive Russian operations are Germanyalong with Switzerland and France in a more limited way.
It is time for the United States (and the United Kingdom) to pull their weight: by publishing more evidence, by signalling political consequences for the perpetrators, by treating Wikileaks as a legitimate counter-intelligence target, and by providing not only physical but also improved digital security to candidates and campaigns in the future.
More from Defense One. How Putin Weaponized Wikileaks to Influence the Election of an American President:
Close your eyes and imagine that a hacking group backed by Russian President Vladimir Putin broke into the email system of a major U.S. political party. The group stole thousands of sensitive messages and then published them through an obliging third party in a way that was strategically timed to influence the United States presidential election. Now open your eyes, because that’s what just happened. …
John Schindler. Wikileaks Dismantling of DNC Is Clear Attack by Putin on Clinton:
By stepping into the middle of our Presidential race, the obvious Russian front has outed themselves …
… Russian hackers working for the Kremlin cyber-pilfered the DNC then passed the purloined data, including thousands of unflattering emails, to Wikileaks, which has shown them to the world.
This, of course, means that Wikileaks is doing Moscow’s bidding and has placed itself in bed with Vladimir Putin. In response to the data-dump, the DNC has said as much and the Clinton campaign has endorsed the view that Moscow prefers Donald Trump in this election, and it’s using Wikileaks to harm Hillary. This view, considered bizarre by most people as late as last week, is being taken seriously by the White House—as it should be. …
I’m anything but a Hillary fan, as my extensive reporting on her crimes and lies in EmailGate can attest. However, I am far more troubled by the naked interference of the Kremlin and its spy agencies in American democracy, which is a threat to our freedoms beyond anything the Clintons might do. …
This isn’t really a surprise, but perhaps having it this close to home will make Americans take this seriously.
Published in General
It is both possible that Hillary Clinton is corrupt and that Vladamir Putin would be more disposed to a Trump Administration. What you do with that information is up to you.
What naivete?
Schindler’s Putin/Trump conspiracy piece is published in the Observer, with the following disclosure:
Do with that what you will.
Best line I read on Instaundit today.
“The scary things, the horrific things that Donald Trump says, Hillary Clinton has already done.”
Sure. Could be.
I don’t presume to know what’s going on in Putin’s mind.
Based on the actions of the Russian government you can surmise.
Trump thrives on flattery. His loyalty is to himself. Clinton’s are old news, to be Putin’s buddy is great or huge as he would say. He would envision that both the Clintons and Putin will adore him. Or he’ll call Hillary a loser, and if she continues to make noise, plot her demise.
Nick,
Trump: starts buddy-buddy then lays the law down when Putin tries to cross him.
Hillary: starts talking tough then she sells her soul out for some CGI money.
Regards,
Jim
Clinton has a price. And if she becomes president, that price is going to be higher, perhaps higher than Vloody would be willing to pay. Remember, the higher-up a person is in an organization, the bigger the bribe has to be, and simultaneously more subtle, as there’s going to be more scrutiny. You can bribe the rookie mexican traffic cop with a twenty (or a benji if he’s really tightening the screws), but his police commissioner or chief is going to laugh at such an attempt.
Meanwhile, all it takes to get on Trump’s good side is some flattery. For someone like Pooty, that’s pretty cheap.
Or more likely a disaffected bernie bro working in the DNC released the information to wikileaks.
“Putin Hearts Trump” sounds to much like narrative to be true, so it will go into the pile with things like the “UVA gang rape,” and other media stories to disbelieve as a matter of course.
I’d prefer to do a wait-and-see on all of this rather than jump to conclusions or attempt to speak with some air of certainty for the following reasons:
To me, the claims or denials of influence by either the Democrat or Republican camps or what either the Clinton or Trump campaigns say at this point is a very minor issue. I am more interested in Russian motivations and would suggest that the focus should be placed on them and what new revelations may come to light before and after the election and what other shoes may drop.
You’re so right! But, contrary to popular belief, “fascist” does not mean “popular speaker with whom one doesn’t agree”…
It is not obvious to me why Putin would prefer a Trump victory over a Hillary victory. I have read the various comments on this thread but none of the theories seem bullet-proof to me. The only theory I can add to the list that makes any sense is this: Trump has stated he wants nothing to do with the war in Syria apart from destroying ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Putin is firmly in the Assad camp and has dropped bombs to prove it. Maybe he welcomes Trump’s planned lack of action against Assad. Admittedly, one could argue Hillary will talk tough about removing Assad but will not do anything regardless. Maybe Putin wants a membership to Trump’s golf courses?
Why? Any reasons other than Trump’s professed admiration for Putin? (I’m not disagreeing, I just don’t know enough to have an opinion either way). Thanks.
Who can blame the Russians for guessing the password to the DNC as Marx4ever ? I would have never thought to try that one!
The Russians are far more sophisticated than this – trying to influence our election with these released e-mails – it’s ridiculous. They know the US propagandists in the media will make short work of the implications. That would be a waste of an asset.
Why wouldn’t Putin want Hillary, who is proven as corrupt and easily duped and paid off?
Reset! Reset!
Gaeta: “They’re attempting to access our gateway!”
It’s rather funny since some people are insisting this is a Leftist plot to divert attention from the substance of the leaks (I’m thoroughly enjoying the substance and the havoc it’s wreaking), so why would the Trumps play along with it?
Schindler’s been writing about the Wikileaks/Russian intelligence leak on his own blog well before he started writing for the Observer.
Many of my East European sources – clerical and non-clerical – have bought the story that Putin supports Trump. Its undisputable that Putin is maneuvering for a big move in Eastern Europe (or at least trying to convince everyone that he’s about to).
So, this is an easy slam dunk for him:
I Saw What You Did Last Summit.
A fantastic point EJ. Trump may press the nuke button but Hillary is going to start a land war and kill a lot of our soldiers ( or ‘pigs’ as I believe she calls them). She’ll wag the dog while our kids die. She’ll look serious to the camera then laugh about it behind closed doors.
This is all rationalization anyway. Do I get in bed with Stalin or Hitler? Assad or ISIS? .38 or the garage closed and the motor running?
The intelligent choice, of course, is to have the first Presidential debate at Jessica Fletcher’s house and hope she knocks both of them off and we can start anew. (Attn Secret Service: That’s a joke. Oh, and your Colombian hookers called.)
Claire feels she needs to justify her choice.
Supports Putin in Syria.
Waffled on NATO commitment to defend Estonia against Russians, as well as wavering on overall commitment to the alliance.
Wants to lessen US support for Ukraine against Russia.
Add to that the relationships his campaign manager and Russia policy advisor have with the Russian regime (as mentioned in prior comment) .
This is not about whether you agree or disagree with Trump’s approach or what you make of his advisors connections. It’s simply to point out that one can construct rationales for Putin preferring both Trump and Hillary. How Putin weighs those factors in his own calculations is simply unknowable but they exist for both of the candidates.
Putin is a cat and Hillary is a half dead mouse he’s batting around her bathroom. Its entertainment for him. He’s tired of her and would prefer a new mouse that provides a little more of a challenge. Speaking of which Bill “I never raped anyone” Clinton has been awfully quiet don’t you think?
Lady MacBeth would make such a solid leader don’t you think?
Unless they’re Ivy League coeds trying to find money for tuition, they would be Colombian, not Columbian.
Fixed. The typos, not the hookers or the Secret Service agents. But if they had fixed the latter they wouldn’t have needed the former.
Flush twice; its a long way to the Kremlin.
The spying and hacking by Russia, China etc. are a result of the current administration’s lack of bolder cyber-security (in the Daily Shot the story of Chinese hacking the FDIC was alarming), and it’s almost funny (but not) that it would be more emails that is causing Hilary and Co. grief. Can you imagine what the enemies of the US have because of her email server and her pathetic excuses for not securing it??
In this case, I don’t care if the Easter Bunny released them, the contents matter and spell more lies, deceit, prejudice, and all the rest of it. To think she is even on a ticket for president is sick. I have a feeling there is more to come….
No need to insult cats….
Once, candidates hired Americans to break into their opponents’ communications. Now those good jobs have been outsourced. – David Frum
Putin wants America to have a first lady from the Eastern Bloc who hasn’t filed suit against Roger Ailes.
Remember way back when every couple of weeks Peter Robinson would post on the Main Feed trying to get a little love for Jeb! ?
Ah, good times.