Follow The Rubles, Follow The Lies

Follow the Money. The key to what the Russians wanted might be found in the firing of Preet Bharara and the quick settlement of the Prevezon case after the firing, on Russia’s terms. (Their words.) The motivation supplied to Trump came in over a decade of many millions of rubles pouring into Trump Inc.

A VOX interview with a Russia Expert who says the answer is in the money that changed hands. Russian money kept Trump from being a business failure.

Follow the Kompramat: apparently much of the Steel Dossier Republicans are trying to discredit has already been corroborated.

The article on SLATE

(By the way, it wasn’t created at the request of or by Democrats. It was commissioned by Republicans, created by a respected former MI6 professional and handed to the FBI by a top Republican, John McCain.)

The Facebook aspect of Russian spying, explained by POLITICO.

Non-Linear Warfare and the Russians:

A short video on Vladislav Surkov, Putin's magician

The inventor of non-linear warfare––Vladislav Surkov, a profile in The Atlantic.

If a foreign enemy wanted to destroy the U.S. this is how they might do it. Worst case scenario laid out in The Atlantic. And in fact, it is a worst case scenario. Install a presidency whose intention is to degrade and destroy all of our democratic systems, all of our safeguards, all of our laws, all of our public trust, all of our global standing. Mission Accomplished!

If Putin or anyone wanted to destroy faith in our president they couldn’t pick a better liar to install than Donald Trump, liar par excellence. He’s been lying for decades about his Russian connections and his Russian money flow.

From David Corn at Mother Jones

Hanging Private Ryan

A bit of dialogue from Saving Private Ryan that seemed topical today...

"Private Jackson: Sir... I have an opinion on this matter.

Captain Miller: Well, by all means, share it with the squad.

Private Jackson: Well, from my way of thinking, sir, this entire mission is a serious misallocation of valuable military resources.

Captain Miller: Yeah. Go on.

Private Jackson: Well, it seems to me, sir, that God gave me a special gift, made me a fine instrument of warfare.

Captain Miller: Reiben, pay attention. Now, this is the way to gripe. Continue, Jackson.

Private Jackson: Well, what I mean by that, sir, is... if you was to put me and this here sniper rifle anywhere up to and including one mile of Adolf Hitler with a clear line of sight, sir... pack your bags, fellas, war's over. Amen.

Private Reiben: Oh, that's brilliant, bumpkin. Hey, so, Captain, what about you? I mean, you don't gripe at all?

Captain Miller: I don't gripe to *you*, Reiben. I'm a captain. There's a chain of command. Gripes go up, not down. Always up. You gripe to me, I gripe to my superior officer, so on, so on, and so on. I don't gripe to you. I don't gripe in front of you. You should know that as a Ranger.

Private Reiben: I'm sorry, sir, but uh... let's say you weren't a captain, or maybe I was a major. What would you say then?

Captain Miller: Well, in that case... I'd say, "This is an excellent mission, sir, with an extremely valuable objective, sir, worthy of my best efforts, sir. Moreover... I feel heartfelt sorrow for the mother of Private James Ryan and am willing to lay down my life and the lives of my men - especially you, Reiben - to ease her suffering.”

.......

A lot of bickering goes on in war. Soldiers grumble about the mission. Some of them have reason to. Some lose hope. Some die for no clear reason. Some are horribly wounded in mind or body. Some go missing. Some are taken prisoner by the enemy. When the war is declared over those prisoners are brought home and those taken by our side are returned according to international law. Making a political game out of it is not uncommon, but it is in bad taste.