Damon Linker writes in The Week:
“Unelected intelligence analysts work for the president, not the other way around. Far too many Trump critics appear not to care that these intelligence agents leaked highly sensitive information to the press — mostly because Trump critics are pleased with the result. “Finally,” they say, “someone took a stand to expose collusion between the Russians and a senior aide to the president!” It is indeed important that someone took such a stand. But it matters greatly who that someone is and how they take their stand. Members of the unelected, unaccountable intelligence community are not the right someone, especially when they target a senior aide to the president by leaking anonymously to newspapers the content of classified phone intercepts, where the unverified, unsubstantiated information can inflict politically fatal damage almost instantaneously. …
But no matter what Flynn did, it is simply not the role of the deep state to target a man working in one of the political branches of the government by dishing to reporters about information it has gathered clandestinely. It is the role of elected members of Congress to conduct public investigations of alleged wrongdoing by public officials. …
Those cheering the deep state torpedoing of Flynn are saying, in effect, that a police state is perfectly fine so long as it helps to bring down Trump. …”
Eli Lake writes at Bloomberg View:
“Flynn was a fat target for the national security state. He has cultivated a reputation as a reformer and a fierce critic of the intelligence community leaders he once served with when he was the director the Defense Intelligence Agency under President Barack Obama. Flynn was working to reform the intelligence-industrial complex, something that threatened the bureaucratic prerogatives of his rivals.
He was also a fat target for Democrats. Remember Flynn’s breakout national moment last summer was when he joined the crowd at the Republican National Convention from the dais calling for Hillary Clinton to be jailed.
In normal times, the idea that U.S. officials entrusted with our most sensitive secrets would selectively disclose them to undermine the White House would alarm those worried about creeping authoritarianism. Imagine if intercepts of a call between Obama’s incoming national security adviser and Iran’s foreign minister leaked to the press before the nuclear negotiations began? The howls of indignation would be deafening.
In the end, it was Trump’s decision to cut Flynn loose. In doing this he caved in to his political and bureaucratic opposition. Nunes told me Monday night that this will not end well. “First it’s Flynn, next it will be Kellyanne Conway, then it will be Steve Bannon, then it will be Reince Priebus,” he said. Put another way, Flynn is only the appetizer. Trump is the entree.”
Noah Millman writes in The American Conservative:
“It certainly looks at this point like major elements within the national security bureaucracy are prepared to create a constitutional crisis in response to what they believe is a serious and real threat to American national security from the White House itself. And there is really only one way to avoid such a crisis: for Congress to step up and begin the necessary investigations of the Trump administration. …”
Just so we are clear, we all agree what just happened:
Obviously strongly prefer normal democratic and constitutional politics. But if it comes to it, prefer the deep state to the Trump state.
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) February 14, 2017
Also "terrifying" that liberals continually cheer Deep State power plays as victories for The Resistance t.co/blonjac7eO
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) February 14, 2017
The terrifying thing here is the only people able to stand up to Trump so far are the denizens of the Deep State. Also the Chinese gov't.
— Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) February 14, 2017
The reason for the leaks: the Deep State is out to destroy this presidency. Drain the CIA swamp, Mr. President! t.co/JLlZFUK0Y0
— Justin Raimondo (@JustinRaimondo) February 14, 2017
Expected everything in the Trump Administration so far except how desperately Deep State, GOPe and media want war with Russia.
— Virginia Dare (@vdare) February 14, 2017
Dear #TheResistance – you are on the same side as the deep state that arms jihadists who put children in meat grinders.
Resistance my ass.
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) February 14, 2017
We have two governments, one elected and the other unelected, which are at war with each other.
The CIA has a long history of subverting foreign governments. We’ve also seen the “Color Revolutions” in foreign countries. Now, we’re seeing the same people try to do the same thing here.
Poster Comment:
Sam Surprise: At the End, Obama Administration Gave NSA Broad New Powers
https://pjmedia.com/trending/2017/02/15/surprise-at-the-end-obama-administration-gave-nsa-broad-new-powers/
In its final days, the Obama administration has expanded the power of the National Security Agency to share globally intercepted personal communications with the government’s 16 other intelligence agencies before applying privacy protections.
The new rules significantly relax longstanding limits on what the N.S.A. may do with the information gathered by its most powerful surveillance operations, which are largely unregulated by American wiretapping laws. These include collecting satellite transmissions, phone calls and emails that cross network switches abroad, and messages between people abroad that cross domestic network switches.
nyashmyash... Instead he slobbered over Satanyahoo. nyashmyash
“we know that Trump has been a master player in the past and may be leading his enemies towards a hole”
and what if he’s playing you? nyashmyash
But he’s the ONLY guy around Trump who was concretely working towards a modus vivendi with Russia.
nyashmyash Trump, Feb 15, 2017: “Today I have the honor of welcoming my friend, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to the White House. With this visit, the United States again reaffirms our unbreakable bond with our cherished ally, Israel. The partnership between our two countries built on our shared values has advanced the cause of human freedom, dignity and peace. These are the building blocks of democracy.
“The state of Israel is a symbol to the world of resilience in the face of oppression — I can think of no other state that’s gone through what they’ve gone — and of survival in the face of genocide. We will never forget what the Jewish people have endured.
“Your perseverance in the face of hostility, your open democracy in the face of violence, and your success in the face of tall odds is truly inspirational. The security challenges faced by Israel are enormous, including the threat of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, which I’ve talked a lot about. One of the worst deals I’ve ever seen is the Iran deal. My administration has already imposed new sanctions on Iran, and I will do more to prevent Iran from ever developing — I mean ever — a nuclear weapon.
“Our security assistance to Israel is currently at an all-time high, ensuring that Israel has the ability to defend itself from threats of which there are unfortunately many. Both of our countries will continue and grow. We have a long history of cooperation in the fight against terrorism and the fight against those who do not value human life. America and Israel are two nations that cherish the value of all human life.” Sam
Kevin MacDonald ?@TOOEdit Kevin MacDonald Retweeted Bret Stephens Neocons smelling blood in the water.
Bret Stephens @StephensWSJ Impeached by November? If other Russian shoes drop, GOP members will want that. They always preferred a President Pence.
nyashmyash The only thing he’s been consistent about is supporting Kykestan-in-Palestine, so we can assume that its enemies are Trump’s enemies. sunshine ?????? ????????? I’m hoping he understands that outward support is what’s needed, despite how he feels inside. He doesn’t need a “heart attack” or to end up like Traficant or any other person that exposed the eternal parasite. Realistically, Trump is the best we’ve got right now. Maybe he’s kissing ass now so he will be able to turn towards our domestic issues without that threat over his head. Or maybe I’m full of it and a total sucker. I guess only time will tell.