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State Dept. Was Granted $120 Million to Fight Russian Meddling. It Has Spent $0.

Cardinal

Cardinal

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This is not the mere result of slashing the State Department or incompetence. This is a deliberate decision resulting from a sense of gratitude for helping Trump to win the Presidency. The most generous explanation is that Trump has abdicated his responsibility to protect the nation. However, when combined with the fact that Trump refused to implement a sanctions law passed in a veto-proof vote by Congress, compared the American intelligence community to Nazis for officially determining that Russia interfered in the election, spent a year denying that same Russian interference, lied 100% of the time about his past connections with Russian interests, and has taken Putin's word over that of his own Intelligence Community and the FBI, then the more likely explanation is that this is corruption in its purest form.

WASHINGTON — As Russia’s virtual war against the United States continues unabated with the midterm elections approaching, the State Department has yet to spend any of the $120 million it has been allocated since late 2016 to counter foreign efforts to meddle in elections or sow distrust in democracy.

As a result, not one of the 23 analysts working in the department’s Global Engagement Center — which has been tasked with countering Moscow’s disinformation campaign — speaks Russian, and a department hiring freeze has hindered efforts to recruit the computer experts needed to track the Russian efforts.

The delay is just one symptom of the largely passive response to the Russian interference by President Trump, who has made little if any public effort to rally the nation to confront Moscow and defend democratic institutions. More broadly, the funding lag reflects a deep lack of confidence by Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson in his department’s ability to execute its historically wide-ranging mission and spend its money wisely.
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https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/04/...partment-russia-global-engagement-center.html

My favorite part:

“If it’s their intention to interfere, they’re going to find ways to do that,” Mr. Tillerson said in an interview last month with Fox News. “And we can take steps we can take, but this is something that once they decide they are going to do it, it’s very difficult to pre-empt it.”
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I mean, right? What're you gonna do?
 
Cardinal said:
This is not the mere result of slashing the State Department or incompetence. This is a deliberate decision resulting from a sense of gratitude for helping Trump to win the Presidency. The most generous explanation is that Trump has abdicated his responsibility to protect the nation. However, when combined with the fact that Trump refused to implement a sanctions law passed in a veto-proof vote by Congress, compared the American intelligence community to Nazis for officially determining that Russia interfered in the election, spent a year denying that same Russian interference, lied 100% of the time about his past connections with Russian interests, and has taken Putin's word over that of his own Intelligence Community and the FBI, then the more likely explanation is that this is corruption in its purest form.



https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/04/...partment-russia-global-engagement-center.html

My favorite part:



I mean, right? What're you gonna do?
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Is Tillerson mentally retreaded? "once they decide they are going to do it, it’s very difficult to pre-empt it"

Well no **** once something has started you cant pre-empt it. The whole point of preemption is stop it before it starts
 
It reminds me very much of Trumps response when he was interviewed about school shootings AFTER the meeting with the NRA. He pretty much said that there was nothing that could be done about it- gun violence has always been a thing and it will always be a thing.... what can you do?
 
Cardinal said:
This is not the mere result of slashing the State Department or incompetence. This is a deliberate decision resulting from a sense of gratitude for helping Trump to win the Presidency. The most generous explanation is that Trump has abdicated his responsibility to protect the nation. However, when combined with the fact that Trump refused to implement a sanctions law passed in a veto-proof vote by Congress, compared the American intelligence community to Nazis for officially determining that Russia interfered in the election, spent a year denying that same Russian interference, lied 100% of the time about his past connections with Russian interests, and has taken Putin's word over that of his own Intelligence Community and the FBI, then the more likely explanation is that this is corruption in its purest form.



https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/04/...partment-russia-global-engagement-center.html

My favorite part:



I mean, right? What're you gonna do?
Click to expand...

"As Russia’s virtual war against the United States continues unabated with the midterm elections approaching, the State Department has yet to spend any of the $120 million it has been allocated since late 2016 to counter foreign efforts to meddle in elections or sow distrust in democracy."

First: We are not a democracy. Just look at the vote count of the last election, and the Party nominating processes.

Second: Show me some proof of meddling. The money spent on Facebook is paltry. Most of the ads were after the election and many were not politics related. Red Herring.

Third: The USA Intelligence Agency heads are documented perjurers. Bald faced liars.

Fourth: The MIC needs an enemy to maintain big cash flows. Guess who? USA Military Offense threatens the World.

Fifth: Russia/Putin repeatedly tried to work with the USA and his efforts thwarted.

Sixth: The Russian meddling is a molehill becomes a mountain by an agenda driven narrative postulated by the MSM and the Mighty Wurlitzer.
/
 
Cardinal said:
This is not the mere result of slashing the State Department or incompetence. This is a deliberate decision resulting from a sense of gratitude for helping Trump to win the Presidency. The most generous explanation is that Trump has abdicated his responsibility to protect the nation. However, when combined with the fact that Trump refused to implement a sanctions law passed in a veto-proof vote by Congress, compared the American intelligence community to Nazis for officially determining that Russia interfered in the election, spent a year denying that same Russian interference, lied 100% of the time about his past connections with Russian interests, and has taken Putin's word over that of his own Intelligence Community and the FBI, then the more likely explanation is that this is corruption in its purest form.



https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/04/...partment-russia-global-engagement-center.html

My favorite part:



I mean, right? What're you gonna do?
Click to expand...

I'm very confused as to why President Trump seems to have no interest in this problem. He (and his supporters and some members of his cabinet) by all accounts don't care about the Russians interfering in our democratic processes. Why is that?
 
Cardinal said:
This is not the mere result of slashing the State Department or incompetence. This is a deliberate decision resulting from a sense of gratitude for helping Trump to win the Presidency. The most generous explanation is that Trump has abdicated his responsibility to protect the nation. However, when combined with the fact that Trump refused to implement a sanctions law passed in a veto-proof vote by Congress, compared the American intelligence community to Nazis for officially determining that Russia interfered in the election, spent a year denying that same Russian interference, lied 100% of the time about his past connections with Russian interests, and has taken Putin's word over that of his own Intelligence Community and the FBI, then the more likely explanation is that this is corruption in its purest form.



https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/04/...partment-russia-global-engagement-center.html

My favorite part:



I mean, right? What're you gonna do?
Click to expand...

Sometime after this president leaves office I think we will read and hear and see more "tell alls" from people in the government than we have experienced after any other administration. I think lots and lots of people are going to substantiate what most of us already know: This "MAGA" idiot did more to subvert and damage the US than any other president in our lifetimes.
 
Crovax said:
Is Tillerson mentally retreaded? "once they decide they are going to do it, it’s very difficult to pre-empt it"

Well no **** once something has started you cant pre-empt it. The whole point of preemption is stop it before it starts
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If he is, it's because the president is contagious. I haven't checked the news yet this morning. Does anyone still work in the WH this week?
 
DaveFagan said:
"As Russia’s virtual war against the United States continues unabated with the midterm elections approaching, the State Department has yet to spend any of the $120 million it has been allocated since late 2016 to counter foreign efforts to meddle in elections or sow distrust in democracy."

First: We are not a democracy. Just look at the vote count of the last election, and the Party nominating processes.

Second: Show me some proof of meddling. The money spent on Facebook is paltry. Most of the ads were after the election and many were not politics related. Red Herring.
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Try to keep up.

https://www.politico.com/story/2018...er-indictment-on-russian-election-case-415670

Third: The USA Intelligence Agency heads are documented perjurers. Bald faced liars.

Fourth: The MIC needs an enemy to maintain big cash flows. Guess who? USA Military Offense threatens the World.

Fifth: Russia/Putin repeatedly tried to work with the USA and his efforts thwarted.

Sixth: The Russian meddling is a molehill becomes a mountain by an agenda driven narrative postulated by the MSM and the Mighty Wurlitzer.
/
Click to expand...
 
tres borrachos said:
I'm very confused as to why President Trump seems to have no interest in this problem. He (and his supporters and some members of his cabinet) by all accounts don't care about the Russians interfering in our democratic processes. Why is that?
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I have some ideas, but I'm going to wait for Mueller to tell us what he thinks.
 
Trump (the stable genius) is pretty simple minded to me. He takes everything personally. Admitting that Russia interfered in our elections, casts doubt on his election victory, to him. That it is his duty to protect us from all threats, physical or cyber (as he was sworn in to do) apparently means little to him.
 
DaveFagan said:
"As Russia’s virtual war against the United States continues unabated with the midterm elections approaching, the State Department has yet to spend any of the $120 million it has been allocated since late 2016 to counter foreign efforts to meddle in elections or sow distrust in democracy."

First: We are not a democracy. Just look at the vote count of the last election, and the Party nominating processes.

Second: Show me some proof of meddling. The money spent on Facebook is paltry. Most of the ads were after the election and many were not politics related. Red Herring.

Third: The USA Intelligence Agency heads are documented perjurers. Bald faced liars.

Fourth: The MIC needs an enemy to maintain big cash flows. Guess who? USA Military Offense threatens the World.

Fifth: Russia/Putin repeatedly tried to work with the USA and his efforts thwarted.

Sixth: The Russian meddling is a molehill becomes a mountain by an agenda driven narrative postulated by the MSM and the Mighty Wurlitzer.

Comrade, your kind always supports the Russian Federation before the USA. Maybe you need to live there, if you dont already.
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Rosie1 said:
Trump (the stable genius) is pretty simple minded to me. He takes everything personally. Admitting that Russia interfered in our elections, casts doubt on his election victory, to him. That it is his duty to protect us from all threats, physical or cyber (as he was sworn in to do) apparently means little to him.
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Oh, nothing matters to him except his self. I think that's well established by now.
 
Rosie1 said:
Trump (the stable genius) is pretty simple minded to me. He takes everything personally. Admitting that Russia interfered in our elections, casts doubt on his election victory, to him. That it is his duty to protect us from all threats, physical or cyber (as he was sworn in to do) apparently means little to him.
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Deep down in his heart of hearts - Trump knows he is illegitimate and also deeply fears that the Russian findings will convince even his own voters that he is the Bastard King.

The only question is will we ever find out exactly what Putin and Russian have on him that compels him to stay one step away from treason and refuse to defend this nation from the Russian act of war against us?
 
DaveFagan said:
"As Russia’s virtual war against the United States continues unabated with the midterm elections approaching, the State Department has yet to spend any of the $120 million it has been allocated since late 2016 to counter foreign efforts to meddle in elections or sow distrust in democracy."

First: We are not a democracy. Just look at the vote count of the last election, and the Party nominating processes.

Second: Show me some proof of meddling. The money spent on Facebook is paltry. Most of the ads were after the election and many were not politics related. Red Herring.

Third: The USA Intelligence Agency heads are documented perjurers. Bald faced liars.

Fourth: The MIC needs an enemy to maintain big cash flows. Guess who? USA Military Offense threatens the World.

Fifth: Russia/Putin repeatedly tried to work with the USA and his efforts thwarted.

Sixth: The Russian meddling is a molehill becomes a mountain by an agenda driven narrative postulated by the MSM and the Mighty Wurlitzer.
/
Click to expand...

I have never understood this. Does this mean they are clean shaven liars? Anyway...

- It is widely understood that we are a Republic, which is a democracy. I don't know why people mince words here. We can see from the U.S., to the UK, to France, and even to Iran (before and after Shah) that there are many looks to democracy. Ours looks the way it does because, first and absolutely foremost, we define everything through capitalism. Besides, the bigger the population, the greater a Republic makes sense. For that matter, the smaller the population the greater communism makes sense.

- Lying is a part of the Intel game.

- We have talked in length already about MIC. And that militaries throughout history have often been used for economic/resource purposes. We are not special. Good guy -versus- bad guy, just makes it look nice.

* But have you ever considered the point of the naming convention behind the Department of Defense? It was only established in 1947 through the National Security Act of 1947. Before this, it was the War Department. Obviously, the purpose was to consolidate the various departments under one roof and to create a single Secretary, but the naming convention was important. It developed out of conversations between Truman and various advisers. They were considering the developing tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union and decided that a Department of Defense would allow for wider discretion in global matters than a War Department would. Defending "freedom and democracy" was easier to sell coming from a Department of Defense.
 
DaveFagan said:
"As Russia’s virtual war against the United States continues unabated with the midterm elections approaching, the State Department has yet to spend any of the $120 million it has been allocated since late 2016 to counter foreign efforts to meddle in elections or sow distrust in democracy."

First: We are not a democracy. Just look at the vote count of the last election, and the Party nominating processes.

Second: Show me some proof of meddling. The money spent on Facebook is paltry. Most of the ads were after the election and many were not politics related. Red Herring.

Third: The USA Intelligence Agency heads are documented perjurers. Bald faced liars.

Fourth: The MIC needs an enemy to maintain big cash flows. Guess who? USA Military Offense threatens the World.

Fifth: Russia/Putin repeatedly tried to work with the USA and his efforts thwarted.

Sixth: The Russian meddling is a molehill becomes a mountain by an agenda driven narrative postulated by the MSM and the Mighty Wurlitzer.
/
Click to expand...

RT talking points and a head in the sand approach to facts...

Abandon RT and the Conspiracy sites for a while and live in the real world.
 
And Donald has still not utilized the Congressional sanctions on Russia for election meddling that Donald himself signed into law.

Just last week the NSA Director (Adm Mike Rogers) testified before the Senate that Russia is still meddling in our election process.

The only thing that makes sense is that The Donald compromised himself with the Russians. Putin and his oligarchs obviously have Donald by the short hairs.

Donald-Trump-North-Korea-TVCNews.jpg

Donald signed the Congressional sanctions bill against Russia and walked away ... never to reference it again
 
At the end of the Obama administration, Congress directed the Pentagon to send $60 million to the State Department so it could coordinate government wide efforts, including those by the Defense Department and the Department of Homeland Security, to counter anti-democratic propaganda by Russia and China. This messaging effort is separate from other potential government actions like cyber attacks.
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If I'm reading this right, this money is NOT for to protect from cyber attacks, but to counter 'propaganda' on social media sites like facebook and twitter. Despite what you think about him, Tillerson raises a good question. How do you counter false stories on these sites from foreign entities? It would be a challenge to separate news from commentary or opinion pieces, verify if they are false, and identify the original source. Then you also have to figure out what to do about it -- do you ask facebook/twitter/snapchat/ etc. to remove the story? Or post a response that will be either lampooned or assumed to be fake? Or post examples on a government sponsored version of snopes that no one will read or believe. This sounds like a good way to throw away $60 million a year.
 
Is it just me, or is this revelation not a surprise? I read this and immediately I think "meh...Trumps gonna Trump."

He isn't going to lose any sleep over this because he isn't going to let anyone force him to acknowledge the nature of the problem. He's already labeled it "fake news" and sticks to his guns on that. Even though many members of his administration have publicly admitted that Russian meddling has in fact occurred and will not likely stop.

Before his departure, President Obama had authorized the development of a cybernetic offensive "weapon" of sorts, described as a "cyber bomb." In reality it was an authorization to hack Russia's infrastructure network and disrupt it in retaliation for continued Russian attacks on the U.S. I would not be surprised to find out that it didn't get finished and/or isn't even being considered by Trump.
 
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