The United States must confront Russia for providing weapons to the Taliban for use against American-backed forces in Afghanistan, top U.S. military officials said Monday.
At a news conference with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis at his side, Gen. John Nicholson, the American commander in Afghanistan, wouldn't provide specifics about Russia's role in Afghanistan. But said he would "not refute" that Moscow's involvement includes giving weapons to the Taliban.
Earlier Monday, a senior U.S. military official told reporters in Kabul that Russia was giving machine guns and other medium-weight weapons. The Taliban are using the weapons in the southern provinces of Helmand, Kandahar and Uruzgan, according to the official, who briefed journalists on intelligence information on condition of anonymity.
Well this is certainly going to put a strain on the Putin/Trump bromance.
Now not only are there various investigations into the Russian hacking of our election, but there are also these allegations that the Russians are providing weapons to our enemies.
Yep, Trump is never going to get his thirty pieces of silver from Putin if this keeps up.
Charlie Wilson's war in reverse.
ReplyDelete"in fewer than 100 days in office, threatened human rights in at least 100 different ways."
ReplyDeletehttps://thinkprogress.org/trump-threatens-human-rights-100-ways-ccdca056a7e9
The UN Just Sent Trump A DIRE Warning About Obamacare
DeleteIt would seem that the Democrats’ talking point, that healthcare is a human right, isn’t just a talking point. The United Nations has taken notice of Republicans’ efforts to repeal Obamacare without a solid replacement that will guarantee nobody loses their coverage. The GOP’s plans all involve stipulations that could strip coverage from millions, which could violate international laws to which the U.S. is bound.
The U.N.’s High Commissioner on Human Rights sent a letter to the Trump administration, and asked that it be shared with Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress. Of course, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, didn’t receive it, at least, not through the usual channels. Oddly enough, neither did Paul Ryan or Mitch McConnell.
Apparently, the State Department never saw it either, but an employee at HHS leaked it to Democratic leadership.
...Since the Trump administration didn’t send the letter on as requested, it stands to reason that they don’t want Congress to see this (or really, anyone). Too bad it got out. At best, this is another PR and political disaster that Trump doesn’t need. At worst, we’re in some serious trouble if they don’t give up their plans to strip millions of their health insurance.
http://addictinginfo.com/2017/04/26/the-un-just-sent-trump-a-dire-warning-about-obamacare/
Today POTUS will make his case for war. Not because it's necessary. Because he thinks it's what a President is supposed to do.
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/RoguePOTUSStaff/status/857209418911502340
Because it'll get his ratings up?
Precisely. All the praise for being "Presidential" when he bombed Syria went to his head. Now he's looking for his next fix.
https://twitter.com/RoguePOTUSStaff/status/857213529958559745
https://twitter.com/RoguePOTUSStaff
OIL!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.climatecentral.org/news/china-india-climate-leaders-west-falters-21377?utm_content=buffer24503&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Seems to me the Taliban was “our friend” and we sent them weapons when the ruskies were in Afghanistan. Maybe if we had chosen our friends more wisely we wouldn’t be in this mess.
ReplyDeleteAre Richard Burr’s financial ties to Russian oil why he’s holding up the Trump-Russia investigation?
ReplyDelete...Now comes the revelation that Burr has an investment in an oil drilling company that partners with a major Russian oil company.
This was discovered by political pundit Scott Dworkin of the Democratic Coalition Against Trump. He’s posted documents drawing a line between National Oilwell Varco Inc. and Russian oil giant Rosneft (link). The size of Senator Richard Burr’s investment looks to be just over $20,000, whereas his overall net worth is estimated at more than two million dollars (link), meaning it’s a small fraction of his overall fortune. But it turns out Burr has far more lucrative indirect financial ties to Kremlin.
Dworkin points out that Burr was the beneficiary of $8.1 million in campaign money that came from a Mitch McConnell Super PAC, which in turn took millions of dollars in donations from a pro-Putin Ukrainian (link). So his $20,000 direct investment appears to be just a starting point for Burr’s far larger indirect financial ties to Kremlin, which could be in the millions, depending on how that PAC money was divided up.
Considering that Richard Burr is now acting in a suspicious manner, refusing to sign documents that would allow the investigation into the Trump-Russia scandal to proceed, his monetary ties to Russia must be considered as at least a possible motivation.
https://www.palmerreport.com/politics/senate-intel-chairman-richard-burr-has-financial-investment-in-russia-tied-oil-drilling-company/2451/
The real deal with Richard Burr and the Senate Intel Committee’s Trump-Russia investigation
https://www.palmerreport.com/opinion/the-real-deal-with-richard-burr-and-the-senate-intel-committees-trump-russia-investigation/2436/
Why It's Impossible for Republicans to Investigate the Trump-Russia Scandal
On Monday, Yahoo News broke an important—but unsurprising—story: the Senate Intelligence Committee's investigation of the Trump-Russia scandal has made little progress, with its Republican chairman, Richard Burr of North Carolina, refusing to sign off on subpoenas and witness interviews and failing to devote to the inquiry sufficient staff power and resources.
This was the latest blow to the effort to scrutinize Russia's effort to disrupt the 2016 election and the connections between Donald Trump's inner circle and Russians.
...All of this rigmarole leads to an obvious question: Can the Republicans mount an independent and effective investigation of Moscow's hacking during the 2016 campaign and the interactions between Trump's crew and Russia? There is now a good argument that the answer is no.
From the start, it appeared this would be a dicey assignment for the GOP. An investigation of these matters threatened to taint Trump's victory by providing more information to back up the intelligence community's assessment that Vladimir Putin launched an extensive covert operation to subvert the 2016 elections in order to help Trump become president. Worse for Republicans, a probe could possibly produce evidence of contacts between Russians and Trump's political and business associates that might be related to Moscow's assault on American democracy.
No wonder that Burr and Nunes were not eager to accept this mission. Burr only agreed to examine the Trump-Russia interactions after Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) called for a select committee to be created to explore the subject. In order to maintain control of the inquiry, Burr expanded his committee's inquiry into the Russian hacking to cover the Trump-Russia connection. Certainly, he was not enthusiastic about this endeavor.
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/04/why-its-impossible-republicans-investigate-trump-russia-scandal
Add an Outrageous 16 Lies to Trump’s 16 Unintelligible Remarks in AP Interview
ReplyDelete...The scope of Donald Trump’s dishonesty is nothing less than breathtaking and he tells them so smoothly and effortlessly that you have to wonder if he even knows what the truth is any longer.
If you add Trump’s 16 lies to the 16 times he said something completely unintelligible in what was a one-on-one interview, you don’t even need the ever-present cloud Trump’s collusion with Russia to identify him as a man wholly unsuited to the office of president.
What the AP poll showed Americans was that while Donald Trump’s first 100 days was composed of empty threats and broken promises, the glue that held them all together was his lies.
http://www.politicususa.com/2017/04/26/add-outrageous-16-lies-trumps-16-unintelligible-remarks-ap-interview.html
Buckle Up: Maxine Waters Promises Russia Scandal “Only Going To Get Worse” For Trump
ReplyDeleteThe cloud of scandal over the Trump administration grew darker on Tuesday with the news that Michael Flynn illegally withheld information about his connections to Russia – but Democratic Congressman Maxine Waters promises the scandal is “only going to get worse” for the president.
On MSNBC’s All In with Chris Hayes, Waters said, “More and more information is coming out about the connections of the Trump allies and some people in his cabinet and their connections to Russia, and it’s only going to get worse.”
In epic fashion, Waters tore into the Trump administration’s shady dealings with Moscow, saying:
(Video)
...Just when Trump thought the Russia scandal was falling to the background, another bombshell revelation comes out. Buckle up, because it likely won’t be the last one before all is said and done.
As Maxine Waters said, it’s only going to get worse for the White House.
http://www.politicususa.com/2017/04/25/buckle-up-maxine-waters-promises-russia-scandal-only-worse-trump.html
Trump Humiliated Again After Failed Trade Battle With Mexico Costs U.S. $163 Million
ReplyDeleteThat's right: Trump just lost a trade battle with Mexico – over tuna fish.
http://www.politicususa.com/2017/04/25/trump-humiliated-u-s-loses-trade-battle-mexico.html
FYI-
ReplyDeletehttps://www.washingtonpost.com/world/us-military-starts-installing-controversial-anti-missile-battery-in-south-korea/2017/04/25/3efe2fba-2a2a-11e7-86b7-5d31b5fdc114_story.html
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/04/26/disturbing-sex-trend-called-stealthing-rise/100921352/
ReplyDelete$TEALTHING!
‘Where Is All That Winning?’: Twitter Bites Trump’s Head Off After Attack On ANOTHER Judge
ReplyDelete...Trump’s Executive Order on Tuesday was halted by Judge William Orrick who granted a preliminary injunction against section 9(a) of Executive Order 13768, which sought to ensure, in part, that “jurisdictions that fail to comply with applicable federal law do not receive Federal funds, except as mandated by law.”
Orrick noted that the order threatened “hundreds of millions” of federal dollars at the local level, writing that, “The Constitution vests the spending powers in Congress, not the President, so the Order cannot constitutionally place new conditions on federal funds.”
The internet was quick to respond to Trump’s latest Twitter-tantrum.
http://addictinginfo.com/2017/04/26/where-is-all-that-winning-twitter-bites-trumps-head-off-after-attack-on-another-judge/
When will the USA Military remove the treason infested scum from the white house? When will the forced resignation and impeachment begin? How much damage must be accomplished before the removal of those involved in espionage and treason against America and Americans? When will this stop? It is time for our elected servants to end this dangerous game today.
ReplyDeleteA military coup is the LAST thing we need.
DeleteBut if Congress doesn't do their job, it's what we're going to get.
DeleteAnd Putin will laugh his ass off, tickled pink his little plan paid off better than he expected.
I cant believe that our system allows another day of this toxic lying asshole to speak and act on anything. It is time for him to be removed and convicted of treason, collusion, espionage along with his family and friends.
ReplyDelete" a mix of mutual bluff, bluster, ego, and insecurity—fueled by heavy firepower and an itchy trigger-finger or two—makes for a potentially lethal concoction. In the annals of history, wars have erupted from less combustive kindling."
ReplyDeletehttp://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/war_stories/2017/04/there_doesn_t_need_to_be_a_north_korean_crisis_right_now_why_is_trump_creating.html
Republicans Don't Want to Eat Their Own Dog Food
ReplyDeletehttp://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/04/republicans-dont-want-eat-their-own-dog-food
This is the way war works now a days. The big players use the small players to kill each other. Any war of the big players vs the other big players means nuclear weapons and the world ends.
ReplyDeleteIf memory serves. wasn't it some B grade actor cum potus that decided it would be good to arm and train Mujahadeen in Pakistan and Afghanistan to fight the Soviets?
ReplyDeleteDidn't we also sell them SAM missiles to shoot down Soviet aircraft in Afghanistan and didn't we turn our backs on the Mujahadeen/Taliban after Russia withdrew and then we had to try to buy back SAMs so they wouldn't be used against American planes/helicopters?
Oops. Trump-ski's bro-ski helped kill Americans which means bro-ski has Trump-ski's approval.
ReplyDeleteI seem to recall the Taliban was “our friend” when they were fighting the ruskies, sent them a lot of military hardware.
ReplyDeleteIf we had chosen our friends better, maybe we wouldn’t be in this mess, but St Ronnie was against the Russian Evil Empire.