Trump Goes Soft On Russia Again

Ken AshfordRussia, Syria, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Monday (left)Tuesday (right)Wednesday TBD pic.twitter.com/sxkWhRYJRv — Glenn Thrush (@GlennThrush) April 17, 2018 Trump rejected, for now at least, a fresh round of sanctions set to be imposed against Russia yesterday, a course change that underscored the schism between the president and his national security team. Why did he do it?  Here’s what a cynic might say… Sunday morning: Haley announces … Read More

Syria Update

Ken AshfordSyria, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

It is very difficult to keep up with developments on the situation in Syria, despite the fact that there has been no response to the terrible civilian gassing. First, there’s the matter of President Trump contradicting himself by his tweetstorm telling Russia and everybody else that  “smart” missile was “coming”. It makes the US looks weak, or confused, when the … Read More

Trump Sees Pictures Of Syrian Chemical Attacks; Calls Out Putin By Name For The First Time

Ken AshfordSyria, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

A lot of talk. We’ll see what Trump does.  When Obama was President, he tweeted that Obama should not do anything to get us involved in fighting Syria. Now (in a tweet not shown here), Trump blames Obama for not doing enough. Syria has been a dystopian hellscape the entire time Trump has been in office. He believes that war … Read More

Trump Sanctions Russian Oligarchs

Ken AshfordElection 2016, L'Affaire Russe, Russia, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Is say “Trump”, but I have a feeling Trump is not gung-ho about this: The United States imposed new economic sanctions on senior Russian politicians, companies and business leaders Friday, citing a list of complaints including Moscow’s attempts to undermine Western democracies, support of separatists in Ukraine and its backing for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The sanctions — the Trump … Read More

Is There ANYTHING That Trump Says Here That Is Objectively True?

Ken AshfordL'Affaire Russe, Russia, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

President Donald Trump claimed on Tuesday afternoon that he has been incredibly tough on Russia and that everybody knows it. “Nobody’s been tougher on Russia than I have,” he said at a press conference with three heads of state from Baltic nations when asked how he views his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Everyone agrees when they think about … Read More

DO NOT CONGRATULATE

Ken AshfordL'Affaire Russe, Russia, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Yeah. Trump is going rogue and it is dangerous: President Trump did not follow specific warnings from his national security advisers Tuesday when he congratulated Russian President Vladi­mir Putin on his reelection — including a section in his briefing materials in all-capital letters stating “DO NOT CONGRATULATE,” according to officials familiar with the call. Trump also chose not to heed talking points … Read More

Trump Administration (Finally) Imposes Sanctions On Russia

Ken AshfordL'Affaire Russe, Russia, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

… although the President himself remains mute. The Trump administration announced today it is enacting new sanctions on Russia, including individuals indicted last month by special counsel Robert Mueller, in a sweeping new effort to punish Moscow for its attempts to interfere in the 2016 US election. The measures come a month-and-a-half after the administration missed a congressionally mandated deadline to … Read More

Rexit (and Pompin)

Ken AshfordForeign Affairs, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

And now, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is out. To show you how ineffective this White House is, there isn’t a straight story about when/how this occurred. The news reported Tillerson found out due to a tweet, according to Steve Goldstein, undersecretary for public diplomacy: Rex Tillerson found out he was fired by President Trump’s tweet on Tuesday morning, according … Read More

Trump To Meet With N. Korean Dictator Kim Jong-un

Ken AshfordBreaking News, North Korea, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Flashback: I told Rex Tillerson, our wonderful Secretary of State, that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man… — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 1, 2017 Flashforward to present The White House didn’t make the announcement. It was made by the South Korean envoys on the White House driveway (this Administration really can’t do PR … Read More

Trump To Send Missiles to Ukraine

Ken AshfordForeign Affairs, Russia, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

The news services are reporting that the United States plans to arm Ukraine with Javelin armor-piercing missiles and other lethal military equipment to help Kiev battle Russian-backed separatists in the east. The Trump administration wants to approve a $47 million military aid package to Ukraine, including 210 anti-tank missiles and 35 Javelin launchers. Russia has warned that the plan, a departure from the previous … Read More

Is The NRA In Bed With Russia?

Ken AshfordGun Control, L'Affaire Russe, RussiaLeave a Comment

Earlier this month, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) issued a pair of letters demanding information on any financial links between the NRA and Moscow, or between the NRA and Russian nationals. The questions came after McClatchy reported: January 18, 2018 05:00 AM  WASHINGTON — The FBI is investigating whether a top Russian banker with ties to the Kremlin illegally funneled money to the National Rifle … Read More

National Threat Assessment

Ken AshfordCybersecurity, Foreign Affairs, Russia, Trump & Administration, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

It may not be in the news much today, but there is an important open hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, where the directors of the all the intelligence agencies testify: Director Daniel R. Coats – Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Director Michael Pompeo – Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Admiral Michael Rogers – Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) Director Lieutenant General Robert Ashley – Director of … Read More

Failed Terrorist Attempt In Manhattan Port Authority

Ken AshfordBreaking News, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

Police were called to a reported explosion at 7:20 a.m. ET in a below-ground walkway that connects two subway lines at 42nd Street. Responding units found an injured 27-year-old male, identified him as Akayed Ullah. He had burns and wounds to his body. Ullah was from Bangladesh & was doing it “in the name of ISIS” Preliminary investigation at the scene indicates that … Read More