Lovin’ me some Trump

[orangelvis]

The UK’s National Cyber Security Center, which is a public-facing branch of the UK’s GCHQ spy agency, has published the latest cyber attack claims — writing that it has “identified that a number of cyber actors widely known to have been conducting cyber attacks around the world are, in fact, the GRU”.

The hackers used Mimikatz, a hacking tool used once an intruder is already in a target network, to collect credentials, and two other kinds of malware: X-Agent for taking screenshots and logging keystrokes, and X-Tunnel used to exfiltrate massive amounts of data from the network to servers controlled by the GRU. Mueller’s report found that Unit 26165 used several “middle servers” to act as a buffer between the hacked networks and the GRU’s main operations. Those servers, Mueller said, were hosted in Arizona — likely as a way to obfuscate where the attackers were located but also to avoid suspicion or detection.

According to a report in the Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant, the General Intelligence and Security Service of the Netherlands (AIVD)—the Netherlands' domestic intelligence service—had hacked into the network of a building at a Russian university in Moscow some time in the summer of 2014. The building housed a group running a hacking campaign now known as "Cozy Bear," one of the "threat groups" that would later target the Democratic National Committee.

AIVD's intrusion into the network gave them access to computers used by the group behind Cozy Bear and to the closed-circuit television cameras that watched over them, allowing them to literally witness everything that took place in the building near Red Square, according to the report. Access to the video cameras in a hallway outside the space where the Russian hacking team worked allowed the AIVD to get images of every person who entered the room and match them against known Russian intelligence agents and officials.

We have substantial digital evidence of the Russian hackers.

True. Never said Russia doesn't hack. Everybody is hacking. Saw a blurb somewhere that Russia was recently hit with a serious, debilitating hack. I'll try and find it, at some point.
My point is simply that, I am not convinced that the Russians actually had any influence over our 2016 election. First, there was no logical, ideological reason for Russia to prefer Trump over Hillary. Secondly, the Bot-farms didn't do enough to really influence anything. Thirdly, The primary claim as originally put forth by Hillary, was that Russia hacked the DNC servers. Clapper followed up by driving the narrative from the intel side. The DNC refused to allow forensics by the FBI. Clapper is associated with Crowd Strike and in particular the guy who headed up the Crowd Strike analysis. I don't trust anything about Clapper or Brennan. I believe the current investigations by Barr, Durham, Huber, etc will confirm my belief of their complicity. Backing up my suspicions, is the fact that the gov't, when compelled by Roger Stone's legal team to prove that Russia hacked the DNC, could not.

Link to Russia being hacked:
https://www.redstate.com/elizabeth-vaughn/2019/07/21/russias-fsb-hacked-largest-data-breach-history/

 

[Rychek4]

First, there was no logical, ideological reason for Russia to prefer Trump over Hillary.

Oleg Deripaska seems pretty pleased with Trump's victory.

Secondly, the Bot-farms didn't do enough to really influence anything.

Studies have proven that you are wrong, Source:
https://firstmonday.org/article/view/10107/8049

The DNC refused to allow forensics by the FBI.

Blatantly false, we've been over this. The DNC servers were not physical servers on the property or anything like that. They were off-site cloud storage. All the Data was backed up and handed over to the FBI before anything was deleted.

Both the DNC and the security firm Crowdstrike, hired to respond to the breach, have said repeatedly over the years that they gave the FBI a copy of all the DNC images back in 2016.

Link to Russia being hacked:

No debate, it appears they have been hacked recently. Although I don't know your point, my previous post pointed out they had been hacked back in 2016.

Back to my original point, the Russian's are hacking and they are influencing our elections. Democracy is at stake and Trump is slow walking our cyber defense.

 

[orangelvis]

Oleg Deripaska seems pretty pleased with Trump's victory.


Studies have proven that you are wrong, Source:
https://firstmonday.org/article/view/10107/8049


Blatantly false, we've been over this. The DNC servers were not physical servers on the property or anything like that. They were off-site cloud storage. All the Data was backed up and handed over to the FBI before anything was deleted.

Both the DNC and the security firm Crowdstrike, hired to respond to the breach, have said repeatedly over the years that they gave the FBI a copy of all the DNC images back in 2016.



No debate, it appears they have been hacked recently. Although I don't know your point, my previous post pointed out they had been hacked back in 2016.

Back to my original point, the Russian's are hacking and they are influencing our elections. Democracy is at stake and Trump is slow walking our cyber defense.

1: Putin got a red reset button and 20% of our uranium from Hillary and Obama. There's more coming on this from ongoing investigations.
2: You need to go back and watch Comey's congressional testimony about the hack and the FBI access to info. Plus, I don't care what the DNC or CrowdStrike has repeatedly said. The gov't didn't use that as proof of the hack in court with Roger Stone's defense team. They effectively, admitted they couldn't prove it.
3. Rosenstein stated the very day that he announced the indictments against the Bot farms that it had little to no affect on the election.
4. Obama is to blame if you want to blame anyone for cyber meddling. Wray just stated that China is a bigger threat. What proof do you have that Trump is slow-playing cyber security.

Me thinks you're still way to trustful of left winged media, the DNC, CrowdsStrike, Clapper, Brennan, etc.
I'll say it again. Laugh if you want. Justice is coming.

 

[Rychek4]

1: Putin got a red reset button and 20% of our uranium from Hillary and Obama. There's more coming on this from ongoing investigations.
2: You need to go back and watch Comey's congressional testimony about the hack and the FBI access to info. Plus, I don't care what the DNC or CrowdStrike has repeatedly said. The gov't didn't use that as proof of the hack in court with Roger Stone's defense team. They effectively, admitted they couldn't prove it.
3. Rosenstein stated the very day that he announced the indictments against the Bot farms that it had little to no affect on the election.
4. Obama is to blame if you want to blame anyone for cyber meddling. Wray just stated that China is a bigger threat. What proof do you have that Trump is slow-playing cyber security.

Me thinks you're still way to trustful of left winged media, the DNC, CrowdsStrike, Clapper, Brennan, etc.
I'll say it again. Laugh if you want. Justice is coming.

SOURCES

And another "You just wait" comment for something that never actually arrives.

 

[orangelvis]

SOURCES

And another "You just wait" comment for something that never actually arrives.

be

Admittedly, I thought it would come out before the 2018 midterms. For 2 years I've been on here saying that Trump was set up and there is/was a conspiracy to get Hillary elected. When that didn't happen, then to run Trump out of office. We know Trump has declassed all of it, directed the Intel agencies to turn everything over to Barr. Huber and Durham have been operating in the background,(without leaks). Etc. Timing is important. It's gonna be a hard pill to swallow for some.


Remember this? Patriots haven't.




I think people are going to be shocked when J.Epstein, NXIVM and other organizations and people are exposed. Hollywood, The Beltway, Banking and Finance, much of Europe.

 

[Rychek4]

be

Admittedly, I thought it would come out before the 2018 midterms. For 2 years I've been on here saying that Trump was set up and there is/was a conspiracy to get Hillary elected. When that didn't happen, then to run Trump out of office. We know Trump has declassed all of it, directed the Intel agencies to turn everything over to Barr. Huber and Durham have been operating in the background,(without leaks). Etc. Timing is important. It's gonna be a hard pill to swallow for some.


Remember this? Patriots haven't.

View embedded media

I think people are going to be shocked when J.Epstein, NXIVM and other organizations and people are exposed. Hollywood, The Beltway, Banking and Finance, much of Europe.

I'm not here to defend Hillary. Horrible candidate. I'm here to attack Trump for being a horrible president. Please:

1: Putin got a red reset button and 20% of our uranium from Hillary and Obama. There's more coming on this from ongoing investigations.
2: You need to go back and watch Comey's congressional testimony about the hack and the FBI access to info. Plus, I don't care what the DNC or CrowdStrike has repeatedly said. The gov't didn't use that as proof of the hack in court with Roger Stone's defense team. They effectively, admitted they couldn't prove it.
3. Rosenstein stated the very day that he announced the indictments against the Bot farms that it had little to no affect on the election.
4. Obama is to blame if you want to blame anyone for cyber meddling. Wray just stated that China is a bigger threat. What proof do you have that Trump is slow-playing cyber security.

Sources?

 

[orangelvis]

I'm not here to defend Hillary. Horrible candidate. I'm here to attack Trump for being a horrible president. Please:


Sources?

This is interesting:
https://freebeacon.com/national-security/china-covertly-subverting-trump-reelection/amp/?

 

[Rychek4]

This is interesting:
https://freebeacon.com/national-security/china-covertly-subverting-trump-reelection/amp/?

Oh I totally believe this. I called it a while back. The Chinese are going to try and offset the Russian influence campaign with one of their own. They do not like the Tariffs either.

 

[orangelvis]

Oh I totally believe this. I called it a while back. The Chinese are going to try and offset the Russian influence campaign with one of their own. They do not like the Tariffs either.

So, what I have learned about Russian influence, is that the Russians were pumping M.Steele with info that was given to Fusion GPS, that was then filtered into the Intel Community, the FBI and the State Dept.; which was then used by the FBI to obtain multiple FISA warrants to spy on the Trump campaign. We now know that Mueller never looked into it. The next question is did the Obama admin operatives know it was fake info when they applied for the FISAs. I trust that Barr and John Durham are doing their jobs. After all, as the dems in Congress keep saying, "no one is above the law, not even the POTUS". I agree with that statement. So, if the pres. is not above the law, neither are administration appointees, or career bureaucrats, right?

 

[tallulahtiger30319]

Just think of how much he could accomplish if he hadn't spent so much time cleaning up BOs mess.

And having to deal with all the completely fabricated bull crap.

 

[Rychek4]

And having to deal with all the completely fabricated bull crap.

Grab em by the pussy.

 

[orangelvis]

Oh I totally believe this. I called it a while back. The Chinese are going to try and offset the Russian influence campaign with one of their own. They do not like the Tariffs either.

So, your position is that Russia is pro-Trump, but China is anti-Trump and these two are gonna fight it out to see which one of them can win the 2020 election. Got it.

 

[Rychek4]

So, your position is that Russia is pro-Trump, but China is anti-Trump and these two are gonna fight it out to see which one of them can win the 2020 election. Got it.

Yes. China has every reason to hate our tariffs.

 

[orangelvis]

Yes. China has every reason to hate our tariffs.

No doubt. Trump is winning. They think they can ride it out until the election, but I doubt it.
So, what exactly does Russia love about Trump?

 

[nealchick]

Yes. China has every reason to hate our tariffs.

And Russia has every reason to hate all the actual policy that President Trump has enacted. Clinton would have been much more aligned with Russian as her actual policy and that of the prior administration shows.

N---

 

[Rychek4]

[1]They think they can ride it out until the election, but I doubt it.
[2]So, what exactly does Russia love about Trump?

1. China can ride it out, they recently got rid of term limits on the President
2. Division, Russia wants to destabilize the west. Trump is bad at bringing people together but great at getting them mad at each other.

 

[Rychek4]

And Russia has every reason to hate all the actual policy that President Trump has enacted. Clinton would have been much more aligned with Russian as her actual policy and that of the prior administration shows.

N---

I'm not actually concerned with what Clinton might have done. I might be open to a conversation about someone like Marco Rubio would have done differently.

As to Russia hating the policy of Trump, I will have to assume you mean economic policy, they don't have any reason to hate on China and the U.S. placing tariffs on each other, it makes Russia more economically competitive on the world stage.

 

[orangelvis]

1. China can ride it out, they recently got rid of term limits on the President
2. Division, Russia wants to destabilize the west. Trump is bad at bringing people together but great at getting them mad at each other.

2. Well, the best job of division was Russian collusion with the Clinton campaign. Clinton > Perkins Coie > Fusion GPS > Michael Steele > Russians. That got us 2.5 years of division and some people are still clinging to it. (> = $$$ )
1. Doesn't matter. Trump is getting re-elected.

 

[nealchick]

I'm not actually concerned with what Clinton might have done. I might be open to a conversation about someone like Marco Rubio would have done differently.

As to Russia hating the policy of Trump, I will have to assume you mean economic policy, they don't have any reason to hate on China and the U.S. placing tariffs on each other, it makes Russia more economically competitive on the world stage.

The Trump administration’s policy actions often seem at odds with the President’s rhetoric. To set the record on policy actions, rather than rhetoric, we have tracked the administration’s concrete actions on Russia since January 20, 2017. The timeline is updated regularly and includes all official administration actions to date.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ACTIONS ON RUSSIA
Total number of policy actions: 48
*Policy actions in black, relevant events in red below.

2019
May 16
Sanctions – In response to human rights abuses


A Chechen group and 5 Russian individuals were sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act over allegations of human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings and the torture of LGBT people.

May 14
Meeting – Secretary of State Mike Pompeo with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, Russia
May 1
Statement – On democracy in Venezuela


President Trump denounced Russia’s continued support for the Maduro regime in Venezuela.

Apr 24
Statement – In response to Russian assault on Ukraine’s sovereignty


The U.S. Department of State condemned Russia’s decision to grant expedited citizenship to residents of Russia-controlled eastern Ukraine.

Mar 15
Sanctions – In response to Russia’s continued aggression in Ukraine


6 Russian individuals and 8 entities were sanctioned for their involvement in attacks on Ukrainian naval vessels in the Kerch Strait, the annexation of Crimea, and backing of separatist government elections in eastern Ukraine. These actions complement sanctions also taken by the European Union and Canada on the same day.

Mar 14
Statement – In response to escalation of attacks against Idlib, Syria




The U.S. Department of State condemned Russian offensive operations against northern Hama and southern Idlib in Syria.

Mar 11
Sanctions – In response to dealings with Venezuela


The United States sanctioned Evrofinance Mosnarbank, a Moscow-based bank jointly owned by Russian and Venezuelan state-owned companies, for attempting to circumvent U.S. sanctions on Venezuela.

Mar 4
Notice – Continuation of national emergency with respect to Ukraine


President Trump announced the continuation for one year of the national emergency declared with respect to Ukraine.

Feb 27
Statement – On Russian occupation of Crimea




Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement condemning Russia’s illegal actions in Crimea and its continued aggression against Ukraine.

Feb 1
Statement – Withdrawing from the INF Treaty


The U.S. administration announced it would suspend its obligations under the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty because Russia was not complying with it.

Jan 29
Release – Worldwide Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community


U.S. intelligence officials delivered their annual assessment of global threats to national security to Congress, identifying cooperation between China and Russia as their top concern.

2018
Dec 21
Statement – Increasing security assistance to Ukraine’s navy


The U.S. Department of State announced it would provide an additional $10 million in Foreign Military Financing to further build Ukraine’s naval capabilities in response to Russian attacks near the Kerch Strait.

Dec 19
Sanctions – In response to Russia’s continued disregard for international norms


18 Russian individuals were sanctioned for their involvement in a wide range of malign activities, including attempting to interfere in the 2016 U.S. election, efforts to undermine international organizations through cyber-enabled means, and the Skripal attack in the United Kingdom.

Dec 7
Statement – In response to Russian false allegations on chemical weapons use in Aleppo, Syria


The U.S. Department of State refuted Russia’s and the Assad regime’s false accusations that the opposition and extremist groups conducted a chlorine attack in northwestern Aleppo.

Dec 4
Statement – Withdrawing from the INF Treaty


Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the U.S. would withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 60 days if Russia did not return to compliance.

Nov 26
Statements – In response to dangerous escalation in the Kerch Strait


Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley condemned Russia’s decision to intercept, fire on, and seize three Ukrainian navy vessels in the Black Sea.

Oct 19
Indictments – In response to attempted interference in U.S. political system


A Russian woman was charged for her alleged role in a conspiracy to interfere in the U.S. political system, including the 2018 midterm election.

Oct 4
Indictments – In response to malicious cyber-related activities


7 officers of the Russian military intelligence service (GRU) were charged for their involvement in hacking Olympic athletes, anti-doping organizations, and chemical weapons monitors.

Sep 20
Sanctions – In response to malicious activities


33 Russian individuals and entities were sanctioned for their role in U.S. election interference and their involvement in supporting military operations in Syria and Ukraine. A Chinese entity and its director were also sanctioned for purchasing jet fighters and missiles from Russia.

Sep 12
Executive Order – Imposing sanctions for election interference


President Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on any nation or individual who authorizes, directs, or sponsors meddling operations in U.S. elections. The order would allow for the freezing of assets and the limiting of foreign access to U.S. financial institutions, as well as a cutoff of U.S. investment in sanctioned companies.

Sep 6
Statement – In response to Salisbury attack


The United States issued a joint statement with France, Germany, Canada, and the United Kingdom, reiterating its outrage at the use of a chemical nerve agent in Salisbury and expressing full confidence in the British assessment that the suspects were officers of the Russian military intelligence service (GRU).

Aug 21
Sanctions – In response to malicious cyber-related activities


2 Russian individuals, a Russian company, and a Slovakian company were sanctioned for helping another Russian company avoid sanctions over the country’s malicious cyber-related activities.

Aug 21
Testimony – Assistant Secretary of State A. Wess Mitchell before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Aug 8
Sanctions – In response to Salisbury attack


The U.S. administration announced it would restrict remaining sources of foreign assistance and arms sales to Russia, and deny U.S. credit to Russia, including through the Export-Import Bank. Restrictions would also prohibit the export of security-sensitive goods and technology.

Jul 25
Testimony – Secretary of State Mike Pompeo before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Jul 25
Declaration – Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issues Crimea Declaration


Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced a formal policy reaffirming the U.S. rejection of Russia’s annexation of Crimea. The announcement was released an hour before his scheduled testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Jul 16
Meeting – Trump-Putin Summit in Helsinki, Finland
Jul 13
Indictments – In response to malicious cyber-related activities


12 Russian intelligence officers were sanctioned for their involvement in hacking the Democratic National Committee and the Clinton presidential campaign.

Jul 11-12
Meeting – NATO Summit in Brussels, Belgium
Jun 11
Sanctions – In response to malicious cyber-related activities


5 Russian entities and 3 individuals – all closely linked to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) – were sanctioned.

Apr 6
Sanctions – In response to worldwide malign activity


7 Russian oligarchs and the companies they own or control, 17 senior Russian government officials, and a state-owned Russian weapons trading company (and a bank it owns) were sanctioned for their roles in advancing Russia’s malign activities – including the continued occupation of Crimea, engaging in cyberattacks, and supporting Assad’s regime.

Mar 26
Expulsions – Russian intelligence officers in Washington and Seattle


48 Russian intelligence officers from the Russian embassy in Washington were expelled, and the Russian consulate in Seattle was ordered to close, in response to the Skripal poisoning in the United Kingdom.

Mar 25
Expulsions – Russian intelligence officers in New York


12 Russian intelligence officers from the Russian Mission to the United Nations in New York were expelled for actions deemed to be abuses of their privilege of residence.

Mar 15
Sanctions – In response to election meddling and cyberattacks


5 Russian entities and 19 individuals were sanctioned for conducting a series of cyberattacks and interfering in the 2016 U.S. elections.

Mar 15
Alert – In response to Russian government cyber activity


The Department of Homeland Security and FBI issued a joint Technical Alert on Russian government actions targeting U.S. government entities, as well as organizations in the energy, nuclear, commercial facilities, water, aviation, and critical manufacturing sectors.

Mar 15
Statement – In response to Salisbury attack


The United States issued a joint statement with France, Germany, and the United Kingdom strongly condemning the Salisbury nerve agent attack and suggesting Russia was responsible for it.

Mar 14
Statement – In response to Salisbury attack


The U.S. administration issued a statement expressing its solidarity to the United Kingdom over the nerve agent attack in Salisbury, and sharing its assessment that Russia was responsible for it.

Mar 4
Statement – In response to Russian and Syrian regime attacks on Eastern Gouta, Syria


The U.S. administration condemned the military offensive that the Assad regime, backed by Russia and Iran, had been conducting in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta region.

Mar 4
Poisoning – Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury, England
Feb 16
Indictments – In response to election meddling and cyberattacks


3 Russian entities and 13 individuals were indicted for conducting information operations to influence the 2016 U.S. elections.

Feb 15
Statement – In response to “NotPetya”


The U.S. administration condemned the Russian military for launching a destructive cyberattack in June 2017, also known as “NotPetya.”

Feb 13
Statement – Proposing sanctions on Latvian bank involved in illicit Russian-related activity


The Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network proposed a new rule to ban ABLV Bank AS, Latvia’s third-biggest bank, for its involvement in illicit Russia-related activity.

Feb 7
Military Action – In response to attack on U.S.-held base in Deir Ezzor, Syria


U.S. troops killed hundreds of Syrian forces backed by Russian mercenaries (as well as Russian private military contractors). The American bombing was launched in response to a surprise attack on a U.S.-held base in the oil-rich Deir Ezzor region in Syria.

Jan 29
Release – Russian ‘Oligarch list’


The Department of the Treasury released a list of the most significant senior foreign political figures and oligarchs in the Russian Federation that could potentially be at risk of sanctions (114 senior political figures close to Russian President Putin and 96 oligarchs with a net worth of $1 billion or more).

Jan 26
Sanctions – In response to Ukraine conflict


21 individuals and 9 entities were sanctioned in connection with the conflict in Ukraine and Russia’s occupation of Crimea.

Jan 19
Release – National Defense Strategy


The Department of Defense released its National Defense Strategy, identifying Russia and China as strategic competitors to the United States.

2017
Dec 22
Announcement – Provision of lethal weapons to Ukraine


The U.S. administration approved a plan to provide Ukraine with enhanced defensive capabilities to help it fight off Russia-backed separatists.

Dec 20
Sanctions – Global Magnitsky Act


52 people and entities from Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and elsewhere were sanctioned for alleged human rights violations and corruption.

Dec 19
Export restrictions – In response to INF Treaty violation


The Department of Commerce announced new licensing and export restrictions on Russian companies Novator and Titan-Barrikady over production of a cruise missile prohibited by the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF).

Dec 18
Release – National Security Strategy


The White House released its National Security Strategy, identifying Russia and China as adversarial to the United States.

Nov 10-11
Meeting – APEC Economic Leaders’ Summit in Da Nang, Vietnam
Oct 27
Release – Guidance on CAATSA Section 231(d)


The Department of State issued public guidance on the implementation of Section 231 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act of 2017 (CAATSA). The guidance specified 39 entities that the Department of State determined are part of – or are operating on behalf of – the Russian defense or intelligence sectors.

Sep 13
Ban – Government use of Kaspersky Labs software


The U.S. administration banned the use of Kaspersky Labs software on government computers due to Kaspersky’s ties to Russian intelligence services.

Aug 2
Legislation – President Trump signs Russia sanctions bill into law (CAATSA)


President Trump signed into law the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions act (CAATSA), enacting new sanctions on Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

Jul 7-8
Meeting – G-20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany
May 26-27
Meeting – G-7 Summit in Sicily, Italy
May 24-25
Meeting – NATO Summit in Brussels, Belgium
Mar 15
Indictments – In response to 2014 Yahoo hack


Three Russian individuals were charged for the 2014 Yahoo hack, including two officers of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).

Trump has not been ‘soft’ on Russia. He’s been tougher than Obama.
recent Post op-ed by a former U.S. ambassador to Russia) — and disseminated by a headline-chasing national media — who have attempted to disassociate the Trump administration’s Russia policies and actions from the president himself. They have done this by disparaging the president for his words but not crediting him for his administration’s actions.

I agree that the president’s rhetoric regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin should be tougher, but as his critics surely know, it is actions backed by power and force that ultimately matter in the world of international politics, not Obama-style soaring rhetoric. This is particularly true when it comes to Putin. And the record thus far clearly shows that the Trump administration, working with Republicans in Congress, has been far tougher on Russia than the Obama administration ever was.

After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014, Ukrainian leaders desperately requested from President Barack Obama defensive anti-tank weapons systems that could fend off the invading Russian T-72 tanks in eastern Ukraine. In 2015, members of the Senate Armed Services Committee — Democrats and Republicans — encouraged Obama to grant this request to help Ukraine defend itself. Obama refused . Soon after coming into office, Trump changed course , and the Ukrainians now have Javelin anti-tank weapons systems from the United States. Russian tank drivers have a lot more to worry about today.

The Trump administration has also replaced Obama’s reticence regarding U.S. troop deployments near Russia with a full embrace of the European Deterrence Initiative. In just more than two years in office, Trump has requested more than $17 billion for EDI compared with just $5 billion requested in Obama’s final three years in office. As a result, thousands of U.S. troops, along with other NATO allies, have deployed to Poland, the Baltics and Norway to deter further Russian expansion.

In the Middle East, Obama’s passive actions and policies — including a now-infamous unenforced “red line” — led to the rise of the Islamic State and left an open door for Russian ground and air forces. Russian troops and their proxies, aligned with Iranian and Syrian forces, now occupy large swaths of territory in Syria. Nevertheless, the Trump administration has unleashed the United States’ military might in Syria, leading the efforts to destroy the Islamic State territorial caliphate and militarily punishing Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad for his use of chemical weapons. When Russian-backed proxies and possibly Russian military forces got too close to our Special Operations forces in Syria and failed to back off as warned, they were systematically destroyed by the U.S. military. And while much has been made of the president’s announcement of withdrawing troops from Syria, he has since pulled back to keep U.S. and NATO troops in the country.

More broadly, under Obama, the Pentagon’s budget was slashed by 25 percent from 2010 to 2016. Our military’s readiness, unsurprisingly, plummeted. This certainly emboldened Putin. By the end of Obama’s tenure, the Air Force was the smallest and oldest (in terms of aircraft age) it has ever been, and only a small fraction of the Army was combat-ready.

The Trump administration and Republicans in Congress have reversed this hollowing out of our military by dramatically increasing funding. Readiness is returning. Trump’s national defense strategy clearly prioritizes Russia and China as rising great powers to which our military and nation must respond.

Finally, Trump has taken decisive action to unleash an instrument of American power that Putin fears the most: U.S. energy. I’ll never forget a meeting I attended with Sen. John McCain and a prominent Russian dissident, who told us that the No. 1 thing the United States could do to undermine Putin was to “produce more American energy.”

Crude oil production may have risen during the Obama administration, but that was only despite Democrats’ systematic efforts — which continue to this day — to undermine U.S. energy production on state and federal lands. As Alaska’s attorney general and the commissioner of the state Department of Natural Resources, I fought the Obama administration’s consistent policies to delay and shut down hydrocarbon production in my state.

Fortunately, the Trump administration has reversed most of Obama’s harmful anti-energy policies. The United States is once again the world’s energy superpower — producing more renewables, oil and natural gas than any other country on Earth, including Russia and Saudi Arabia. And with Trump administration policies, such as opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for responsible energy production, U.S. energy dominance is likely to endure for decades.

So yes, Trump and his administration clearly have been tough on Russia — more so than his predecessor. Facts are stubborn things, and when it comes to Russia and Vladimir Putin, actions speak louder than words.



Trump gives Putin a sharp, weaponized rebuke on Ukraine
by Tom Rogan
| June 18, 2019 01:17 PM
appears delusional in his personal interactions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. But the opposite is true of Trump's Russia policy. Indeed, Trump is far tougher on Putin than President Barack Obama ever was.


We saw this again on Tuesday in the form of $250 in military support to the Ukrainian military and security services. The new supplies bring the total provision of U.S. military support to Ukraine to $1.5 billion since 2014. And they include elements clearly designed to deter and defeat Russian aggression. These include "sniper rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, and counter-artillery radars" and "electronic warfare detection." Those systems will help Ukraine's military to challenge Russian combat forces in their keystone competencies. The electronic warfare disruption issue is especially important.

The $250 million also notably entails increased "support for Ukraine's Navy and Naval infantry." That's a countermeasure to escalating Russian aggression against Ukraine's maritime sovereignty. It also offers the Pentagon an indirectly lethal means of rebuking Russia's escalating harassment of the U.S. Navy.



00:0100:51

Senior Columnist Fred Barnes on the expanded Washington Examiner magazine

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So as I say, Trump would be well advised to judge his personal relationship with Putin far more skeptically. But Trump's policy has been spot-on — proportionate, well-judged, and commensurate with our best ideals.

 

[Rychek4]

2. Well, the best job of division was Russian collusion with the Clinton campaign. Clinton > Perkins Coie > Fusion GPS > Michael Steele > Russians. That got us 2.5 years of division and some people are still clinging to it. (> = $$$ )
1. Doesn't matter. Trump is getting re-elected.

The best job of division was the rise of social media.

 

[Rychek4]

A Chechen group and 5 Russian individuals were sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act over allegations of human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings and the torture of LGBT people.

Not sure why you would include stuff like the Magnitsky Act enforcement since it was signed into law by Obama. Not sure I find this article unbiased.

3 Russian entities and 13 individuals were indicted for conducting information operations to influence the 2016 U.S. elections.

Well since it's your source I'll assume this section means you agree that Russia was trying to influence our elections and that the Mueller report was accurate.

 

[nealchick]

Not sure why you would include stuff like the Magnitsky Act enforcement since it was signed into law by Obama. Not sure I find this article unbiased.
Well since it's your source I'll assume this section means you agree that Russia was trying to influence our elections and that the Mueller report was accurate.

Who ever denied Russia trying to influence? They have for years and will continue. I would say the influence has been quite successful in sowing discord. Most egregious to me was the Obama admin knowing this was going on and doing nothing about it.

 

[Rychek4]

Who ever denied Russia trying to influence? They have for years and will continue. I would say the influence has been quite successful in sowing discord. Most egregious to me was the Obama admin knowing this was going on and doing nothing about it.

My fault, I didn't realize you and @orangelvis were so far apart on this issue. Also I agree with your point about Obama here.

 

[nytigerfan]

Who ever denied Russia trying to influence? They have for years and will continue. I would say the influence has been quite successful in sowing discord. Most egregious to me was the Obama admin knowing this was going on and doing nothing about it.

Moscow Mitch McConnell had something to do with the governments inaction on Russian meddling.