On Russian Collusion
I wrote here on the Russian hacking story and continue to stress the following ideas:
- For decades, Russia and other countries have interfered in our domestic affairs. Their efforts during this past election, if true, are not the first or last time they - or others - will so attempt and/or succeed.
- The long-term strategy of Russia is not to favor one particular party or individual, but to undermine our institutions while disrupting and dividing our society. Is it working?
- Applying the 2016 conventional wisdom of an easy victory for Secretary Clinton, the most plausible Russian strategy would have been to undermine her, her campaign, and the election's credibility while disrupting her ability to lead in the event she won. Now, with President Trump in office, how does Russia adapt its tactics to continue disrupting and dividing our society?
- The problem of improperly influencing our elections does not only exist with foreign entities and individuals. We must take appropriate steps to prevent, mitigate, punish, and deter all meddlers and other sordid characters who wrongly disrupt and influence our electoral process, whether or not they are foreign or domestic in nature.
While thinking a bit more about the allegations of collusion between President Trump and Russia, I've been grappling with the following questions. Perhaps you can help me answer them.
- If President Trump was privately colluding with Russia, why did he publicly ask Russia to release Secretary Clinton's 30,000 deleted emails if they had them? Wouldn't such a public request simply draw attention to the collusion he would be trying to hide? If Russia possessed the deleted emails, why wouldn't the nefarious collusion include releasing them to benefit President Trump? Click here to watch the video from President Trump's campaign event.
- If President Trump was privately colluding with Russia, why would his son-in-law and senior campaign official, Jared Kushner, attempt to set up secret back channel communications with Russia? Wouldn't the relationships and communication structure already exist? Click here to read the background story.
- If President Trump was privately colluding with Russia, why would his senior campaign officials, including his son, Donald Trump Jr., agree to meet with Russians in June 2016 with the hope of obtaining information damaging to Secretary Clinton? Wouldn't they already have access to that information? Wouldn't relationships and agreements have already been established to obtain such information? Click here to read the background story.
- What exactly has or will Russia gain from President Trump being in office, rather than Secretary Clinton? On the world stage, Russia seemed to have increased its influence during President Obama's watch, with examples including its military operations and influence in Syria and the greater Middle East as well as its military operation in, and ultimate annexation of Crimea. Since taking office, President Trump has embraced NATO, fired missiles into Syria, agreed to sell advanced missile defense technology to Poland, and actively supports domestic drilling for energy resources. Each of these policies hurts Russia. Again, where exactly has President Trump's policies helped Russia?
With Special Counsel Robert Mueller now investigating this matter, I wonder if his final report will answer these questions.
