By Mark L. Taylor
The Commoner Call (2/20/17)
It’s hard not to feel some measure of hope at all the news about the deep state surveillance and intelligence agencies leaking news nuggets about Trumpster ties to Russian oligarchs and Putin’s pals in the Kremlin. I mean, hell, it’s Trump.
Right?
During an interview last week with Rachel Maddow on MSNBC, New York Sen. Chuck Shumer stated an ugly truth about Trump’s ranting and raving about the intel community, saying the so-called president was “being really dumb” for taking on the intelligence mafia:
“Let me tell you, you take on the intelligence community, they have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you. So even for a practical, supposedly hard-nosed businessman, he’s being really dumb to do this.”
So put aside the fact that we are talking about Donald Trump and let that sink in for a moment…
Tooth rattling
Even for those of us who understand anything about the long, dismal and morally bankrupt history of agencies like the CIA, NSA and FBI, Schumer’s observation was tooth rattling. From the various coups, murders and assassinations, and drug smuggling into the U.S. and, close ties with Nazi war criminals tucked away in the US and cozy corporate ties with thugs and mafia lowlifes any citizen with a lick of commonsense and a little news outside the mainstream media shouldn’t be surprised by Shumer’s comments.
But, hell, I mean he was so upfront about who really pulls the strings in the United States. Make no mistake, there is a Deep State running this country. There has been a lot of talk about it in the media over the past month. It is curious, however, how such talk will just focus on the intel agencies and never mention the unholy match those agencies have with corporate America.
Glenn Greenwald was interviewed on Democracy Now! last week and provided some commentary that should make all of us stop and think for a moment; no matter how much we want to see the Orange Menace in the White House given his walking papers.
If Trump is gone – which is looking more and more likely – keep in mind So-Called President Pence will have those same agencies on speed dial and though Pence may not be the sharpest needle in the haystack, he will be smart enough to not piss off the powers that really run this country and that is terrifying.
Really, this current soap opera is nothing to cheer about. If the intel agencies can throw a So-Called President out on his ear, what can they do to a president who is trying to do the right thing for the county? President Kennedy comes to mind.
If you don’t have time to watch all three segments of the Greenwald interview, I urge you to at least watch the third one.
*****
Glenn Greenwald On Flynn-Russia Leaks: Highly Illegal & Wholly Justified
Democracy Now! (2/16/17)
While congressional Democrats and some Republicans are pushing for probes into President Trump’s ties to Russia, Trump has focused largely on going after those who have leaked information to the press. On Monday, Trump’s national security adviser was forced to resign after The Washington Post reported on leaks of classified intelligence revealing that Flynn had engaged in talks with the Russian ambassador to the United States during the transition period, while Barack Obama was still president. In a tweet this morning, Trump wrote, “The spotlight has finally been put on the low-life leakers! They will be caught!” On Wednesday, he wrote, “Information is being illegally given to the failing @nytimes & @washingtonpost by the intelligence community (NSA and FBI?).Just like Russia.” We speak to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Glenn Greenwald of The Intercept.
Link to Story and 8-Minute Video
*****
Greenwald: Democrats Seem To Consider Snowden’s & Manning’s Leaks Evil & Leaks Under Trump Heroic
Democracy Now! (2/16/17)
Over four years ago, NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden warned that he or other NSA analysts could spy on anyone, even the U.S. president. “I, sitting at my desk, certainly had the authorities to wiretap anyone, from you or your accountant to a federal judge, to even the president, if I had a personal email,” Snowden said in an interview with Glenn Greenwald in Hong Kong. We talk to Greenwald about the difference between how Washington reacted to Snowden’s leaks and today’s leaks about Gen. Michael Flynn.
Link to Story and 9-Minute Video
******
Greenwald: Empowering The “Deep State” To Undermine Trump Is Prescription For Destroying Democracy
Democarcy Now! (2/16/17)
Some supporters of Trump, including Breitbart News, have accused the intelligence agencies of attempting to wage a deep state coup against the president. Meanwhile, some critics of Trump are openly embracing such activity. Bill Kristol, the prominent Republican analyst who founded The Weekly Standard, wrote on Twitter, “Obviously strongly prefer normal democratic and constitutional politics. But if it comes to it, prefer the deep state to the Trump state.” We talk about the deep state with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Glenn Greenwald, co-founder of The Intercept.
Link to Story and 13-Minute Video