There has been a lot of talk since the election of the role Russia allegedly played in influencing the outcome, along with indications from the intelligence community that the Russians are blackmailing Trump for reasons that are not clear. At the same time, tensions between Russia and NATO are ratcheting up, threatening to re-ignite the Cold War.
Now, in the wake of the sudden resignation of National Security Advisor Michael Flynn over an ill-advised phone conversation with the Russian Ambassador, sensitive information is being leaked to the public right and left in violation of the law – while at the same time, they’re withholding it from the White House. Meanwhile, major media outlets have been busy spreading disinformation on Russia.
It is as if certain parties are trying to re-ignite the Cold War while undermining the Office of the Presidency. According to a most unlikely Trump ally, that is exactly what is happening.
Former Ohio Congressman and Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, appearing on a Boston radio program, suggested that the CIA and the media are attempting to exert influence on foreign policy – almost like William Randolph Hearst did nearly 120 years ago, which led to the Spanish-American War. For example, Kucinich points out that
“When you look at the way the Flynn episode unfolded it’s very clear that his communications were taped, they were transcribed, they were given to the media with specific timing involved…this was clearly a trap set for him.”
Kucinich also mentioned how the Washington Post, which first broke the Michael Flynn story, may very well have gotten the information through its owner, former Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. Not coincidentally, Amazon has been making a great deal of money doing business with the CIA.
In December, Bezos landed a contract with the CIA worth $600 million to build an advanced “cloud computing” system – twice what he paid for the Washington Post. And yet, no mention of this has ever been made in the WaPo. What is significant about Bezo’s deal with the CIA is that his was not the lowest bid. Furthermore, it appears that more sweetheart deals are in the works. Today, Amazon is a “major vendor” to the federal government.
It is becoming clear as to what is happening here. The intelligence community, wanting to stay in business, has gone to war with the Executive Branch – taking advantage of Trump’s unpopularity and incompetence – and is being aided and abetted by a newspaper and retail magnate who has a great deal to gain.
This is a dangerous precedent. It not only undermines our institutions, it threatens to launch an entirely new arms race that will divert resources from infrastructure and social needs at home, putting hundreds of billions of dollars in the pockets of the defense industry and government contractors like Amazon – and providing employment security for CIA agents.
Donald Trump may be the worst president in U.S. history, but this is not about him. The game did not start with the Trump Administration as toward the end of Obama’s presidency, there was a deliberate move by the Pentagon and the CIA to sabotage a deal with Russia that might have helped end the Syrian Civil War. If not exposed and dealt with, this game will continue with the next Administration as well.
This is about the integrity of the very foundations of our democracy. When government can be compromised by billionaire capitalists and its own agencies for their own interests, we are all at risk.
