US-Russia Relations: Not All Gloom on Zoom

First-Off-the-Blocks Post-Election Prognosis
By Ray McGovern

On Thursday, just as it started to become clear that Biden was likely to win, longtime specialists on Russia discussed what to expect in ties between Washington and Moscow under a Biden administration. (Streamed live, Nov. 5)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBY4Qf_BQhE

Speakers

Gilbert Doctorow: Russia expert, foreign policy analyst, Brussels
Matthew Ehret: Professor in Montreal; also American University in Moscow
Jim Jatras: Former U.S. diplomat and Senate GOP foreign policy adviser
Peter Kuznick: Professor, American University, Washington, DC
Suzanne Massie: Historian of Russia; adviser to President Reagan
Ray McGovern: former Chief, Soviet Foreign Policy Branch, CIA
Pavel: former interpreter for Michael Gorbachev
Herbert Reginbogin: Professor, Catholic University of America, also American U. in Moscow
Tatjana Zdanoka: Member, European Parliament from Latvia

This Zoom session was part of the “Save the Planet” project, led and moderated by Edward Lozansky, President, American University in Moscow and also Professor, Moscow State and National Research Nuclear Universities

Each of the participants had been asked to speak for 10-12 minutes; a Q & A followed for 17 minutes starting at min. 1:31:55.

Peter Kuzick’s remarks (min. 41:45 to 51:20) were among the most insightful and succinct; Ray’s were more discursive (min. 8:10 to 21:05).

Are There Easy Ways to Prevent Ties With Russia From Falling into Complete Disrepair?

By Ray McGovern

Interviewed on the Critical Hour, Ray discusses post-US-election possibilities for an improvement in relations between Washington and Moscow — particularly in the area of cyber and strategic arms. He notes that Russia now speaks from a very strong position in the U.S-Russia-China triangular relationship because of its close relationship with China is now tantamount to a military alliance.  The implications are immense.

The Critical Hour, Nov. 5, 2020 (14 min.)

Russia-gate Limps On

On Wednesday Ray addressed the latest episode of Russia-gate with Aaron Mate of “Push Back”. (See:  https://youtube.com/watch?v=GfmiCfg3uX0&feature=youtu.be ).
The walking-wounded Russia-gate limps along — witness how many former functionaries will still sign on to anything Clapper/Brennan sponsor and give to a hungry Establishment media to regurgitate.

It was a relaxed, free-wheeling interview.  A lot of ground can be covered in 40 minutes when your interviewer is as sharp, objective, and well informed as Aaron. He and Ray dissected the lame claim by Clapper, Brennan, and other ex-intelligence officials that the information on Hunter’s hard drive “has all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation”. ( See: https://politico.com/news/2020/10/19/hunter-biden-story-russian-disinfo-430276 .)

How odd.  Both the Director of National Intelligence and the FBI were quick to point out that they have zero evidence of that.  Clapper, Brennan & Associates, Adam Schiff, and the NY Times are still making stuff up. And Trump lacks the guts to face them down. 

Not to worry; former CIA Deputy Director John McLaughlin tells us we should be grateful; in his inimitable words: “Thank God for the Deep State.”

NYT Sanger sewing machine still making whole cloth

Sanger flat-facted WMD onto Iraq (7/29/02)
https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/29/world/us-exploring-baghdad-strike-as-iraq-option.html

then aped Hillary on Russia & DNC “hack” (7/26/16)
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/27/us/politics/spy-agency-consensus-grows-that-russia-hacked-dnc.html

and is now embroidering hand-me-down re Russian hackers sowing chaos.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/22/us/politics/russia-election-interference-hacks.html?embroiders

McGovern Addresses Future of U.S. Policy in Middle East

Ray McGovern was interviewed this afternoon on likely U.S. foreign policy in Middle East under Biden, in contrast to Trump..  He noted that the MICIMATT (Military-Industrial-Congressional-Intelligence-MEDIA-Academia-Think-Tank) complex and the Israel lobby will still be calling the shots no matter who is president.  Ray reviewed what has been happening over the past decade in Syria as Exhibit A; also discusses likely policy toward Iran, suggesting that the Israel Lobby will make it very difficult for a Biden administration to slide back into the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA).
The Critical Hour, Oct. 20, 13 min.

DISGRACE: Former intel seniors DOUBLE DOWN FOR DEMS

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/19/hunter-biden-story-russian-disinfo-430276

The former senior spooks admit, “We do not have evidence of Russian involvement, but L’affaire Hunter-Hard-Drive has “all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation”.

Those skeptical of spooks, and generally aware of their record of malfeasance, abetted by the MSM, should read:
https://consortiumnews.com/2020/10/19/patrick-lawrence-the-damage-russiagate-has-done/

and watch this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0mwsrCsziQ&feature=emb_err_woyt

DOJ: Trump’s ‘total declassification’ of Russiagate docs has no effect

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/13/doj-trumps-declassification-russiagate-429257

DOJ attorneys told a judge that the White House Counsel’s Office effectively told DOJ to disregard Trump’s tweets on the matter.

By Kyle Cheney

What happened: When Donald Trump tweeted last week that he authorized the “total declassification of any & all documents” related to the long-running Russia investigation and Hillary Clinton’s emails – “No redactions!” he tweeted – he really didn’t mean it, the Justice Department argued in court Tuesday.

DOJ attorneys told a judge that the White House Counsel’s Office effectively told DOJ to disregard Trump’s tweets on the matter. They weren’t accompanied by an actual declassification order, and DOJ will proceed as though the tweets hadn’t occurred, continuing to redact and release documents at its discretion.

“The White House Counsel’s Office informed the Department that there is no order requiring wholesale declassification or disclosure of documents at issue in this matter,” Associate Deputy Attorney General Bradley Weinsheimer wrote in a filing with Judge Reggie Walton, who had ordered the DOJ to clarify its position after the president’s tweets.

The background: Walton is presiding over a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit brought by BuzzFeed’s Jason Leopold seeking the disclosure of redacted portions of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report on the 2016 Trump campaign’s contacts with Russia, as well as its underlying documents.

The White House’s position cuts against Trump’s emphatic tweet, which came amid a remarkable string of invective (https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/07/trump-demands-barr-arrest-foes-427389) aimed at his political allies — as well as demands that his Justice Department indict and prosecute his political rivals, including Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton.

“I have fully authorized the total Declassification of any & all documents pertaining to the single greatest political CRIME in American History, the Russia Hoax,” Trump said. “Likewise, the Hillary Clinton Email Scandal. No redactions!”

The tweet drew immediate accolades from some of Trump’s closest allies, who have long claimed hidden documents would expose the Russia investigation as a politically motivated assault on the Trump presidency. But DOJ made clear that Trump’s pronouncement had no actual force.

“The Attorney General has not ordered the declassification and release of any of the redacted material in this case based on the President’s tweets,” Weinsheimer wrote. “The Department was further informed that the President’s statements on Twitter do not require altering any redactions on any record at issue in this case, including but not limited to, any redactions taken pursuant to any discretionary FOIA exemptions.”