—
Well this was significant. Perhaps the Trump-appointed Directors of our Intelligence Agencies, can wake Trump from his Russia-can-do-No-Wrong stupor.
Then again, perhaps not ...
'The United States is under attack': Intelligence chief Dan Coats says Putin targeting 2018 elections
by Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY — Feb 13, 2018
[...]
"Frankly, the United States is under attack," Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats told the Senate Intelligence Committee, adding that Russia is attempting to "degrade our democratic values and weaken our alliances."
In unequivocal language, Coats said Russian President Vladimir Putin was emboldened by Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential elections and is targeting the midterms.
"There should be no doubt that (Putin) views the past effort as successful," said Coats who was joined Tuesday by the nation's other top intelligence officials, including CIA Director Mike Pompeo, National Security Agency Director Mike Rogers and FBI Director Christopher Wray.
[...]
Tuesday, Coats and the officials each affirmed a 2016 assessment of the entire intelligence community that concluded that Russia interfered in the election and has not relented in a strategy to undermine elections.
"This is not going to change or stop," Rogers said.
Donald Trump could not be pulled away from his “Executive Time” in order to comment on today’s Senate Intel Hearing. But as White House spokespersons often say:
“President Trump has already spoken on this topic. His prior words speak for themselves.”
As well they should …
—
Nov 12, 2017
Donald Trump:
I believe that he believes that. I believe that he feels, that he and Russia did not meddle in the Election.
[...]
At the same time I want to be able -- because it is very important -- to get along with Russia [...] because we have a lot of things we have to solve. [...]
I believe that President Putin really feels -- and he feels very strongly -- that he did not meddle in out Election. {shruggs} What he believes, is what he believes -- what I believe is that we have to get to work. [...]
Russia has been very heavily sanctioned. They were sanctioned, at a very high level. And that took place very recently. It's now time to get back to healing a World, that is shattered and broken.
Those are very important things, and I feel that having Russia in a friendly posture, as opposed to always fighting with them, is an Asset to the World. And an Asset to our Country — not a liability.
—
July 27, 2016, Miami FL -- Press Conference
Reporter: Will you call on Putin to stay out of this Election?
Donald Trump: I'm not going to tell Putin what to do -- WHY would I tell Putin what to do?
… [Then Trump proceeds to tell Russia ‘what to do’ …]
Donald Trump: Russia, if you're listening: I hope you find the 30,000 emails that are missing. ...
They probably have them -- I'd like to get them released.
—
Aug 16, 2016
Donald Trump:
You look at Putin who is absolutely having a great time.
Russia is like, I mean, they're really Hot stuff.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could actually get along with Russia?
[...]
Putin was very nice to me, he said ‘Donald Trump is a genius’.
What he's done for Russia is really amazing. And he's done it by out-smarting our country ... at ... every ... single step.
—
Yes indeed President Trump ‘has spoken’ on the topic … “very stable genius” that he is.
Funny thing is, Trump keeps talking “about Russia” — just not with us Americans …
Rachel Maddow reviews what now makes at least eight times that Americans have learned about Donald Trump interacting with Russian officials from Russian media instead of the White House.
msnbc — Feb.12.2018
Trump really does have a “Russia Problem” — in more ways that one, it seems.