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The Democrats and Russia

Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, July 26th, 2017 - 66 comments
Categories: Donald Trump, Europe, International, us politics - Tags: ,

Russia is already the issue that will permanently mark the Donald Trump Presidency’s first term. He will live or die on how he and his team come out of the inquiries that are going on (Sure bigger than Monica Lewinsky was to President Clinton).

So I’m puzzled. The United States government is the weakest we have seen for many generations – certainly the most unpopular – and is getting deeper and deeper into trouble. So the Democrat leadership should be more popular. They should be in a full-blown revival by now. This is the least popular President since World War II. Even Bill Clinton 6 months in wasn’t this unpopular.

Some may say that what they need is some Bernie Sanders-type hard left saviour. But Bernie’s views on Russia are pretty much the same as Obama’s were. And pretty much the same kind of nuanced and conciliatory stance to Russia that Trump is taking now.

Russia will now dominate U.S. politics right through to the next Presidential elections.

I think a big public trust issue with the Democratic Party is precisely about Russia. Russia is being set up as the primary cause of the political instability of the Trump Presidency. But it is the Democratic President Obama that set the U.S. positioning about Russia in play. Trump is simply continuing and deepening it. That means the Democrats cannot credibly attack Trump on Russia: they can’t criticise their own President. They are largely leaving it to the mainstream media to do their political work for them.

So before we treat ourselves to yet another youtube clip of Maddow’s MSNBC or CNN’s Blitzer scoffing at how corrupted by Russia Trump’s staff have been in their dealings, let’s remind ourselves why Democrats are so weak on Russia.

President Obama launched his famous Russian reset in early 2009 just months after Russia invaded Georgia. He then announced the removal of missile defence systems in the Czech Republic and Poland that year. He also ignored Russia violations of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (while simultaneously negotiating new START). Then he ceded ground to the Russian military intervention in Syria. Then he did nothing about his own Syrian “red line” when Syrian civilians were gassed. President Obama’s administration was one long – eight-year-long – concession to Russia.

At the United Nations General Assembly in 2009 President Obama said “The traditional divisions between nations of the south and the north make no sense in an interconnected world nor do alignments of nations rooted in the cleavages of a long-gone Cold War.” By which he meant pretty much the same thing that Trump said when he had a good crack at NATO. Except when Trump did it, the liberal commentators wet their pants.

So it was kinda good to see Chuck Schumer finally make a distinction recently that Russia was not the only reason Hillary Clinton lost.

Here’s the fuller version in the Washington Post.

Schumer – as Clinton’s campaign Chair – has good reason to throw Clinton herself under a bus for the 2016 campaign saying the basic messages weren’t clear. So it wasn’t just Russia’s electoral interference. He has to gear up the message for the 2018 Senate races.

Democrats remain largely leaderless in the aftermath of an election no-one in that party thought they would lose. I sure didn’t. Sanders and Warren pretty much cancel each other out for leftie appeal, and Biden’s still biding his time. As ever.

I have to be honest that it is fun watching Trump’s key people die a professional death.

But it is taking too long for the Democrats to show that they are a credible alternative government-in-waiting. There is simply no way for them to join in the Russia attack since they also have to back Obama’s legacy and since they have the Hillary loss around their necks that they need to get rid of – which they can’t because they blame the loss on the Russian cyber attacks. Which are where all the investigations started. So they can’t attack Trump on Russia because the public know when they do that they attack both Obama and Hillary Clinton – one Democratic saint and one Democratic martyr. Ain’t no extricating that.

All the Democrats are doing is leaving the hard political work to the media.

66 comments on “The Democrats and Russia ”

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  1. garibaldi 1
    26 July 2017 at 8:09 am

    In a nutshell the Democrats are in total disarray internally and have blamed it all on Russia. If they concentrated on their own demise they might get somewhere. Perhaps distancing themselves from the Clinton dynasty would be a good start. All this anti Russian bullshit is pretty thick coming from the USA …. total hypocrisy.

    • red-blooded 1.1
      26 July 2017 at 8:33 am

      There’s something in what you say, Garibaldi. The US has definitely not been backward in meddling in other countries’ democratic processes. Having said that, there’s no excuse for any party or candidate’s team to accept help from another country that’s been spying or working underground to influence an election. We wouldn’t put up with it here and the people of the US shouldn’t either.

      • garibaldi 1.1.1
        26 July 2017 at 8:57 am

        You are right red-blooded, but is there absolute proof against the Russians? Seems more like the Dems just had to find someone else to blame for losing to Trump(of all people!).

        • Morrissey 1.1.1.1
          26 July 2017 at 11:15 am

          There is no evidence at all that the Russians meddled in the U.S. election. Here’s someone who, in contrast to dear old “Advantage”, actually knows what he’s talking about….

          • RedLogix 1.1.1.1.1
            26 July 2017 at 11:31 am

            Yes. It would be interesting to get a panel of influential and experienced analysts like Greenwald, Warren, Pilger, Dwyer, Fisk, Sawyer, Stewart, Chomsky and the like into a room … and get them to see what facts they agree on and maybe reach a rough consensus on what is really happening.

            Because I’ve given up drawing any useful conclusions from the deluge of media drivel.

            • dukeofurl 1.1.1.1.1.1
              26 July 2017 at 1:15 pm

              Cant you getout of your seat and find out what the people on your list are saying ?

              You want others to tell you what the facts are ? Do you miss Even Hoxha that much ?

          • Ad 1.1.1.1.2
            26 July 2017 at 12:04 pm

            Morrissey this post is about the politics of the Democrats, and the part of the media in it.

            I’m quite happy to register Glenn Greenwald’s expertise. In his own field.

            So apply yourself to the purpose of the post.

            • Morrissey 1.1.1.1.2.1
              26 July 2017 at 12:11 pm

              Greenwald is an expert on the failure of the Democrats to address the reasons for their near-annihilation in American politics. Who do you think knows more than he does?

              • Ad …
                26 July 2017 at 12:32 pm

                He’s good at interpreting intelligence.
                He’s not a good political analyst.

                Again, this post is not about whether links to the Russians are true or not, but about the politics of the Democrats.

                As noted in the Chuck Schumer link, some Democrat leaders are getting beyond the Russia narrative. But most can’t, for the reasons I stated.

                Do you have any actual thoughts of your own on the matter?

                • Morrissey …
                  26 July 2017 at 9:52 pm

                  He’s good at interpreting intelligence.
                  So are most people, if they’re given the intelligence. Thanks to the likes of Messrs Manning, Snowden, Assange and other heroic figures, we now do.

                  He’s not a good political analyst.

                  On what basis do you feel able to make that statement?

                  Do you have any actual thoughts of your own on the matter?

                  Yes I do, and I have made them clear on this forum many times in the past.

                  • Ad …
                    26 July 2017 at 10:10 pm

                    Intelligence, accurate or not, has nothing to do with the post.

                    You haven’t figured that out yet, and you’re not capable of doing so, so I sure wasn’t proposing you do another extended rant about what you think true intelligence is.

                    Your failure to engage with the post simply illustrates that same inability to analyze politics that Greenwald has.

                    None of that is surprising, because you are attracted to Greenwald as a kindred spirit:

                    – There’s not a mainstream media outlet you don’t loathe or mistrust

                    – There’s no one else out there with your degree of accuracy

                    – No one can be as left or as righteous as you are

                    – The whole world is lying and only the chosen have the truth

                    – Since the world is irredeemably corrupt, that corruption represses those heroes of the truth into self-defined obscurity, and when pushed out into the world can only ever be martyrs

                    – Only the truth that you and the chosen reveal can ever matter

                    You will never get beyond any of this. You can’t get any of the points of the post because it’s about fluid political dynamics in the world of perpetually contested information, not immutable truths hidden by omnipotent conspiracy.

                    Which requires analysis neither you nor Glenn Greenwald are capable of.

            • RedLogix 1.1.1.1.2.2
              26 July 2017 at 1:10 pm

              My sense is more or less the opposite of yours Ad. The Dems have expended far too much energy and time rabidly distracted by this Russian matter, with so far nothing useful to show for it.

              And even IF they manage to impeach Trump on this, I doubt very much it would have any beneficial effect on a very sick body politic. Their energies would be far better focused on more constructive matters.

              • Ad …
                26 July 2017 at 1:50 pm

                We don’t oppose each other on that.

                It’s clearly hard for the Dems to extract themselves out of their current tactical direction. Their only saving grace so far is that the Republicans have not formed a united caucus and united programme to truly rule over that country as never before.

                I’m beginning to even despair about the 2018 Senate races for the Dems.

                I don’t see the possibility of impeachment unless there is a solid Democrat majority in the Senate.

                So I don’t see a way out of this for a long time, and I see every sign that Trump will make a very large and powerful country very unstable, which is no good for anyone.

          • dukeofurl 1.1.1.1.3
            26 July 2017 at 1:17 pm

            Greenwald was one of those getting their leaks from the Russians

            Yep nothing to see here
            https://theintercept.com/2016/10/09/exclusive-new-email-leak-reveals-clinton-campaigns-cozy-press-relationship/

    • Johan 1.2
      26 July 2017 at 9:18 am

      Garibaldi, you sound as if you have been watching too much RT propaganda.
      Just follow Trump’s money trail and income tax returns and he will be done like dinner.

    • RedLogix 1.3
      26 July 2017 at 11:17 am

      I’m in much the same camp myself Garibaldi. The Trump Jr. meeting with the Russian attorney is only interesting because of what we don’t know about it; ie exactly what was the information about the Dems being offered?

      While no-one wants to pretend Putin and his mates are lily-white angels, the levels of anti-Russian paranoia in Washington preclude any sane discourse on the topic and make it impossible to unpick the propaganda in any of the media anywhere in the world.

      Only one thing seems certain; Putin is an order of magnitude more cerebral and calculating than Trump.

      • Phil 1.3.1
        26 July 2017 at 12:49 pm

        The Trump Jr. meeting with the Russian attorney is only interesting because of what we don’t know about it; ie exactly what was the information about the Dems being offered?

        That’s like saying to your wife “I didn’t have an affair with that woman. Yes, I agreed to meet her because she said she wanted to f–k me, but we never actually got naked”.
        … and THEN trying to get out of that troubling statement by talking about which sex position you would have wanted to try with the other woman.

        Only one thing seems certain; Putin is an order of magnitude more cerebral and calculating than Trump.

        How do you calculate orders of magnitude if you’re dividing by zero?

        • RedLogix 1.3.1.1
          26 July 2017 at 1:03 pm

          Your metaphor is slick, but in this day and age with polyamory so fashionable in some circles, it carries less oomph than you may have hoped.

          OK Putin may be smarter, but Trump has way more low animal cunning.

  2. Paul Campbell 2
    26 July 2017 at 8:35 am

    Wait, are the apologising because they are not Republicans , or because others are not – that bumpersticker could equally be anti or pro republican

  3. Philj 3
    26 July 2017 at 8:42 am

    There is a growing movement to extinguish the Democratic Party and start a new party because of corruption @ the core.

    • dukeofurl 3.1
      26 July 2017 at 1:12 pm

      Where ?
      Any evidence of that at all?

      besides the example of Bernie shows he ran for the democratic nomination without even being a registered democrat. he won his senate seat without being involved with Democratic party

  4. dukeofurl 4
    26 July 2017 at 9:14 am

    Why rain on the parade ?

    When you dont have control of the leadership of either house of congress there is very little that can be done on a substantive level, enquiries etc

    In 18 months that might change if say the Senate flips to Democratic

  5. DH 5
    26 July 2017 at 9:16 am

    This post reads as wishful thinking to me. So far the Russia accusations have been a complete bust, the accusers have yet to produce one single iota of proof that the Trump team colluded with Russia. It’s all been hot air and to my mind it’s the US corporate media who are in disarray.

    • dukeofurl 5.1
      26 July 2017 at 10:47 am

      Trump jnr : I love it!

      he wasnt talking about maccas.

      • DH 5.1.1
        26 July 2017 at 11:14 am

        So what does that prove? He met someone with the hope of gaining incriminating evidence on an opponent. Who in politics hasn’t done, or wouldn’t do, that?

        The whole meeting brouha so far has been a complete bust, there’s been no evidence of collusion come out of it.

        • dukeofurl 5.1.1.1
          26 July 2017 at 1:10 pm

          Incriminating evidence from a foreign government obtained by hacking?
          Who hasnt done that !!!

          Its collusion all right, as Trump immediately after that meeting began tweeting about spilling secrets about Hillary!

          You do know its a federal offence to even accept money from a foreign government.

          before they were claiming ‘ no contacts’ with russians, now thats been blown out of the water, they are saying ‘no collusion’, that wont last either.

          • DH 5.1.1.1.1
            26 July 2017 at 3:30 pm

            “Incriminating evidence from a foreign government obtained by hacking?”

            That’s a typical example of the shrill shrieking that’s characterised this Russia nonsense to date.

            There hasn’t yet been any proof surface to suggest Trump jnr gained any incriminating evidence let alone from a foreign government and there also wasn’t any suggestion the (non-existent) evidence was obtained by hacking.

            Be honest about it. It would only be collusion if he actually colluded and there is no proof of that. He may well be guilty of collusion, who knows, but until someone can actually show some evidence of it he should get the same benefit of the doubt that everyone deserves.

            • dukeofurl 5.1.1.1.1.1
              26 July 2017 at 4:04 pm

              hello , you havent been keeping up

              “Goldstone emails Donald Trump Jr.:

              Good morning

              Emin [Agalarov] just called and asked me to contact you with something very interesting.

              The Crown prosecutor of Russia [error in terminology its 'Prosecutor General'] met with his father Aras this morning and in their meeting offered to provide the Trump campaign with some official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia and would be very useful to your father.

              This is obviously very high level and sensitive information but is part of Russia and it’s government’s support for Mr. Trump – helped along by Aras and Emin.

              “I can also send this info to your father via Rhona, but it is ultra sensitive so wanted to send to you first.

              “Rhona” is Rhona Graff, Donald Trump’s assistant.

              Hilary info… from the Russian gov!!!

              Colluding is when one side offers information and the other agrees to accept it.
              Yes, its unlikely this made much difference to the final result
              But these campaign speeches of Trump are a strong indication his henchmen had passed that the meeting with the Russians to get dirt was about to happen ( June 9)

              eg June 7
              Trump wins the primaries in California, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota, giving him the delegates to officially clinch the Republican nomination.

              “I am going to give a major speech on probably Monday of next week and we’re going to be discussing all of the things that have taken place with the Clintons. I think you’re going to find it very informative and very, very interesting.”

              “During his victory speech that night, Trump promises more dirt on Clinton.”

              And where does this ‘dirt’ come from’

              https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/07/11/what-happened-and-when-the-timeline-leading-up-to-donald-trump-jr-s-fateful-meeting/

              • DH …
                26 July 2017 at 4:28 pm

                You’ve posted a whole heap of assumptions there, try fronting up with some actual evidence.

                And lets add the relevant caveat from that WP article;

                “It has also been used as the jumping-off point for a number of broader theories of how the Trump campaign might have colluded with the Russian government. For example: Did that meeting precipitate Donald Trump’s tweet about Hillary Clinton’s deleted emails? Well, no, almost certainly not.

                Below, a timeline of the events leading up to that meeting and some of the theories that are floating around it.”

                Note the word ‘theories’ . Not fact, not evidence, not proof. Theories. He might have, he could have, he blah blah blah. All innuendo.

                • McFlock …
                  26 July 2017 at 4:38 pm

                  The actual evidence of Trump Jr, when offered dirt on Clinton that he was informed was supplied by the Russian authorities, responding “[…]if it’s what you say I love it especially later in the summer.”

                  As supplied by… Trump Jr.

                  • DH …
                    26 July 2017 at 4:42 pm

                    You seem to assuming he loved that it was supplied by the Russian authorities. A more rational conclusion would be he loved the idea there might be some dirt on Clinton. Big difference there.

                    • McFlock …
                      26 July 2017 at 4:48 pm

                      Not when they’re in the same goddamn sentence.

                      He could at least have said “let’s not deal with the russians, but what sort of things are they talking about?”

                    • DH …
                      26 July 2017 at 5:04 pm

                      You’re speculating McFlock. You don’t know what he was referring to, the quoted text is too ambiguous to make any firm conclusion from.

                      It’s quite possible that Trump unknowingly dodged a bullet, with there being no actual dirt and thus no collusion. But the facts remain the story to date does not incriminate him in colluding with Russia. No amount of wishful thinking will make it so, it requires real evidence.

                    • McFlock …
                      26 July 2017 at 5:18 pm

                      You’re speculating McFlock. You don’t know what he was referring to, the quoted text is too ambiguous to make any firm conclusion from.

                      Except that it’s part of the email chain jr released, which clearly labels which message is replying to which and what other topics were discussed that jr might have loved. Short answer: none.

                      You’re grasping at straws.

                    • DH …
                      26 July 2017 at 5:21 pm

                      Well I’ll leave it there I think. I just hope that if you’re ever called up for jury duty you never make the final twelve.

                    • dukeofurl …
                      26 July 2017 at 5:58 pm

                      DH, you havent a clue how evidence in a court is used.

                • dukeofurl …
                  26 July 2017 at 5:55 pm

                  So the emails are assumptions ???

                  This may surprise you in your absolute proof world, but people get convicted for circumstantial evidence all the time.

        • Psycho Milt 5.1.1.2
          26 July 2017 at 2:05 pm

          Who in politics hasn’t done, or wouldn’t do, that?

          Well, that depends on whether the politician’s legal system says that accepting electoral assistance from a foreign government is a serious crime or not, doesn’t it? Trump Jr was offered the opportunity to commit a serious crime and jumped at the chance. If attempted collusion is on the books as well as actual collusion, he’s in deep shit.

          • DH 5.1.1.2.1
            26 July 2017 at 3:43 pm

            “Trump Jr was offered the opportunity to commit a serious crime”

            What planet are you on? There was no crime in attending the meeting.

            Too many people seem to be assuming and then accusing. The facts as they’ve been revealed to date do not show any crime nor do they show any collusion with a foreign Govt.

            One might create a tenuous claim of intent to collude but that wouldn’t even make a depositions hearing if it was illegal… which apparently it’s not.

            • McFlock 5.1.1.2.1.1
              26 July 2017 at 4:11 pm

              Oh, well, only an intent to collude, that’s all right then. They should cancel all investigations because there’s obviously nothing to see here lol

              • DH …
                26 July 2017 at 4:39 pm

                Ah, no. You’d be the one claiming intent. I don’t see it. I don’t know the man and I don’t pretend to know what his intentions were.

                All I profess to know is that I doubt there’s many, if any, politicians alive who would pass up the chance to find some dirt on their opposition.

                • McFlock …
                  26 July 2017 at 4:44 pm

                  lol

                  So you refuse to make any assumptions about Jr’s intent when he wrote ” I am on the road at the moment but perhaps I just speak to Emin first. Seems we have some time and if it’s what you say I love it especially later in the summer.”, but you know what the overwhelming majority of living politicians would do.

                  You have exceptionally low opinion of politicians. But you don’t have this opinion about the trumps. What makes them of higher character than almost every other living politician?

                  • DH …
                    26 July 2017 at 5:10 pm

                    I haven’t made an opinion on the Trumps McFlock, why are you falsely stating that I have?

                    My opinion was that the Russia accusations have been a complete bust.

                    • McFlock …
                      26 July 2017 at 9:12 pm

                      I explicitly said that you don’t have an opinion about the trumps.

                      Which is my point, because your opinion of almost every other politician alive today is that they’d take the opportunity to get dirt on their opponents.

                      You have a low opinion of most politicians, but you have no similar opinion about the trumps. Why do the trumps get the benefit of the doubt in your opinion?

            • Psycho Milt 5.1.1.2.1.2
              26 July 2017 at 6:43 pm

              There was no crime in attending the meeting.

              Well, that’s for the investigation to find out, isn’t it? You seem to have a problem with my statement “Trump Jr was offered the opportunity to commit a serious crime.” I’m not sure why you would have a problem with it, because:

              1. It’s a serious crime for a US political team to accept assistance from a foreign power.

              2. Trump was offered such assistance.

              And indicated he would accept the offer if it was genuine, which is more than enough basis for investigating whether the assistance was actually provided.

        • McFlock 5.1.1.3
          26 July 2017 at 2:22 pm

          Who in politics hasn’t done, or wouldn’t do, that?

          Al Gore’s campaign were given unsolicited information on GW’s campaign and promptly turned it over it to the FBI.

          So even turning up to a meeting where parties are offering dirt on your competitors is not something everyone in politics hasn’t done or wouldn’t do – let alone when those parties are foerign nationals claiming to work with officials of a foreign government.

  6. Adrian Thornton 6
    26 July 2017 at 9:29 am

    Good post there advantage, I would disagree on a few points, but overall I think your analysis is pretty good, until your last line, ( unless I have read your meaning wrong)…
    ‘All the Democrats are doing is leaving the hard political work to the media. ‘

    The media share as much ( maybe more) blame in the pathetic spectacle of American politics today as the Democratic Party does…that is just a fact.

    I am not sure why you would think any thing that comes out of Chuck Schumer’s mouth has any weight, he is a fucking idiot, who probably did more to cost the Dems the election than any other single person (apart from Hillary)……
    “For every blue-collar Democrat we lose in western Pennsylvania, we will pick up two moderate Republicans in the suburbs in Philadelphia, and you can repeat that in Ohio and Illinois and Wisconsin.”
    https://theintercept.com/2016/11/14/chuck-schumer-the-worst-possible-democratic-leader-at-the-worst-possible-time/

    As usual Chomsky unpacks American/Western politics concisely, with some good points about the Democratic party that relate to this post….

    On Contact: Noam Chomsky – Part I

    On Contact: Noam Chomsky – Part II

    • Adrian Thornton 6.1
      26 July 2017 at 11:12 am

      Sorry wrong first clip up there, although ironically enough it works just as well in this conversation on the death of the DNC as a viable progressive party, which is really what this is all about.

      The interview is a excellent one with Eugene Puryear, American activist and author on the US prison industrial complex, which as we all know, really got going in the modern sense under Bill Clinton and the Democrats…well worth viewing.

  7. Gabby 7
    26 July 2017 at 10:41 am

    Why would they want to get mixed up in the reblubbiblub shitstorm? Let them get on with chewing one another’s legs off for the next40 months.

    • dukeofurl 7.1
      26 July 2017 at 10:50 am

      The next election round is in 18 months. It wont be for the office of President but will be a read as a sign of the publics regards for Trump .

      • Gabby 7.1.1
        26 July 2017 at 11:05 am

        I’m guessing there’s all sorts of stuff going on at State level that we don’t hear about. Candidates notoriously spend most of their time begging for donations.

    • popexplosion 7.2
      26 July 2017 at 11:48 am

      Yeah who would want to get in between that shit storm. Obviously that’s the whole purpose of the trumpfad for noise and invective. Keeps everyone bedazzled and unsure. Secondly, Trump gone means Pence presidency. Third, democrats are split some like the voter backlash as cizitens realize Congress run by republicians passed Obama care broken and now have to fix it, so sit back and watch the shit storm as trump promised to fix it!!!!

  8. Draco T Bastard 8
    26 July 2017 at 3:34 pm

    He also ignored Russia violations of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (while simultaneously negotiating new START).

    Allegations of Russian Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty Violations—Where’s the Beef?

    Arms control critics frequently charge that the Russians are violating previous agreements. Often these charges are made with little or weak evidence, as with the current claim that Russia has violated the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. On examination, this claim has no basis.

    • dukeofurl 8.1
      26 July 2017 at 3:45 pm

      The USA is the biggest violator of the INF treaty as its armed drones come under the category of ‘cruise missile’ and ‘weapons delivery vehicle’
      Hence the reason these drone strikes are ‘official secrets’ never to be mentioned in open communications by high officials, you can read about it in any major US newspaper or TV source.

      INF Treaty definitions
      The term “cruise missile” means an unmanned, self-propelled vehicle that sustains flight through the use of aerodynamic lift over most of its flight path. The term “ground-launched cruise missile (GLCM)” means a ground-launched cruise missile that is a weapon-delivery vehicle.

      • Draco T Bastard 8.1.1
        26 July 2017 at 4:06 pm

        I consider the INF treaty as rather silly. I really can’t see the point in banning intermediate range missiles when the longer range missiles can also reach intermediate range.

        • dukeofurl 8.1.1.1
          26 July 2017 at 5:52 pm

          Well it did mean the Tomahawk and Pershing missiles were removed from Europe and Pershing dropped from inventory completely. The Tomahawk remained in sea and air launched versions.

          I think the main result was the ground launched bases in Europe where seen as first strike targets. So it was those bases were the issue rather than the targets, which as you said can be hit by other means

  9. francesca 9
    26 July 2017 at 5:08 pm

    For a start , Russia wasn’t the aggressor in Georgia
    Saakashvilli, encouraged by the Americans, launched the war by attacking and killing the Russian peacekeepers in South Ossetia.
    The Americans left Saakashvili high and dry,Russia went in , beat the Georgians off and rather than carry on to Tbilisi withdrew

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/sep/30/georgia-attacks-unjustifiable-eu

    Pointing out that little fact gets me called a Putin lover, I know, I can live with it

    The Democrats are like the tarbaby with the Russian thing now, they have pinned all their hopes on it and its not working, but the loss of face admitting its all bullshit would crucify them.They’re stuck with it and can’t move on

    http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-07-24/nsa-officials-and-computer-expert-forensic-evidence-proves-dnc-emails-were-leaked-no

    an interesting take on Russiagate, letter to Trump from ex US intelligence agents on independent forensic study of the 2 DNC tranches of information
    Leaks, not hacks with pretty compelling evidence if accurate

    • Ad 9.1
      26 July 2017 at 6:11 pm

      I wouldn’t dare to know the whole truth about a war.
      That looked like a really interesting report on the Georgia situation.

      It’ is going to take incredible resolve for the Democrats to generate a message of renewal and hope against a prevailing media tide of obsession with Trump and Russia.

      Who knows, perhaps we are consigned not to see a social democrat government again in the English speaking world for another decade. It’s just freaking sad to see it in the U.S.

    • Psycho Milt 9.2
      26 July 2017 at 6:55 pm

      Pointing out that little fact gets me called a Putin lover, I know, I can live with it

      Given that your “fact” needs quote marks around it, I’d say anyone calling you a Putin lover is onto something.

      From your linked article:

      The Russians had moved mercenaries and paramilitary forces into South Ossetia in apparent preparation for armed hostilities before Saakashvili’s disastrous offensive…

      The secession of South Ossetia and Abkhazia from Georgia was branded illegal and Russian recognition of the two “states” in breach of international law.The report found that Moscow had been assiduously preparing the secession by, among other things, a policy of “passportification”, illegally distributing Russian passports on a mass scale among the breakaway populations.

      Later to become familiar territory in the much-better-publicised cases of Crimea and Donbas. Lucky the people running Ukraine were smarter than Saakashvili, I guess.

  10. Morrissey 10
    27 July 2017 at 12:42 pm

    Bewildered MSNBC hack runs up against Glenn Greenwald

    You almost have to feel sorry for this fool….

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7lHOenYlhA

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  • World-leading family harm prevention campaign supports young NZers
    Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Priyanca Radhakrishnan has today launched the Love Better campaign in a world-leading approach to family harm prevention. Love Better will initially support young people through their experience of break-ups, developing positive and life-long attitudes to dealing with hurt. “Over 1,200 young kiwis told ...
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    2 hours ago

  • First Chief Clinical Advisor welcomed into Coroners Court
    Hon Rino Tirikatene, Minister for Courts, welcomes the Ministry of Justice’s appointment of Dr Garry Clearwater as New Zealand’s first Chief Clinical Advisor working with the Coroners Court. “This appointment is significant for the Coroners Court and New Zealand’s wider coronial system.” Minister Tirikatene said. Through Budget 2022, the Government ...
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    2 hours ago

  • Next steps for affected properties post Cyclone and floods
    The Government via the Cyclone Taskforce is working with local government and insurance companies to build a picture of high-risk areas following Cyclone Gabrielle and January floods. “The Taskforce, led by Sir Brian Roche, has been working with insurance companies to undertake an assessment of high-risk areas so we can ...
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    2 hours ago

  • New appointment to Māori Land Court bench
    E te huia kaimanawa, ko Ngāpuhi e whakahari ana i tau aupikinga ki te tihi o te maunga. Ko te Ao Māori hoki e whakanui ana i a koe te whakaihu waka o te reo Māori i roto i te Ao Ture. (To the prized treasure, it is Ngāpuhi who ...
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    6 hours ago

  • Government focus on jobs sees record number of New Zealanders move from Benefits into work
    113,400 exits into work in the year to June 2022 Young people are moving off Benefit faster than after the Global Financial Crisis Two reports released today by the Ministry of Social Development show the Government’s investment in the COVID-19 response helped drive record numbers of people off Benefits and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • Vertical farming partnership has upward momentum
    The Government’s priority to keep New Zealand at the cutting edge of food production and lift our sustainability credentials continues by backing the next steps of a hi-tech vertical farming venture that uses up to 95 per cent less water, is climate resilient, and pesticide-free. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor visited ...
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    23 hours ago

  • Conference of Pacific Education Ministers – Keynote Address
    E nga mana, e nga iwi, e nga reo, e nga hau e wha, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou kātoa. Warm Pacific greetings to all. It is an honour to host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers here in Tāmaki Makaurau. Aotearoa is delighted to be hosting you ...
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    1 day ago

  • New $13m renal unit supports Taranaki patients
    The new renal unit at Taranaki Base Hospital has been officially opened by the Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall this afternoon. Te Huhi Raupō received around $13 million in government funding as part of Project Maunga Stage 2, the redevelopment of the Taranaki Base Hospital campus. “It’s an honour ...
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    1 day ago

  • Second Poseidon aircraft on home soil
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has marked the arrival of the country’s second P-8A Poseidon aircraft alongside personnel at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Base at Ohakea today. “With two of the four P-8A Poseidons now on home soil this marks another significant milestone in the Government’s historic investment in ...
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    1 day ago

  • Further humanitarian aid for Türkiye and Syria
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide further humanitarian support to those seriously affected by last month’s deadly earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, says Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta. “The 6 February earthquakes have had devastating consequences, with almost 18 million people affected. More than 53,000 people have died and tens of thousands more ...
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    1 day ago

  • Community voice to help shape immigration policy
    Migrant communities across New Zealand are represented in the new Migrant Community Reference Group that will help shape immigration policy going forward, Immigration Minister Michael Wood announced today.  “Since becoming Minister, a reoccurring message I have heard from migrants is the feeling their voice has often been missing around policy ...
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    1 day ago

  • State Highway 3 project to deliver safer journeys, better travel connections for Taranaki
    Construction has begun on major works that will deliver significant safety improvements on State Highway 3 from Waitara to Bell Block, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan announced today. “This is an important route for communities, freight and visitors to Taranaki but too many people have lost their lives or ...
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    1 day ago

  • Ginny Andersen appointed as Minister of Police
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has today appointed Ginny Andersen as Minister of Police. “Ginny Andersen has a strong and relevant background in this important portfolio,” Chris Hipkins said. “Ginny Andersen worked for the Police as a non-sworn staff member for around 10 years and has more recently been chair of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government confirms vital roading reconnections
    Six further bailey bridge sites confirmed Four additional bridge sites under consideration 91 per cent of damaged state highways reopened Recovery Dashboards for impacted regions released The Government has responded quickly to restore lifeline routes after Cyclone Gabrielle and can today confirm that an additional six bailey bridges will ...
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    2 days ago

  • Foreign Minister Mahuta to meet with China’s new Foreign Minister
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta departs for China tomorrow, where she will meet with her counterpart, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, in Beijing. This will be the first visit by a New Zealand Minister to China since 2019, and follows the easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions between New Zealand and China. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Education Ministers from across the Pacific gather in Aotearoa
    Education Ministers from across the Pacific will gather in Tāmaki Makaurau this week to share their collective knowledge and strategic vision, for the benefit of ākonga across the region. New Zealand Education Minister Jan Tinetti will host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers (CPEM) for three days from today, ...
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    2 days ago

  • State Highway 5 reopens between Napier and Taupō following Cyclone Gabrielle
    A vital transport link for communities and local businesses has been restored following Cyclone Gabrielle with the reopening of State Highway 5 (SH5) between Napier and Taupō, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan says. SH5 reopened to all traffic between 7am and 7pm from today, with closure points at SH2 (Kaimata ...
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    2 days ago

  • Special Lotto draw raises $11.7 million for Cyclone Gabrielle recovery
    Internal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds has thanked generous New Zealanders who took part in the special Lotto draw for communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. Held on Saturday night, the draw raised $11.7 million with half of all ticket sales going towards recovery efforts. “In a time of need, New Zealanders ...
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    3 days ago

  • Government delivers a $3 million funding boost for Building Financial Capability services
    The Government has announced funding of $3 million for providers to help people, and whānau access community-based Building Financial Capability services. “Demand for Financial Capability Services is growing as people face cost of living pressures. Those pressures are increasing further in areas affected by flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle,” Minister for ...
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    5 days ago

  • Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao – new Chair and member
    Minister of Education, Hon Jan Tinetti, has announced appointments to the Board of Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao. Tracey Bridges is joining the Board as the new Chair and Dr Therese Arseneau will be a new member. Current members Dr Linda Sissons CNZM and Daniel Wilson have ...
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    5 days ago

  • Scholarships honouring Ngarimu VC and the 28th (Māori) Battalion announced
    Fifteen ākonga Māori from across Aotearoa have been awarded the prestigious Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships and Awards for 2023, Associate Education Minister and Ngarimu Board Chair, Kelvin Davis announced today.  The recipients include doctoral, masters’ and undergraduate students. Three vocational training students and five wharekura students, ...
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    5 days ago

  • Appointment of Judge of the Court of Appeal and Judge of the High Court
    High Court Judge Jillian Maree Mallon has been appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal, and District Court Judge Andrew John Becroft QSO has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General David Parker announced today. Justice Mallon graduated from Otago University in 1988 with an LLB (Hons), and with ...
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    5 days ago

  • NZ still well placed to meet global challenges
    The economy has continued to show its resilience despite today’s GDP figures showing a modest decline in the December quarter, leaving the Government well positioned to help New Zealanders face cost of living pressures in a challenging global environment. “The economy had grown strongly in the two quarters before this ...
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    5 days ago

  • Western Ring Route Complete
    Aucklanders now have more ways to get around as Transport Minister Michael Wood opened the direct State Highway 1 (SH1) to State Highway 18 (SH18) underpass today, marking the completion of the 48-kilometre Western Ring Route (WRR). “The Government is upgrading New Zealand’s transport system to make it safer, more ...
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    5 days ago

  • Briefings to Incoming Ministers
    This section contains briefings received by incoming ministers following changes to Cabinet in January. Some information may have been withheld in accordance with the Official Information Act 1982. Where information has been withheld that is indicated within the document. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Teaming up for a stronger, more resilient Fiji
    Aotearoa New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta reaffirmed her commitment to working together with the new Government of Fiji on issues of shared importance, including on the prioritisation of climate change and sustainability, at a meeting today, in Nadi. Fiji and Aotearoa New Zealand’s close relationship is underpinned by the Duavata ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Investment in blue highway a lifeline for regional economies and cyclone recovery
    The Government is delivering a coastal shipping lifeline for businesses, residents and the primary sector in the cyclone-stricken regions of Hawkes Bay and Tairāwhiti, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan announced today. The Rangitata vessel has been chartered for an emergency coastal shipping route between Gisborne and Napier, with potential for ...
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    6 days ago

  • Next steps developing clean energy for NZ
    The Government will progress to the next stage of the NZ Battery Project, looking at the viability of pumped hydro as well as an alternative, multi-technology approach as part of the Government’s long term-plan to build a resilient, affordable, secure and decarbonised energy system in New Zealand, Energy and Resources ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Statement from the Prime Minister on Stuart Nash
    This morning I was made aware of a media interview in which Minister Stuart Nash criticised a decision of the Court and said he had contacted the Police Commissioner to suggest the Police appeal the decision. The phone call took place in 2021 when he was not the Police Minister. ...
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    1 week ago

  • CPTPP Trade Ministers coming to Auckland
    The Government’s sharp focus on trade continues with Aotearoa New Zealand set to host Trade Ministers and delegations from 10 Asia Pacific economies at a meeting of Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Commission members in July, Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O’Connor announced today. “New Zealand ...
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    1 week ago

  • Govt approves $25 million extension for cyclone-affected businesses
    $25 million boost to support more businesses with clean-up in cyclone affected regions, taking total business support to more than $50 million Demand for grants has been strong, with estimates showing applications will exceed the initial $25 million business support package Grants of up to a maximum of $40,000 per ...
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    1 week ago

  • More than 160,000 new Kiwis to call NZ home
    80 per cent of 2021 Resident Visas applications have been processed – three months ahead of schedule Residence granted to 160,000 people 84,000 of 85,000 applications have been approved Over 160,000 people have become New Zealand residents now that 80 per cent of 2021 Resident Visa (2021RV) applications have been ...
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    1 week ago

  • Scholarships propel Kiwi students to NASA
    The Government continues to invest in New Zealand’s burgeoning space industry, today announcing five scholarships for Kiwi Students to undertake internships at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California. Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash congratulated Michaela Dobson (University of Auckland), Leah Albrow (University of Canterbury) and Jack Naish, Celine Jane ...
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    1 week ago

  • New Zealand to attend regional security meeting in Australia
    The Lead Coordination Minister for the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission’s Report into the Terrorist Attack on the Christchurch Mosques travels to Melbourne, Australia today to represent New Zealand at the fourth Sub-Regional Meeting on Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Security. “The Government is committed to reducing the threat of terrorism ...
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    1 week ago

  • Health and safety action plan for ports
    The health and safety practices at our nation’s ports will be improved as part of a new industry-wide action plan, Workplace Relations and Safety, and Transport Minister Michael Wood has announced. “Following the tragic death of two port workers in Auckland and Lyttelton last year, I asked the Port Health ...
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    1 week ago

  • Bikes and scooters to be exempt from FBT
    Bikes, electric bikes and scooters will be added to the types of transport exempted from fringe benefit tax under changes proposed today. Revenue Minister David Parker said the change would allow bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, electric scooters, and micro-mobility share services to be exempt from fringe benefit tax where they ...
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    1 week ago

  • Foreign Affairs Minister to reaffirm our close relationship with Fiji
    Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta will hold bilateral meetings with Fiji this week. The visit will be her first to the country since the election of the new coalition Government led by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sitiveni Rabuka. The visit will be an opportunity to meet kanohi ki ...
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    1 week ago

  • New legislation to streamline Cyclone recovery
    The Government is introducing the Severe Weather Emergency Legislation Bill to ensure the recovery and rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle is streamlined and efficient with unnecessary red tape removed. The legislation is similar to legislation passed following the Christchurch and Kaikōura earthquakes that modifies existing legislation in order to remove constraints ...
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    1 week ago

  • Cost of living package: More bread and butter support for Kiwi families
    Approximately 1.4 million people will benefit from increases to rates and thresholds for social assistance to help with the cost of living Superannuation to increase by over $100 a pay for a couple Main benefits to increase by the rate of inflation, meaning a family on a benefit with children ...
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    1 week ago

  • Freeing up more government bandwidth and money to focus on the cost of living
    $1 billion in savings which will be reallocated to support New Zealanders with the cost of living A range of transport programmes deferred so Waka Kotahi can focus on post Cyclone road recovery Speed limit reduction programme significantly narrowed to focus on the most dangerous one per cent of state ...
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    1 week ago

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