Putin Ordered "Influence Campaign" To Help Trump, U.S. Intelligence Report Says

[red dog 1]

NPR
January 6,2017
5:15 PM (ET)


The public version of the intelligence report on the investigation into Russia's interference in the U.S. elections concludes that Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin personally ordered the "influence campaign."

"Russia's goals were to undermine public faith in the U.S. democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency," the report states.
"We further assess Putin and the Russian Government developed a clear preference for President-elect Trump."

Here are some of the report's key findings:

- Putin and the Russian Government "conspired to help President-elect Trump's election chances when possible by discrediting Secretary Clinton and publicly contrasting her unfavorably to him"

- The report states that Putin's motivation to discredit Clinton was at least partially personal.
It says he "publicly blamed her since 2011 for inciting mass protests against his regime in late 2011 and early 2012, and because he holds a grudge for comments he almost certainly saw as disparaging him."

- Russian intelligence "conducted cyber operations against targets associated with the 2016 US presidential election, including targets associated with both major US political parties."
This included primary campaigns, think tanks and lobbying groups.

- The report asserts with "high confidence" that Russia'a General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate "relayed material it acquired from the Democratic National Committee and senior Democratic officials to Wikileaks."

More:
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-wat/2017/01/06/508568241/putin-ordered-influence-campaign-to-help-trump-u-s-intelligence-report-says

[triron]

1. This has been clear for some time

[red dog 1]

2. Then why didn't Obama do something about it?

If, as you say, "this has been clear for some time." (and I'm not disagreeing with you)

Russia, essentially, "attacked" the United States, right?

Why did Obama just sit there & let it happen?

Why did he wait so long to take ANY action?

[2naSalit]

3. Gun to the head?

[MoonRiver]

4. Exactly what was he supposed to do?

This is much bigger than Obama and his limited powers.

[red dog 1]

5. Well, since it was an "attack on the United States" by a foreign power"

he could have taken action as Commander-in Chief.

1) He could have suspended the election results pending an immediate FBI/CIA/NSA/DHS investigation

2) He could have called for an immediate response to the attack by Russia, whatever that might entail

3) He certainly could have contacted Secretary Clinton to ask her to NOT concede the election, pending the results of the investigations

There are MANY things he could have done!

But what did he do?

Nothing..except to call Hillary at 3 AM November 9 to suggest that she concede the election.


"This is much bigger than Obama and his limited powers"??

I don't think so!

[NCTraveler]

6. 1) He could not have.

2) we don't know what he did.

3) Why? Losing twice at Obamas advice would look really foolish.

I do agree there were are plent of options available to the President in this situation.

[mosie214]

7. Obama couldn't do much

I think we are all frustrated that Obama didn't do anything as far as we know; but what if he had done something; wouldn't the other side have said he was trying to influence the election in Hilary's favour? I see him as being in a no win situation.