“Russian Roulette” by Michael Isikoff and David Corn is a must-read if you want a clearer picture of the relationship between President Trump’s campaign, the Trump organization and Russia. It painstakingly points out the myriad relations and meetings between Trump’s people and Russians with close ties to Vladimir Putin.
According to the book, at least 13 individuals within the Trump election campaign and the Trump organization had meetings and/or business dealings with Russians. Some were with Russian officials and many with the oligarchs who have helped make Putin, reportedly, one of the richest people on earth. In many cases these 13 neglected to inform officials of these meetings and relationships and actually lied about them.
One important factor is that this was brought about, in part, by Putin’s re-instigation of the Cold War, a confrontation we were unprepared for but should have seen coming. We prepare for every war in the manner the last war was fought. This is a different kind of warfare, and we are behind in the game.
The Gerasimov Doctrine was spelled out in 2013 by the chief of staff of Russia’s armed forces, in a Russian military journal. It was a proposal for a new type of warfare that made the internet as much a priority as troops and missiles. Valery Gerasimov wrote, “The role of nonmilitary means of achieving political and strategic goals has grown, and, in many cases, they have exceeded the force of weapons in their effectiveness.”
After the 2016 election was well under way, it became obvious to America’s intelligence community that Russia was putting forth a considerable effort to intervene in our presidential election. But even after then-candidate Trump was briefed on this, he refused to accept it and began his battle with the intelligence agencies. To accept such a fact meant this extremely narcissistic individual would have to admit there is a chance he did not win the presidency all by himself.
But the odds that the Russian efforts may have impacted the outcome are considerable — when you realize the vast amount of misinformation and attacks spawned by Russian operatives and the incredibly large number of Americans who viewed them. Keep in mind how few votes in three key states gave Trump the Electoral College victory.
That the Russian assault took place is now incontrovertible. That Putin ordered it is all but confirmed. Why Trump refuses to accept the fact and continues to praise the Russian despot remains an unanswered riddle.
Just how deeply the Trump organization is tied into Russian financing has yet to be determined, but we do know that American banks turned off the spigot, refusing to loan further funds to the organization. We know that organization turned to questionable sources, especially foreign banks with clear ties to Putin’s oligarch friends. Are there more as-yet-undiscovered ties between Trump and the Russians? We may never know.
Will the Mueller investigation lead to impeachment proceedings against the president? I doubt it. Greed and stupidity among Trump’s campaign staff, his family and his business organization are not likely enough to warrant impeachment. There are other important questions to consider. First and foremost is how will the U.S. prepare for and respond to these new cold war strategies and tactics? Are we too vulnerable with our infrastructure’s reliance on the electronic grid? Can the American voter learn to discern news from propagandized misinformation? Let us hope so. Let us all hope and pray that there was no collusion and that the President is nothing more than what Russia calls a “useful idiot.”
Michael Adkins is the former chair of the Hancock County Democratic Party. He lives in Greenfield. Send comments to [email protected].
