Mike Miller:
As the debate rages over the CIA assessment that Russia tried to tip the presidential election in Donald Trump’s favor, a retired Army intelligence officer is asking perhaps the key logical question.
What would Vladimir Putin and Russia gain by having Trump in the White House?
During an interview on WMAL in Washington, D.C., retired Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer suggested that a bit of logic is in order as the debate continues.
“The Russians would not benefit from a President Trump. There’s no upside for a President Trump in the Russian influence in the world.”
“Why would you want to change running the table with Hillary Clinton in charge, picking up where President Obama” [left off]?
Shaffer was mostly likely alluding to Russia’s annexation of Crimea, continued aggression against Ukraine, and Putin’s involvement in Syria—all of which President Barack “Red Line” Obama has done little more about than make sternly-worded statements.
The Bronze Star recipient, who focused on foreign intelligence during much of his 30-year career, said he’s talked with former CIA officials and believes that the spy agency’s motive, particularly that of Director John Brennan, is purely political.
“This is purely political, and I believe that John Brennan is a political animal. Everything they are telling me is Brennan is doing this out of loyalty to President Obama.
It’s about undermining Trump, that’s what it is. It’s called information operations, information warfare, and that’s what I believe is going on.”
Former CIA head Michael Morrell disagrees, calling the CIA conclusion “the equivalent of a political 9/11,” adding that “a foreign government messing around in our elections is an existential threat to our way of life.”
Then again, Morell was believed to be on the short list of candidates under consideration for CIA Director should Hillary have won the election.
