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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Terrible Cost of Trump's Disclosures
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/05/the-terrible-cost-of-trumps-disclosures/526818/?utm_source=feedThe Terrible Cost of Trump's Disclosures
The consequences of the presidents reported divulgence of top-secret codeword information to the Russians are only beginning.
Eliot A. Cohen May 15, 2017 Politics
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To a remarkable degree, the United States relies on liaison relationships with other powers with whom it shares information. If Trump has indeed compromised a source of information, it is not merely a betrayal of an allys trust: It is an act that will jeopardize a whole range of relationships. After all, the Director of Central Intelligence cannot very well say, Dont worry, we wont share that with the president. So now everybodyeven our closest allies like the United Kingdomwould be well-advised to be careful with what they share with us. That is a potential intelligence debacle for us, but the danger goes beyond that. If any foreign government harbored lingering illusions about the administrations ability to protect any information, including sensitive but non-intelligence matters like future foreign-policy initiatives or military deployments, they no longer do. They will be even more apprehensive about sharing sensitive information of any kind because
He gave it to the Russians. In the Oval Office. In a fit of braggadocio.
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The corruption has begun.
In the wake of the Post story, the White Househoping, presumably, to avoid another Comey-firing publicity debacletrotted out three reasonably sane, responsible, experienced adults to vouch for the Presidents story. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Deputy National Security Adviser Dina Powell, and National Security Adviser Lieutenant General H. R. McMaster made public statements calling the story false, giving different variants of this argument: The President did not disclose sources and methods for intelligence gathering, or future military operations.
Well, of course not. That is not what the Post said in its story: It said that he divulged intelligence. And since it seems likely that the Russians captured all of the conversationthey were allowed to bring their electronics into the room, including the only video cameras, the American press having been excludedthey undoubtedly got all of it. And you bet that their analysts are even now chuckling as they figure out what the sources were.
But that is not the half of it. Tillerson casually said of Trump in an interview on Meet the Press on Sunday I have to earn his confidence every day. One does not earn Donald Trumps confidence by calmly conveying to him some unpleasant but essential truths. Rather, one earns his confidence by truckling to him, and by lying to everyone else. Now, what Tillerson, Powell, and McMaster said are not quite lies, but they are the kind of parsed half truths that are as bad, and in some cases worse. This is how ones reputation for veracity is infected by the virulent moral bacteria that cover Donald Trump. Friends will watch, pained and incredulous, as they realize that one simply cannot assume that anything these senior subordinates of the president say is the truth. And having stretched, manipulated, or artfully misrepresented the truth once, these officials will do it again and again. They will be particularly surprised when they learn that most people assume that as trusted subordinates of the president, they lie not as colorfully as he does, but just as routinely. Perhaps the worst will be the moment when these high officials can no longer recognize their own characters for what they once were.
One can be certain that (metaphorically speaking) at this very moment ice picks are sliding into unsuspecting kidneys in the White House. No doubt the president is raging at the cowed subordinates who have to cover yet again for his folly and grandiosity; no doubt that some subordinates see this as an opportunity to settle scores, undermine rivals, and curry favor. It is probably a fascinating if odious spectacle.
What will be of lasting importance, and the only possibly redemptive part of this wretched tale, is if it motivates some Republican legislators to take a stand against their own party and for the law and the Constitution. If Trump nominates any kind of Republican political figure, no matter what their previous record, as FBI director, they must oppose it. They should denounce his misconduct for what it is. And all of us should begin contemplating the conditions under whichnot now, maybe not even a year from nowthe constitutional remedies for dealing with a president utterly incapable of fulfilling his duties with elementary probity and competence will have to be implemented.
vlyons
(10,252 posts)I shall use that. Very apt.
Ligyron
(7,644 posts)annabanana
(52,791 posts)Unfortunately, it's all too easy to imagine what all his apologists will say. Until he comes out himself and says "Yeah, I did.. So what?"
dalton99a
(81,673 posts)SunSeeker
(51,787 posts)BumRushDaShow
(129,881 posts)He's already started tweeting bright and early at 7 am this morning defending his "right" to do what he did.
He's basically daring the cowards to take him down.
Butterflylady
(3,555 posts)going to realize, he owes his loyalty to his party and it's not the to the republican party.
perdita9
(1,144 posts)None of them is safe with Trump in the Oval Office.
These people risk everything for America. I can't believe how far America has fallen.
catbyte
(34,514 posts)The corruption began long before last week. But so did the treason, so never mind, I guess.
cab67
(3,010 posts)He won't resign, but that's not the point - the world has to see that Congress is willing to act as an independent branch of government.
Madam45for2923
(7,178 posts)Ligyron
(7,644 posts)Flat out unable to take it anymore.
After all, people need a future after Trump right?
You'd think Mcmaster might, at some point, resign his commission realizing that his first duty as a soldier is to defend the Constitution and not some egotistical gas bag with a history of hanging his underlings out to dry.
Maybe honor, even among thieves is too much to expect.
bora13
(860 posts)Feel great again yet?
Soxfan58
(3,479 posts)A loan payment?
IronLionZion
(45,615 posts)and just feed him bullshit in his briefings.
They've already been making accusations of the deep state, so why not?