Salon Magazine Interview – “Corruption like we’ve never seen before”

03.12.2018 5:00 AM

The cauldron that is the Russia scandal and its related tendrils — including possible money laundering and likely obstruction of justice — has boiled over. In recent weeks it has been revealed that Robert Mueller is investigating a secret meeting between Trump ally Erik Prince and a Russian contact in the Seychelles, additional charges have been added to Paul Manafort and Rick Gates’ indictments, 13 Russians and various American assets have been indicted for interfering in the 2016 presidential election, and Donald Trump has engaged in what looks like witness tampering. Adding to this imbroglio, adult film star Stormy Daniels, who was apparently paid $130,000 in hush money by Trump’s personal attorney, is threatening to reveal intimate photos and other evidence of her affair with the president.

Trump and his associates are not acting like innocent people. Their behavior suggests a deep level of culpability in reference to the 2016 presidential election as well as the other illegal behavior that Mueller has already and will continue to uncover.

What does this new information suggest about Mueller’s investigation into Trump and his inner circle? What of the claim by Trump’s defenders that he is a victim of a plot” by the so-called Deep State? Has the success of Russia’s efforts to undermine American democracy been overstated? Is China, rather than Russia the true beneficiary of Trump’s foreign policy and other failures?

In an effort to answer these questions I recently spoke with Melvin Goodman. He was an intelligence analyst at the CIA for 24 years, specializing in relations between the United States and Russia. Goodman is the author of several books including his most recent, “Whistleblower at the CIA.”

This conversation has been edited for clarity and length. A longer version of this conversation can also be heard on my podcast.

Given your four decades of experience as an intelligence analyst with the CIA, and your work with the State Department and other agencies, how do you view the Russia scandal and Donald Trump?

…. read the full article at Salon

 

Recent News and Latest Book

The Atlantic Joins the Chorus of Fear

One of the lessons of the Cold War should have been the danger of exaggerating the threat or key adversaries in order to avoid the great cost of unnecessary military buildups.  We spent unnecessarily against a Soviet “threat” that was hyped beyond reality.  Politicians and pundits alike are failing to actually assess the the threat or the adversary, which is contributing to budget deficits and heightened fears.  More time should be devoted to the study of diplomatic history in order to examine precedents for improving bilateral relations.  Fear is driving us toward arms races; diplomacy could drive us to arms control and disarmament as well as a more stable international environment.

Two Wars, Five Losing Nations

The United States, complicit in Israel’s genocidal actions and sending conflicting signals regarding Ukraine and Gaza, is also losing in terms of influence and standing.  The international community understands the hypocrisy of the Biden administration that condemns the terrorism of Russia but allows the terrorism of Israel.  The United States has been Israel’s political shield on the global stage for the past 75 years.  A New York Times editorial on Monday continued to support Biden’s most recent veto of a Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

Containing the National Security State

Containing the National Security State