Kremlin-Linked Firm Invested Millions.

[Duppers]

A Kremlin-Linked Firm Invested Millions in Kentucky. Were They After More Than Money?

Rusal, the Russian aluminum giant, was tailor-made to join forces on the project. But it was under sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury Department. Its billionaire owner, Oleg Deripaska, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s, was being investigated by special counsel Robert Mueller for his potential involvement in the effort to swing the 2016 presidential election. The Treasury sanctions—punishment for the Kremlin’s “malign activities” around the world, including “attempting to subvert Western democracies”—made it illegal for Americans to do business with Rusal or its boss.
....

But to some observers, the story of how a Kremlin-linked aluminum giant offered an economic lifeline to Appalachia is an object lesson of the exact opposite. Critics of the deal, both Democrat and Republican, say it gives Moscow political influence that could undermine national security. Pointing to Moscow’s use of economic leverage to sway European politics, they warn the deal is a stalking horse for a new kind of Russian meddling in America, one that exploits the U.S. free-market system instead of its elections. “That’s just what the Russians do,” says veteran diplomat Daniel Fried, who shaped U.S. policy on Eastern Europe at the State Department from the late 1980s until 2017. “They insert themselves into a foreign economy and then start to influence its politics from the inside.”

What worries national-security experts is not that Rusal, Braidy or Deripaska broke any laws in the deal. It’s that they didn’t. A TIME investigation found that Rusal used a broad array of political and economic tools to fight the sanctions, establishing a foothold in U.S. politics in the process. “You cannot go against them in a policy decision, even though it’s in our national interest, when they have infiltrated you economically,” says Heather Conley, who served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State under President George W. Bush. “They use our laws, our rules, our banks, our lawyers, our lobbyists—it’s a strategy from within.”

To free itself from sanctions, Rusal fielded a team of high-paid lobbyists for an intense, months-long effort in Washington. One of the targets was Kentucky’s own Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, who helped thwart a bipartisan push to keep the sanctions in place. Since May, two of McConnell’s former staffers have lobbied Congress on behalf of Braidy, according to filings. Ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, one of Rusal’s longtime major shareholders, Len Blavatnik, contributed more than $1 million through his companies to a GOP campaign fund tied to McConnell.

https://time.com/5651345/rusal-investment-braidy-kentucky/?amp=true

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It was difficult to pick just four paragraphs from this long article but these give you an idea of how intriguing this whole deal is. Is this just about making Deripaska more money or is this about Russia's manipulation and control? Or both? A most interesting article.

[Duppers]

1. Related graphic

[Captain Zero]

11. Last sentence: Braidy Will Also Apply for Funding from the Department of Energy

to offset the building costs.

So taxpayers in other states are going to be forced to join in funding a Russian foreign operation to insert themselves into the economy and politics of MoscowMitch's state? Nice. I'm sure Trump and his Secretary of DOE will sign off on that, eh? If the oligarch gets 40% of the operation for his 200 million then Braidy is just a front operation to rob the DOE for the rest?

[gordianot]

2. What does self serving Republican racism, corruption and neglect get you besides poverty?

In the case of the deep red South you are on the auction block and are too ignorant to know it.

[Lonestarblue]

3. I keep remembering Khrushchev's boast.

“We do not have to invade the United States, we will destroy you from within.”

It’s my opinion that Putin is the most dangerous and devious man in the world. He is using cyber warfare and extensive disinformation campaigns in many countries that are having the impact he wants, which is destabilization of their governments and unrest among citizens. Putin has formed economic ties with China, which now buys more of Russia’s oil than any other country, and he seems to be on very good terms with Saudi Arabia’s MBS.

Putin is very good at planning ahead and taking a long view. By bailing Trump out of his bankruptcy mess and allowing him to maintain his wealthy lifestyle, Putin and his oligarchs gained access to a money laundering machine that allowed them to move their ill-gotten wealth out of Russia. Trump is Putin’s puppet, and much of what he has done as president has accomplished part of Putin’s goal of destabilizing western democracy. Brexit is another accomplishment, and Putin has supported far-right white nationalists in France and I think Italy also.

In addition to Trump, Putin seems to have Moscow Mitch under his influence and probably many more in the Republican Party and certainly some in the NRA. We should all be frightened that Russia has infiltrated our government and is now infiltrating our economic system. When Democrats retake control of the government, they need to do an extensive investigation of all Russia connections and get rid of anyone in government who is a Putin stooge.

[Dustlawyer]

6. Never forget that the Russians stole the RNC's emails too!

The media has forgotten this.

[shanti]

9. This line of the story stood out to me:

“You cannot go against them in a policy decision, even though it’s in our national interest, when they have infiltrated you economically,” says Heather Conley, who served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State under President George W. Bush. “They use our laws, our rules, our banks, our lawyers, our lobbyists—it’s a strategy from within.”

Putin was a former KGB agent who now runs his country should give one pause. He knows EVERYTHING, especially how to manipulate foreign countries, and he appears to be succeeding. That McConnell so willingly sold us out gives me the willies.

[Hortensis]

12. THIS! Russia is waging war on us.

Better assume someone over there read Sun Tsu and adapted tactics to the 21st century. Imagine the U.S. taking a combination of hits that brought our vastly interconnected and disruptable systems down like the Twin Towers. That's what Russia does in weak nations.

When Russia has gotten both the Republican Senator Majority Leader and the President collaborating in order to keep and consolidate RW power, I think it's time to realize it might really be possible.

[Perseus]

4. "Is this just about making Deripaska more money or is this about Russia's manipulation and control?"

Control and infiltration...this is what happened in Venezuela with Cubans.

Traitor Moscow-Mitch and all the Kentucky politicians in favour of this, and that includes some Democrats, may not realize they have opened the door for Putin to start moving his spies in, they don't care about the $200 million they invested, this is not about making money as much as it is moving GRU people inside the country, I am sure the creature is happy with they arrangement.

Putin's goal is to destroy the USA and republicans are complicit, make no mistake about it. I don't know if its greed or kompromise that is keeping republicans aiding and abating the Russians.

[Owens]

5. It will be a Spy Agency

Does anyone really believe it's a going to be an Aluminum Plant? It's a front for a spy agency and hackers.

[Captain Zero]

13. eastern kentucky a good place to hide that

within the operation of said Aluminum plant. They are opportunists, and if WE can think of using it that way, they already have done so.

[Kid Berwyn]

7. Like how the Mafiya does it.

Once the Oligarchs are part of the nation’s economy, they get a voice in policy as no one has the guts to go against a job creator.

https://www.politicususa.com/2019/08/14/rachel-maddow-mitch-mcconnell-russia.html

I wonder how much Moscow Mitch and his family and friends hold in Switzerland?

[Hermit-The-Prog]

8. Moscow Mitch helps Putin make campaign contributions

An aluminum plant is a strange place to do laundry.

[cbdo2007]

10. All that matters is - when will the Senate open an investigation into Moscow Mitch???

[Hortensis]

14. Btw, did Joe Scar bury this or did I miss it when I fast-forwarded through?

I saw several stories hitting Trump, a long one about the contemptible distraction of Steve King, various news stories, even something about adopting dogs, and an elephant flashed by. But no Moscow Mitch or other potentially traitorous activities by others in Republican congressional caucuses. ???

Stephanie Ruhle covered it.

[Initech]

15. NO COLLUSION!!!!!

Yeah right, there's collusion all around us and Trump is guilty.