General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPlease explain to me how Putin giving Iran info that could harm U.S. troops is NOT an act ot war on his part
I know, I know, we need to dance around Putin because he has nukes. I get it.
So, we just let him piss all over the USA and tell ourselves it's raining? Any other options?
But officials tell MS NOW that U.S. intelligence agencies have not found evidence that Moscow is directing Irans operations.
https://www.ms.now/news/russia-iran-information-harm-u-s
StoolPigeon
(264 posts)I wonder if the information Putin is giving Iran is the same information that Trump sold him out of the basement.
leftstreet
(41,039 posts)His intentions would be protecting capital, the transfer of goods, and appeasing the gods of private equity. These are the very same reasons the US initiates war, so no one anywhere, anytime, is going to find anyone guilty of a war crime
Xolodno
(7,359 posts)NATO gave info, strategies, etc. to Ukraine. If we didn't, then Putin would have been walking in Kiev if a few weeks. So, they are repaying the favor.
They aren't called proxy wars for nothing.
Coolgoober
(366 posts)But the U.S. gives weapons and intelligence to Ukraine. Just saying. All is fair in love and war. To the center of your question, Trump does not care about our troops. He does not look at them as living breathing humans. They're play things to him. I'll be making a post about that in a day or two. It's been on my mind and your post just motivated me. Thanks Miles. Take care.
LetMyPeopleVote
(180,551 posts)As Russia provides intelligence that could put Americans at risk, the White House responds by easing Russian oil sanctions.
Problem: Team Trump shrugging with indifference as Russia provides Iran with intelligence that could put Americans at risk.
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-03-09T19:13:44.138Z
Bigger problem: Team Trump providing Russia with sanctions relief as it provides Iran with intelligence that could put Americans at risk.
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/team-trump-says-and-does-all-the-wrong-things-as-russia-helps-iran-during-the-u-s-war
The Associated Press and The Washington Post had related reports, with the latter noting, The assistance signals that the rapidly expanding conflict now features one of Americas chief nuclear-armed competitors with exquisite intelligence capabilities. On NBCs Meet the Press, host Kristen Welker pressed Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on this, and he made no effort to deny the accuracy of the reporting, emphasizing that Irans strategic partnership with Russia is not a secret......
If we were to stop here, it would be a striking story about a Republican administration that has expressed little more than indifference to serious allegations. But as it turns out, Team Trump isnt just shrugging its shoulders about Russias aid to Iran during the war, its also taking steps that would benefit Russia as it aids Iran during the war. Reuters reported:
Trump administration officials on Sunday defended a decision to temporarily lift some sanctions on Russian oil and predicted that a sharp increase in gasoline prices resulting from the Iran war would last only weeks.
Appearing on multiple TV talk shows, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said a waiver issued last week to allow Indian purchases of Russian oil would alleviate pressure on the global market.
(Its worth noting for context that Trump has publicly boasted about getting India to stop buying Russian oil, including at a White House press conference in late February. So much for that idea.)....
Around the same time, on Meet the Press, Welker asked the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations about why the Republican administration would choose to help Russia right now.
I wouldnt characterize it that way, Waltz replied.
WELKER: Why is Trump helping Russia in this moment?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-03-08T14:17:27.030Z
WALTZ:I wouldn't characterize it that way
WELKER: How else would you describe easing oil sanctions?
WALTZ: It's common sense to allow oil sitting on ships to go to India
WELKER: Russia will be getting that money as it wages its war in Ukraine
.....This hasnt gone unnoticed on Capitol Hill.
Russia is our adversary, Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska told MS NOW last week. They hate us and what the U.S. stands for. The White House has had a moral blindness when it comes to Putin and Russia.
Republican Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, a former chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, added, This is an intolerable escalation by the Kremlin one they must come to deeply regret. I call on the administration to impose swift and severe consequences for this blatant attempt to endanger American lives.
The White House appears to have come to the opposite conclusion.
LetMyPeopleVote
(180,551 posts)Confronted with evidence of Russia aiding Iran, Team Trump has shrugged, boosted Russias economy and vouched for Moscows reliability.
"Witkoffâs on-air comments came a day after Trump said that he had a 'positive call' with Putin and that the Russian leader 'wants to be helpful' and 'very constructive.'
— Khashoggi's Ghost (@urocklive1.bsky.social) 2026-03-11T20:34:26.586Z
The American president didnât specify for whom Putin wants to be helpful and constructive."
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/white-houses-witkoff-vouches-for-russias-trustworthiness-on-iran-and-alleged-war-assistance
In the wake of the reporting, the president and his team not only expressed public indifference to the news that Russia was assisting Iran, the Republican administration also extended a new reward to Vladimir Putins regime, temporarily easing oil sanctions on the country.
If that werent quite enough, one of the key figures on Trumps foreign policy team went even further on Tuesday. MS NOW reported that U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff appeared on CNBC and emphasized that Russian officials have denied the allegations.
Witkoff said Russian officials told President Donald Trump on a call [Monday] that they have not been sharing the information.
Witkoff added that Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, reiterated the same on a call with himself and Jared Kushner, one of Trumps sons-in-law, whom the president named as a special peace envoy.
Witkoff went on to say of the Russian officials, We can take them at their word.
QUINTANILLA: Do we think the Russians have shared intel about US military assets, and if so, why would we be giving waivers on oil sanctions?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-03-10T16:08:53.733Z
WITKOFF: I can tell you that on the call with POTUS, the Russians said they have not been sharing. That's what they said. We can take them at their word.
So as far as Team Trump is concerned, when confronted with evidence that Russia is aiding Iran during the war, the proper response is to (a) shrug; (b) boost Russias economy; and (c) vouch for Moscows trustworthiness.
Witkoffs on-air comments came a day after Trump said that he had a positive call with Putin and that the Russian leader wants to be helpful and very constructive.
The American president didnt specify for whom Putin wants to be helpful and constructive.
Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware appeared on MS NOW this week and said, The clearest winner from this war in Iran is Russia. Soon after, The Wall Street Journal reported that Putin can barely conceal a smirk as the war continues.