CIA freezes out top Flynn aide

[deminks]

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/mike-flynn-nsa-aide-trump-234923

A top deputy to National Security Adviser Michael Flynn was rejected for a critical security clearance, effectively ending his tenure on the National Security Council and escalating tensions between Flynn and the intelligence community.

The move came as Flynn’s already tense relationships with others in the Trump administration and the intelligence community were growing more fraught after reports that Flynn had breached diplomatic protocols in his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the United States.

On Friday, one of Flynn’s closest deputies on the National Security Council, senior director for Africa Robin Townley, was informed that the Central Intelligence Agency had rejected his request for an elite security clearance required for service on the NSC, according to two people with direct knowledge of the situation.

That forced Townley, a former Marine intelligence officer who had long maintained a top secret-level security clearance, out of his NSC post, explained the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive personnel matters.

One of the sources said that the rejection was approved by Trump’s CIA director Mike Pompeo and that it infuriated Flynn and his allies.

(end snip)

[Cha]

1. Yeah,

what's up with that?

[manicraven]

2. This sentence troubles me...Is Flynn going to be the fall guy or scapegoat?

The move came as Flynn’s already tense relationships with others in the Trump administration and the intelligence community were growing more fraught after reports that Flynn had breached diplomatic protocols in his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the United States.

Trump himself was asking Putin to hack into emails during the campaign. He will not say anything negative against Putin and defends him every chance he gets. He was toying with removing the sanctions, and I don't believe Flynn acted all by himself but was doing Trump's bidding.

[Hortensis]

7. He'll be both. But removing that incredibly

toxic influence on 45 is devoutly to be desired. As it seems almost all in the know agree.

[NBachers]

3. At this point (and I'm surprised to admit it) I'm rooting for the Intelligence Services.

The Democratic Activist part of the American population is doing our part- and it's growing.

The Courts have shown evidence of not being in Trump's pocket, yet.

The Intelligence Services, and I refuse to put the FBI in that category, seem to be making their moves to stop the worst of the destruction the trump administration is planning. I hope they can thwart whatever terror atrocity Trump, Bannon, Inc. are cooking up.

[madokie]

4. I take a little comfort

Last edited Sat Feb 11, 2017, 09:17 AM - Edit history (1)

in the reality that neither tRump or president bannon have enough good sense between them to plan and or carry out any kind of incident that would boost tRump's standing in the shitstorm he's put himself in.

Incompetence is all they have and incompetence won't get them where they, so much, want to be

[Hortensis]

8. Well, the Kremlin could provide advice, expertise--

and even potentially execution. With our sanctions on Russia possibly at stake, a disordered ego under siege, and dysfunctional idiots and sociopaths like 45 and Bannon in the White House, the unthinkable is not.

[uponit7771]

6. +1, At the least their our intel services ... no Russias

[nocalflea]

5. freudian confession?

Freudian confession ?

1/19/17:
In an interview on Thursday, Mr. Page expressed bewilderment about why he might be under investigation. He blamed a smear campaign — that he said was orchestrated by Mrs. Clinton — for media speculation about the nature of his ties to Russia.
“I did nothing wrong, for the 5,000th time,” he said. His adversaries, he added, are “pulling a page out of the Watergate playbook.”

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/01/19/us/politics/trump-russia-associates-investigation.html?_r=1&referer=http://crooksandliars.com/2017/01/report-investigators-have-intercepted

Yes Mr. Page, but the Watergate Conspiracy was Real.

The leaks re: Trump/ Russia,
if I am reading this right, will continue.This is a common tactic used in investigations to pressure suspects into action (communications w/co-conspirators, flight or fight, etc. .What they are really hoping for is an ass-saving plea bargain.Think John Dean (saw him speak at the college I attended (in '79) while promoting his first book - he was received as a hero).
So who's the weakest link ?
If Flynn is abandoned by WH will he flip ?
Pence ?
Politicususa:
He also tried to give himself plausible deniability by stating that he didn’t join the campaign until the summer...

http://www.politicususa.com/2017/01/15/exchange-shows-trumps-russia-scandal-mike-pence.html

(Manafort,suppossedly pushed him as VP pick)

Lastly,all involved know that Trump will not fall on his sword for anyone.

[Hortensis]

9. "Playing the X card" and "pages from playbooks."

These phrases are sounding more and more sociopathic the more that assemblage from the dregs of politics uses them, which is appallingly often. As if laws, principles, issues of damage, betrayal, right and wrong matter only as they can be used for advantage.

And, yes, Page's own statement suggests he understands his current hazardous position all too well. Good.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

10. Pompeo's got some explaining to do

I'm sure the Trump/Flynn/Pompeo meeting will be interesting.

[nikibatts]

11. Wary of CIA because of all the 45 supporters among them. Some serious internal cleansing

needs to take place for the ones who would break the law for him.