The Story Behind the Story of Mike Flynn's Fall

[fleur-de-lisa]

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/national-security-adviser-flynn-falls-amid-clash-washington-factions

snip . . .

The proximate cause of Flynn’s defenestration was carelessness, according to news reports. The former general, known for his hostility to Islam, was careless in speaking on a tapped telephone line to Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak on December 30.

The Obama administration had just announced sanctions on Russia in response to Russian psychological warfare operations targeting U.S. election operatives in both parties. The Russians were expected to retaliate. To the surprise of U.S. officials, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced December 30 that there would be no response, winning the Russian leader a laudatory tweet from Dump.

Intelligence analysts began to search for clues that could help explain Putin's move. The search turned up Kislyak's communications, which the FBI routinely monitors. Thanks to NSA surveillance, Obama administration officials could listen to Flynn’s chat with Putin’s man. Someone leaked the story of Flynn's call to David Ignatius of the Washington Post. Pence had to deny on TV.

The "blackmail" narrative of the Post and other major news organizations probably reflects a bureaucratic consensus of the FBI and other federal investigators that Flynn should have known the call was tapped and that he was making U.S. policy with a foreign official before Cheeto had even taken the oath of office.

more at link . . .

[DURHAM D]

1. Huh?

The point seems to be that poor Flaky Flynn is a victim of evil intelligence agencies.

jftr - It was not Flynn that was tapped, it was the Russian ambassador.

Also, the quote from a former American ambassador to Russia is just stupid given that Flynn was not an ambassador so not equivalent and the quoted ambassador was not "making a deal".

Usual alternet drivel.

[yellowcanine]

2. "proximate cause of Flynns defenestration was carelessness" I love the almost alliteration use!

Well done, Mr. Morley!