Trump played by Putin, ex intel officials say

[struggle4progress]

John Wagner

... "By not confronting the issue directly and not acknowledging to Putin that we know you're responsible for this, I think he's giving Putin a pass," former CIA director John Brennan said on .. "State of the Union."

"I think it demonstrates to Mr Putin that Donald Trump can be played by foreign leaders who are going to appeal to his ego and try to play upon his insecurities, which is very, very worrisome from a national security standpoint."

Appearing on the same program, former director of national intelligence James R. Clapper Jr. said he agrees with that assessment.

"He seems very susceptible to rolling out the red carpet and honour guards and all the trappings and pomp and circumstance that come with the office, and I think that appeals to him, and I think it plays to his insecurities," Clapper said ...

http://www.smh.com.au/world/donald-trump-is-being-played-by-vladimir-putin-say-exus-intel-officials-say-20171112-gzjwcd.html

[struggle4progress]

1. Former intelligence chiefs blast Russia comments

By Eli Watkins, CNN
Updated 3:09 PM ET, Sun November 12, 2017

... Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said Sunday that Trump's downplaying of the threat posed by Russia's meddling in last year's election was dangerous to US national security and allows countries like Russia and China to "play" the president, and former CIA Director John Brennan said Trump is allowing Putin to get away with Russia's efforts to disrupt the presidential election.

... Clapper said: "The threat posed by Russia, as John just said, is manifest and obvious. To try to paint it in any other way is, I think, astounding, and in fact, poses a peril to this country" ...

"It's either naiveté, ignorance or fear in terms of what Mr. Trump is doing vis-a-vis the Russians," Brennan said ...

http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/12/politics/james-clapper-john-brennan-trump-russia-cnntv/index.html