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TubbersUK
TubbersUK's Journal
TubbersUK's Journal
March 22, 2017
https://www.apnews.com/122ae0b5848345faa88108a03de40c5a/Manafort's-plan-to-'greatly-benefit-the-Putin-Government?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=AP
Manafort's plan to 'greatly benefit the Putin Government'
https://twitter.com/AP/status/844491296408567808WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, secretly worked for a Russian billionaire to advance the interests of Russian President Vladimir Putin a decade ago and proposed an ambitious political strategy to undermine anti-Russian opposition across former Soviet republics, The Associated Press has learned. The work appears to contradict assertions by the Trump administration and Manafort himself that he never worked for Russian interests.
Manafort proposed in a confidential strategy plan as early as June 2005 that he would influence politics, business dealings and news coverage inside the United States, Europe and the former Soviet republics to benefit the Putin government, even as U.S.-Russia relations under Republican President George W. Bush grew worse. Manafort pitched the plans to Russian aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska, a close Putin ally with whom Manafort eventually signed a $10 million annual contract beginning in 2006, according to interviews with several people familiar with payments to Manafort and business records obtained by the AP. Manafort and Deripaska maintained a business relationship until at least 2009, according to one person familiar with the work.
Manafort proposed in a confidential strategy plan as early as June 2005 that he would influence politics, business dealings and news coverage inside the United States, Europe and the former Soviet republics to benefit the Putin government, even as U.S.-Russia relations under Republican President George W. Bush grew worse. Manafort pitched the plans to Russian aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska, a close Putin ally with whom Manafort eventually signed a $10 million annual contract beginning in 2006, according to interviews with several people familiar with payments to Manafort and business records obtained by the AP. Manafort and Deripaska maintained a business relationship until at least 2009, according to one person familiar with the work.
"We are now of the belief that this model can greatly benefit the Putin Government if employed at the correct levels with the appropriate commitment to success," Manafort wrote in the 2005 memo to Deripaska. The effort, Manafort wrote, "will be offering a great service that can re-focus, both internally and externally, the policies of the Putin government."
https://www.apnews.com/122ae0b5848345faa88108a03de40c5a/Manafort's-plan-to-'greatly-benefit-the-Putin-Government?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=AP
March 8, 2017
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/07/politics/donald-trump-health-care/index.html
ETA: To those more expert than me on the subject, is this a case of 'damned if they do, damned if they don't' ?
Trump warns House GOP members of electoral 'bloodbath' if repeal and replace fails
President Donald Trump warned House Republicans Tuesday if they can't get pass health care legislation after seven years of promises it could be a "bloodbath" in the 2018 midterm election, according to one member present in the meeting.
Trump vowed to throw his full support behind the effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act during a meeting with House GOP leadership, saying he is "proud" to support a GOP-authored plan to replace Obamacare and told members behind closed doors that he would support it "100%," according to sources in the room.
But he warned lawmakers of the high-stakes nature of the effort, citing a potential electoral "bloodbath," a member present said.
"He said he hopes members understand that," the source said.
Trump vowed to throw his full support behind the effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act during a meeting with House GOP leadership, saying he is "proud" to support a GOP-authored plan to replace Obamacare and told members behind closed doors that he would support it "100%," according to sources in the room.
But he warned lawmakers of the high-stakes nature of the effort, citing a potential electoral "bloodbath," a member present said.
"He said he hopes members understand that," the source said.
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/07/politics/donald-trump-health-care/index.html
ETA: To those more expert than me on the subject, is this a case of 'damned if they do, damned if they don't' ?
March 3, 2017
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/donald-trump-campaign-lobbyist-russian-pipeline-229264
Lobbyist advised Trump campaign while promoting Russian pipeline
A Republican lobbyist was earning hundreds of thousands of dollars to promote one of Vladimir Putins top geopolitical priorities at the same time he was helping to shape Donald Trumps first major foreign policy speech.
This spring, Burt helped shape Trumps first major foreign policy address, according to Burt and other sources. Burt recommended that Trump take a more realist, less interventionist approach to world affairs, as first reported by Reuters. Trumps April 27 speech sounded those themes and called for greater cooperation with Russia.
I believe an easing of tensions and improved relations with Russia from a position of strength is possible, Trump said in the speech. Common sense says this cycle of hostility must end. Some say the Russians wont be reasonable. I intend to find out. The Russian ambassador to the United States broke the diplomatic norm against attending campaign events to sit in the front row.
I believe an easing of tensions and improved relations with Russia from a position of strength is possible, Trump said in the speech. Common sense says this cycle of hostility must end. Some say the Russians wont be reasonable. I intend to find out. The Russian ambassador to the United States broke the diplomatic norm against attending campaign events to sit in the front row.
In addition to helping shape Trumps speech, Burt attended two dinners this summer hosted by Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, who had been named chairman of Trumps national security committee. Burt was invited to discuss issues of national security and foreign policy, and wrote white papers for Sessions on the same subjects, according to Burt and another person with knowledge of the situation.
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/donald-trump-campaign-lobbyist-russian-pipeline-229264
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