<a class="break-all" href="https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/05/24/us/politics/russia-trump-manafort-flynn.html?_r=0&referer=t.co/SKObBfqrnr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mobile.nytimes.com/2017/05/24/us/politics/russia-trump-manafort-flynn.html?_r=0&referer=t.co/SKObBfqrnr
Top Russian Officials Discussed How to Influence Trump Aides Last Summer
The conversations focused on Paul Manafort, the Trump campaign chairman at the time, and Michael T. Flynn, a retired general who was advising Mr. Trump, the officials said. Both men had indirect ties to Russian officials, who appeared confident that each could be used to help shape Mr. Trump’s opinions on Russia.
Sounds like there's tapes...
Re Manchester leaks, some theories:
Douglas Livingston @doogliv
Why are your spooks leaking all the intelligence? Bit of a breach of trust isn't it?
John Schlinder @ 20 comittee
It's not spooks who are doing the leaking -- it's the White House.
Several suggestions why they would do this: 1) to undermine relationship with UK/EU 2) because terrorist attacks in Europe suit their political agenda and they don't want to solve problems 3) it's part of the war with the intelligence community and they want to undermine it (with a view to replacing / getting rid of at some point in the future) message being the more you leak, the more we leak.
Also seen it suggested it's a single rogue agent looking to establish credentials and contacts to get a book deal after leaving the service. Trumps out of town and there is no boss so hey let's run riot. Personally I really don't buy this.
My initial thought was it was the IC leaking to undermine Trump but I'm not sure they would do that. They want to protect the us and they know that relies on international cooperation and support. Leaks cost lives. American ones. It makes no sense even though they want to undermine Trump.
So that does take us firmly back to the White House. Which begs a few questions. We know Trump is leaking. It's been passed off as innocent. But it's unlikely to be. The second thing here is this sure as hell isn't coming direct from Trump. So who? Answers on a postcard to... Pooh who is back home in Washington right now since half the inner circle are off on the jolly in Europe. No prises for coming up with a name that also has media experience.
If this indeed is the case, the next question is, why on earth do the US want to damage US international links just so much? They have already forced Israel's policy.
What's curious here is May's response. She suddenly despite such a severe leak and threat to our security, admit EU worries says "hey NATO let's go into Iraq. Is this trying to bring the EU and US back together as she's afraid of being left cut off from both the US and the EU? Or is it sucking up to America?
I note also the British anger about the leaks has come from several places - the police, Andy Burnham, Fallon, Amber Rudd... But not May herself.
Don't you think that a bit odd? Of course maybe if May does she doesn't look in control of the situation (she's not) and this isn't good for her strong and stableness.
Regardless of the truth, its 'A Very Bad Thing' and something we should be shitting our pants about one way or another.