Given the overall picture from what’s already made its way to public attention, I find it not at all credible that this was Flynn acting independently/in isolation.
It is of course very much in the administration’s interest to paint that picture. A bit like arguing, when you’ve got ants in the kitchen, let’s just squash any we see, not ask where the nest might be.
Oh, and in their interest to argue that just as it’s in the interest of some to paint any and all attention given to this as ‘Russophobia’…
And on that recently oh-so-flexible term: I’d remark I have some I’d argue healthy ‘fear’ of _most_ nation states. They all havve serious power and resources; they take a disliking to you in an area where they’ve got any kind of leverage, it’s not going to be fun.
But I have no particular animus against ‘Russia’ as a people, at all. Much fondness, on the contrary, for many specific current and former citizens and for many aspects of the culture, so far as that goes. Northern, gloomy, heavy drinkers with a black sense of humour–what’s not to like? Apart from their giving the Scots competition, I guess.
I _despise_ the might-as-well-be-the-mob current regime, mind. Much, I might add, as do more than a few of their own citizens, despite all the Glory to Macho Russia smoke and mirrors Putin has been so studiously refining of late. And calling that a ‘phobia’ hardly stacks up. You want to call it ‘mobophobia’, we can parse that. Yes, do let’s focus on my irrational fear of theocratic ‘traditional values’ types who systematically make scapegoats of any number of vulnerable minorities, and use the machinery of the state to intimidate, silence, and finally kill critics, in the media, the opposition, or wherever. And who are quite happy deliberately attempting to destabilize even foreign governments they don’t see as adequately friendly to their interests, and who seem, let’s give them credit, to be developing some real skill with oppoortunities modern digital networks have been opening u in that area.
Seriously, it’s a bit like Falwell, if he could levy taxes, and had an army, and significant espionage capabilities. I’m not at all a fan. The hell of it is: Bannon and co. go on about the ‘existential threat’ of Islamism. Not a fan of that either, but it’s not _that_ specific authoritarianism keeps me up at night, of late. Which one is better tailored to do real damage to western, secular democracies doesn’t seem even much of a competition to me.
(Spoing…)
It’s been pointed out elsewhere, but reiterating:
Given the overall picture from what’s already made its way to public attention, I find it not at all credible that this was Flynn acting independently/in isolation.
It is of course very much in the administration’s interest to paint that picture. A bit like arguing, when you’ve got ants in the kitchen, let’s just squash any we see, not ask where the nest might be.
Oh, and in their interest to argue that just as it’s in the interest of some to paint any and all attention given to this as ‘Russophobia’…
And on that recently oh-so-flexible term: I’d remark I have some I’d argue healthy ‘fear’ of _most_ nation states. They all havve serious power and resources; they take a disliking to you in an area where they’ve got any kind of leverage, it’s not going to be fun.
But I have no particular animus against ‘Russia’ as a people, at all. Much fondness, on the contrary, for many specific current and former citizens and for many aspects of the culture, so far as that goes. Northern, gloomy, heavy drinkers with a black sense of humour–what’s not to like? Apart from their giving the Scots competition, I guess.
I _despise_ the might-as-well-be-the-mob current regime, mind. Much, I might add, as do more than a few of their own citizens, despite all the Glory to Macho Russia smoke and mirrors Putin has been so studiously refining of late. And calling that a ‘phobia’ hardly stacks up. You want to call it ‘mobophobia’, we can parse that. Yes, do let’s focus on my irrational fear of theocratic ‘traditional values’ types who systematically make scapegoats of any number of vulnerable minorities, and use the machinery of the state to intimidate, silence, and finally kill critics, in the media, the opposition, or wherever. And who are quite happy deliberately attempting to destabilize even foreign governments they don’t see as adequately friendly to their interests, and who seem, let’s give them credit, to be developing some real skill with oppoortunities modern digital networks have been opening u in that area.
Seriously, it’s a bit like Falwell, if he could levy taxes, and had an army, and significant espionage capabilities. I’m not at all a fan. The hell of it is: Bannon and co. go on about the ‘existential threat’ of Islamism. Not a fan of that either, but it’s not _that_ specific authoritarianism keeps me up at night, of late. Which one is better tailored to do real damage to western, secular democracies doesn’t seem even much of a competition to me.
(Swears at many typos…)
Should know better to attempt this stuff on a smartphone, I guess.
https://www.facebook.com/144310995587370/photos/a.271728576178944.71555.144310995587370/1442778289073961/?type=3&theater