By JEFF HORWITZ and CHAD DAY | Mar. 22, 2017
https://apnews.com/122ae0b5848345faa88108a03de40c5a/Manafort's-plan-to-'greatly-benefit-the-Putin-Government
WASHINGTON (AP) — Before signing up with Donald Trump, former campaign manager Paul Manafort secretly worked for a Russian billionaire with a plan to "greatly benefit the Putin Government," The Associated Press has learned. The White House attempted to brush the report aside Wednesday, but it quickly raised fresh alarms in Congress about Russian links to Trump associates.
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 former Soviet republics to benefit President Vladimir Putin's government, even as U.S.-Russia relations under Republican President George W. Bush grew worse.
...
The disclosure "undermines the groundless assertions that the administration has been making that there are no ties between President Trump and Russia. This is not a drip, drip, drip," said Rep. Jackie Speier of California. "This is now dam-breaking with water flushing out with all kinds of entanglements."
Deripaska became one of Russia's wealthiest men under Putin, buying assets abroad in ways widely perceived to benefit the Kremlin's interests. U.S. diplomatic cables from 2006 described him as "among the 2-3 oligarchs Putin turns to on a regular basis" and "a more-or-less permanent fixture on Putin's trips abroad." In response to questions about Manafort's consulting firm, a spokesman for Deripaska in 2008 — at least three years after they began working together — said Deripaska had never hired the firm. Another Deripaska spokesman in Moscow last week declined to answer AP's questions.
Manafort worked as Trump's unpaid campaign chairman last year from March until August, a period that included the Republican National Convention that nominated Trump in July. Trump asked Manafort to resign after AP revealed that he had orchestrated a covert Washington lobbying operation until 2014 on behalf of Ukraine's ruling pro-Russian political party.
The newly obtained business records link Manafort more directly to Putin's interests in the region. According to those records and people with direct knowledge of Manafort's work for Deripaska, Manafort made plans to open an office in Moscow, and at least some of his work in Ukraine was directed by Deripaska, not local political interests there. The Moscow office never opened. ...
I didn't believe there was anything to it at first, but this is looking like the biggest scandal in presidential history.
Lolno. It looks like the usual vague interpretation of mundane activities that the media has been engaging in for the past few months.If they were being honest, and there was no involvement, there should have been a memo and a press conference from Trump long ago during the campaign saying in effect "guys, some of us have had business ties to Russia in the past. We all know how perceptions can be. So - executive order number one is Stop all business contacts with any Russian associates, make no calls, no contact whatsoever. We need to be squeeky clean. If you have any recent contact, bring it forward right now in the open. Then after we're elected we can form ties as part of a pro-russia policy. But for now, squeaky clean is the rule".
That would have been a simple and effective thing to do. Instead they did almost the exact opposite, being suspicious at every turn. And so the media's no dummies - they know where there's smoke there's usually fire.
I didn't believe there was anything to it at first, but this is looking like the biggest scandal in presidential history.
Lolno. It looks like the usual vague interpretation of mundane activities that the media has been engaging in for the past few months.If they were being honest, and there was no involvement, there should have been a memo and a press conference from Trump long ago during the campaign saying in effect "guys, some of us have had business ties to Russia in the past. We all know how perceptions can be. So - executive order number one is Stop all business contacts with any Russian associates, make no calls, no contact whatsoever. We need to be squeeky clean. If you have any recent contact, bring it forward right now in the open. Then after we're elected we can form ties as part of a pro-russia policy. But for now, squeaky clean is the rule".
That would have been a simple and effective thing to do. Instead they did almost the exact opposite, being suspicious at every turn. And so the media's no dummies - they know where there's smoke there's usually fire.Involvement with Russia isn't cause for concern because they aren't an enemy of the United States.
All this article says is Manafort's consulting firm worked with a Russian businessman who had "ties" to Putin - whatever that means - years ago. Nothing illegal or sinister about that, because as I said, Russia isn't an enemy. Donald Trump probably didn't know Manafort's professional history before he worked in the campaign, but it doesn't matter anyway since its not illegal.
The media has got nothing. They're killing their last shred of credibility by chasing this stupid nonsense.
That would have been a simple and effective thing to do. Instead they did almost the exact opposite, being suspicious at every turn. And so the media's no dummies - they know where there's smoke there's usually fire.
Hey Cuthbert if the media are no dummies then how come they haven't figured out that 9/11 was an inside job like you believe it is?
Involvement with Russia isn't cause for concern because they aren't an enemy of the United States.
I agree Beltane.
What if Manafort had had dealings with Canada? Or Gabon? Or Portugal?
No, no. The powers that are in opposition to Trump(and that is a non-homogeneous, wide ranging group) are pulling the Old Russia huckleberry out of the closet.
It's so convenient! The Right(including Dems and Repubs) can get their alarmist calls out for Defense spending, NATO support, and just general reinforcement of The Hawkish line.
The Left can get their alarmist calls out for connections to a nefarious, dictator that is a human rights violator and an authoritarian-non democratic regime.
What could be an opportunity to open up real dialogue with Russia is being squandered with this ridiculous nonsense.
What kind of "real dialog" do you think is available?
What attempts at dialog has Putin made?
Many types of dialogue would be available. Many.
Some wouldn't be on the table.
Real dialogue could take place about Middle Eastern conflicts, ISIS, NATO in places along the Russian border, weapons treaties etc
Trade agreements, human rights treaties, cultural exchanges...
It's always good to have dialogue.
Edit: to fully answer your question, I'm sure there is a dialogue open already. I'm sure there has been. We aren't in a Cold War with Russia.
What kind of "real dialog" do you think is available?
What attempts at dialog has Putin made?
Many types of dialogue would be available. Many.
Some wouldn't be on the table.
Real dialogue could take place about Middle Eastern conflicts, ISIS, NATO in places along the Russian border, weapons treaties etc
Trade agreements, human rights treaties, cultural exchanges...
It's always good to have dialogue.
You sound like Trump. "I have great dialogues. There will be so many dialogues, your head's going to spin."
These guys have been talking with Putin for years, doing business with him, and all the while Putin has been invading countries and bombing civilians. As Trump said to Clinton, you've had your chance, why haven't you solved the problem yet?
As Trump said to Clinton, you've had your chance, why haven't you solved the problem yet?
Oh yeah, I remember that. Great line! So true!
I'm curious as to what kind of dealings Trump or "these guys" have had with Putin "for years".
Please enlighten me Lausten.
As Trump said to Clinton, you've had your chance, why haven't you solved the problem yet?
Oh yeah, I remember that. Great line! So true!
I'm curious as to what kind of dealings Trump or "these guys" have had with Putin "for years".
Please enlighten me Lausten.
I'm not going to read the news for you. If you aren't aware that Tillerson tried to make an oil deal with Russia that was blocked by the Obama administration, then you aren't well versed enough to participate in this conversation.
If you aren't aware that Tillerson tried to make an oil deal with Russia that was blocked by the Obama administration, then you aren't well versed enough to participate in this conversation.
Is this something that will be coming up for Committee Hearings or investigation?
I don't understand the relevance with this?
Are you saying business people tried doing business with other people?
That's probably gonna break wide open huh? Tillerson is done. Wow!
What else you got?
Trump tried to open a hotel in St Petersburg? :lol:
Ivanka has a clothing store in Moscow?
Really, please read the news for me Lausten....please. :lol:
If you aren't aware that Tillerson tried to make an oil deal with Russia that was blocked by the Obama administration, then you aren't well versed enough to participate in this conversation.
Is this something that will be coming up for Committee Hearings or investigation?
I don't understand the relevance with this?
Are you saying business people tried doing business with other people?
That's probably gonna break wide open huh? Tillerson is done. Wow!
What else you got?
Trump tried to open a hotel in St Petersburg? :lol:
Ivanka has a clothing store in Moscow?
Really, please read the news for me Lausten....please. :lol:
You are really bad at avoiding the subject. You try to be slippery, but you fail.
I was responding to this statement by you, "What could be an opportunity to open up real dialogue with Russia is being squandered with this ridiculous nonsense."
You seem to think that Trump and his cabinet have some sort of opening to Russia that could be used to the country's advantage. But what is it? If they have it, what is stopping them from using that advantage? If they were making diplomatic improvements, we wouldn't be investigating that. But they aren't. We are investigating if they made illegal business deals or if they used stolen government secrets to gain an advantage in an election or aided the Russians in disrupting the election.
You seem to think that Trump and his cabinet have some sort of opening to Russia that could be used to the country's advantage.
Oh yeah. The Presidential office has many openings available on a diplomatic front.
They can invite leaders to State Dinners. Call other leaders on the phone. Attend Conferences. Host statesmen from other nations.
They work on treaties with other nations...
Those sound like openings any President would have to use for the country's advantage.
Teddy Roosevelt worked out treaties between Russia and Japan.
Jimmy Carter tried to work out peace progress in the Middle East. So did Clinton.
Nixon visited China.
Didn't you know that Presidents have those kinds of privileges and gravitas?
What constitutes an enemy of the United States Beltane?
(2) the term "enemy" means any country, government, group, or person that has been engaged in hostilities, whether or not lawfully authorized, with the United States;
(3) the term "person" means—
(A) any natural person;
(B) any corporation, partnership, or other legal entity; and
(C) any organization, association, or group;
You seem to think that Trump and his cabinet have some sort of opening to Russia that could be used to the country's advantage.
Oh yeah. The Presidential office has many openings available on a diplomatic front.
They can invite leaders to State Dinners. Call other leaders on the phone. Attend Conferences. Host statesmen from other nations.
They work on treaties with other nations...
Those sound like openings any President would have to use for the country's advantage.
Teddy Roosevelt worked out treaties between Russia and Japan.
Jimmy Carter tried to work out peace progress in the Middle East. So did Clinton.
Nixon visited China.
Didn't you know that Presidents have those kinds of privileges and gravitas?
So, why aren't they doing it? You said something is being squandered because of something. What the hell are you saying?
What constitutes an enemy of the United States Beltane?
(2) the term "enemy" means any country, government, group, or person that has been engaged in hostilities, whether or not lawfully authorized, with the United States;
(3) the term "person" means—
(A) any natural person;
(B) any corporation, partnership, or other legal entity; and
(C) any organization, association, or group;
http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title50/chapter39&edition=prelim
Yeah, pretty sure Russia qualifies.