Sandy Shanks
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- Jul 10, 2018
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The officials from the Obama administration purportedly sought to "unmask" Trump adviser Michael Flynn in late 2016 and early 2017 – a practice used to identify a U.S. person who is anonymously referred to in intelligence documents that reveal Americans speaking to agents of a foreign power. The Americans are not being surveilled. The foreign agents are, and the Americans get caught. Unmasking Americans speaking to agents of a foreign power, especially a hostile foreign power like Russia, is legitimate tool belonging to the President and his intelligence agencies.
In December 2016, President Obama announced punishing economic sanctions against Russia in retaliation for its email thefts and other actions taken to help elect Donald Trump. The purpose of the sanctions was to let Russia know that its election operation, which had been undertaken with Trump’s encouragement, would not be rewarded.
Michael Flynn, Trump’s incoming national security adviser, wanted to send a very different message to the Russians. In a secret conversation with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak, Flynn reassured the Russian that the incoming administration would steer U.S.-Russia relations in a different direction. Obama was trying to punish Russia for its act, and Flynn was trying to undermine the punishment.
Putin agreed to take up the matter with the incoming administration. Failure to retaliate against the American sanctions was a first for Putin.
Trump Frees Russia Probe Criminal, Then Gloats With Putin