Trump denies being told about Russian bounties to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan

[webfact]

Trump denies being told about Russian bounties to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan

 

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting of the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board in the East Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., June 26, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Sunday said he was never briefed about Russian efforts to pay bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan, blasting a New York Times report that he was told about Moscow's cash rewards but did not respond.

 

"Nobody briefed or told me, @VP Pence, or Chief of Staff @MarkMeadows about the so-called attacks on our troops in Afghanistan by Russians," Trump tweeted, calling on the newspaper to name its anonymous source. "Everybody is denying it & there have not been many attacks on us."

 

The Times reported on Friday that U.S. intelligence had concluded that a Russian military intelligence unit linked to assassination attempts in Europe had offered rewards for successful attacks last year on American and coalition soldiers, and that Islamist militants were believed to have collected some bounty money.

 

The White House and Director of National Intelligence on Saturday denied the report. Russia's foreign ministry also dismissed it.

 

On Sunday, the newspaper published an additional report saying U.S. intelligence and Special Operations forces in Afghanistan alerted superiors as early as January to the suspected Russian plot to pay bounties, citing officials briefed on the matter.

 

House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, part of the so-called Gang of Eight lawmakers who receive frequent intelligence briefings, said she was not aware of the assessment and called for Congress to be briefed.

 

Pelosi cited the New York Times' reporting and Trump's denial as more evidence of the president ignoring allegations against Russia to accommodate President Vladimir Putin.

 

"There is something very wrong here. But this must have an answer," she said on ABC News, adding that Trump has already supported Putin by diminishing U.S. leadership in NATO, reducing U.S. forces in Germany and inviting Russia back into the G8.

 

Pelosi and House Intelligence chairman Adam Schiff also questioned why, if Trump's claims were true, he was not told about the bounty offer.

"If he was briefed and still wanted Russia back in the G-8, it’s even worse," Schiff tweeted.

 

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer urged tough sanctions against Russia in the defense bill that the Senate will debate this week.

 

"There's obviously more to this story, but it is pretty remarkable the president's going out of his way to say he hasn't heard anything about it," Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton told NBC News.

 

(Reporting by Susan Heavey and David Morgan; Editing by Alistair Bell, Daniel Wallis and Grant McCool)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-06-29

 

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[worgeordie]

I think he must have selective hearing disease.

regards Worgeordie

[OneMoreFarang]

9 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

I think he must have selective hearing disease.

regards Worgeordie

And lots of other diseases. Did anybody check him for a brain tumor recently? 

[LomSak27]

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

Trump denies

 

The problem with being a serial liar is at a certain point no one believes your lies anymore. Multiple sources are now stating, President Donald Trump was briefed, Like we didn't know. He is desperately lying to his base in Elvis country. However once they have to start buying plots for Granny Beulah and Grandpa Jethro, because of the fake pandemic, well excrement happens.

 

[BestB]

All you trump haters will bite on anything . Why on earth would Russia offer money to taliban to kill US soldiers when taliban does it and has been doing it for years . And does not need any incentives. Makes no sense at all. 
 

if report said Russia sold or provided weapons , then it’s believable but paying bounty just does not make any sense 

[Chomper Higgot]

Because of course, Intelligence reports of Russia offering bounties for the killing of American servicemen are not the kind of thing anyone would ever even consider bringing to the attention of the President of the US.

 

However, if anyone did brief Trump on this Intelligence then the question arises, what was Trump’s response (apart that is from lobbying for Russia to join the G7).

 

If Trump was briefed there will be a record of the briefing.

 

The truth will out.

 

 

[mtls2005]

13 minutes ago, BestB said:

Why on earth would Russia offer money to taliban to kill US soldiers when taliban does it and has been doing it for years . And does not need any incentives. Makes no sense at all. 

Note to self: Google GRU 29155.

 

 

So the defense is:

 

it didn't happen

putin was just "kidding"

nobody told me

and now I'm not going to do anything

SQUIRREL

 

 

Puts the four calls to putin, end March/beg April in a new perspective.

 

Given the stuff that will be coming out, this one certainly is bad, but the next ones will be progressively worse.

 

Popcorn ready for the screening of "It Always Showers in Moscow".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Morch]

Trump claims he wasn't briefed, on a parallel topic, a spokesman said the President didn't hear what was on a clip Trump posted on Tweeter. Neither is a first, so begs the question if the guy is lying, suffering attention issues, or both.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

11 minutes ago, BestB said:

All you trump haters will bite on anything . Why on earth would Russia offer money to taliban to kill US soldiers when taliban does it and has been doing it for years . And does not need any incentives. Makes no sense at all. 
 

if report said Russia sold or provided weapons , then it’s believable but paying bounty just does not make any sense 

Russia offering bounties on the heads of American (and British) servicemen in Afghanistan is entirely believable.

 

Not so Trump’s assertion that he was never informed of the matter.

[BestB]

2 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

Note to self: Google GRU 29155.

 

 

So the defense is:

 

it didn't happen

putin was just "kidding"

nobody told me

and now I'm not going to do anything

SQUIRREL

 

 

Puts the four calls to putin, end March/beg April in a new perspective.

 

Given the stuff that will be coming, this one certainly bad, but the next ones will be progressively worse.

 

Popcorn ready for the screening of "It Always Showers in Moscow".

 

 

 

 

 

What does destablisimg EU has to do with paying bounty.?

 

do you seriously do not get that Taliban does not need bounty payments to kill US troops as is 

 

taliban hates US and has been at war with US for over a decade, they have not stopped or developed love relationship. They do not need incentives 

[BestB]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Russia offering bounties on the heads of American (and British) servicemen in Afghanistan is entirely believable.

 

Not so Trump’s assertion that he was never informed of the matter.

For trump haters anything usually is 

[Eric Loh]

Even if he was not briefed (dodgy), shouldn't he called for a meeting from his intelligence agencies immediately after the news break on Friday. An attack on US soldier is an attack on USA. He should be concerned enough to address and seek to verify the report with relevant intel agencies immediately. He has not done so which is an indirect condoning action of Putin. 

[Morch]

16 minutes ago, BestB said:

All you trump haters will bite on anything . Why on earth would Russia offer money to taliban to kill US soldiers when taliban does it and has been doing it for years . And does not need any incentives. Makes no sense at all. 
 

if report said Russia sold or provided weapons , then it’s believable but paying bounty just does not make any sense 

 

Why would Russia do this. What would Putin do that. Same reasons given on past occasions - because it can, because the agenda is different, because countries and leaders do not always act in a reasonable manner or never miscalculate.

[Morch]

2 minutes ago, BestB said:

What does destablisimg EU has to do with paying bounty.?

 

do you seriously do not get that Taliban does not need bounty payments to kill US troops as is 

 

taliban hates US and has been at war with US for over a decade, they have not stopped or developed love relationship. They do not need incentives 

 

By that rationale, various terrorist organizations/freedom fighters/whatever would never be offered nor receive incentives and support from the outside. In the real world, that's not how it goes. Take the Middle East as an easy example, with this angle being discussed on many topics here, even with your participation.

[BestB]

9 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

Why would Russia do this. What would Putin do that. Same reasons given on past occasions - because it can, because the agenda is different, because countries and leaders do not always act in a reasonable manner or never miscalculate.

So what you saying is if Russia was not paying , then taliban would stop killing US troops?

[samran]

 

I guess the Donald was out playing golf that day...

[shdmn]

I totally believe bunker boy.  He never lies.

[keith101]

This moron is a compulsive liar and everyone knows it .

[mtls2005]

16 minutes ago, BestB said:

do you seriously do not get that Taliban does not need bounty payments to kill US troops as is 

 

During your cruise on De Nile, please be aware that the White House has confirmed this story. So feel free to challenge them.

 

What seems open for discussion is when the president became aware of it, and if prior to Saturday, why didn't he do anything about it.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

16 minutes ago, BestB said:

For trump haters anything usually is 

I see your line of argument against views you disagree with but apparently can’t contest with discussion is to throw out the accusation of ‘Trump Hater(s)’.

 

 

[Morch]

21 minutes ago, BestB said:

For trump haters anything usually is 

 

Whereas Putin and Trump fans....?

[Morch]

11 minutes ago, BestB said:

So what you saying is if Russia was not paying , then taliban would stop killing US troops?

 

Yawn. What I say is don't try and be obtuse. Never claimed anything of the sort. The fact stands that such outfits receive outside support. Call it this or that, doesn't matter. It doesn't necessarily turn them into mercenaries.

[GalaxyMan]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And lots of other diseases. Did anybody check him for a brain tumor recently? 

Missing the basic prerequisite of a brain. ????

[Opl]

19 minutes ago, shdmn said:

I totally believe bunker boy.  He never lies.

... believes Putin's denial and is strongly considering a total exoneration

[BestB]

14 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

During your cruise on De Nile, please be aware that the White House has confirmed this story. So feel free to challenge them.

 

What seems open for discussion is when the president became aware of it, and if prior to Saturday, why didn't he do anything about it.

 

 

White House has confirmed story of absurd intelligence report? Was that the same intelligence and White House who confirmed Saddam had nukes?

[BestB]

8 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

Yawn. What I say is don't try and be obtuse. Never claimed anything of the sort. The fact stands that such outfits receive outside support. Call it this or that, doesn't matter. It doesn't necessarily turn them into mercenaries.

So in other words, no matter how absurd it is , because you do not like Russia therefore it must be true. 
 

As I said , If report said Russia provided weapons or support it would make sense, but paying bounty does not , no matter how hard to spin it. 

[Phoenix Rising]

1 hour ago, BestB said:

All you trump haters will bite on anything . Why on earth would Russia offer money to taliban to kill US soldiers when taliban does it and has been doing it for years . And does not need any incentives. Makes no sense at all. 
 

if report said Russia sold or provided weapons , then it’s believable but paying bounty just does not make any sense 

And you ever-Trumpers have your heads stuck so far into the sand it will take a team of archeologists to dig them out. Yes, the Taliban are inclined to kill US soldiers anyway but an extra bonus for each head makes it even more attractive. It's called an added incentive.

 

in·cen·tive

/inˈsen(t)iv/

Learn to pronounce

 

noun

 

1. a thing that motivates or encourages one to do something.

   "there is no incentive for customers to conserve water"

   a payment or concession to stimulate greater output or investment.

   "tax incentives for investing in depressed areas"

    

[BestB]

19 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

Whereas Putin and Trump fans....?

I thought anyone who is not anti trump is pro Putin and naturally all wrong ????

[mtls2005]

8 minutes ago, BestB said:

White House has confirmed story of absurd intelligence report?

Yes.

 

8 minutes ago, BestB said:

Was that the same intelligence and White House who confirmed Saddam had nukes?

No.

 

Believe the ask was "WMD" and not "nukes"?

 

 

[BestB]

1 minute ago, Phoenix Rising said:

Why? The Taliban are inclined to kill US soldiers anyway but an extra bonus for each head makes it even more attractive. It's called an added incentive.

 

in·cen·tive

/inˈsen(t)iv/

Learn to pronounce

 

noun

 

1. a thing that motivates or encourages one to do something.

   "there is no incentive for customers to conserve water"

   a payment or concession to stimulate greater output or investment.

   "tax incentives for investing in depressed areas"

    

They do not and did not need any incentives , already hate and happy to kill. Or you think with being paid per head. They will kill same soldier twice ?