Briefed today by the FBI and CIA, President-elect Donald Trump said he would order intelligence agencies to come up with a plan to beef up cyber-security. Trump also said that while there’s possible evidence of Russian hacking, it didn’t influence the U.S. election Nov. 8. CIA Director John Brennen went out on a limb Dec. 9 suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin tried to sway the election to Trump. Whatever information Brennen has on Russian hacking, it’s a big leap to suggest that any foreign government influenced the election. Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee Jan. 5, 75-year-old National Intelligence Agency Director James Clapper said Putin tried to do much more than hack into government and private emails. Clapper told Chairman John McCain (R-Az.) that Russia used propaganda, disinformation and fakes news stories to discredit the United States.
Clapper’s statement reveals, as Trump expected, that intelligence officials are only making inferences regarding Putin’s motives into hacking primarily Democratic campaign officials. A Top Secret report by the CIA and FBI concluded that Putin tried to sway the U.S. election toward Trump. No matter how speculative, the conclusion is utter nonsense because all foreign officials and governments have preferences for certain presidential candidates. If Putin preferred Trump over Hillary—for whatever reason—that’s his right, including speaking out, publishing or broadcasting on the Internet, social media or any other way to express his opinion. Directing a cyber-campaign to influence a U.S. election is no different than cyber campaigns on social media or any other means of any presidential candidate, private individual or group to express views to “influence” the U.S. election or anything else.
When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to influence the outcome of the Iran Nuke Deal speaking to a joint session of Congress Mar. 3, 2015, the Israeli government tried to influence a U.S. policy. Groups tied closely or loosely to Netanyahu spoke loudly, publishing numerous pieces, on the Internet or elsewhere, to influence President Barack Obama’s vote on the Iran Nuke Deal. Was anyone accusing Netanyahu of meddling in U.S. politics—maybe some? Concluding that Putin wanted to influence the outcome of a U.S. elections, doesn’t amount to anything more than any other domestic or foreign players hoping to sway the outcome. Cold War hawks on Capitol Hill led by Sen. John McCain and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) have framed Putin’s lobbying for his preferred candidate as “an act of war.” Even Clapper wouldn’t take McCain’s bait on that one.
Clapper told McCain that Russia did far more than only hack U.S. email accounts. Stating the obvious, Clapper said Russian used propaganda, disinformation and fake news stories to discredit U.S. policies. Well, isn’t that precisely what all adversaries do to advance their political agendas? Clapper’s comments to McCain’s committee stated the obvious, something done by all countries viewed as rivals. Since the end of WWII, Russia’s been U.S.’s main competitor for world domination. When McCain talks of cyber warfare, it’s no different than past propaganda wars of yesteryear, other than the focus is on the Internet, social media and other Web-based platforms. Did McCain accuse Russia of a propaganda war before the Internet? If so, would he be seeking a declaration of war from U.S. officials to advance some insane plan to confront Russia on the battlefield?
McCain urged President Barack Obama Oct. 12 to set up a dangerous no-fly zone in Syria, and, if necessary, shoot down Russian and Syrian warplanes. McCain’s comments were so unsettling to the European Union, it prompted 61-year-old German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeir Oct. 24 to warn the world about an impending clash that could lead to WWIII. McCain knows that Democratic nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Hillary Rodham Clinton agreed with him. Given Obama’s deteriorated relations with Russia, it’s possible Putin also feared WWIII, throwing his weight behind President-elect Trump who seeks to deescalate tensions with Russia. When Trump questions the intelligence community, he’s not, as Graham says, unpatriotic, he’s trying implement his common sense foreign policy, something that tells him it’s better to avoid war with Russia.
Concluding that Putin tried to help Trump win the election is no different than any foreign or domestic leader, group or private citizen seeking to get their preferred candidate elected. If Putin believed that Hillary would cause WWIII, there’s good reason Putin would support Trump. Clapper said absolutely nothing to the Senate Armed Services Committee, telling members Putin uses propaganda, disinformation and fake news stores to advance his political agenda. Feeding into the Cold War hysteria on Capitol Hill, elected officials need to gain some perspective. Trump’s decision to order intel agencies to come up with a real plan to beef up cyber security should help vulnerability to hacking. What it won’t stop are foreign leaders’ preferences for particular U.S. leaders. Fearful of WWIII with Hillary, it’s no wonder Putin threw his support to Trump.
