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You are here: Home / Politics / Trumpery / Dolt 45 / Russian Military Unit Offered Bounties To Afghans To Murder Americans

Russian Military Unit Offered Bounties To Afghans To Murder Americans

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Trump’s love affair with Russia continues.

WASHINGTON — American intelligence officials have concluded that a Russian military intelligence unit secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing coalition forces in Afghanistan — including targeting American troops — amid the peace talks to end the long-running war there, according to officials briefed on the matter.

New York Times

The Trump administration has had this intelligence assessment since late March. They have done nothing.

Reader Interactions

115Comments

  1. 1.

    Wag

    That’ll go over well with the troops…

    I just can’t anymore.  My shock reserves are depleted.

  3. 3.

    SiubhanDuinne

    How is this not treason? I don’t give a fuck if we are or are not officially at war, this is knowingly and callously sacrificing the lives of American solders.

    So much for Trump’s vaunted love of the troops.

  6. 6.

    JPL

    This sickens me because trump would rather kiss Putin’s ass than save our troops, and yet no one apparently cares.   Why isn’t this 24/7 news?

  8. 8.

    geg6

    Is it treason yet, you fucking GOP traitors?  Fuck, fuck, fuck.  I am so pissed I may stroke out.

  12. 12.

    debbie

    @Wag: 
    I’m not convinced they will care. His supporters really don’t care what he does, even if it’s them he’s doing it to.

  13. 13.

    Emma from FL

    And yet, our generals still kiss his arse on a regular basis. And a lot of the troops support him because libruhls. If you don’t stand for yourselves…

  15. 15.

    Robert Sneddon

    Sounds a bit like the money and weapons Reagan gave to the Mujahadeen to kill Russian soldiers in Afghanistan back in the 1980s.

    By the way what the fuck are 16,000 American, NATO and other troops doing now in Afghanistan apart from providing the locals with foreigners to shoot at? The last excuse I heard was training the national Afghan Army but that was about ten years ago and if there’s anything the typical Afghan needs no training for it’s how to fight anyone they take a dislike to, which is pretty much everyone else outside their extended family, and quite often some of their nearest and dearest too.

  16. 16.

    Wag

    @JPL:   Probably depends on the melanin level of the individual soldier.  Black or Brown?  Rage, quite understandably.  White soldiers?  some will rage, others will shrug.  Depends on their home state, maybe?

  17. 17.

    debbie

    I assume this is this week’s Friday late document dump. Was it released or was it leaked?

  18. 18.

    prostratedragon

    Surely giving aid and comfort to the committing of acts of war deserves to be considered treason. The Constitution does not specify that the war be already declared by Congress, does it? Because if it weren’t for nukes I’m not sure that this wouldn’t get us there.

  19. 19.

    Poe Larity

    One could just as easily argue it’s in Russia’s best interest to bleed us out there, so spiking the “peace” process is strategery.

    The Cheneys and ilk have been emoting recently about der Dolchstoss.

  22. 22.

    prostratedragon

    Now reconsider the total failure to pursue basic actions to protect the American public, like making preparations and actions during a public health crisis caused by a debilitating and often fatal disease.

  23. 23.

    NotMax

    @Robert Sneddon

    Propping up what there is of the Ghani government.

    (Actually the Ghani-Abdullah government, but let’s not enter that labyrinth for the nonce.)

  24. 24.

    lumpkin

    We have unmistakably reached the threshold for treason here. Russia is committing hostile acts of war against the United States. Trump is helping them by sitting on this information. Who knows what else is going on?

  26. 26.

    robmassing

    Nice framing, FTFNYT:

    “Trump likes Putin. What will he do?”

    Ah, the personal angle. Trump’s inner struggle. Is everyone Maggie Haberman over there?

  31. 31.

    japa21

    Following is a transcript of what will be said by either Trump or one of his lackey’s.

     

    There is no truth to the story about Russians providing bounties for dead American servicemen. And even if it was true, I (or the President) was never informed of this. And whoever gave this information to the fake news media will be identified and charged with disclosing classified information.

     

    End of transcript.

  33. 33.

    MomSense

    I’m out of words.  It is unconscionable that the GOP Senators and cabinet secretaries do not drag that fucking traitorous asshole  out of  the  Oval Office and insist he be prosecuted.

  40. 40.

    debbie

    @Cheryl Rofer:

    I heard the part of his Hannity interview where he was saying he was the better candidate because now he has experience. I think it’s the experience that so many find so objectionable.  //

  42. 42.

    Mary G

    The tweet where Ivanka informs us that an EO is or has been issued to change federal hiring practices from degree-based to skill based blew my mind, and not in a good way. I refuse to link.

  43. 43.

    David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch

    @robmassing: It’s soooo sad.  Once the paper had Syd Schanberg, Neil Sheehan, Anthony Lewis, Terence Smith, Hendrik Smith, Sy Hersh, David Halberstam, Scotty Reston, Russell Baker, John Morris, Ada Louise Huxtable all working at the same time.

    Now they have Axis Sally Haberman, and the other clowns who worked at Politico

  45. 45.

    prostratedragon

    @Jeffro:  Cricket or baseball? Lately I’ve been considering the relative merits of either. Cricket gives you that nice, wide, flat surface, but baseball let’s you get more out of the twisting of torso and wrists.

  50. 50.

    David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch

    Trump’s disapproval rating has risen higher than at any other point during his presidency, according to the latest PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll.

    58% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s job while in office. That includes 49% of Americans overall who strongly disapprove.

    Looks like assaulting peaceful demonstrators with chemical weapons and Storm Troopers was a bad idea.

  53. 53.

    Just Chuck

    When is enough enough?  #TossTheTraitor.

    (For any hashtag-mongers  among us.  Not me.)

  55. 55.

    trollhattan

    Can we get Trump his July 4 parade? Show him video of Sadat’s last parade, the morning of.

  57. 57.

    geg6

    I know FB should be verboten, but I had to post this article there just to see if my cousin Gary, Vietnam vet (volunteered for two tours) and gigantic Trumpster, would take the bait and defend the piece of shit on this atrocity.  Maybe his head will explode.

  58. 58.

    jl

    I read a news report that the Trumpsters were ‘mulling it over’. Dude, I’d at least ask them politely to stop it. Then go back to ‘mulling’ if you can’t think of what to do. Trumpsters even bother with that?

  61. 61.

    Fair Economist

    @debbie:

    I’m almost afraid to. What are the odds of a House investigation on this treasonous act?

    About 95%. The House has been doing investigations of about everything. But Trump and Barr block access to almost all information, backed up by the Trump-appointed judges, and the media barely reports on any of it.

  62. 62.

    scav

    Never let it be said that the Trump Administration isn’t misfiring on all cylinders.

  63. 63.

    Kropacetic

    @SiubhanDuinne: How is this not treason?

    The least malicious reading of the facts I came up with is that neither Trump nor anyone around him had any earthly clue what to do about this Russian operation when they found out.

    Then they forgot, because they don’t care.

  64. 64.

    hueyplong

    You are wishing harm on the nation if you’re OK with Trump waking up tomorrow.

  67. 67.

    debbie

    I’m listening to Washington Week, and a reporter for the A.P. commented how Trump is losing traction and casting about for a new nickname for Biden since “Sleepy Joe” doesn’t really fit anymore. He said a growing number of people might think “President-Elect Biden” would work.

  68. 68.

    Kent

    @Robert Sneddon:

    Sounds a bit like the money and weapons Reagan gave to the Mujahadeen to kill Russian soldiers in Afghanistan back in the 1980s.

    By the way what the fuck are 16,000 American, NATO and other troops doing now in Afghanistan apart from providing the locals with foreigners to shoot at? The last excuse I heard was training the national Afghan Army but that was about ten years ago and if there’s anything the typical Afghan needs no training for it’s how to fight anyone they take a dislike to, which is pretty much everyone else outside their extended family, and quite often some of their nearest and dearest too.

    Correct me if I’m wrong.  But I don’t think the US ever paid a bounty for Russian scalps.  I’m pretty sure the US government stopped paying scalp hunters back in the 19th Century.

  70. 70.

    Patricia Kayden

    Every anti-Trump ad needs to run with “Putin’s Puppet is selling our country out to Russia and Russia is paying to get kill our soldiers”.  I don’t understand how Trump survives this news. This is outrageous.

  73. 73.

    prostratedragon

    @Kent:  If “we” did, wouldn’t you expect the Russian leaders to do something about it? I mean, immediately and not wait 30 years and try to sneak and do it. That’s the issue here, the fact that it’s an act of war and not that it’s dirty.

  74. 74.

    dmsilev

    @debbie:

    He said a growing number of people might think “President-Elect Biden” would work.

    That’s apparently a line cribbed from a WSJ editorial. Which is Murdoch Central, print edition. Given the source, I assume it’s a plea to Trump to change his tactics, but I suppose there’s a chance that Murdoch et al are about ready to underbus Trump on a ‘cut our losses’ theory.

  76. 76.

    Jeffro

    @prostratedragon: sorry…by “bat” I think I’m picturing a nice, unbreakable aluminum bat from any sport, or perhaps more of a medieval mace or morning star.  Or two of the above, one in each hand

  77. 77.

    Peale

    So is the purpose of Putin doing this because he wants us to leave unde4 fire after 18 years or does he want to avenge the deaths and stubbornly refuse to leave this disaster?

  78. 78.

    Martin

    @Robert Sneddon:

    Sounds a bit like the money and weapons Reagan gave to the Mujahadeen to kill Russian soldiers in Afghanistan back in the 1980s.

    Maybe, but Brezhnev never called Reagan his BFF while denouncing his country’s electoral system when that happened.

  80. 80.

    The Moar You Know

    if there’s anything the typical Afghan needs no training for it’s how to fight anyone they take a dislike to, which is pretty much everyone else outside their extended family, and quite often some of their nearest and dearest too.

    @Robert   I met a guy at the international music products show in Germany back in the 90s.  Former mujaddien.  Living in the US.  Made musical instruments, was renowned for them.  We started smoking hash out on the loading dock when shit got slow.  We were talking sports.  I asked him what his favorite sport was.  “Shooting Russians”. I laughed. He then detailed hunting them down and shooting them in great detail.  He wasn’t kidding.

    Hung out with him every day.  Interesting guy.  I still have his business card.  I have wondered over the last twenty years if he’s still in the states or if he went back. People do enjoy their sports.

  81. 81.

    ThresherK

    OT: The Daytime Emmys are on, at my wife’s behest.

    A decade and a half after “Mock Trial with J. Reinhold” was on Arrested Development, Judge Judy is not only still on the air, but Emmy-nominated in the “Outstanding Legal/Court Program” category, which I didn’t know existed.

    I don’t remember watching the Daytime Emmys ever before. In the Before Times, the last week of June was for Canadian Football League kickoff.

  82. 82.

    Kent

    @prostratedragon:@Kent:  If “we” did, wouldn’t you expect the Russian leaders to do something about it? I mean, immediately and not wait 30 years and try to sneak and do it. That’s the issue here, the fact that it’s an act of war and not that it’s dirty.

    Oh, I agree with you entirely.  The fact that we haven’t sanctioned them to within an inch of economic starvation is criminal.

    My point was that proxy wars which both sides have been fighting basically forever, is different from putting out bounties on each other’s soldiers.    I wonder what Putin’s response would be if we put out a $1 million bounty on Russian soldiers and personnel in Syria?  Payable to ISIS or the Kurds or anyone who managed to kill one.

  84. 84.

    jc

    IMO, Trump owes Putin, big time, and can’t afford to cross him. Or in addition, Putin has some goods on Trump that are so damaging that Trump can’t afford to cross him. Trump is all about transactional politics, and he’s not sucking up to Putin at every turn for no reason.

  86. 86.

    Robert Sneddon

    @The Moar You Know:

    An acquaintance of mine, much travelled in his younger days spent time in Afghanistan before the Russians ended up in their Vietnam-style swamp there. He told me of going to a Peshawar weapons bazaar with the head of a local family to buy something for the weekend — a 100mm mortar. There was an ongoing dispute about grazing for sheep and goats with the clan in the next valley, shots had been exchanged, a few buildings burned and the patriarch had decided a bit of escalation was needed.

    Spending eighteen years to teach Afghans to love one another at the point of a bayonet is, frankly, mind-bogglingly stupid but I’m not in charge.

     

    “When you’re wounded and left on Afghanistan’s plains,

    and the women come out to cut up what remains,

    jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains

    and go to your gawd like a soldier.”

  88. 88.

    Spaniel

    Where are those famed Republican congressmen of years past who would vigorously investigate people in high office for lying when people died?

  89. 89.

    Yutsano

    Ah BiP. Our own home grown Russian troll. Oh man did he get het up if you dared mention Putin/Russia in a negative light! Sadly I think he gave up on us after his banning. ‘Tis a shame, he was at least a bit entertaining.

  90. 90.

    Miss Bianca

    @Yutsano: Yeah, well, till he got outrageously personal in his insults. Then he just got too gross to be amusing.

    The borderline troll I miss more is mclaren. Unlike BiP, mclaren could actually be insightful on occasion and their insults tended to be funnier.

  91. 91.

    Another Scott

    @Peale: Vlad (and Xi) are trying to demonstrate to the rest of the world that the USA is an unreliable friend and ally. That Mother Russia is so much better.

    And Donnie is playing along by breaking agreements, refusing to support US soldiers and diplomats, breaking the federal government, doing all he can to kill as many people as possible with COVID-19, and all the rest.

    Grr…

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  92. 92.

    David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch

    There is a bear in the woods.
    For some people, the bear is easy to see.
    Others don’t see it at all.
    Some people say the bear is tame.
    Others say it’s vicious and dangerous.
    Since no one can really be sure who’s right,
    isn’t it smart to be as strong as the bear? If there is a bear.

  96. 96.

    Yutsano

    @Miss Bianca: Funny thing is I was thinking about her as I was typing it. She definitely had her own issues but she could be quite entertaining to engage with. But she also got insulting especially with Amir and just wouldn’t knock it off.

  98. 98.

    prostratedragon

    @Jeffro:  Thunderstick effect?

    Hadn’t been thinking about materials much, just the interaction of bat shape with the force generated by efficient technique and distribution of that force through the target, but one advantage of wood is that the extra force would go into the breaking of the bat, and limit that transmitted one’s own hands or body. Newton’s Third Law, isn’t it? Seems to me that participants in the Home Run Derby at All-Star week have often run themselves down a bit for the rest of the season as it is.

  99. 99.

    Mike G

    It’s OK everyone, Putin reassured Trump the bounty offer wasn’t true, and of course Donetsk Donny and Moscow Mitch are going to believe him over our own intelligence agencies.

  100. 100.

    Another Scott

    What part of "support the troops" includes ignoring Russians paying bounties to Taliban forces to murder American soliders?#TraitorTrump's part.

    — Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) June 26, 2020

    (via Jester Actual)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  101. 101.

    kindness

    Trump said nothing about the assassination program because Putin told him not to.

  103. 103.

    Jeffro

    @Another Scott: I’d ask where these #NeverTrumpers are getting this endless supply of ammo, but that’s the wrong question.

    It’s more “how are they finding the endless will to USE it, when we Dems were still trying to figure out which end of the rifle was the dangerous end, much less pull the trigger?”

    I guess they get the threat better than most.  Hopefully the rest of the country will, too.

  105. 105.

    Miss Bianca

     

    @geg6: Which ones got unmasked as DougJ sock puppets? I mean, I remember “knock it off, DougJ!” becoming its own thing, but I was never able to tell which ones were his.

  106. 106.

    NotMax

    @Yutsano

    Miss him/her less than I do shingles.

    @Miss Bianca

    Never found creating alternate personas expressly in order to troll or attempt to derail a thread amusing in the slightest.

  109. 109.

    Uncle Cosmo

    @Jeffro: Forget the aluminum bats; blunt-force trauma takes too much effort. Get hold of a Louisville Slugger or generic tree-hewn equivalent, a few railroad spikes, a vise, a sledgehammer & someone who can drive the spikes through the business end of the bat with accuracy & gusto, A couple of practice swings in the on-deck circle & you’re good to go.

  113. 113.

    Uncle Cosmo

    @NotMax: Never found creating alternate personas expressly in order to troll or attempt to derail a thread amusing in the slightest.

    Concur. If I had a spike-studded baseball bat, I would be sore tempted to visit said creator & perforate him repeatedly.** Even (or perhaps especially) if he’s the Bloglord of Naked Mopping’s best-buddy.

    ** Actually I’d probably just hire some acquaintance of one of my relatives from Nort Joyzee with a name ending in a vowel to perform the perforation. Doze guys is perfessionals.

  114. 114.

    James E Powell

    @debbie:

    I’m not convinced they will care. His supporters really don’t care what he does, even if it’s them he’s doing it to.

    Given that his approval ratings have plummeted from ~42% all the way down to ~41%, I’m inclined to say you’re right.

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