The greatest alliance in history was forged in World War II, when the Soviet Union allied with the U.S., Britain and others in the fight against Germany. When the War ended, the Soviet Union could have invaded the rest of Europe and taken it for itself, due to its superior fighting power, but instead chose the path of Peace. However, hawkish politicians like Winton Churchill continued antagonizing their heroic allies, declaring that “an Iron Curtain has descended across the continent” in March 1946. These hawks in many of their incarnations continue to fly around the U.S. government, but have encountered resistance from President Donald Trump, who declared during the Presidential Debates that “I think it would be great if we got along with Russia because we could fight ISIS together as an example.”
To resist this shift in U.S. policy, the intelligence community, deeply entrenched in anti-Russian sentiment, has done everything they could to undermine President Trump. The first visible act of this undermining took place in the dying days of the Obama Administration, when Obama imposed sanctions on Russia for its alleged assistance of Wikileaks, an act that could have only strengthened American democracy. What right did the Obama Administration have in imposing a policy that is in contravention of the statements and attitudes of then President-elect Trump? It was therefore in keeping with the will of the American people that Michael Flynn reassured the Russians that the Trump policy will be different. He did so to protect the national interest, which was threatened by this aggressive act against Russia.
Apparently, it was disgraced acting attorney general Sally Yates that accused Michael Flynn of violating an obscure law, the Logan Act, which had bars U.S. citizens from interfering in diplomatic disputes with another country. Yet Michael Flynn likely would not have faced charges under the Logan Act. Subsequently, Yates was removed from office but she got the ball rolling, in one of many acts of bureaucratic sabotage that followed.
Assisting these bureaucrats are hawks in the political realm, including John McCain and Lindsay Graham, who President Trump suggested “should focus their energies on ISIS… instead of always looking to start World War III.” Mr. Trump was responding to a joint statement that these two had signed, criticizing the President. These hawks have even gone so far as to want the Armed Services Committee to investigate Trump. These two have done so even though, as Trump points out, they are not popular with the GOP base, with Trump remarking about Graham: “He’s going to crack that 1 percent barrier one day.”
Facing this unbelievable pressure, it must have been hard to stay the course toward Trump’s vision. However, Trump can return to this policy approach by returning Michael Flynn to his position, beginning negotiations with Russia to ‘knock out’ ISIS, in return for concessions that could include lifting sanctions. In addition, new Trump supporters ought to be recruited into the bureaucratic agencies of the government, to replace those hawks. As well, Trump should continue to appeal to the people for support and thereby apply pressure to the GOP establishment to either change their positions, or face Trump supporters.
