General Discussion

MGKrebs

(8,138 posts) Fri Jan 19, 2018, 01:59 PM Jan 2018

"Whatever deal the Kremlin had or thought it had with the Trump campaign...

...hasn't worked out in practice."

Interesting interview with Ambassador Daniel Fried -a former assistant secretary for European affairs in the US State Department and served as Coordinator for Sanctions Policy in the Obama administration. He retired in February 2017 and is now a Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council, a US think tank.

US sanctions: Nervous Russian elite 'realize Putin made a serious mistake'
Hundreds of Russian oligarchs could be included on a list of potential US sanctions in the upcoming "Kremlin Report." DW spoke to former US diplomat Daniel Fried about growing anxiety within the Russian elite.

DW: There have been many rounds of sanctions before, but the Russian elite seems to be very concerned this time. Why?

Daniel Fried: I think that the Russian elite has realized Putin's aggression against Ukraine, against the West in general and the United States in particular has consequences for them. They sense that the US is seriously angry about what Russia attempted to do in our elections and this sanctions law is partly a response — and that Putin cannot protect them. Whatever deal the Kremlin had or thought it had with the Trump campaign hasn't worked out in practice. And so Putin's inner circle, and its connections in the business world are going to be publicized, and Putin can't stop that.

http://www.dw.com/en/us-sanctions-nervous-russian-elite-realize-putin-made-a-serious-mistake/a-42222664?maca=en-RSS_en_Flipboard-9487-xml-media

14 replies

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Highlight:

"Whatever deal the Kremlin had or thought it had with the Trump campaign... (Original Post) MGKrebs Jan 2018 OP

So, if russian intentions hasn't panned out, won't they (the russians) ... SWBTATTReg Jan 2018 #1

Putin might, but it's the oligarchs who are pissed. MGKrebs Jan 2018 #10

You mean, Trump might have screwed over a business partner? brooklynite Jan 2018 #2

No wonder why Trump fears his food will be poisoned--by his Russian handlers or Putin's FSB agents. TheBlackAdder Jan 2018 #3

Better the devil (poisonous food you know - fast food) than the one you don't.... flor-de-jasmim Jan 2018 #6

This sounds interesting. Control-Z Jan 2018 #4

Well wtf did they think!? "They sense that the US is seriously angry about what Russia attempted to Wwcd Jan 2018 #5

Trump chaos benefits no one. C_U_L8R Jan 2018 #7

This is kind of a weak link in the whole narrative yurbud Jan 2018 #8

Well so far they have all benefited from Putin's actions. MGKrebs Jan 2018 #11

diplomacy with Russia is not inherently wrong but personal quid pro quo is something else yurbud Jan 2018 #12

I think Trump, during the campaign, was just doing what he always does... MGKrebs Jan 2018 #9

Their helping to install Trump weakened the US as a global force... Orsino Jan 2018 #13

I never thought Putin had interest in any deal. NCTraveler Jan 2018 #14

SWBTATTReg

(22,210 posts)

1. So, if russian intentions hasn't panned out, won't they (the russians) ...

Reply to MGKrebs (Original post)

Fri Jan 19, 2018, 02:01 PM

Jan 2018

lash out even more so next time around?

MGKrebs

(8,138 posts)

10. Putin might, but it's the oligarchs who are pissed.

Reply to SWBTATTReg (Reply #1)

Fri Jan 19, 2018, 02:22 PM

Jan 2018

How much influence do they have with Putin?

brooklynite

(94,984 posts)

2. You mean, Trump might have screwed over a business partner?

Reply to MGKrebs (Original post)

Fri Jan 19, 2018, 02:02 PM

Jan 2018

Didn't see THAT coming...

TheBlackAdder

(28,255 posts)

3. No wonder why Trump fears his food will be poisoned--by his Russian handlers or Putin's FSB agents.

Reply to MGKrebs (Original post)

Fri Jan 19, 2018, 02:02 PM

Jan 2018

flor-de-jasmim

(2,126 posts)

6. Better the devil (poisonous food you know - fast food) than the one you don't....

Reply to TheBlackAdder (Reply #3)

Fri Jan 19, 2018, 02:05 PM

Jan 2018

Control-Z

(15,682 posts)

4. This sounds interesting.

Reply to MGKrebs (Original post)

Fri Jan 19, 2018, 02:03 PM

Jan 2018

And so Putin's inner circle, and its connections in the business world are going to be publicized, and Putin can't stop that.

Wwcd

(6,288 posts)

5. Well wtf did they think!? "They sense that the US is seriously angry about what Russia attempted to

Reply to MGKrebs (Original post)

Fri Jan 19, 2018, 02:04 PM

Jan 2018

"They sense that the US is seriously angry about what Russia attempted to do in our elections"

C_U_L8R

(45,040 posts)

7. Trump chaos benefits no one.

Reply to MGKrebs (Original post)

Fri Jan 19, 2018, 02:07 PM

Jan 2018

Putin and the Oligarchs had a pretty good thing going until they over-reached.

yurbud

(39,405 posts)

8. This is kind of a weak link in the whole narrative

Reply to MGKrebs (Original post)

Fri Jan 19, 2018, 02:20 PM

Jan 2018

If Putin is smart enough to outsmart the oligarchs and mobsters in Russia and stay in power, stalemate the US in Ukraine and Syria, how could he be stupid enough to pick such an unreliable tool as Trump?

Trump is a coward and a fool, so expecting him to uphold such an important deal AND not spill the beans is going way out on a limb.

It's like leaving your kids at Charles Manson daycare or something.

MGKrebs

(8,138 posts)

11. Well so far they have all benefited from Putin's actions.

Reply to yurbud (Reply #8)

Fri Jan 19, 2018, 02:30 PM

Jan 2018

Making Russia stronger is not a problem for the oligarchs, as long as they are close to him.
Putin has so far gotten away with the Ukraine thing with minimal pushback, perhaps emboldening him.
The problem isn't Trump as much as it is that Putin overreached by screwing around with the election so much and getting caught. Maybe Trump is at fault for being so blazingly obvious in his cuddling up to Putin, raising red flags and kick-starting some investigations.

yurbud

(39,405 posts)

12. diplomacy with Russia is not inherently wrong but personal quid pro quo is something else

Reply to MGKrebs (Reply #11)

Fri Jan 19, 2018, 02:36 PM

Jan 2018

When I mentioned Ukraine & Syria, I meant it not as a criticism of Putin but that he was able to stymie our goals for those countries at least partially, which shows some effective strategic thinking. Relying on Trump would be the opposite of that.

MGKrebs

(8,138 posts)

9. I think Trump, during the campaign, was just doing what he always does...

Reply to MGKrebs (Original post)

Fri Jan 19, 2018, 02:21 PM

Jan 2018

make a deal. He just didn't realize it was illegal, or didn't care. There's a whole different kind of scrutiny in government than there is in business. In business usually you can make your problems go away by throwing money at it.

This guy being interviewed appears to be a career diplomat who has worked for Repubs and Dems, no apparent axe to grind or ideology to flog. For an expert like him to just assume that there was some kind of "understanding" of a deal is pretty interesting.

Orsino

(37,428 posts)

13. Their helping to install Trump weakened the US as a global force...

Reply to MGKrebs (Original post)

Fri Jan 19, 2018, 02:58 PM

Jan 2018

...and is a much bigger win than any of Russia's losses so far in dealing with the Trump Administration.

NCTraveler

(30,481 posts)

14. I never thought Putin had interest in any deal.

Reply to MGKrebs (Original post)

Fri Jan 19, 2018, 03:00 PM

Jan 2018

Putins interests are in creating instability. His clout around the world has grown exponentially since Trump took office. When we leave a void, Putin is stepping in.

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