H.R. McMaster ‘Not Concerned’ Over Jared Kushner Back-Channel Reports

Fortune ^ | 05/27/2017

[SeekAndFind]

Asked about reports that Donald Trump's son-in-law had tried to set up a secret channel of communication with Russia before the president took office, U.S. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said that so-called "back-channeling" was normal.

McMaster declined to speak specifically about the case of Jared Kushner, who serves as a senior adviser to Trump, but when asked if it would concern him if someone in the administration tried to set up a back channel with the Russian embassy or the Kremlin, he replied "no."

"We have back-channel communications with any number of individual (countries). So generally speaking, about back-channel communications, what that allows you to do is communicate in a discreet manner," McMaster said.

"So it doesn't pre-expose you to any sort of content or any kind of conversation or anything. So we're not concerned about it."

[SoFloFreeper]

The entire premise is BULLCRAP.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Does anyone think the Obummer administration didn't have secret back channels with the Iranians to discuss how he would hand over the $150 billion (or whatever​ it was)?

[maro]

I have no idea what’s going on here. But I’m pretty sure that if Obama had set up a back channel with Russia, the media would be falling over each other with stories about how clever that was.

[ApeStyle]

“communicate in a discreet manner” i.e. not having their conversation immediately leaked to NYT or WaPo. They’d be crazy not to do business this way.

[ApeStyle]

They didn’t give a hoot when he did it with Iran.

[Defiant]

The entire intelligence community is spying on the President of the United States, and the focus is on his effort to speak to foreign countries securely? Seriously?

[ichabod1]

Always put out in such a way that no one can ever refute.

[RummyChick]

If you..as a private citizen.. called up the NSA and told them you were going to meet with a known spy to use his equipment to talk to putin so NSA wouldnt be able to listen...what would be the response?????? They wouldnt just forget you.

There is a difference between govt back channel and what kushner was alleged to have tried..but as hayden said..it is more likely naive versus nefarious..at least at this point.

[TheCipher]

How is any pf this relevant to “colluding with the Russians to influence the election”. These meetings took place in December AFTER the elections. It seems to me they wanted the secure communications because they probably suspected then that Obama was listening to their conversations

[TChad]

“communicate in a discreet manner” i.e. not having their conversation immediately leaked to NYT or WaPo. They’d be crazy not to do business this way.

That obvious point continues to elude the MSM.

[DoughtyOne]

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[Chgogal]

The a$$hole “General” Michael Hayden strongly disagrees. But this swamp scum did NOTHING about Hillary's illegal private server (that the Chinese and Russians hacked) or the Hillary's sale of 20% of the US’ uranium.

He and the rest of the perfumed princes need to be arrested, indicted, prosecuted, found guilty and then hanged.

[AmericanInTokyo]

This Jared Kushner individual is no friend of Conservatism nor of Free Republic. He is a black hat inside the chicken coop. A moderating force to water down Dad’s many strong and key promises to us, the right wing base. Good riddance!

[trebb]

The LSM hates this because “back channel” = “secure from leaks”.....

[FreedomPoster]

It seems to me it would also be a way to side step and cut out the swamp denizens of Foggy Bottom.

[blueplum]

remember when Zero was elected and his people wanted all of Bush’s people to step aside so they could take over the gov-t immediately instead of waiting for the innaug so they could ‘get up to speed’? And then proceeded to set up a shadow govt for two months?

[upchuck]

Sourced. Relief! Go McMaster.

[savedbygrace]

http://truepundit.com/flashback-obama-campaign-opened-back-channel-to-iran/

[savedbygrace]

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2015/03/how-barack-obama-undercut-bush-administrations-nuclear-negotiations-with-iran.php