[stylin19a]

The only thing that always troubled me was the emphasis on “by the book”.

That should go without saying, so why say it?

As I read it, there have been things done not by the book...

Too bad, I was hoping for more from the redacted, considering this email was done from memory 15 days after the meeting.

[AndyJackson]

he only thing that always troubled me was the emphasis on “by the book”.

Apparently what really galled Rice was that Flynn regarded Russia as a declining power and saw China as the real threat. Talk about upsetting the moral order of the unversde....Flynn just had to go -

[bagster]

The only thing that always troubled me was the emphasis on “by the book”. That should go without saying, so why say it?

So that, just in case they ever got busted, he could say "I told them 'by the book'". And have it documented.

Just simple CYA stuff.

[meyer]

The only thing that always troubled me was the emphasis on “by the book”.

Was the "by the book" verbiage in Rice's text to herself? Maybe a reminder, in that case. We did everything legal. That's our story and we're sticking to it.

Or maybe just to add a thin layer of cover in case the information was ever revealed. Of course, actions speak louder than words...