You’ve got a military perspective. I do hope you know what you’re talking about. Trump, himself, has a military strategist mind. Flynn was being setup by the IC before the election. They floated a plausible idea that because Flynn was on Russia TV news station, his allegiance was to Russia. I’d never heard of him til then. But afterwards, I’ve not trusted him fully. The theme was massaged and developed and then he made an error which caused his demise. Military minds don’t make silly errors; they’re too disciplined. So you’re concluding this two-step between Flynn and Pence was a setup? It’s a heartening idea, if so. How will we ever know? Soldiers don’t talk about the mission.
Like in pinochle, it will be revealed only in later hands played. Sometimes you lead trump as a sacrifice in order to gauge your opponent’s strengths... and weaknesses.