Posted on 06/26/2020 2:28:16 PM PDT by FewsOrange
American intelligence officials have concluded that a Russian military intelligence unit secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing coalition forces in Afghanistan — including targeting American troops — amid the peace talks to end the long-running war there, according to officials briefed on the matter.
The United States concluded months ago that the Russian unit, which has been linked to assassination attempts and other covert operations in Europe intended to destabilize the West or take revenge on turncoats, had covertly offered rewards for successful attacks last year.
Islamist militants, or armed criminal elements closely associated with them, are believed to have collected some bounty money, the officials said. Twenty Americans were killed in combat in Afghanistan in 2019, but it was not clear which killings were under suspicion.
The intelligence finding was briefed to President Trump, and the White House’s National Security Council discussed the problem at an interagency meeting in late March, the officials said. Officials developed a menu of potential options — starting with making a diplomatic complaint to Moscow and a demand that it stop, along with an escalating series of sanctions and other possible responses, but the White House has yet to authorize any step, the officials said. An operation to incentivize the killing of American and other NATO troops would be a significant and provocative escalation of what American and Afghan officials have said is Russian support for the Taliban, and it would be the first time the Russian spy unit was known to have orchestrated attacks on Western troops.
... The Kremlin had not been made aware of the accusations, said Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. “If someone makes them, we’ll respond,” Mr. Peskov said. A Taliban spokesman did not respond to messages seeking comment.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
So, otherwise they would not have bothered, I take it?
New York Times.
(Snort)
Now is this same “intelligence” that explained to us how President Trump and Flynn were Russian spies, and that white nationalism is the most dangerous internal threat America faces?
That “intelligence” community? LOL
We’ve all been there to long.
Could be true. Could be BS.
What'd they say about the Chinese stealing secrets for the past thirty years? Nada, Zip, Zilch, because handing tech to China pays nearly as well as shipping and processing Afghan opium into heroin does.
“What’d they say about the Chinese stealing secrets for the past thirty years? Nada, Zip, Zilch,”
Nonsense
I don’t buy it. Russia has its own problems with Muslims and the last thing they want is Central Asia seething with Islamism.
The NYT editorial board just has an animus against Russia and want to start WWIII.
That’s the thanks we get for not interfering when the Russians invaded Afghanistan?
This crap all started when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor.
[I don’t buy it. Russia has its own problems with Muslims and the last thing they want is Central Asia seething with Islamism.]
Real life isn’t a Star Wars episode, where each ally is clamoring to take on more danger. In real life, allies want the easiest jobs but put out press releases claiming credit for someone else’s victory.
We allied with the Soviets against Germany. The Brits allied with the US against Germany and Japan, even though they knew that FDR wanted their empire completely dismantled. Countries make temporary arrangements because they want to do things without paying the entire cost themselves. What’s wrong with paying one enemy to fight another? The US is the primary country preventing Russian territorial expansion. For the Russians, Islam is a minor problem solvable via traditional Russian methods:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circassian_genocide
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deportation_of_the_Chechens_and_Ingush
The American challenge isn’t.
No surprise, Moscow wants to reclaim its role as the regional power broker.
The Nyt has it in for the Russkies because they abandoned communism.
In Assramistan? Are you serious? If you believe ANYTHING the NYT says you’re not!
Just one more reason to get the hell out of there.
Yes Russia is interested in the area. Putin invited the Taliban to Moscow for talks in 2019.
https://apnews.com/8c285a3bcaac4c978b5378db54ed9166
Maybe True....Maybe BS....That’s my call, too.
You know, it was interesting to see the Russian Cosmonauts working closely today with our Astronauts during the space walk and I do believe they are professional and genuine in their support of the ISS mission. On the other hand, having spent a little time as a military officer, I don’t trust the Soviets/Russians as far as I can throw them. The Russians will do whatever is necessary for their own interests.
Wish we did the same.
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