All the huffing and puffing and slandering and fear-mongering and lying for months about Russian hacking failed to make the case.
Not a shred of evidence was presented supporting accusations made. A previous article cited polling data, showing most Americans disbelieve it.
In US trial proceedings, guilt depends on proof beyond a reasonable doubt, even if not absolutely certain – a high standard to meet, defendants presumed innocent otherwise.
America’s intelligence community can’t get its act straight. Switching allegations shows its operatives can’t agree on what fake news to go with.
Earlier accusations changed, Reuters saying three unnamed US officials now claim “Russia provided hacked material from the Democratic National Committee to WikiLeaks through a third party.”
The earlier version accused Russia of directly interfering in America’s election process, hacking the DNC, helping Trump defeat Hillary.
No evidence suggests Moscow interfered in the election process of any country, or rigged its own to assure Putin’s triumph.
His overwhelming popularity speaks for itself. Russians want no one else leading them. If he runs again in 2018, he’ll be reelected easily, as things now stand.
According to Reuters, unnamed US officials “declined to describe the intelligence obtained about the involvement of a third-party in passing on leaked material to WikiLeaks, saying they did not want to reveal how the US government had obtained the information” – code language for nothing credible to release.
It’s fake news like virtually everything else denigrating Russia, ludicrously calling it “an existential threat,” hyping nonexistent “Russian aggression,” – disgraceful fear-mongering to justify bloated military sending at a time America’s only enemies are ones it invents.
Claiming Russian US election hacking is all about delegitimizing Trump’s triumph, making it hard, maybe impossible, for him to normalize bilateral ties.
If he tries, attempted congressional rebuff is certain, perhaps passing veto-proof legislation, criminalizing efforts to do it.
If he proceeds, he could be impeached and removed from office for treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors as the Constitution permits (Article II, Section 4).
Short of removal from office, any portion of his agenda conflicting with longstanding consensus could be undermined.
If all else fails, he could be eliminated the old-fashioned way – assassinated, ending his tenure and life in one fell swoop.
Four US presidents were assassinated in office: Lincoln, James Garfield, William Mckinley and Jack Kennedy. The deaths of Zachary Taylor and Warren Harding were rumored to be assassinations.
Numerous attempts on the lives of sitting presidents failed, notably against Andrew Jackson, Theodore Roosevelt, his cousin Franklin, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan.
The displeasure of pro-Hillary power brokers over Trump’s triumph leaves him vulnerable. His super-wealth and privilege can’t protect him.
He’s used to being chairman and president of a global conglomerate bearing his name. If he defiantly goes his own way, a bad ending may await him in one form or other.
Dark forces running America tolerate no one challenging longstanding policy. Attempts to diverge significantly don’t end well.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected].
His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”
http://www.claritypress.com/
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.
