POL Politiek
Discussies en diepgaande gesprekken over de politiek in de breedste zin van het woord kun je hier voeren.
Geen wonder dat er zoveel geredacteerd was in de documenten van het OMB en de Senaat liever geen getuigen oproept:
Exclusive: Unredacted Ukraine Documents Reveal Extent of Pentagon’s Legal Concerns
[ Bericht 3% gewijzigd door Kijkertje op 02-01-2020 17:13:16 ]
Exclusive: Unredacted Ukraine Documents Reveal Extent of Pentagon’s Legal Concerns
Draadjes hierover:quote:“Clear direction from POTUS to continue to hold.”
This is what Michael Duffey, associate director of national security programs at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), told Elaine McCusker, the acting Pentagon comptroller, in an Aug. 30 email, which has only been made available in redacted form until now. It is one of many documents the Trump administration is trying to keep from the public, despite congressional oversight efforts and court orders in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) litigation.
Earlier in the day on Aug. 30, President Donald Trump met with Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to discuss the president’s hold on $391 million in military assistance for Ukraine. Inside the Trump administration, panic was reaching fever pitch about the president’s funding hold, which had stretched on for two months. Days earlier, POLITICO had broken the story and questions were starting to pile up. U.S. defense contractors were worried about delayed contracts and officials in Kyiv and lawmakers on Capitol Hill wanted to know what on earth was going on. While Trump’s national security team thought withholding the money went against U.S. national security interests, Trump still wouldn’t budge.
Thanks to the testimony of several Trump administration officials, we now know what Trump was waiting on: a commitment from Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden.
But getting at that truth hasn’t been easy and the Trump administration continues to try to obscure it. It is blocking key officials from testifying and is keeping documentary evidence from lawmakers investigating the Ukraine story. For example, this note from Duffey to McCusker was never turned over to House investigators and the Trump administration is continuing to try to keep it secret.
Last month, a court ordered the government to release almost 300 pages of emails to the Center for Public Integrity in response to a FOIA lawsuit. It released a first batch on Dec. 12, and then a second installment on Dec. 21, including Duffey’s email, but that document, along with several others, were partially or completely blacked out.
Since then, Just Security has viewed unredacted copies of these emails, which begin in June and end in early October. Together, they tell the behind-the-scenes story of the defense and budget officials who had to carry out the president’s unexplained hold on military aid to Ukraine.
The documents reveal growing concern from Pentagon officials that the hold would violate the Impoundment Control Act, which requires the executive branch to spend money as appropriated by Congress, and that the necessary steps to avoid this result weren’t being taken. Those steps would include notifying Congress that the funding was being held or shifted elsewhere, a step that was never taken. The emails also show that no rationale was ever given for why the hold was put in place or why it was eventually lifted.
What is clear is that it all came down to the president and what he wanted; no one else appears to have supported his position. Although the pretext for the hold was that some sort of policy review was taking place, the emails make no mention of that actually happening. Instead, officials were anxiously waiting for the president to be convinced that the hold was a bad idea. And while the situation continued throughout the summer, senior defense officials were searching for legal guidance, worried they would be blamed should the hold be lifted too late to actually spend all of the money, which would violate the law.
The emails also reveal key decision points, moments when senior officials hoped the hold might be lifted. This includes Vice President Mike Pence’s September meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which a senior defense official expected would resolve the funding issue, raising the question: Why? What was supposed to come out of that meeting that would pave the way for Trump to lift the hold? What was Pence expected to communicate?
But, the hold wasn’t immediately lifted after Pence’s meeting with Zelenskyy. Instead, the president finally released the money on Sept. 11, just as the whistleblower complaint was about to break into the open.
As for how the story begins, it was in mid-June when Defense Department officials first heard the president had questions about the Ukraine money.
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twitter:rgoodlaw twitterde op donderdag 02-01-2020 om 15:22:23 Many revelations in this SCOOP by @K8brannen (including remarkable reference to Pence's meeting with Zelenskyy).Here I'll outline the significant trouble these unredacted emails spell for Mick Mulvaney's OMB and evidence of a cover up.<thread>...https://t.co/Or12CFjdlf reageer retweet
Many revelations in this SCOOP by @twitter:NatashaBertrand twitterde op donderdag 02-01-2020 om 16:54:32 The Justice Department also redacted a simple question from the Pentagon comptroller to OMB: Had the hold on Ukraine funds gone through the Pentagon's general counsel? https://t.co/fP1S16tDCU https://t.co/ziin8y8VT6 reageer retweet
The Justice Department also redacted a simple question from the Pentagon comptroller to OMB: Had the hold on Ukraine funds gone through the Pentagon's general counsel? [ Bericht 3% gewijzigd door Kijkertje op 02-01-2020 17:13:16 ]
“The fundamental cause of the trouble in the modern world today is that the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.”— Bertrand Russell
Jij hebt hier liever geen inhoudelijke discussie?quote:
Volkorenbrood: "Geen quotes meer in jullie sigs gaarne."
In het kader hiervan brengt iemand op Twitter dit draadje nog even onder de aandacht over de ontmoeting van Pence met Zelensky:
twitter:costareports twitterde op vrijdag 20-09-2019 om 02:56:44 VP Pence met with Ukraine's Zelensky a few weeks ago in Poland, sitting in for Pres. Trump, who couldn't make the trip. The meeting was in a windowless hotel room. Bolton sat silent, Sec. Perry there, too, as pool reporters were brought int. Zelensky kept bouncing his knees... reageer retweet
VP Pence met with Ukraine's Zelensky a few weeks ago in Poland, sitting in for Pres. Trump, who couldn't make the trip. The meeting was in a windowless hotel room. Bolton sat silent, Sec. Perry there, too, as pool reporters were brought int. Zelensky kept bouncing his knees...
Analyse van Goodman.
twitter:rgoodlaw twitterde op donderdag 02-01-2020 om 15:32:38 @K8brannen 2. The emails appear to contradict OMB General Counsel Paoletta's letter to Congress (which set forth new rationale for hold on Ukraine aid on eve of HJC vote on impeachment articles).It's hard to see why sentences like this in his letter are not intentional false statements.👇 https://t.co/WVPsoo5j6k reageer retweet
twitter:rgoodlaw twitterde op donderdag 02-01-2020 om 18:17:24 Senator Schumer releases a Statement based on our article by @K8brannen reporting on unredacted Ukraine emails obtained by @just_security.(hat tip: @NatashaBertrand)#UkraineDocs https://t.co/LfmMDp3uxW reageer retweet
“The fundamental cause of the trouble in the modern world today is that the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.”— Bertrand Russell
twitter:pewresearch twitterde op donderdag 02-01-2020 om 18:43:02 Only 31% of Americans say the current economic conditions are helping them and their family. 46% say the current conditions are hurting them and their families. https://t.co/Yc16OH86av https://t.co/OiwAdABVOR reageer retweet
Only 31% of Americans say the current economic conditions are helping them and their family. 46% say the current conditions are hurting them and their families. 
“The fundamental cause of the trouble in the modern world today is that the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.”— Bertrand Russell
Waarom wachten in het Huis als je ook gelijk impeachment binnen kan halen en dan wachten op een antwoord van de Senaat? Als je toch moet wachten, waarom niet met impeachment op zak? Nu maakt het niet meer uit als Trump de boel blijft vertragen, dat gebeurt toch ten koste van hem en niet meer van Pelosi, die impeachment al in de zak heeft.quote:Op donderdag 2 januari 2020 15:41 schreef Chivaz het volgende:
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Nope, en blijkbaar is Pelosi het met mij eens aangezien zij de getuigenissen van “the inner circle” niet via de rechter wilt afdwingen.
In plaats daar van speelt ze de hete aardappel door naar de senaat. Althans ze wilt het doorspelen naar de senaat met een aantal voorwaarden.
Dit is al eerder gezegd, maar dit is echt een meesterlijke zet van Pelosi. Elke dag komt er weer meer bewijs beschikbaar over de corruptie van Trump. Hij is nu niets anders dan een lafaard die zelf niet durft te getuigen en ook niemand van zijn inner circle laat getuigen. En ondertussen kan hij zijn lulverhaal niet kwijt, want de Senaat kan het proces niet killen zoals ze dat geplanned hadden.
McConnell zit in de problemen.twitter:tribelaw twitterde op donderdag 02-01-2020 om 15:39:17 I’ve heard some chatter that @senatemajldr McConnell could unilaterally begin an impeachment trial without waiting for @SpeakerPelosi to transmit the articles to the Senate. Not so.The standing Senate Rules preclude that option. Amending that rule would require a 2/3 majority. reageer retweet
I’ve heard some chatter that @
twitter:SpeakerPelosi twitterde op donderdag 02-01-2020 om 21:17:53 Trump engaged in unprecedented, total obstruction of Congress, hiding these emails, all other documents, and his top aides from the American people.His excuse was a phony complaint about the House process.What’s the excuse now? Why won’t Trump & McConnell allow a fair trial? https://t.co/S3ZlEJMMDB reageer retweet
Trump engaged in unprecedented, total obstruction of Congress, hiding these emails, all other documents, and his top aides from the American people.His excuse was a phony complaint about the House process.What’s the excuse now? Why won’t Trump & McConnell allow a fair trial? twitter:glennkirschner2 twitterde op woensdag 01-01-2020 om 20:16:06 Which is EXACTLY why the 2020 Dem nominee must pledge to establish a #TrumpCrimesCommission #TCC to investigate/prosecute all crimes by Trump & his co-conspirators/aiders & abettors/accessories. This is essential to restoring the rule of law & deterring future crimes. #NoPardons https://t.co/QQjFgQtV20 reageer retweet
Which is EXACTLY why the 2020 Dem nominee must pledge to establish a twitter:craigunger twitterde op woensdag 01-01-2020 om 20:53:23 And it must investigate more than crimes. Often, the biggest scandal is what IS legal. The counterintelligence part of Mueller probe has never been released. We need to know how Russian $$ has compromised so many politicians--eg RU Mafia laundered $$ thru Trump real estate. https://t.co/xsF38vbZy6 reageer retweet
And it must investigate more than crimes. Often, the biggest scandal is what IS legal. The counterintelligence part of Mueller probe has never been released. We need to know how Russian $$ has compromised so many politicians--eg RU Mafia laundered $$ thru Trump real estate.
Ik ben benieuwd.twitter:CNN twitterde op donderdag 02-01-2020 om 21:31:07 Greater clarity regarding the future of President Trump's impeachment could be derived Friday when the US Senate reconvenes and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is likely to speak on the floor https://t.co/rGcebMwcbP reageer retweet
Greater clarity regarding the future of President Trump's impeachment could be derived Friday when the US Senate reconvenes and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is likely to speak on the floor 
Art of the dealquote:
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In plaats daar van speelt ze de hete aardappel door naar de senaat. Althans ze wilt het doorspelen naar de senaat met een aantal voorwaarden.
Galantly he chickened out...
The tale of Sir Robin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZwuTo7zKM8
The tale of Sir Robin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZwuTo7zKM8
Drip, drip, drip...
BuzzFeed News sued the US government for the right to see all the work that Robert Mueller's team kept secret. Today we are publishing the third installment of the FBI's summaries of interviews with key witnesses.
[ Bericht 22% gewijzigd door Kijkertje op 03-01-2020 01:21:45 ]
Robert Mueller's Secret Memos, Part 3: The Documents The Justice Department Didn't Want Congress To Seetwitter:kaitlancollins twitterde op vrijdag 03-01-2020 om 00:08:49 CNN and BuzzFeed just got more than 350 pages of FBI memos from witness interviews in Mueller's investigation. There are big redactions, but one of the interviews is completely blacked out — including who was being interviewed! https://t.co/0dNrWS0b5V reageer retweet
CNN and BuzzFeed just got more than 350 pages of FBI memos from witness interviews in Mueller's investigation. There are big redactions, but one of the interviews is completely blacked out — including who was being interviewed! BuzzFeed News sued the US government for the right to see all the work that Robert Mueller's team kept secret. Today we are publishing the third installment of the FBI's summaries of interviews with key witnesses.
quote:BuzzFeed News has obtained some of the most important and highly sought-after documents from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation: summaries of FBI interviews with key White House officials.
The hundreds of pages of documents, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, were the subject of a protracted legal dispute between the Justice Department and the House Judiciary Committee, which sought them over the summer as part of its impeachment inquiry. The committee had requested access to an unredacted copy of the Mueller report, grand jury testimony from the investigation, and the FBI's summaries of 33 interviews. The Justice Department resisted, claiming the impeachment inquiry does not entitle the panel to see those records. A federal judge disagreed, ruling in October that "DOJ is wrong" and that the White House and the Justice Department were "openly stonewalling" the committee.
In the documents released Thursday, the FBI withheld portions under a number of FOIA exemptions -- including one that says the disclosure of information would interfere with ongoing investigations. They also withheld information from these records claiming disclosure would threaten national security.
The documents also include a contains a 31-page interview that is completely redacted -- including the name of the person being interviewed.
[..]
[ Bericht 22% gewijzigd door Kijkertje op 03-01-2020 01:21:45 ]
“The fundamental cause of the trouble in the modern world today is that the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.”— Bertrand Russell
De beproefde techniek wordt uit de kast gehaald. Het is oorlog.
Een hoge Iraanse generaal is vermoord door de US. Ook berichten van arrestaties ...
Een hoge Iraanse generaal is vermoord door de US. Ook berichten van arrestaties ...
zie email 27 oktober
twitter:alihashem_tv twitterde op vrijdag 03-01-2020 om 01:28:00 My sources suggesting that commander of #IRGC Quds force Qassem #Suleimani and Deputy chief of #PMU Abu Mahdi AlMuhandes were in the convoy hit by the #US airstrike near #Baghdad airport #Iraq reageer retweet
My sources suggesting that commander of twitter:alihashem_tv twitterde op vrijdag 03-01-2020 om 02:11:51 Iraq state tv quoting a #PMU source: deputy commander of #PMU Abu Mahdi #Muhandes and #IRGC Quds force commander Col. Qassem #Soleimani were killed in a strike that targeted their convoy near #Baghdad international airport #Iraq https://t.co/lWh7dTxrAr reageer retweet
Qasem_Soleimani gedood.twitter:alihashem_tv twitterde op vrijdag 03-01-2020 om 02:28:05 Reuter’s quoting US officials: the #US executed strikes on two targets related to Iran in #Baghdad on Friday https://t.co/w7frBsdhA5 https://t.co/fRnptSyjo6 reageer retweet
twitter:ilangoldenberg twitterde op vrijdag 03-01-2020 om 01:37:37 IF TRUE (HUGE IF). This would likely mean all out conflict between US forces and Iranian supported Shia militia in Iraq https://t.co/q3Bky2wNLX reageer retweet
IF TRUE (HUGE IF). This would likely mean all out conflict between US forces and Iranian supported Shia militia in Iraq
“The fundamental cause of the trouble in the modern world today is that the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.”— Bertrand Russell
Nog een draadje:
twitter:yashar twitterde op vrijdag 03-01-2020 om 02:47:36 1. There are unconfirmed reports that Qasem Soleimani commander of Qods Force (Iran's external security agency) has been killed in drone strikes. If true, this will be a major moment in US-Iran relations & Supreme Leader will undoubtedly see this as a major provocation/act of war https://t.co/nLZNbvalsT reageer retweet
1. There are unconfirmed reports that Qasem Soleimani commander of Qods Force (Iran's external security agency) has been killed in drone strikes. If true, this will be a major moment in US-Iran relations & Supreme Leader will undoubtedly see this as a major provocation/act of war
“The fundamental cause of the trouble in the modern world today is that the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.”— Bertrand Russell
Helemaal mee eenstwitter:PeterBeinart twitterde op vrijdag 03-01-2020 om 03:06:37 Suleimani has lots of blood on his hands. So did Saddam Hussein. And assassinating him is the single most reckless act of American foreign policy since the Iraq War. reageer retweet
Suleimani has lots of blood on his hands. So did Saddam Hussein. And assassinating him is the single most reckless act of American foreign policy since the Iraq War.
“The fundamental cause of the trouble in the modern world today is that the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.”— Bertrand Russell
quote:De commander in chief heeft gereageerd. Slechts deze foto: [ afbeelding ]twitter:
twitter:gtconway3d twitterde op vrijdag 03-01-2020 om 03:37:38 It’s really a bad and dangerous thing that the president of the United States is an impulsive, incompetent, and delusional narcissistic sociopath. reageer retweet
It’s really a bad and dangerous thing that the president of the United States is an impulsive, incompetent, and delusional narcissistic sociopath. twitter:RichardHaass twitterde op vrijdag 03-01-2020 om 03:40:06 It would be ironic and worse yet tragic as well as dangerous if an administration that wanted to reduce the US footprint in the Mideast has set in motion a dynamic that will draw us in much further at a time we face challenges from China and NK in Asia and Russia in Europe. reageer retweet
It would be ironic and worse yet tragic as well as dangerous if an administration that wanted to reduce the US footprint in the Mideast has set in motion a dynamic that will draw us in much further at a time we face challenges from China and NK in Asia and Russia in Europe.
“The fundamental cause of the trouble in the modern world today is that the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.”— Bertrand Russell
Draadje:
"Defensive action"? Wat een achterlijke actietwitter:DanLamothe twitterde op vrijdag 03-01-2020 om 03:48:08 Pentagon: "At the direction of the President, the U.S. military has taken decisive defensive action to protect U.S. personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization." reageer retweet
Pentagon: "At the direction of the President, the U.S. military has taken decisive defensive action to protect U.S. personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization."
“The fundamental cause of the trouble in the modern world today is that the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.”— Bertrand Russell
quote:
De beproefde techniek wordt uit de kast gehaald. Het is oorlog.
Een hoge Iraanse generaal is vermoord door de US. Ook berichten van arrestaties ...
twitter:realDonaldTrump twitterde op dinsdag 29-11-2011 om 20:48:51 In order to get elected, @BarackObama will start a war with Iran. reageer retweet
“The fundamental cause of the trouble in the modern world today is that the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.”— Bertrand Russell
[ Bericht 51% gewijzigd door Kijkertje op 03-01-2020 05:43:36 (Te speculatief) ]
“The fundamental cause of the trouble in the modern world today is that the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.”— Bertrand Russell
twitter:aliarouzi twitterde op vrijdag 03-01-2020 om 04:09:01 A former head of the IRGC has just promised that Iran will strike a strong revenge against the USA over the death of Qassem Soleimani reageer retweet
A former head of the IRGC has just promised that Iran will strike a strong revenge against the USA over the death of Qassem Soleimani
“The fundamental cause of the trouble in the modern world today is that the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.”— Bertrand Russell
Misschien al voorbij gekomen maar toch hilarisch! De geschiedvervalser in chief had weer wat te pochen. 
twitter:realDonaldTrump twitterde op woensdag 01-01-2020 om 01:55:01 One of my greatest honors was to have gotten CHOICE approved for our great Veterans. Others have tried for decades, and failed! https://t.co/NcVbbnrT5O reageer retweet
twitter:svdate twitterde op woensdag 01-01-2020 om 04:43:10 This is a lie. Sens McCain and Sanders got the bill written and passed. Barack Obama signed it into law. There are photos and video. https://t.co/4qBb4gciFO reageer retweet
This is a lie. Sens McCain and Sanders got the bill written and passed. Barack Obama signed it into law. There are photos and video. twitter:ChrisLu44 twitterde op woensdag 01-01-2020 om 18:00:58 @svdate Here’s Obama signing the Veterans Choice Act in 2014 that was sponsored by Bernie Sanders and John McCain. Trump will keep saying that only he could get this bill passed. But we have this thing called the Internet to call out his lies. https://t.co/m6VgMeDVpp https://t.co/DmRxdNtWma reageer retweet
@svdate Here’s Obama signing the Veterans Choice Act in 2014 that was sponsored by Bernie Sanders and John McCain. Trump will keep saying that only he could get this bill passed. But we have this thing called the Internet to call out his lies.
Het is idd al een oudequote:
Misschien al voorbij gekomen maar toch hilarisch! De geschiedvervalser in chief had weer wat te pochen.twitter:realDonaldTrump twitterde op woensdag 01-01-2020 om 01:55:01 One of my greatest honors was to have gotten CHOICE approved for our great Veterans. Others have tried for decades, and failed! https://t.co/NcVbbnrT5O reageer retweettwitter:svdate twitterde op woensdag 01-01-2020 om 04:43:10 This is a lie. Sens McCain and Sanders got the bill written and passed. Barack Obama signed it into law. There are photos and video. https://t.co/4qBb4gciFO reageer retweettwitter:ChrisLu44 twitterde op woensdag 01-01-2020 om 18:00:58 @:svdate Here’s Obama signing the Veterans Choice Act in 2014 that was sponsored by Bernie Sanders and John McCain. Trump will keep saying that only he could get this bill passed. But we have this thing called the Internet to call out his lies. https://t.co/m6VgMeDVpp https://t.co/DmRxdNtWma reageer retweet
twitter:ddale8 twitterde op woensdag 01-01-2020 om 17:33:58 Trump told this lie at least 56 times in 2019. He's up to at least 109 times for his presidency. https://t.co/6t0JbVsq8a reageer retweet
Trump told this lie at least 56 times in 2019. He's up to at least 109 times for his presidency.
“The fundamental cause of the trouble in the modern world today is that the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.”— Bertrand Russell
