Within media reporting there is usually a ring of truth, albeit spun into a fake news narrative. President Trump famously said, “the reports are real, the news is fake.” I suspect this report today about CIA Director John Ratcliffe being more involved in the Ukraine-Russia conflict negotiations is a prime example.
We’ll start here: “CIA director John Ratcliffe is preparing to take a bigger role in U.S. negotiations with Russia and Ukraine, U.S. officials have told their European counterparts, in a bid to jump-start moribund diplomatic efforts to end the four-and-a-half-year-long war,” the Financial Times reports.
“The move comes as the White House is considering paring back the involvement of U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who have been leading the talks with Moscow and Kyiv.” {Source)
I suspect the first paragraph is accurate, and I suspect the second paragraph is entirely fake news. That opinion seems verified by the White House refuting the Financial Times report. Pay attention to what they actually refute:
“This entire story is totally fake news attributed to low-level, anonymous ‘sources’ who have no idea what they are talking about. None of these supposed conversations are happening. Special Envoy Witkoff and Jared Kushner continue to work incredibly hard towards a peace agreement, and the President trusts them fully to lead negotiations on behalf of the United States. It’s a shame that Financial Times has devolved into a left-wing gossip rag that has zero interest in reporting accurate information.” ~White House, Anna Kelly
I have a theory on this, and generally I don’t get out in advance of things – preferring to wait, assemble data, and then citing the backstory in the full context outline. However, this story is different. There’s a geopolitical clock ticking and I suspect events will unfold rather quickly, so it’s worth peeking around the corner in advance of the picture emerging.
To start, understand the Russian psychology and how the Kremlin specifically presents their positions. Russians don’t do small talk at all. If a Russian has nothing to say, if they perceive no value or transactional purpose in words, they stay quiet.
Russians speak when there is value in the conversation. Russians do not do small talk; that’s a western attribute.
That’s why when the Kremlin quickly broadcast video of Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner immediately meeting with Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin and top aide Ushakov, it seemed odd. Letting the cameras roll while Witkoff, Kushner and Putin himself engaged in small talk diplomatic introductions was very odd. Beyond odd. That’s the thing that interested observers noted was unusual. Something was different.
Then came the follow-up. President Trump speaking with President Putin for an hour, and the specific wording used by Ushakov to describe the conversation itself. There were several points of interest in how the readout was worded, with particular interest to these paragraphs:
[…] “Clearly, the conversation centered on Ukrainian settlement. Donald Trump directly communicated the desirability of bringing the conflict to an end as soon as possible, as it would immediately open up prospects – impressive and far-reaching ones at that – for the full restoration of relations between the U.S. and Russia. In his view, this would have a particular impact on trade and economic ties, promising huge benefits for both nations. Donald Trump is keen to see a breakthrough achieved during his presidency.
President Putin supported this approach in the context of potentially building a constructive partnership between the two great powers and praised the mediation efforts by the US and Donald Trump personally with respect to finding solutions to the Ukrainian conflict. An objective and extensive analysis of the current developments in the special military operation was provided, along with our vision of the overall progress on the battlefield and achieving the goals and objectives of the special military operation. Speaking of which, actual tangible actions that the Americans could take to expedite the cessation of the hostilities were outlined.”… {source, Kremlin}
I am very confident that President Trump is looking at Russia as a mechanism to solve the Iran conflict and beyond. {GO DEEP} That’s why the “trade and economic ties, promising huge benefits for both nations,” directly attributed to President Trump, is part of the readout.
Then you get to the more surprising part. “[Russia’s] vision of the overall progress on the battlefield and achieving the goals and objectives of the special military operation. Speaking of which, actual tangible actions that the Americans could take to expedite the cessation of the hostilities were outlined.” President Putin outlined tangible actions “Americans could take.” Putting that in a readout of a call between Trump and Putin is quite remarkable.
I suspect that Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Trump had a very honest conversation about the overall conflict, and when President Trump brings up the restoration of the economic relationship as well as the removal of sanctions, Putin then challenged Trump.
Russian President Putin doesn’t believe that President Trump or any other U.S. President actually controls the mechanisms of government. This opinion is underlined and emphasized when it comes to the U.S. Intelligence Community and the CIA.
Putin has long stated that no U.S. President controls the CIA, and Putin has said while he never views the U.S. President or the people of America as his enemy, the CIA are the problem. Putin views the CIA as the real control mechanism within the U.S. government.
America is not Russia’s enemy, the CIA is. That’s Putin’s perspective in a nutshell.
When it was revealed how the FBI, ODNI and CIA had targeted candidate Donald Trump and later President Trump, Vladimir Putin used this reference point in all of his statements about “Russiagate” as an I-told-you-so point of emphasis. Putin has a long-held belief that U.S. intelligence agencies operated outside the framework of government, and the “Russiagate” operation against Trump proved it. At least that was his public perspective.
There is nothing evident to sway Putin’s perspective and opinion toward President Trump in term-2. Putin doesn’t believe Trump controls the intelligence agencies, and Putin certainly doesn’t believe Trump controls the CIA.
Now, put that Putin-Trump phone call (use the readout as a reference) together with the report today that CIA Director John Ratcliffe will take a “greater role in Russia-Ukraine talks.”
I suspect that President Trump discussed the benefits to Russia of rejoining the world economy, the removal of sanctions, the financial benefits from the sale of Russian oil and gas and the geopolitical benefits of Russia and the United States forming a strategic relationship. However, I also suspect that Putin returned that outlook by telling President Trump he was not in control of USIC and as a consequence really not in control of the U.S relationship with NATO.
Obviously, President Trump would counter that he was in control of the USIC and all the downstream institutions, but Putin would be incredulous to the possibility. History is on the side of Putin and DNI Gabbard could only achieve so much.
[‘Sure, if you are really in control – then do XXXX’] which in a readout becomes “actual tangible actions that the Americans could take.”
“CIA director John Ratcliffe is preparing to take a bigger role in U.S. negotiations with Russia and Ukraine, U.S. officials have told their European counterparts, in a bid to jump-start moribund diplomatic efforts to end the four-and-a-half-year-long war,” the Financial Times reports.
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[Support CTH Here]
What? US govt advising allies to keep American weapons flowing to Ukraine. Does President Trump know about this??
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/pentagon-informs-allies-prepare-protracted-war-ukraine
CIA is the primary aggressor in the war against Russia so it’s helpful if the CIA now actually wants peace.
How about Putin gives Radcliffe information related to the specific CIA trash that are undermining all of PDTs efforts globally? That right there could he the gift from Putin to PDT that changes the entire playing field
The CIA and MI6 are joined at the hip and Britain, Germany and France want war with Russia. Therefore, the CIA also want war, but the CIA wants war for different reasons. The CIA wants to control a large swath of Eurasia, including Ukraine and they can’t do that while Russia is asserting itself in Ukraine.
Also, it is important to understand that the CIA Director doesn’t necessarily control the CIA. The CIA has become more dangerous at home than the FBI and even more dangerous abroad for literally everyone. Like the General Jack Ripper character in “Doctor Strangelove” The CIA believe that war is too important to be left to the politicians. So, what DJT wants in Ukraine is irrelevant to them.
One problem with the out of control CIA is they are not solely funded by US taxpayers. There’s rivers of dirty money flowing to that evil entity
I’m thinking that like the President isn’t in control of the mechanisms of government, likewise, we should then wonder if
John Ratcliffe is really in control of the mechanisms of the CIA.
John Ratcliffe is President Trump’s choice to lead the beast, but is such a thing really possible? (I doubt it myself knowing history).
This is a move by the President to try and accomplish this end to this war, but it’s only going to work if John Ratcliffe actually does have real control of the beast.
How this all goes will give us this answer based upon what Mr. Putin decides -because I bet he knows.
What is that wild animal who never changer his spots – help me – was it an elephant (in the room) ?
I have a lousy memory.
Typical of the narrative. The Russians are incapable of training their own soldiers using veterans of that conflict, so have to rely on Western soldiers who’ve probably have nowhere near the accumulated experience the Russians have amassed.
Same with the precision missile strikes, attributed of course to NK missiles. Russia, whatever the outcome of the conflict, will never be allowed to take any credit for its successes. Same as the narrative after WW2, where their defeat of the vast bulk of the German forces was due to German mistakes, Allied assistance, the weather etc, anything but the Russians actually beating them.
.
Russia can’t even take credit for the fine athletes playing in the U.S. Open on their behalf . . .
I wouldn’t trust anything newsworthy coming out of the Daily Rag….. they are leftist Celebrity propaganda machine.
Makes me wonder who those two people are. If Z is just a puppet, then it makes me think there is someone else intended by that comment than Putin vs Z.
Putin and King Charles
Don’t make me vomit.
“King” Jug Ears has no say in anything, ask his second wife.
Why doesnt President Trump ever address this issue. Many MAGA people also don’t believe President Trump is truly controlling the US government. Its like the elephant in the room but the President doesnt seem to acknowledge it.
Those that “don’t believe President Trump is controlling the government” are not MAGA. They must be the disruptor calling themselves “America First”, but really just creating division and helping the DSA.
He can’t. He would lose any and all leverage with other countries if he actually admitted he was not in control,
if indeed, that is the case. IMO.
Maybe he is and we don’t know.
His job is not to control the government just the executive branch.
Many many multitudes of MAGA think he’s doing the incredible job for what he’s got to work with.
The USIC is part of the Exec branch … its supposed to be anyway … thus the problem …
Has the C.I.A. been out of control since its founding…or at least not long afterward?
The Kennedy Assassination followed by Jack Ruby killing Oswald reeked of an inside fix in 1963 and has continued to reek!
Too many Deep State elements in the C.I.A. right now: how will it be tamed?
How wealthy are long-time bureaucrats in the C.I.A.?
That could be a starting point!
The CIA is not the solution to our problems, the CIA is the problem.
President Trump hasn’t said, the Secretary of State hasn’t said, the envoys haven’t said that the CIA Directory will be taking a bigger role.
This is a wedge being driven between President Trump and President Putin.
Our “our government is here to help……no thank you.
If Russians find no value in “small talk” and Putin, Witkoff and Kushner engaged in such banter, then, obviously, Putin found some sort of value in the approach.
Hmm. What could that be? Missile co-ordinates?
Is this the same John Ratcliffe who wouldn’t release information to clear Trump in his first term?
Maybe there is a reason for that, which we do not know about.
Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Ephesians 1:11 – In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
To juxtapose an old Papal quote on the media: a drop of truth in a pitcher of poison.
I’m surprised there is no mention here of China in this piece by Sundance.
We also know that the President really wants to put China back on rice.
The sanctions on Russia have forced Russia to probably do more business with China than they’d like to do, that then contributes to growing China.
So to solve all this, then the sanctions can be lifted, this frees up Russia to make other choices that they like much better, this then adds to what POTUS is trying to do with China.
So if he can do all this and land a success, I see it as a Twofer because of what this all then also adds to his goals for reducing China back down to size.
I suppose my question would be, is CIA Director Ratcliffe in control of the USIC and all the downstream institutions???
Notwithstanding the assertion that Russians don’t do “small talk” Putin et al understand the theater of public relations and Western media editing visual imagery into 90 second soundbites and visuals for their short-attention audiences. So my sense is that the small talk critique is merely playing the western media as needed.
The more fundamental issue, as I noted previously, is the Trumpian determination for triangulation redux:
“Triangulation Redux – At the height of the Cold War – Nixon and Kissinger unveiled the modern version of triangulation diplomacy to counter the Russian threat. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangular_diplomacy)
Trump and Rubio et al seem to have massaged the strategy, included the ambivalence that former NATO/EU allies pose as well as the Ukraine imbroglio. Now it is China that is the major threat to the U.S. and Russian has become the leverage fulcrum to end China’s ascendancy. Awareness of history at play, much to the bafflement of so much of our media and politicians on the left.”
Realpolitik involves macro components, which come with all their attendant warts and flaws, but nonetheless are the necessary components for fundamental change. Putin is a thug, a KBG Colonel and ruthless dictator capable of betrayal and double-dealing on every level. He is also a Russian patriot, and besides hating the grand outcome of the Cold War and the interregnum disasters that befell the Soviet Union post break-up, he is also a realist. Russia is sliding into a vassal relationship with China, and Putin recognizes that the Ukraine War has vastly over-extended his national resources, quickening the decline. A U.S. reset, with the economic and security benefits it would provide, would restore Russia into a more normal relationship with the USA and the Old World West, at least culturally and perhaps in time socially. Russia sees itself as A European nation, not an Asian one fundamentally. So to that end, he is likely to behave relatively well, to sustain the advantages a re-alignment of the World Order that reconciliation with the US would offer.
It is a big lift, a world altering one akin to the post WWII Us emergence as a superpower and economic engine of the world (before we batered it away in our arrogance and shortsighted certainty nothing woud change) But Trump, for all his faults, sees himself as bold and insightful enough to pull it off! I for one, hope he can.
We have arrived at the moment of truth. A geopolitical singularity.
let us pray for Ratcliffe now also. Prayer is our weapon of choice . It is powerful!!!
The Financial Times said so?
Whatever.
0.o
Trump, like all politicians, has a limited amount of political clout. He must battle issues in order of need.
Almost the whole world is against what Trump represents. And the big moment that determines success is the midterm.
USSR was the enemy of all. Most Americans never got the message that Putin’s Russia is not the USSR. The Ukraine war was brilliantly framed as defending the world from the Russians/USSR. That is why Russia, Russia, Russia worked in the first term. It is not that Trump is lacking in control, it is that he is lacking in clout. Winning the midterm provides the clout. Win the midterm and Canada settles, Iran folds, Cuba begs, and EU is broken.