Do you find it odd that almost up to the point that the Mueller report was released, John Brennan, former head of the CIA, said there would be other indictments? Adam Schiff, Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and his lackey, Congressman Eric Swalwell, were saying the same thing, but their source was probably Mr. Brennan. The mainstream media wanted to believe what Mr. Brennan was saying, so they took it uncritically and ran with it. After all, Mr. Brennan had been head of the CIA so, if anyone knew, he would.

Clearly, Mr. Brennan also believed what he was saying because he understood that he would look like a fool — which he now does — if the report did not contain additional indictments. Yesterday, Mr. Brennan said by way of excuse “that he was given bad information.” Oh, really.

Who gave him the bad information and why? The information most likely came from the Russians (directly or indirectly). The Russians had been trying to put a mole into the Trump campaign, as is well documented by Mr. Mueller, but they failed. Despite the fact that they had no mole in the campaign, it was in their interest to make Mr. Brennan think they had, as a way of exerting more control over him and the public course of events. They were able to undermine the president and sow chaos for two years, by making many believe he was a Russian agent when, in fact, he was a victim of Russian disinformation (fueled by many in the news media). The Russians probably did not care all that much whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump won — but they did want to undermine confidence in our political system, which is where they succeeded.

Mr. Brennan probably thought that the Mueller report would unmask the mole, showing collusion with the Trump campaign and the Russians. Mr. Brennan also likely understood that the Russians would sacrifice the mole — merely the cost of doing business — who might be sent to jail. But again, the mole was imaginary.

Mr. Brennan, of course, thought that when the mole was indicted, he, Brennan, would be viewed as the smart one, and his media and congressional buddies would love him. What Mr. Brennan failed to understand, despite his decades-long mutually-beneficial back-channel relationship with the Russians, he would be of little use — if not a drag — to them going forward. So, he was expendable, which is probably just now sinking in on him. Who would ever believe him in the future?

Mr. Schiff kept saying — and even continues to say — that he has seen direct evidence of Trump/Russian collusion. Of course, he hasn’t, or he would have provided it by now rather than look like an unrepentant liar. Mr. Brennan unintentionally has left him, like all the others, to hang out to dry.

Many in the mainstream media were so desperate to believe the worst about Mr. Trump, they treated Mr. Brennan’s assertions as absolute fact for two years.

The Russians have acted as they always do, as cold pragmatists to further what they consider are their own best interests. Mr. Brennan should have read more of the history of Russian intelligence before beginning his dance with them.

 

  • Richard W. Rahn served as an economic advisor for several think tanks and U.S. government agencies, to a number of senior officials in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe during the 1980’s and 1990’s (the period of the economic and political transition). He continues to monitor and write about events in those countries. 

 

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