1) My latest @EpochTimes
The Art of War: How President Trump Gained Significant Leverage With Declassification Order
theepochtimes.com/the-art-of-war…
The Art of War: How President Trump Gained Significant Leverage With Declassification Order
theepochtimes.com/the-art-of-war…
2) President Trump: We’re also dealing with foreign countries that do have a problem.
I got called today from two very good allies saying, “please, can we talk.”
So, it’s not as simple as all that. And we do have to respect their wishes.
But it will all come out.
I got called today from two very good allies saying, “please, can we talk.”
So, it’s not as simple as all that. And we do have to respect their wishes.
But it will all come out.
3) Today:
4)
5) An order for declassification, particularly one as potentially broad as this, touches on many different aspects.
In a previous article, I noted that the declassification process was more complex than commonly thought.
theepochtimes.com/trump-is-right…
In a previous article, I noted that the declassification process was more complex than commonly thought.
theepochtimes.com/trump-is-right…
6) There is the ongoing preparation of the DOJ Inspector General’s report on FISA abuse, which was announced on March 28, 2018.
oig.justice.gov/press/2018/201…
oig.justice.gov/press/2018/201…
7) Another element is the involvement of certain U.S. allies—almost certainly Britain and Australia—with the FBI and CIA in the events leading to the establishment of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Investigation.
8) Besides the ongoing investigation by the Inspector General into potential FISA abuse, he has also at least two subset investigations stemming from his June 2018 report.
9) Classified information the Inspector General is using or pursuing must be protected until the conclusion of his investigations.
This has almost certainly caused an inherent conflict with the declassification order issued by President Trump.
This has almost certainly caused an inherent conflict with the declassification order issued by President Trump.
10) The IG’s focus is very specific:
A review that will examine the DOJ & FBI compliance with legal requirements, and with applicable policies and procedures, in applications filed with the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) relating to a certain U.S. person.
A review that will examine the DOJ & FBI compliance with legal requirements, and with applicable policies and procedures, in applications filed with the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) relating to a certain U.S. person.
11) IG will also review information known to the DOJ & FBI, at the time the applications were filed, about an alleged FBI confidential source.
In addition, the OIG will also review communications the agencies had with the alleged source as it relates to the FISC applications.
In addition, the OIG will also review communications the agencies had with the alleged source as it relates to the FISC applications.
12) The “certain U.S. person” mentioned is former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.
The “alleged FBI confidential source” is Christopher Steele.
Another related source is FBI informant Stefan Halper, who will probably come up as part of the IG Investigation.
The “alleged FBI confidential source” is Christopher Steele.
Another related source is FBI informant Stefan Halper, who will probably come up as part of the IG Investigation.
13) The presidential order to initiate the declassification process directly interacts with the Inspector General’s investigation into FISA abuse.
That is, in part, why President Trump is referencing the Inspector General in his tweets.
That is, in part, why President Trump is referencing the Inspector General in his tweets.
14) It’s possible this may lead to a tandem release of the IG’s Report along with declassified documents stemming from President Trump’s order.
It appears more likely that the IG will now be responsible for releasing many - if not all - of the items President Trump specified.
It appears more likely that the IG will now be responsible for releasing many - if not all - of the items President Trump specified.
15) In relation to our allies, any information subject to declassification that pertains to foreign intelligence or to the allies themselves would result in high-level discussions.
They resulted in phone calls at levels high enough to reach President Trump directly.
They resulted in phone calls at levels high enough to reach President Trump directly.
16) These phone calls are telling.
British and Australian Intelligence were both involved in the events leading to the establishment of the FBI’s counterintelligence investigation.
British and Australian Intelligence were both involved in the events leading to the establishment of the FBI’s counterintelligence investigation.
17) "In late 2015 the British eavesdropping agency, GCHQ, was carrying out standard collection”
"The intelligence was handed to the US as part of a routine sharing of information."
theguardian.com/news/2017/nov/…
"The intelligence was handed to the US as part of a routine sharing of information."
theguardian.com/news/2017/nov/…
18) In the summer of 2016, Robert Hannigan, then-head of Britain’s GCHQ traveled to Washington D.C. to personally meet with then-CIA Director John Brennan.
19) Brennan used the foreign intelligence to launch an inter-agency investigation.
Then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper personally confirmed foreign intelligence involvement during Congressional testimony.
themarketswork.com/2018/04/09/joh…
Then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper personally confirmed foreign intelligence involvement during Congressional testimony.
themarketswork.com/2018/04/09/joh…
20) The BBC reported that Brennan’s involvement may have gone back to April 2016.
It was probably earlier.
Brennan used the foreign Intel to establish a task force.
Brennan would later refer to this task force during an interview with MSNBC’s Maddow.
bbc.com/news/world-us-…
It was probably earlier.
Brennan used the foreign Intel to establish a task force.
Brennan would later refer to this task force during an interview with MSNBC’s Maddow.
bbc.com/news/world-us-…
21) GCHQ’s Hannigan abruptly announced his retirement on Jan. 23, 2017–following President Trump’s inauguration.
The Guardian reported on speculation that Hannigan’s resignation was directly related to UK Intelligence sharing.
It almost certainly was.
theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/j…
The Guardian reported on speculation that Hannigan’s resignation was directly related to UK Intelligence sharing.
It almost certainly was.
theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/j…
22) Australian involvement comes via Alexander Downer through his meeting with George Papadopoulos.
It was this meeting, supposedly relayed by Australian intelligence to the FBI that has been cited as the reason for the FBI’s Counterintelligence Investigation.
It was this meeting, supposedly relayed by Australian intelligence to the FBI that has been cited as the reason for the FBI’s Counterintelligence Investigation.
23) Downer, who has long-standing ties to UK intelligence, served on the Advisory Board of private UK intelligence firm Hakluyt from 2008-2014.
He reportedly still maintains contact with Hakluyt officials.
themarketswork.com/2018/05/09/dea…
He reportedly still maintains contact with Hakluyt officials.
themarketswork.com/2018/05/09/dea…
24) Stefan Halper, the outed FBI spy, also has connections to Hakluyt through Jonathan Clarke, with whom he has co-authored two books.
Clarke is the U.S. Representative–Director U.S. Operations for Hakluyt.
Clarke is the U.S. Representative–Director U.S. Operations for Hakluyt.
25) Sir Richard Dearlove, the former Head of MI6, is associated with every foreign intelligence member mentioned.
themarketswork.com/2018/05/20/sir…
themarketswork.com/2018/05/20/sir…
26) Dearlove advised Steele & Burrows to work with a UK official to pass information to the FBI.
Dearlove knows Stefan Halper through the Cambridge Intelligence Seminar.
Dearlove also knows Iain Lobban, former GCHQ Head.
Lobban is an Advisory Board Member at Hakluyt.
Dearlove knows Stefan Halper through the Cambridge Intelligence Seminar.
Dearlove also knows Iain Lobban, former GCHQ Head.
Lobban is an Advisory Board Member at Hakluyt.
27) Papadopoulos sent this tweet:
28) He followed up with this:
29) After President Trump issued his order for declassification, both the DOJ and two of our allies made their case to limit or delay the release of that information.
30) In exchange for backing away from his immediate declassification request, President Trump has pushed the Inspector General’s Report to the forefront with an accelerated time-frame for its release.
31) Should the IG report prove less revealing, or more drawn out than is required, President Trump can revert to his prior declassification order.
32) Personally, I’m completely in favor of full disclosure.
But I also understand the power of leverage.
But I also understand the power of leverage.
33) Despite the disappointment sure to be expressed by many, President Trump is currently holding a position of significant leverage over all of those involved.
Including Britain and Australia.
Including Britain and Australia.
34) Which avenue proves more powerful in manners of public persuasion.
A forced declassification of a specified set of documents by President Trump.
Or an honest and damning report issued by an independent Inspector General.
One who was nominated by Obama.
A forced declassification of a specified set of documents by President Trump.
Or an honest and damning report issued by an independent Inspector General.
One who was nominated by Obama.
35) President Trump decided that a better course is to allow IG Horowitz to manage the information disclosure.
If this is not done to President Trump’s satisfaction, well, my guess is all bets are off.
If this is not done to President Trump’s satisfaction, well, my guess is all bets are off.
36) In the meantime, my expectation is that the release of the Inspector General’s report just got significantly accelerated.
Leverage.
/End
Leverage.
/End
