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4/Note the IC doesn't say that Russia had a goal to create general chaos in the US, or sow discord. It had a specific goal - undermine US liberal order - and did so by weakening our democracy, hurting Clinton, electing Trump.
5/So we know the IC is really worried abt Russia's ongoing operations in the US, their plans for 2020. Has their strategy changed, their goals? For unless someone can tell us they have we have to assume that their goals will remain elect Trump, hurt the Dem, and our democracy.
6/Members of the Trump Administration have to be be questioned hard abt this in coming days. It was never Russia's goal to sow discord; that was a tactic towards other goals. It is a Trumpian fudge, and should not be accepted by reporters or Congress - for it is not true.
7/For if Russia's grand strategy is to weaken the West and US led order, then electing Trump, who has been so critical of that order, will clearly be their primary 2020 goal. Which means that denigrating, hacking Democrats will be among Russia's top priorities, again.
8/In a very smart @washingtonpost piece today, the Administration offers up its 2020 election protection strategy. Notably absent - protecting Dem Party committees/candidates from hacking, mis/disinformation - the main targets of Russia's 2016 effort. washingtonpost.com/world/national…
9/Yrs of Trump officials saying Russia's goal was to sow discord has been an elaborate misdirection. It wasn't. It was to hurt America by electing Trump, hurting Dems. Which means the 2020 warnings from the DNI, FBI is abt Russia coming again to elect Trump, not "sow discord."
