While the IG Report outlining clear FBI misconduct when it comes to the Dossier is very concerning, the law enforcement angle is actually the *smaller* aspect of the story. The more significant one was the Info Operation that that misconduct made possible...
For three years, we’ve been living in a political universe consumed with “Trump Russia” hysteria—and it was all based on information or bits from the Dossier. The bulk of political news and opinion since the 2016 campaign ended was fueled by lies.
Law enforcement—and, yes, the “deep state”—knew full well the contents of the Dossier were falsehoods, random bullshit, snippets of past Glenn Simpson oppo, etc.
At any time they could’ve tamped down the Russia hysteria, but they ramped it up instead, leaking innuendo and lies.
At any time they could’ve tamped down the Russia hysteria, but they ramped it up instead, leaking innuendo and lies.
How many NeverTrumpers took for granted that the stories that were being spun out of the “Deep State Press Shop” were true? They believed this stuff because they craved **so badly** to believe it. You could’ve told them Trump stole Brooklyn Bridge.
All along the way, there were chances to step back and consider “hey, what if these allegations are all nonsense? What do I know about, say, Carter Page, really?”
You never had to support or even like Trump in order to question some of the Trump-Russia allegations against him.
You never had to support or even like Trump in order to question some of the Trump-Russia allegations against him.
The NeverTrump gang was Russia Conspiracy Patient Zero.
Even as they comprised most of the supposed Russia experts inside the Beltway, they fell for nonsense any half-decent analyst would be able to spot. Yet they fell for it and became the first people to ACTUALLY BELIEVE IT.
Even as they comprised most of the supposed Russia experts inside the Beltway, they fell for nonsense any half-decent analyst would be able to spot. Yet they fell for it and became the first people to ACTUALLY BELIEVE IT.
Why’d this happen? Were they just shit at analysis? Yeah, that’s part of it. Anybody so obsessed with countering a particular threat that they make it their vocation is going to be tempted to believe “their threat” is nearly perfect in its abilities and capacity for evil.
You spend decades writing articles on and thinking about how to counter Putin and Russia—or the Muslim Brotherhood, or the Left, or Koch Brothers, etc—and you imagine them as 10 feet tall, never making a mistake. It’s so common, yet it’s bad analysis.
Good analysts always have to fight the temptation to imagine “your threat” is actually behind everything that happens.
For ex, a recent story on Qatar and Ilhan Omar contained no supporting facts. I didn’t believe it, because it was as well-documented as the Steele Dossier.
For ex, a recent story on Qatar and Ilhan Omar contained no supporting facts. I didn’t believe it, because it was as well-documented as the Steele Dossier.
