Thread by @kurteichenwald

GOP -trying to distract from 85,000 deaths - is now schlobbering about "unmasking" again. Let' explore.

The argument its this: Trumpers want intel agencies, if they hear talks with any foreign agent raising national security issues, to ignore it - but ONLY if it's a Trumper../1

...basically, they are calling for a mass undermining of the powers of the American intelligence agencies to root out spies, foreign conspiracies, illegal financial entanglements, circumstances that present blackmail possibilities against government officials and on and on..../2

..."unmasking" is a common term in intel world. Under our laws, we can listen in on foreign agents when a national security issue has been created. This is quite easy to establish with occupants of embassies. However, if an American is heard, that identity is "masked".../3

...usually with the term "Individual 1" or the like. Under the laws, that identity is kept secret from analysts UNLESS a national security issue occurs. When Flynn called the Sergey Kislyak, then Russia's ambassador to the US, he discussed actions the Russians should take.../4

...on a major national security issue - punitive actions by the USA against Russia for its interference with our democracy. The analysts heard this discussion - because Flynn was dumb enough not to know Kislyak's calls were monitored - but didn't know WHO the caller was.../5

..this raised a series of national security issues. Could it be a spy attempting to undermine the soon-to-be-in-place Trump Administration? Could this be someone with a possible future role in the Administration who, through this secret (and wildly inappropriate) contact was.../6

...putting himself at risk of being blackmailed by the Russians in some future circumstance? Under the Trump world, the answer is, "Meh. Who cares?" They wanted the analysts - DESPITE not knowing who it was - to make no conclusions, to refuse to do their job, and not even.../7

...raise the question. Now, assume the worst: Trump unknowingly had a Russian spy in his midst. Fox et. al really believe that Trump wouldn't want to know? Or someone in his Administration could be open to Russian blackmail. Trump wouldn't want to know?.../8

...the "unmasking" was about PROTECTING Trump, not undermining him. Who could have EVER guessed that Trump, Fox and the entire GOP would consider national security issues to be less significant than whether Trump's buddies get in trouble? Certainly no one in the intel..../9

...world or the Obama Administration would have thought that Trump's "team" meant just the people who kissed up to him, and not the United States of America. There is a REASON Flynn lied to Pence about the call. There is a REASON why Flynn lied to the FBI about the call.../10

...the reality is, we don't know the reason why Flynn lied. Obviously, if he lied to Pence, Flynn wanted to keep the call hidden. And THAT was a *major* issues, because it gave Russia enormous influence over Flynn. Imagine if all of this information came out *now,* with.../11

...Flynn as national security advisor, having not only kept secrets - but having LIED - to senior members of the Trump Administration, all the way up to the VP. Now, Trump of course would blow it off, scream "fake news!" and Fox would chirp along because they dont CARE about../12

...standard national security issues. They dont care about our intelligence agencies, they dont care about law enforcement, they don't care about standards in criminal prosecutions, they don't care about standards in punishments, or proper use of pardons. They just care.../13

...about their "team." So, when any GOPr screams "unmasking!" the only thing to say is "Guess you don't want espionage investigations or national security investigations if it involves your buddies."

These people hate America. Or they are too stupid to know that they do.

fin