Share this page!

Enter URL or ID to Unroll

You can paste full URL like: https://x.com/threadreaderapp/status/1644127596119195649
or just the ID like: 1644127596119195649

How to get URL link on X (Twitter) App

  1. On the Twitter thread, click on or icon on the bottom
  2. Click again on or Share Via icon
  3. Click on Copy Link to Tweet
  4. Paste it above and click "Unroll Thread"!
  5. More info at Twitter Help
Michael McFaul Profile picture
@McFaul
Sep 18, 2020 • 6 tweets • 1 min read • Read on X
As Putin and his proxies continue to interfere in our electoral process, Im surprised by how the seem to ignore a possible outcome in November -- a Biden victory. THREAD 1/
If Putin continues to escalate his disinformation activities over the next 2 months, and then Biden wins, do they think the new president will do nothing in response? That's not my assessment of my former WH colleague. 2/
If he wants to respond, Biden will have on his side the Intelligence Community, whose work has been ignored by Trump. They have collected tons of information on Putin and his cronies. One response would be declassification of some of these materials. 3/
Russians should look closely at the Mueller report to see the tremendous capabilities of our IC. And that was just a taste. 4/
New sanctions of course is a second way to respond. If the Putin intervention is large, President Biden would have to respond. 5/
But maybe Putin doesn't care. Im sure some of his cronies do. But maybe Putin wants more confrontation with the US & thus is willing to take even riskier actions before November. Your thoughts? 6/ END THREAD

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
　

Keep Current with Michael McFaul

Michael McFaul Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @McFaul

Michael McFaul Profile picture
Mar 5
"Putin made the decision to invade Ukraine. Russian society did not pressure him to do so. But since the invasion was launched, large chunks of Russian society have supported this war, including exhibiting support for or indifference to the atrocities being committed by Russian soldiers against Ukrainian civilians." 1/ THREAD
"Putin personally is not killing Ukrainian grandmothers or kidnapping Ukrainian children, Russians are—and, as we now know from intercepting phone calls, they sometimes do so with the vocal support of their fathers, mothers, and girlfriends back home (or, even more grotesquely, while vacationing in Europe)" 2/

📷
"Similar to other ruthless and imperialist regimes in the past, maybe we can no longer give Russian society a pass for the atrocities Russians are committing in Ukraine? It's not just Putin's war. It's Russia's war." 3/
Read 4 tweets
Michael McFaul Profile picture
Feb 4
Congress should combine in its one bill new aid to Ukraine an the REPO Act. Let me explain. THREAD 1/
Let me add a sweetener. By large majorities, the House and Senate committees recently voted in favor of the REPO Act – Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians Act – that would transfer frozen Russian assets held at American banks to Ukraine for reconstruction. 2/
European countries hold a much greater share of the Russian assets than we do, around $360 billion. But if we take the lead in appropriating these frozen Russian funds, other countries will follow. That’s real money to help fund Ukraine’s reconstruction. 3/
Read 6 tweets
Michael McFaul Profile picture
Jan 23
Advice from a realist:
“Appeasement...is a fanciful and dangerous strategy. It is unlikely to transform a dangerous foe into a kinder gentler opponent much less a peace loving state.  Indeed, appeasement is likely to whet not shrink and aggressors appetite for conquest.” 1/THREAD
“Because great powers are programmed for offense, and appease state is likely to interpret any power concession by another state as a sign of weakness -- as evidence that the appeaser is unwilling to defend the balance of power the appeased state is then likely to continue pushing for more concessions.” 2/
“Furthermore, the appeased state’s capability to gain even more power would be enhanced --probably substantially -- by the additional power it was granted by the appeaser. In short, appeasement is likely to make a dangerous rival more, not less, dangerous.” 3/
Read 4 tweets
Michael McFaul Profile picture
Jan 19
In 2000, I wrote an article for @washingtonpost warning about Putin's anti-democratic ways & people called me alarmist. 1/ THREAD
In 2014, I wrote a piece in @nytimes calling from containment 2.0 for Russia and people called me a hawk. I wrote a longer piece in @ForeignAffairs a few years later outlining a detailed containment strategy for Russia & I was labeled a "warmonger". 2/
In 2021, I used the word "evil" to describe Putin in the @washingtonpost and I was again berated as a crazy ideologue. 3/
Read 5 tweets
Michael McFaul Profile picture
Dec 12, 2023
"How and when we provide this aid matters too. This week, my colleagues from allied countries lamented how indecisive and divided the United States looks, or is, as a country – how are we even not able to push through a bill that enjoys bipartisan support?" 1/ THREAD
"While our allies lament our indecision, division, and polarization, our enemies celebrate them. In Russia, they are laughing at us right now. Putin’s propagandists on state-controlled television praised Republicans for advancing Russian national interests." 2/
" As one of Putin’s most prominent propagandists, Olga Skabeeva, said, “Well done, Republicans! They’re standing firm! That’s good for us.” If Putin’s team is cheering for you, maybe it is time to rethink your actions." 3/
Read 4 tweets
Michael McFaul Profile picture
Dec 12, 2023
"Congress should approve new aid to Ukraine as fast as possible—not as a gesture of charity for Ukraine but as a hard-nosed and clear-headed investment in U.S. security objectives." THREADS 1/
"1. A Ukrainian victory will dramatically diminish the threat from Russia." 2/
"2. The war’s outcome has clear implications for U.S. security interests in Asia." 3/
Read 6 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!

This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Don't want to be a Premium member but still want to support us?

Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us!

Send Email!

:(