A Russian politician has threatened to "hit Donald Trump with our Kompromat" on state TV.
Speaking on Russia-24, Nikita Isaev, leader of the far-right New Russia Movement, said the compromising material should be released in retaliation over the closure of several Russian diplomatic compounds across the US.
When asked whether Russia has such material, Mr Isaev, who is also director of the Russian Institute of Contemporary Economics, replied: "Of course we have it!"
Could be a lot of grandstanding, but at the same time... it'd be interesting if it wasn't.
The problem: if you assume the compromising material is real, would Putin and crew really want to release it now? After all, it's not as if Trump's replacement would be any kinder to Russia. The most it would get is some temporary chaos and a proof that it can manipulate American politics.
They may or they may not have info. More likely they just seem to be trolling Trump and the American people to continue the doubt against him. The disarray it's causing is of great advantage to them because of how fixated Trump is on it.
I don't see them releasing any such information even assuming they have it. The downside is much greater than any upside. If they do have such material, I agree that this guy is just trolling Trump to try to get him to lift sanctions. The threat itself is probably an empty bluff. Yet it's still intriguing, because the bluff wouldn't make any sense if Trump didn't know they actually had such material.
Yeah I mean the trick to a good blackmail is to put yourself in a place where you never have to release your damaging information. Once it's out there you lose control over your subject. If they do have it it's hard to imagine they would ever release it (or at least the really good stuff) for such small stakes. Maybe you release a little to get his attention, but nothing big.
Depends on your leverage and intended goal. If Putin's original goal was betting that Trump and his administration would be somewhat successful in reversing sanctions and other Pro-Russia agendas the leverage is useful. Once that initial goal of Pro-Russia via executive action was tossed out by resistance and a somewhat competent congress you go to plan B. Plan B. was to destabilize the US as much as possible. If you leverage is no longer useful then go ahead and toss some more highly combustible fuel on the fire.
Your plan B is what I was getting at earlier. Whether they have anything or not they know they can toss out red meat because the people who oppose Trump will run with that. What's worse is Trump himself will respond to it just making himself seem that much more unstable and fearful.Depends on your leverage and intended goal. If Putin's original goal was betting that Trump and his administration would be somewhat successful in reversing sanctions and other Pro-Russia agendas the leverage is useful. Once that initial goal of Pro-Russia via executive action was tossed out by resistance and a somewhat competent congress you go to plan B. Plan B. was to destabilize the US as much as possible. If you leverage is no longer useful then go ahead and toss some more highly combustible fuel on the fire.
Depends on your leverage and intended goal. If Putin's original goal was betting that Trump and his administration would be somewhat successful in reversing sanctions and other Pro-Russia agendas the leverage is useful. Once that initial goal of Pro-Russia via executive action was tossed out by resistance and a somewhat competent congress you go to plan B. Plan B. was to destabilize the US as much as possible. If you leverage is no longer useful then go ahead and toss some more highly combustible fuel on the fire.
I think you have them reversed, IMO your plan B was always Putins plan A, to make you look like a dummy to the rest of the world and kick up a good riot on the inside. That also means that we have a good chance of actually getting to see the leverage.
Part of the reason why I dont buy this is observing Putin through the Crimea and eastern Ukraine ordeal, I swear that the way that all went down, reactions to sanctions, highly agressive rhetoric response but no bite, this guy wants the sanctions in place cause it serves as another bufferzone to the west. Remember when he raised interest rates? Counter sanctions? He is more than willing to let his people starve a little in order to achieve his geopolitical ambitions. West and east are not supposed to mix.I still am of the opinion that the initial plan by Putin was to plant a manchurian candidate to get sanctions and other pro-Russia agendas pushed. Once he realized that this was a clown car administration of unheralded idiocy he tried to pump the brakes and slow things down. But things were already spiraling into motion and he was forced into "Fuck it, less spread mass chaos while we have the opportunity" mode.
Part of the reason why I dont buy this is observing Putin through the Crimea and eastern Ukraine ordeal, I swear that the way that all went down, reactions to sanctions, highly agressive rhetoric response but no bite, this guy wants the sanctions in place cause it serves as another bufferzone to the west. Remember when he raised interest rates? Counter sanctions? He is more than willing to let his people starve a little in order to achieve his geopolitical ambitions. West and east are not supposed to mix.
Yup and not giving two *'s about it either, from 6 to 17%, bang citizens, this is your new reality, deal with it.Well he raised interest rates because the ruble was circling the drain.