Trump, top officials defend response to Russia bounty threat

The Trump administration is stepping up the defense of its response to intelligence assessments that suggested Russia had offered bounties for killing U.S. troops in Afghanistan, with the president’s national security adviser saying on Wednesday he had prepared a list of retaliatory options if the intelligence had been corroborated.

At a State Department news conference, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the situation was handled “incredibly well” to ensure the safety of U.S. troops.“We took this seriously, we handled it appropriately,” Pompeo said, without giving additional details. He said the administration receives intelligence about threats to Americans “every single day” and that each is addressed.

Trump remained defensive about the intelligence, dismissing stories about it as “Fake News” made up to “damage me and the Republican Party.”The president has repeatedly said he wasn’t briefed on the assessments that Russia offered bounties because there wasn’t corroborating evidence. Those assessments were first reported by The New York Times, then confirmed to The Associated Press by American intelligence officials and others with knowledge of the matter.

Senate Republicans appeared split on the matter, with several defending the president and saying that the Russian meddling wasn’t new. Others expressed strong concern.“If reports are true that Russia has been paying a bounty to the Taliban to kill American soldiers, this is a serious escalation,” Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley said on the Senate floor. “It demands a strong response, and I don’t mean a diplomatic response.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, one of the Democrats who attended the briefing, said it was “inexplicable” why“Many of us do not understand his affinity for that autocratic ruler who means our nation ill,” Schiff said. The White House was working to schedule a briefing with the so-called Gang of 8 in Congress — McConnell, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the top Republicans and Democrats on the two intelligence committees. The meeting is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, according to people familiar with the scheduling who spoke on condition of anonymity because the information hadn’t been released publicly.

Another day passed when Trump was briefed. What actions did he take? What actions? He did nothing by being briefed that the Americans were being killed?

You mean there was a response?

'Get Trump' journalism is not journalism. If you cared so much about Russia, you would have held Obama Admin.'s feet to the fire. But nothing.

Conceit + Lies + Treason = GOP & realDonaldTrump

Honestly what do liberals want here, go to war with Russia?

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