Yes President's use such means of communications to discuss highly classified matters will many countries including Russia. But suddenly the left is in twisting in the wind over what is quite common. And just look at all the special relations and talking about sanctions. Inside Obama’s Secret Outreach to Russia The U.S. has been working behind the scenes for months to forge a new working relationship with Russia, even enlisting Henry Kissinger. By Josh Rogin 3994 December 31, 2014, 9:59 AM CST President Barack Obama's administration has been working behind the scenes for months to forge a new working relationship with Russia, despite the fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown little interest in repairing relations with Washington or halting his aggression in neighboring Ukraine. This month, Obama's National Security Council finished an extensive and comprehensive review of U.S policy toward Russia that included dozens of meetings and input from the State Department, Defense Department and several other agencies, according to three senior administration officials. At the end of the sometimes-contentious process, Obama made a decision to continue to look for ways to work with Russia on a host of bilateral and international issues while also offering Putin a way out of the stalemate over the crisis in Ukraine. “I don’t think that anybody at this point is under the impression that a wholesale reset of our relationship is possible at this time, but we might as well test out what they are actually willing to do,” a senior administration official told me. “Our theory of this all along has been, let's see what’s there. Regardless of the likelihood of success.” Leading the charge has been Secretary of State John Kerry. This fall, Kerry even proposed going to Moscow and meeting with Putin directly. The negotiations over Kerry’s trip got to the point of scheduling, but ultimately were scuttled because there was little prospect of demonstrable progress. In a separate attempt at outreach, the White House turned to an old friend of Putin’s for help. The White House called on former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to discuss having him call Putin directly, according to two officials. It’s unclear whether Kissinger actually made the call. The White House and Kissinger both refused to comment for this column. Kerry has been the point man on dealing with Russia because his close relationship with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov represents the last remaining functional diplomatic channel between Washington and Moscow. They meet often, often without any staff members present, and talk on the phone regularly. Obama and Putin, on the other hand, are known to have an intense dislike for each other and very rarely speak. In several conversations with Lavrov, Kerry has floated an offer to Russia that would pave the way for a partial release of some of the most onerous economic sanctions. Kerry’s conditions included Russia adhering to September's Minsk agreement and ceasing direct military support for the Ukrainian separatists. The issue of Crimea would be set aside for the time being, and some of the initial sanctions that were put in place after Crimea’s annexation would be kept in place. “We are willing to isolate the issues of Donetsk and Luhansk from the issue of Crimea,” another senior administration official told me, naming two regions in Eastern Ukraine under separatist control. “If there was a settlement on Donetsk and Luhansk, there could be a removal of some sanctions while maintaining sanctions with regard to Crimea. That represents a way forward for Putin.” Meanwhile, Kerry has been proposing increased U.S.-Russian cooperation on a wide range of international issues. Earlier this month, he invited Lavrov to a last-minute diplomatic confab in Rome to discuss the the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. After one meeting with Lavrov in Paris in October, Kerry announced that he had discussed potential U.S.-Russian cooperation on Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea, Syria and Yemen. But the apparent warming was overshadowed by Lavrov’s quick denial of Kerry’s claim that Russia had agreed to assist in the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State in Iraq. .......... “The more Kerry creates a perception he has a special relationship with Lavrov, the more he puts Lavrov in a difficult position with officials in his own capital, starting with Putin,” said Simes. “It’s clear that when Kerry deals with Lavrov and hopes that because they have overlapping interests, that would allow cooperation where useful, that is not a model of relationship that Putin is prepared to accept.” Obama has made it clear that in his last two years in office he is prepared to make big moves on foreign policy even if they face political or legislative opposition, such as normalizing relations with Cuba or pursuing a nuclear deal with Iran. But when it comes to Russia, he is unwilling to place his own credibility behind any outreach to his nemesis Putin. The administration’s cautious engagement with Moscow is logical: Why not seek a balance in a complicated and important bilateral relationship? But by choosing a middle ground between conciliation and confrontation -- not being generous enough to entice Russia's cooperation yet not being tough enough to stop Putin’s aggression in Eastern Europe -- Obama’s policy risks failing on both fronts. https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2014-12-31/inside-obamas-secret-outreach-to-russia
How many people in Obama's administration lied about meetings with Russians? How many were taking money directly from Russian sources? How stupid are you?
One slight difference - Obama was President and as President he makes policy and diplomatic contacts with lots of countries. It's the job of the President. Trump and Co. were still private citizens when they possibly started making contact with foreign governments and possibly making promises on policy in exchange for aid in an election. They then possibly misled Congress during confirmation hearings on that contact. And then possibly covering up knowledge and possibly trying to suppress an investigation of said cover-up. Private Citizens making deals vs. President making deals. Understand? It's fifth grade civics.
None of this has any affect on Kushner if that story is found to be true. If he was trying to set up contact outside of normal lines of communication there needs to be a damn good reason why, and a comprehensive run down of who he talked to and what they talked about. This could be as simple as a violation of the Logan Act, or it could be any number of more or less serious offenses.
They say everything said before the word "but" is irrelevant. Well everything said after the word possibly is BS.
As do President elects, what do you think they're supposed to due, they don't wait till day one and THEN start transitioning, that's why it's called a transition. Why are you trying to claim contact with a foreign government is illegal especially for a Presidential transition team?
The good reason is the same reason the Obama administration had back channel lines, for direct communications at the highest levels.
They are still private citizens until they take office. They can set up infrastructure. They CAN'T make deals with foreign governments UNTIL they are sworn in. And accepting money from foreign entities, as it appears Flynn did - means there will be an investigation. If nothing is found, fine. rRepublicans investigated Benghazi for four years - so don't freak out if this investigation lasts a year or two.
If you take out the names and dates of this article, I would have thought it was about Trump/Kushner. Where was the outrage? Russia had just annexed Crimea and Kerry wanted to offer them a way out?? He was "close friends" with Lavrov and "met him often"?
There is a difference between contacting Russia to better relations between countries and contacting Russia for personal financial benefit, but that requires thought and objectivity to make the distinction.
It also requires proof to make a statement like that. Something severely lacking in this long list of accusations.
There is proof the denied meetings took place - if they were so innocent, why were the meetings denied? We do need proof, hopefully it will come soon. We already know of wrongdoing by Flynn and Kushner - if you believe "they forgot", you deserve Trump, but I don't think so.
