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2019-10-29 Government
Lt. Col. Alex Vindman's opening statement to impeachment inquiry about Trump-Ukraine call
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Posted by Besoeker 2019-10-29 07:13|| || Front Page|| [11135 views ]  Top

#1 I am a patriot, and it is my sacred duty and honor to advance and defend OUR country, irrespective of party or politics.

Except when it comes to sensitive information, discussions, and matters contrary to his own political beliefs and the political goals of entities he has worked closely with for a number of years (aka comrades and handlers).

Then like his old boss Dr. Fiona Hill, he departs the office and tosses in a thermite grenade on his way out the door.

Eurasia embassy hoping-FAO...? Yes, I believe we know where your loyalties lie colonel. Thanks for the CV and extensive virtue signaling. I look forward to your upcoming book.

Posted by Besoeker 2019-10-29 07:29||   2019-10-29 07:29|| Front Page Top

#2 In this situation, a strong and independent Ukraine is critical to U.S. national security interests because Ukraine is a frontline state and a bulwark against Russian aggression.

And Zelensky wants to mend fences with Russia - bingo.
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-10-29 10:55||   2019-10-29 10:55|| Front Page Top

#3 Up us down, night is day.

Ukraine-- Russia's Russia, a shithole's shithole, this Zimbabwe in whiteface-- us somehow supposed to become "strong and independent."

Right. Like the genius logic that destroying the Ba'athist Party post-Saddam would lead to a happy stable peaceful modern democracy.

And this African-style shambolic non-state is supposed to become an American "bulwark" -- in the struggle against ... what, corruption?

He meant to say, "a bulwark" for Hillary's campaign -- against Trump.

Shitshow, Part 158.
Posted by Lex  2019-10-29 11:57||   2019-10-29 11:57|| Front Page Top

#4 Sorry, I won't follow the link after reading what's posted here. If he wasted that much time and breath trying to convince us how great he is, I refuse to waste any more time on him.
Posted by Abu Uluque 2019-10-29 12:07||   2019-10-29 12:07|| Front Page Top

#5 This is a clownishly blatant attempt at a redirect.
Everything they accuse Trump of doing vis-a-vis Russia, Hillary and her people did with Ukraine. So f---ing obvious, it's pathetic.
Posted by Lex  2019-10-29 12:15||   2019-10-29 12:15|| Front Page Top

#6 Since 2008, I have been a Foreign Area Officer specializing in Eurasia. I read that as "an Obama plant."

Otherwise what #4 Abu said.
Posted by JohnQC 2019-10-29 12:23||   2019-10-29 12:23|| Front Page Top

#7 Abu, you missed some interesting things. For example
I realized that if Ukraine pursued an investigation into the Bidens and Burisma, it would likely be interpreted as a partisan play which would undoubtedly result in Ukraine losing the bipartisan support it has thus far maintained. This would all undermine U.S. national security.
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-10-29 12:40||   2019-10-29 12:40|| Front Page Top

#8 Either I'm too cynical, or we'll be reading interesting things about Lt. Colonel's Iraq's tour and his purple heart in the coming days.
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-10-29 13:01||   2019-10-29 13:01|| Front Page Top

#9 grom, I read that part somewhere else. I just don't see how U.S. national security is the slightest bit dependent on Ukraine other than the corrupting influence it has on Democrat politicians. It wouldn't bother me if the Russians marched in there and sat on it for another couple of centuries any more than it has in the past. That's another reason why I think the guy's an idiot and I won't waste any more time on him.
Posted by Abu Uluque 2019-10-29 13:04||   2019-10-29 13:04|| Front Page Top

#10 The interesting part, IMO, Abu
if Ukraine pursued an investigation into the Bidens and Burisma ... would undoubtedly result in Ukraine losing the bipartisan support i.e., "oppose the sitting POTUS or face the consequences when the government changes".
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-10-29 13:10||   2019-10-29 13:10|| Front Page Top

#11 
Posted by Dron66046 2019-10-29 13:16||   2019-10-29 13:16|| Front Page Top

#12 Ukraine never should have been viewed as other than a neutral zone, a la Finland or Austria during the Cold War, that would never ever be allowed to even consider joining NATO.

European Union--fine. Their choice. But not our concern.

We should never-- Hillary, Kerry, Obumble, Nuland, the whole Shitshow-- never should have encouraged anyone in Ukraine to think that they could become a US ally.

Needlessly provocative and gaining us nothing strategically that we didn't already have via our alliance partners Poland, Turkey and Romania.

The only possible explanation for this extreme infatuation with Ukraine is Hillary's skullduggery and campaign dirty tricks designed to slime Trump.

What a compete disgrace. Shitshow etc
Posted by Lex 2019-10-29 13:49||   2019-10-29 13:49|| Front Page Top

#13 ^Crimea - the only way for Russia to get, in force, to Syria.
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-10-29 13:52||   2019-10-29 13:52|| Front Page Top

#14 Another article..(sorry can't find link) indicated that the LtCol also said his concern was that the calls ignored "interagency" positions. In other words, the Klingons got their knickers in a bunch.
Posted by Mercutio 2019-10-29 14:22||   2019-10-29 14:22|| Front Page Top

#15 OK, grom, you talked me into it. I read the whole thing. This is the guy who fed his load of crap to the whistleblower either directly or indirectly. This guy is the leak.

Beyond that it seems clear he is more concerned about Ukrainian security than he is about American security. So, if he is not the whistleblower, he is not protected and Trump can fire him. Then Barr can prosecute him for leaking classified information.
Posted by Abu Uluque 2019-10-29 14:45||   2019-10-29 14:45|| Front Page Top

#16 And once more I ask: How, exactly, does any of this prove that Trump broke any law?

I heard Pelosi assert that Trump exceeded his authority and endangered national security but I don't see how.

Are we so concerned about Ukraine that we're willing to go to war with Russia? I don't believe so. We have no treaty with them and it would be foolish if we did.

Imagine if we finally decided that we'd had enough of the communists in Cuba and decided to do a little regime change down there like we've done in Iraq and Libya, like we've attempted to do in Egypt and Syria. Then imagine that Russia gets involved just like some in this country would like to get involved in Ukraine. Do you think Pelosi would wet her panties?
Posted by Abu Uluque 2019-10-29 14:59||   2019-10-29 14:59|| Front Page Top

#17 “I did not think it was proper to demand that a foreign government investigate a U.S. citizen, and I was worried about the implications for the U.S. government’s support of Ukraine,” Colonel Vindman said in his statement. “I realized that if Ukraine pursued an investigation into the Bidens and Burisma it would likely be interpreted as a partisan play which would undoubtedly result in Ukraine losing the bipartisan support it has thus far maintained.”

First, he is not there to judge the conversation between two sitting presidents. He was not voted into office and while he is an FAO, he should remember he is NOT a decision maker, policy maker or any other thing other than a phone monitor there to scribe the conversation. With this statement he placed his loyalty to the Ukraine and them getting the money over the president of the United States and the President's strategic objectives. If he felt that strongly he should have filed an IG complaint instead of talking about it to some over politicized woman in the CIA and getting her to file one.
Posted by 49 Pan 2019-10-29 15:21||   2019-10-29 15:21|| Front Page Top

#18 Ya, I'm pissed. He embarrassed the US Army Officer Corp. The money going to the Ukraine was more important to him that a Coup d'état in the United States.
Posted by 49 Pan 2019-10-29 15:25||   2019-10-29 15:25|| Front Page Top

#19 Beyond that it seems clear he is more concerned about Ukrainian security than he is about American security.

Actually, I meant exactly the opposite - IMO, he's part of the clique determined to have conflict with Russia - contrary to the wishes of his CinC*. And perfectly willing to use Ukraine as an expendable pawn. Or, at least an excuse to justify his unprofessional behavior "It's not that I oppose the Orange Man on any subject, I'm concerned for Ukraine".

*I wonder to what degree they're encouraged by the Chinese.

p.s. As to Ukraine, I fully share Lex's sentiments - cubed (my mother's family comes from Ukraine, the survivors).
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-10-29 15:42||   2019-10-29 15:42|| Front Page Top

#20 Ref #14: Another article..(sorry can't find link) indicated that the LtCol also said his concern was that the calls ignored "interagency" positions. In other words, the Klingons got their knickers in a bunch. Posted by Mercutio

EXACTLY! And as their (Klingon's) dedicated point man, it was his responsibility to throw the flag and he knew precisely where to throw it. Pan, Lex, Merc and everyone else nailed it.
Posted by Besoeker 2019-10-29 15:51||   2019-10-29 15:51|| Front Page Top

#21 Wait a minute. Aren't these "secret hearings" in a basement SCIF room. Now Schiff is leaking entire "secret" transcripts w/o consequences?
Posted by Pancho Flerens6518 2019-10-29 16:49||   2019-10-29 16:49|| Front Page Top

#22 Do you think Pelosi would wet her panties?/em>

If she did, it wouldn't be by choice.
Posted by bbrewer126  2019-10-29 18:11||   2019-10-29 18:11|| Front Page Top

#23 why in the fuck would anyone bring up Pelosi's panties
Posted by chris 2019-10-29 18:46||   2019-10-29 18:46|| Front Page Top

#24 On the very edge -

The exact words of the Uniform Code of Military Justice Article 88 - Contempt Toward Public Officials states: "Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct."

Shall we be 'liberal' with that interpretation?
Posted by Procopius2k 2019-10-29 19:47||   2019-10-29 19:47|| Front Page Top

#25 Appearing on Fox News' "The Ingraham Angle," the former Bush administration lawyer John Yoo said The Times' reporting suggested Vindman was guilty of espionage.

I agree with that. The guy is a leaker who leaked classified information.
Posted by JohnQC 2019-10-29 23:43||   2019-10-29 23:43|| Front Page Top

23:43 JohnQC
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