Americans question Trump's sanity after closed meeting

Mr. Trump with Russian Minister Sergey Lavrov at White House

The latest saga of President Trump has tongues wagging even more, this time on more than a late night tweet, or failed legislation, or inaugural crowd size. This leak of classified material, to the Russians in a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Sergey Lavrov, revealed in a Washington Post blog has many in Washington, and beyond, wondering about the sanity of the 45th president of the United States, as he blithely reveals classified information, from our ally, Israel, that could be used by the Russians to jeopardize both countries, and their operatives.

That meeting alone was controversial,since it was closed to the American press, and photographers, in favor, of only the Russians, something that the doyenne of Washington, Andrea Mitchell, was so shocked by, she tweeted that the administration's actions were wholly unprecedented.

Even more amazing is further news, that American intelligence officers had warned their Israeli counterparts, not to tell Trump too much, for fear that he would leak it. To be fair, an American president has the latitude to reveal classified information, but with the counsel of his senior advisors. This was not done, as Thomas Bossert, the assistant for Homeland Security had to call both the CIA and the NSA for damage control.

At this juncture, it’s hard to defend Trump’s carelessness, as a “spur of the moment” thing as White House officials have declared the leak to be, especially since the Russians have sophisticated intelligence both on the ground, and electronically to patch together even the barest of information to pinpoint U.S. and allied intelligence.

Even more troublesome is the fact that it has been revealed that James Comey was asked by Trump to drop the investigation of ousted NSA leader, Michael Flynn, who has also been accused of collusion with the Russians, both before and after the election.

Serious breaches of trust and, even common sense, are causing many both inside and outside the beltway, to doubt the ability of Trump to lead, and impeachment is getting mainstream play outside of the more radical circles, proliferating on the internet.

If this is the beginning of the end, then the White House is on a downward spiral as many in the media have noted, as this nascent presidency is tilted like a sinking ship. And, righting it will take more than the usual Washington spin.

Fingering the “deep state” or now, leftist plots, are no longer holding water as it appears that Emperor Trump has no clothes. Even if the inconsistencies coming from the press room were themselves consistent, it would help. But, the backing and filling makes all of this behavior on the part of White House officials suspect.

Most troubling are the contacts with Russia that have dangerous consequences for the weakened but still embattled Russian president, Vladimir Putin, whose alleged meddling in the 2016 election have given credence to lingering Cold War suspicions. For a man that does not like to lose, and enjoys the spectacle of the United States government in disarray, and whose cooperation we need in coming to terms with Syria, and other world conflicts, the stakes are high.

When the defense comes from such people as General H.R. McMaster who was tasked, not once, but twice, by Trump, to come to his defense in appearances before the press, in the White House Rose Garden, labelling Trumps leak as “wholly appropriate” it’s far beyond an Ian Fleming novel, or as one wag has put it, “the bullets in this cold war are real.”  

McMaster said in turn, to reporters: “At no time were any intelligence sources or methods discussed, and no military operations were disclosed that were not already known publicly.”

The Russians, on the other hand, quite satisfyingly, have said that nothing of value was released, and Maria Zakharova, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, dismissed all of this. In her response to queries from presumably close associates, since they used her patronymic, said, "Guys, have you been reading American newspapers again?" she wrote on her Facebook page. "You shouldn't read them. You can put them to various uses, but you shouldn't read them. Lately it's become not only harmful, but dangerous too."

With someone at the head of the United States, who is behaving, as if sanity is being held at bay, then, most in the media, even diehard Republicans, are quitting Trumps sanity and its effect not only on the party, but the government, and not just from the so-called coastal elite.

There may be no love for Vice-President Pence by many liberals, but the question of insanity, partisanship aside, is not questioned, although his record on helping those on the lower income levels is dismal. Then again, Speaker Paul Ryan, has become so associated with wealth transfer, few would like to see him in the Oval office.

The good news, if any, is that former FBI chief Robert Mueller  has been selected by Deputy Attorney General, Rod. J. Rosenstein, as special counsel for the Russian investigation, and who, in the past, has won the respect of those on both sides of the aisle, will now be special counsel investigating, what the Chicago Tribune calls “potential coordination between Russia and the Trump team during the 2016 presidential election.”

As The New York Times reported Mueller can decide “whether to consult with or inform the Justice Department about his investigation. He is authorized to investigate “any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump,” according to Mr. Rosenstein’s order naming him to the post, as well as other matters that “may arise directly from the investigation.” He is empowered to press criminal charges, and he can request additional resources subject to the review of an assistant attorney general.”

Running parallel to the erratic behavior of the president is this ongoing back channelled love affair between Trump and Putin, one that may have had the potential of influencing the recent election. And, also through avenues unknown, since our press was not allowed into the meeting, thus giving more weight to the suspicion of what exactly is happening between the two governments, and raises the question: has Trump become become the stooge in this international drama, while the Kremlin looks on with bemusement?