Russian politicians and news media are scoffing that the recently released report by U.S. security services blaming the country’s government of meddling in the U.S. presidential race.

Alexei Pushkov, a member of the upper house of parliament's defense and security committee, said on Twitter that "all the accusations against Russia are based on 'confidence' and suppositions. The USA in the same way was confident about (Iraqi leader Saddam) Hussein having weapons of mass destruction."

In another tweet on Saturday, Pushkov suggested that President "Obama is alarmed: Republicans trust Putin more than Democrats."

Margarita Simonyan, the editor of government-funded satellite TV channel RT that is frequently mentioned in the U.S. report, said in a blog post: "Dear CIA: what you have written here is a complete fail."

On Friday, a declassified U.S. intelligence report accused Putin of ordering a campaign to influence the U.S. election and hurt 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s candidacy -- findings made public after officials briefed President-elect Donald Trump.

The report adds fresh fuel to the debate over Russia’s involvement in email hacking that affected Democratic groups during the 2016 race. Trump has publicly questioned the evidence linking Russia.

And hours before the briefing, Trump called it a “political witch hunt.”

However, Trump and the intelligence community seemed to find some common ground after the briefing. Both Trump and the report said the Russians did not target vote tallying.

Trump, in a statement, went a step further and said “there was absolutely no effect on the outcome of the election including the fact that there was no tampering whatsoever with voting machines.”


A day after, Trump renewed his call for better Washington-Moscow relations and suggested naysayers are “fools” or “stupid people.”

“Having a good relationship with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing. Only "stupid" people, or fools, would think that it is bad! We … have enough problems around the world without yet another one. When I am president, Russia will respect us far …

“more than they do now and both countries will, perhaps, work together to solve some of the many great and pressing problems and issues of the WORLD!,” Trump tweeted.

Film at 11.... 🤔

Pay attention to the rest of that quote Opel. Context means something.

I also don't need to know that next Tuesday we will be attacking allepo or that we know where terrorists leaders are and will raid tomorrow.

But I do assume the ruskies who are led by a KGB agent (not former) and have no checks and balances between their intelligence community and leadershipship are spying on us in every whay they are capable and are proving how far they can act and modifying their actions accordingly. I assume we are doing the same but since I am on our side.....

It's hard for me to take seriously the no we are not or prove it attitude the Russians take. I expect it. They did the same during the Cuban missle crisis. It's odd to see folks line up with Putin on the issue. I can only assume it's insecurity over the win in trumps case and a partisan game being played by both sides.

We will not have 100% proof. We (the public) cant. The intel community probably can't reach 100% very often on anything, and certainly can't often share that kind if intel when they do. Demanding 100% proof up front (the joining the Russian game) pretty much means denying no matter what. That's why they do it.

Trump won. The issue to me in no way dilutes or changes it. There may be some sore loser commie lib occupooper types playing that angle but they have no credibility or respect from me. It's fine to stress it didn't change the election, but the argument that they didn't meddle to me becomes one with the other group. The yin to the yang neither to be taken seriously.

That's not blind allegence to our intel however. I gave them the benefit of the doubt on Iraq until Powell dropped nothing at the UN. Some in here argued (maybe still do) for years that the intel was right because their family fighting there saw blah blah blah. Now they are shocked anyone would think the Russians are doing exactly what we would do and probably are.

Meh. We all draw our own conclusions.

there's so much there, I'll just hit on the obviously disturbing...

you say "I'm on our side"...

try being on the side of humanity... putin doesn't hurt from the sanctions we place on russia, everyday russians do... and I'm as much on their side as I am on anyone's side... I don't think God is american or has a special place in his heart for me because I'm american...

I think when we encourage our government to punish others or applaud their punishment of others when they've failed to produce even a morsel of evidence for what they're charged with, well, what was your complaint about russia? no checks and balances? who checked the fbi on this one? who's balancing the anti-russia intelligence community?

sounds like trump is trying to provide that check and balance by requiring the intelligence community to provide support for their allegations, and they're failing to do so... and you stated - in context - that you're ok with that because your side is the one doing it... you lambasted people for swearing the exact same allegiance to trump...

and no one is demanding 100% proof... I've literally asked numerous times to be pointed in the direction of any amount of evidence and have yet to see it or see you reference it... it meaning evidence... any of it... anything will do... anything... just make your next post some form of some kind of actual evidence that points directly to russian involvement and I will drop it completely...

Advantage... Opel.

Turns out only 3 of the 14 intelligence agencies (and TW) think Russia did it... unlike ALL 14 as Hillary stated...😟

So you're saying that 11 of our intelligence agencies are already compromised by the Russians?

Wow, Trump must really be a commie lover......

well, they're still Obama's... another failure for his legacy maybe..?? 🤔

Supporting Putin and his position is not supporting humanity or his people.

As for checks and balances they do exist in our government and simply do not in putins. I do not and did not say it's ok for our side to operate without them. We have multiple intel sources/agencies with civilian oversight. The fact you may have disdain or lack of trust in congress and obama but do in trump doesn't change that. Tou think trump is demanding something not demanded before. I don't.

As for proof I simply trust my government with all of its checks and balances more than I trust putins without any of them. I explained above that I don't think it needs to be immediately proven to the general public but it appears as if enough has been proven to our elected officials that there is a bipartisan consensus. If we find later it was a farce there should be repercussions.

That said it appears as if we are catering to public opinion and the report in some form will be released. I've not seen it. I honestly hope it doesn't give too much away. That plays in to putins hands.

I believe we've proved the link and shown the transfer of information from the Russian government to sources like wiki. I also believe we've established who/what guccifer is and it's within the Russian government. I also believe we've been watching the Russians hack and know their methods and "tells" which I believe are laid out in the report which is not just an FBI report. I could go on but in reality I don't take on the mantle of having to prove the intel nor will I get baited in to doing so.

I said I don't need proof (100% or otherwise) in this instance and am afraid providing proof actually weakens our efforts. That's the Russian play.

While I am dubious of our government at times I simply don't find it remotely equivalent of Putins and can't find the reason for virtually every intel agency to be lying and getting on the bad side of the new admin while putin and crew are simply innocent victims.

It has nothing to do with God, humanity or justifying wrong doing by my country. I do however trust my government by far more than I trust putin. Add that to what I think is common sense that of course they are trying to do these things and it's pretty easy for me.

That said if you think Russia is the victim here and the us is the bad guy I will concede I could not prove you wrong in court.

The odd part to me is the folks that have seen the classified report seem pretty convinced (bipartisan). Trump was adamantly pushing back on it prior to seeing it but seems to be softening while saving face.

I honestly believe his sensitivity is towards having his win delegitimization and agree with him on the stupidity of podesta and the Dems in the first place.

None of theirs changes the stupidity of the Dems or their trechorous actions when they think no one is watching. It also does not deligitimize trumps win. Strip all that away and I think the Russians have a hacking program in place along with the Chinese etc and when we see it happen we'd better show we are resolute in stopping it. To just act like it's ok or play the coy who me? game is weak.

So, you blame Obama because Trump sold out to Russia?

Ok, I could see that. How else could Trump weasle in after Obama without going russki......

Good catch.

Obama hated Hillary cause she started that birther thing.... .. 😟

I saw that article on Fox too......

Of course, lots of men hated Hillery because of her confidance and accomplishments. So they took to ragging on her endlessly for any reason they could make up.

Sad but Freudian I suppose.....

TW said the Russians started it... 😟

Fox?

Looks like team trump is finally coming around on the Russian hacking thing.... that's good


As for birtherism I blame the originator of the 5 minute herf.

He was Russian..?? 😕

He did seem to always be in a hurry

Never held you afterwards huh... 😟