Trump and the Intelligence Agencies

Published in La Vanguardia
(Spain) on 7 January 2017
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Kaleb Vick. Edited by Helaine Schweitzer.

 

 

 

 

The preparations for Donald Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20 have been loaded with surprises, and their controversies are on track to make it one of the most unconventional transitions in the history of the United States. Normally, the election resolves all previous controversies typical of such a personal campaign, and all conflict, like in sports, is forgotten so that the outgoing president and the president-elect can both maintain their inherent dignity. This time, not only have the disputes not been put aside, but also, in some cases, they have intensified, which is what happened with the official report regarding the interference of Russian spies in the election campaign.

Yesterday, Trump received information directly from the main U.S. intelligence and security agencies, a meeting which was called to re-establish order after a few hectic days. The president-elect's style is disconcerting and is still full of the many tics—and abundant tweets—from his months as an anti-establishment candidate. The aforementioned agencies—the National Security Agency, the FBI and the CIA—investigated allegations that Russia hacked Republicans and Democrats, and filtered documents to WikiLeaks, aiming to favor the Republican candidate. According to recordings obtained by these agencies, whose directors first shared the information with the U.S. president and the Senate, and then yesterday with Trump, Russia celebrated Trump’s election as a success.

Far from acting with caution while waiting to be informed, Trump chose to question the competence of the intelligence agencies and attributed their findings to the frenzy provoked by his election to the White House. Trump implicitly degraded the authority of these fundamental organizations that serve to protect American citizens and showed a glimpse of his low opinion of them. As is becoming habitual, Trump's team attributed the criticism to a "healthy skepticism" of their boss.

That a power like Russia has interfered in the election process of the United States is an issue that should worry the future president. The agencies' reports concluded that the Russian cyberspying was not a determining factor in voting, nor with respect to the election cycle, but concluded it did exist, and at a higher level than these agencies considered normal. It is surprising that Trump would cast doubt on the organizations that are pillars of national security in order to maintain a friendly tone with President Vladimir Putin (if the conclusions from the U.S. organizations are true, it wouldn't be difficult to think that Putin had authorized a similar operation that caused the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats).

In two weeks, when he will have his team in charge of these agencies, President Donald Trump will have to make important decisions regarding foreign policy by drawing from data, information and analyses that the FBI, the CIA or the NSA director leaves on his table in the Oval Office. The disdain, amid the irony and contempt, shown by Trump in this Russian cyberspying episode only weakens U.S. prestige in the world. To say that these organizations act carelessly or for electoral purposes is to not simply undermine the legitimacy and morals of their work in the United States... but also in the rest of the world.


Trump y los servicios de inteligencia

LOS preparativos para la toma de posesión de Donald Trump el 20 de enero están cargados de sorpresas y sus polémicas llevan camino de convertirla en una de las más atípicas transiciones presidenciales de la historia de Estados Unidos. Habitualmente, la elección zanja todas las controversias previas, típicas de campañas tan personalistas, y todo, como en el deporte, se olvida al terminar los enfrentamientos para que el presidente saliente y el entrante mantengan, cada uno, la dignidad inherente al cargo. Esta vez, las disputas no sólo no han quedado atrás, sino que, en algunos casos, se han recrudecido como sucede con la información oficial sobre la injerencia del espionaje de Moscú en la campaña electoral.

Donald Trump recibió ayer la información de las principales agencias de inteligencia y seguridad en boca de sus máximos responsables, una reunión llamada a restablecer el orden después de unos días agitados. El estilo del próximo presidente es desconcertante y guarda todavía muchos tics –y abundantes tuits– de sus meses como candidato anti- establishment. Los citados servicios –Inteligencia Nacional, FBI y CIA– investigaron las sospechas de que Rusia había hackeado a demócratas y republicanos y había filtrado documentos a Wikileaks con ánimo de favorecer al candidato republicano, elección que festejaron como un éxito propio, según grabaciones obtenidas por estas agencias, cuyos dirigentes han informado primero al presidente de EE.UU., al Senado y, después, ayer, a Trump.

Lejos de actuar con prudencia a la espera de ser informado, Trump optó por poner en duda la competencia de los servicios de inteligencia y atribuir sus conclusiones a la rabieta provocada por su elección a la Casa Blanca. Implícitamente, Trump degradaba la autoridad de unos organismos básicos en la protección de los ciudadanos y dejaba entrever su concepto poco elevado de estos. Como ya viene siendo habitual, el equipo de Trump ha atribuido las críticas al “escepticismo sano” del jefe.

Que una potencia como Rusia haya interferido en el proceso electoral de Estados Unidos es asunto que debería inquietar al futuro presidente. Los informes de las agencias concluyen que el ciberespionaje ruso no fue determinante ni en las votaciones ni siquiera en el curso electoral, pero sí que existió y a una escala superior a la que estos servicios consideran ordinaria. Sorprende que Trump ponga en duda a los organismos que son los pilares de la seguridad nacional para mantener el tono amistoso con el presidente Vladímir Putin (de ser ciertas las conclusiones de los organismos estadounidenses, se hace difícil pensar que el inquilino del Kremlin no autorizó semejante operación, que provocó la expulsión de 35 diplomáticos rusos).

En dos semanas, cuando ya tendrá su equipo al frente de estas agencias, el presidente Donald Trump deberá tomar decisiones muy importantes en materia de política exterior a partir de los datos, informes y análisis que el FBI, la CIA o el director de Inteligencia Nacional le dejen sobre la mesa del despacho oval. El desdén, entre la ironía y el desprecio, mostrado por Trump en el episodio del espionaje cibernético ruso sólo hace que debilitar el prestigio de Estados Unidos en el mundo. Decir que estos organismos actúan a la ligera o por razones electorales es quitarles legitimidad y moral en su trabajo, nada sencillo, en Estados Unidos.... y en el resto del mundo.
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