As the column by Aaron Blake in the Washington Post points out, Donald Trump has once again demonstrated an unfathomable lack of national security acumen AND a continuing desire to be bilked by Putin.
In an interview on Fox Business today, Trump stated that he did not believe recent reports that Russia had paid the Taliban and affiliated groups bounties for casualties caused to US and allied personnel.
And he knows the reports are wrong because if Russia knew about them, Russia would tell everyone about it.
“From what I hear, and I hear it pretty good, the intelligence people — many of them — didn’t believe it happened at all,” the president claimed to Fox Business. “I think it’s a hoax. I think it’s a hoax by the newspapers and the Democrats.” …
“If it did happen, the Russians would hear about it, and anybody else would hear about it that was involved,” he said.
They said they think it’s Russia; I have President Putin, he just said it’s not Russia. I will say this: I don’t see any reason why it would be. I have great confidence in my intelligence people, but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today.