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John Boyd's avatar

Anything Trump authorizes in support of Ukraine is just him wiggling his tiny mushroom dick to prove to Putin that he is 'powerful' and 'strong' and not the weakling coward he really is. He will always side with Putin when push comes to shove because he is the bottom in that bromance

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John Schwarzkopf's avatar

JFC Wes, posts like this make my paid subscription to you my most important Substack subscription!

I don't know how you get your information, but it's the best out there. Although I'm having a hard time believing Diaper Don would let the CIA go against his Russian handler who clearly has kompromat on him. Your thoughts on that?

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Wes O'Donnell's avatar

Thanks John. I have to tell you, I had to quit my corporate job in November (that I’ve had for 10 years) because it was impossible to lead a large team while studying for the bar exam. So your paid subscription, along with my Medium and YouTube earnings, are keeping me alive while I write and study. So, 🙏 I personally thank you.

As for Trump, maybe it’s a lovers’ quarrel? 😆

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Will Liley's avatar

Wes, best of luck with the bar exam - which state? I noticed your were in NYC over the holidays; was that just a visit? I echo JS - yours is my favorite, and it’s a much-needed counter to the gloom-and-doom narratives about UKR’s inevitable forced surrender. Maybe, just maybe, Trump is beginning to realise he’s been played by Putin and that his desired Nobel Prize is more likely by supporting UKR than by cow-towing to Russia…and earning the Chamberlain-like condemnation of history.

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Baxter Wilson's avatar

I suppose it does make sense that CIA is helping-have capacity for very high flying intelligence gathering and technical no how. I really think that Ukraine needs to go into overdrive and hit Putin where it hurts…good article.

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Robot Bender's avatar

Now, how do you hit the factories that contain the precision tools and personnel to make those highly specialized parts? (Evil grin)

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Napoleon's Colonel's avatar

This is some good Anthony Cave Brown goodness. Well done, Wes and keep piling on.

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Seldon Crisis Log's avatar

Any idea why American officials would inform the press of this CIA assistance?

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Wes O'Donnell's avatar

That's a good question; one that I should have probably addressed somewhere in the piece. It’s almost certainly intentional, and it’s aimed more at Moscow than at the public.

First, controlled leaks are a tool. When senior officials allow something like this to surface, especially through outlets like the Telegraph or New York Times, it’s usually because they want the message out without issuing a formal statement. That preserves deniability while still shaping behavior. It could also be leverage signaling. By letting it be known that US intelligence helped identify refinery choke points, Washington is quietly telling the Kremlin that the campaign can continue or expand if Moscow refuses to move. Maybe the hope is to push Putin to negotiate. Just some guesses.

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Stig Skjaeret's avatar

The one decent thing you did.

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Roger Helbig's avatar

If they have, they certainly have my ecstatic OK.

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