May 23, 2018
By Kris Holt
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
Cisco says hackers (click here) have infected more than 500,000 routers and other devices with malware to prepare for a cyberattack, and Ukraine could be the target. The country's SBU security service claims the malware is evidence Russia is preparing for a major attack "aimed at destabilising the situation" during the Champions League soccer final in Kiev Saturday, Reuters reported. Ukraine's annual Constitution Day celebrations may also be a target, according to the AP.
Researchers at Cisco have been tracking the malware for months and suspect Russia is responsible -- the company alerted US and Ukraine authorities to its findings, though is not aware what the hackers are planning. US Homeland Security agents are investigating the malware, which has similar code to malware the government claims Russia used in prior attacks....
There may be real reasons cyber attacks are so concentrated. There may be a congregation of satellites over Ukraine that is acting illegally in assaulting Ukraine.
May 23, 2018
By John Haltiwanger
The Ukrainian military (click here) for the first time on Tuesday tested anti-tank missiles made in the US and supplied by the Trump administration.
The US government approved the sale of the Javelin anti-tank missiles in March at an estimated cost of roughly $47 million and they arrived in Ukraine in late April.
Ukraine had long been seeking these missiles to gain an advantage in the ongoing conflict with Russia-backed rebels in the eastern part of the country, known as the Donbas. Accordingly, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko celebrated the first test of the missile on Twitter, stating, "Finally this day has come! Today, for the first time in Ukraine, the launch of Javelin missile complexes took place.".
"This is a very effective defensive weaponry, which is used in the event of Russian offensive on the positions of Ukrainian troops," Poroshenko added....
I would think the World Bank is very interested in this. It isn't like Ukraine is ATT or any of the other million-billionaires Trump is used to when it comes to "Pay to Play."
President Poroshenko needs the USA. Ukraine needs NATO. If the Ukraine President felt as though his country was going to be put on a blacklist for military hardware and/or financing, he would be willing to pay any requirement to achieve a national goal.
The monies paid to President Trump's lawyer for Pay to Play belong to the Ukraine people. These dollars are precious. Ukraine had staggering economic dynamics when the Maidan occurred, including the national debt. It would be very criminal to extort a foreign government with former ties to Russia.
I can't say for sure, but, if the monies weren't paid, President Trump could force Ukraine into an adverse national security status. That reality, of course, would play into the hands of Russia. President Trump would be operating as an agent to Russia if Ukraine were adversely effected by not paying monies.
I can't hardly recognize the USA under this administration. President Obama created excellent sanctions to Russia to protect Ukraine and maintain it's love of freedom. I don't see Trump as a president interested in any dynamics of freedom or not unless the proper monies were paid. I am shaking my head in disbelief as I write this. OMG!
This level of corruption is very dangerous, to the USA and in this case Ukraine. What next? Selling the USA to China or Russia and then what happens to NATO? What other countries have been held hostage for payments to Trump's lawyers
continued..
21 May 2018
By Paul Wood
Donald Trump's personal lawyer, (click here) Michael Cohen, received a secret payment of at least $400,000 (£300,000) to fix talks between the Ukrainian president and President Trump, according to sources in Kiev close to those involved.
The payment was arranged by intermediaries acting for Ukraine's leader, Petro Poroshenko, the sources said, though Mr Cohen was not registered as a representative of Ukraine as required by US law.
Mr Cohen denies the allegation.
The meeting at the White House was last June. Shortly after the Ukrainian president returned home, his country's anti-corruption agency stopped its investigation into Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort.
A high-ranking Ukrainian intelligence officer in Mr Poroshenko's administration described what happened before the visit to the White House....
...A high-ranking Ukrainian intelligence officer in Mr Poroshenko's administration described what happened before the visit to the White House.
Mr Cohen was brought in, he said, because Ukraine's registered lobbyists and embassy in Washington DC could get Mr Poroshenko little more than a brief photo-op with Mr Trump. Mr Poroshenko needed something that could be portrayed as "talks".
This senior official's account is as follows - Mr Poroshenko decided to establish a back channel to Mr Trump. The task was given to a former aide, who asked a loyal Ukrainian MP for help.
He in turn used personal contacts who attended a Jewish charity in New York state, Chabad of Port Washington. (A spokeman for the Chabad has asked us to make clear that officials there were not involved.
This eventually led to Michael Cohen, the president's lawyer and trusted fixer. Mr Cohen was paid $400,000.
There is no suggestion that Mr Trump knew about the payment.
That is horse hockey. President Trump is responsible for the activities of his staff, private, family and otherwise. There is no innocent understanding in this paradigm. This is Trump's private lawyer HANDLING the President of Ukraine. There is no protocol for this level of corruption. This is corruption and it can't be called anything else. If I received a visit from a foreign power and my private lawyer arranged it, there should be all kinds of alarm bells going off.
This is extortion. The State Department should have been handling all these approaches by any country. Where is the Exxon guy? Tillerson? Don't tell me he didn't know there was pay to play occurring. I don't buy that for a minute.
THIS IS NOT HOW ARM PURCHASES AND SHIPMENTS OCCUR!
Michael Cohen had no national security clearance and this was not a cocktail party!
Trump's Russia lawyer never sought national security and states he won't seek it. Where is he getting his information, Russia?
June 11, 2017
By Justin Elliot and Jessee Eisenger
...“No question in my mind (click here) — in order to represent President Trump in this matter you would have to get a very high level of clearance because of the allegations involving Russia,” said Robert Bennett, who served as President Bill Clinton’s personal lawyer. Like many Washington lawyers, Bennett has held security clearances throughout his career....
These guys are a piece of work.
Michael Cohen had no national security clearance and this was not a cocktail party!
Trump's Russia lawyer never sought national security and states he won't seek it. Where is he getting his information, Russia?
June 11, 2017
By Justin Elliot and Jessee Eisenger
...“No question in my mind (click here) — in order to represent President Trump in this matter you would have to get a very high level of clearance because of the allegations involving Russia,” said Robert Bennett, who served as President Bill Clinton’s personal lawyer. Like many Washington lawyers, Bennett has held security clearances throughout his career....
These guys are a piece of work.
