Leaders of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee have demanded a briefing this week on reported intelligence assessments that Russia offered rewards to Taliban-linked militants for killing US and coalition troops in Afghanistan, The panel’s top Republican said Monday.
Noting that he has not seen intelligence, a member of the rank committee Mac Thornberry
William (Mac) McClellan ThornberryNight Defense: Army to Release Photos of Soldiers’ Records to Reduce Racial Bias | House defense bill backs pandemic preparedness fund B | Bill Targets Possible Troop Reductions House of Representatives Defense Bill Pandemic Preparedness Fund B House panel begins investigation into outbreak of Roosevelt coronavirus after captain firing confirmed MORE (R-Texas) told reporters that he and the committee chair Adam Smith
David (Adam) Adam Smith Defense at Night: Army to Release Photos of Soldiers’ Records to Reduce Racial Bias | House defense bill backs pandemic preparedness fund B | Bill points to possible troop reductions House defense bill points to possible troop cuts in Africa, South Korea House defense bill backs B pandemic preparedness fund MORE (D-Wash.) Over the weekend “he insisted on a briefing of [the Department of Defense] in intelligence immediately, earlier this week. “
“When it comes to the lives of our service members, especially in Afghanistan, especially these accusations that there were rewards for the deaths of Americans, then it is incredibly serious, and we in Congress need to look at the information and sources to judge That ourselves, and it has to happen earlier this week, “Thornberry told reporters in a conference call.
“It will not be acceptable to delay, so we have asked that the full Armed Services Committee receive this information, either today or tomorrow,” he added. “We made this request over the weekend, and so far we have not received a response.”
In a statement, a spokesman for the Democratic committee added that Smith is “deeply concerned” by reports that a Russian spy operation attacked US troops.
“He and senior member Thornberry have demanded a briefing to get a full report of what the White House knew about these Russian operations and when, so that the appropriate administration officials and the Russian government are held to account,” said the spokesman. “Currently, a briefing is not scheduled.”
The New York Times first reported on Friday, followed by several other media outlets, that the intelligence community concluded months ago that the Russian intelligence unit commonly known as GRU secretly offered payments to Taliban-linked militants for successful attacks. against coalition forces in Afghanistan last year. .
The newspaper reported that Trump had been briefed on intelligence and that officials had deliberated on possible response options, but that the White House had not authorized any further action.
The Washington Post reported Sunday that intelligence evaluations concluded that Russian rewards led to the death of US troops in Afghanistan.
Shortly after the Post’s story, Trump stated in a tweet that the intelligence was deemed unbelievable and therefore was not informed about it. Neither the White House nor the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) have addressed intelligence credibility as described, but have disputed the Times version that Trump received information about the information.
Lawmakers from both parties have demanded more information, including the prominent Republican and defense voice of House of Representatives No. 3, Rep. Liz Cheney
Elizabeth (Liz) Lynn Cheney Chair of the Republican Party committee: “It would help” if Trump wore a mask from time to time. Arkansas Governor Urges “A Consistent National Message” About Wearing Masks MORE (R-Wyo.)
Thornberry told reporters that the “bipartisan insistence on seeing intelligence” is “even stronger not publicly” than it has been publicly.
Russia has been accused of supporting the Taliban in the past by providing weapons to insurgents. But Thornberry called the latest indictment a “different level”.
“It is so egregious that, from my point of view, if there was a touch of credibility, then it should get the president’s attention, and there should be a plan for what he is going to do about it,” he said.
If Trump was, in fact, not informed of the information, Thornberry suggested that they should fire people.
“Depending on those responses, it may be appropriate for people who should have reported to the president to be removed if they did not fulfill their responsibilities,” he said.
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