Each day at just after midnight Eastern, a post like this one is created for contributors and readers of this site to upload news links and video links on the issues that concern this site. Most notably, Islam and its effects on Classical Civilization, and various forms of leftism from Soviet era communism, to postmodernism and all the flavours of galloping statism and totalitarianism such as Nazism and Fascism which are increasingly snuffing out the classical liberalism which created our near, miraculous civilization the West has been building since the time of Socrates.
This document was written around the time this site was created, for those who wish to understand what this site is about. And while our understanding of the world and events has grown since then, the basic ideas remain sound and true to the purpose.
So please post all links, thoughts and ideas that you feel will benefit the readers of this site to the comments under this post each day. And thank you all for your contributions.
This is the new Samizdat. We must use it while we can.
Uighur Muslim internment camps are ‘fake news’, says China envoy to Australia
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2019/12/19/uighur-muslim-internment-camps-are-fake-news-says-china
“China’s ambassador to Australia held a rare press conference Thursday to defend his government against charges of human rights abuses, espionage and political meddling which have frayed relations between the major trade partners.
Cheng Jingye held a rare press conference at Beijing’s embassy in Canberra where he rejected reports that China has detained more than a million mostly Muslim Uighurs in northwest Xinjiang region as “utterly fake news”.
He also denied recent allegations from current and former security officials that China has been involved in a vast campaign of espionage and political influence in Australia, saying such charges were “not well-founded”.
Australia is reliant on China for trade, by far its biggest market for critical resource and commodities exports.
Cheng pushed back on international charges that China has detained more than a million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic minorities in reeducation camps in a drive to erase their culture.
“Uighurs in detention is utterly fake news,” he said, echoing Beijing’s claims the facilities are vocational training schools that have breathed economic life into the poor far-west region.
He said any arrests that have been made were aimed at countering extremism.
“It’s nothing to do with human rights, nothing to do with religion. It’s about fighting terrorism and taking preventive actions,” he said.
Relations with China have been further strained by Beijing’s detention of a well-known Chinese-Australian author, Yang Hengjun, on suspicion of espionage.
Early this month Foreign Minister Marise Payne decried China’s treatment of Yang as “unacceptable”, saying he was not being allowed access to lawyers and had been interrogated while shackled during his 11 months in detention.
“We do not accept the allegations made by Australia’s side,” Cheng said.
“The relevant Chinese security department will deal with the case in accordance with Chinese law and his lawful rights are protected. In due time you will know the details.”
The envoy acknowledged the rising tensions between China and Australia, saying 2019 had been “a mixed year for bilateral relations”.
The press conference came barely two weeks after Prime Minister Scott Morrison launched a high-level intelligence task force to combat foreign interference in Australia – a move widely seen as targeting China.
Relations with China have been further strained by Beijing’s detention of a well-known Chinese-Australian author, Yang Jun, who goes by the pen name Yang Hengjun, on suspicion of espionage.
China accounts for more than a third of Australian exports and Cheng said the bilateral trade “helped create some 640,000 jobs in this country” and was largely responsible for returning the government’s budget to surplus.
“I want to emphasise the importance of pragmatic cooperation and exchange between the two countries and the benefits for both sides,” he said.”
Egypt’s Al-Azhar ‘concerned’ over exclusion of Muslims from Indian citizenship law
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/358039/Egypt/Politics-/Egypts-AlAzhar-concerned-over-exclusion-of-Muslims.aspx
“Egypt’s Al-Azhar has expressed concern over a new Indian law granting citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
The law, which was approved by India’s parliament on 11 December and has stirred protests nationwide, grants Indian citizenship to Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, Parsis and Sikhs who moved to India from any the three countries before 2015.
Al-Azhar, Egypt’s top Islamic institution, called on Indian authorities to “reconsider” the law, which excludes Muslims, adding that this kind of religious discrimination is strange for the state of India, which has historically stood as an example of religious pluralism and acceptance.
Muslims are estimated to be around 14 percent of India’s population of 1.3 billion.
Al-Azhar stressed that this kind of law “explicitly promotes Islamophobia, violates the principle of citizenship, and stands against coexistence.”
The government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi says the legislation is designed to address the persecution of non-Muslim minorities in their home countries.”
AJK president urges youth to foil Indian conspiracies against motherland
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2121379/1-ajk-president-urges-youth-foil-indian-conspiracies-motherland/
“Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan on Thursday urged youth to foil conspiracies being hatched by enemy against their motherland.
While addressing the 17th Convocation of University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (UJAK), he reminded students that their brothers and sisters in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) are facing barbarism at the hands of occupation troops and looking forward to the youth in the liberated territory for the realisation of their supreme struggle for freedom.
“Indian barbarity and its evil designs are not confined to IOK rather the government in New Delhi is hell-bent on attacking and occupying AJK and persecuting Muslims in India. You will have to prepare for warding off this threat from the enemy by politically, diplomatically and militarily strengthening Azad Kashmir and Pakistan,” President Masood said.
He added: “You [youth] must be ready to fight a war against India at Washington, New York, Brussels, and London and at frontiers of the country…”
If Musharraf dies, hang corpse at D-Chowk: Justice Seth
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2121157/1-detail-verdict-issued-musharraf-high-treason-case/
“The three-judge special court issued its detailed judgment in the Pervez Musharraf treason case on Thursday, with the presiding judge ruling that the former army chief should hang at D-Chowk for three days if he dies before his execution…”
Pakistan Bar Council slams DG ISPR statement on Musharraf’s treason verdict
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2121444/1-pakistan-bar-council-slams-dg-ispr-statement-musharrafs-treason-verdict/
“The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), lawyers top body, has condemned the statement of Pakistan military’s spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor for “criticising” the detailed judgement of the special court in former president Pervez Musharraf’s treason case…”
Pakistan Ulema Council terms Musharraf treason verdict ‘un-Islamic’
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2121389/1-pakistan-ulema-council-terms-musharraf-treason-verdict-un-islamic/
“All Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman Tahir Ashrafi said on Thursday that the special court’s judgement against former military ruler retired General Pervez Musharraf is against the Islamic constitution…”
Ankara slams Netherlands for asylum of FETÖ members
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ankara-slams-netherlands-for-asylum-of-feto-members-150012
“Turkey on Dec. 18 criticized a decision by the Netherlands to approve asylum applications and residence permits for suspects with alleged links to the FETÖ, the group behind the 2016 defeated coup attempt in Turkey.
“It is unacceptable that the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service responded positively to the asylum applications of FETÖ members and granted them residence permits on the basis that personal information of the FETÖ-affiliated individuals might have been obtained by the Turkish authorities,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a statement.
Aksoy stressed that the 1951 Geneva Convention on the Status of Refugees stipulated that individuals who are wanted for terror crimes could not be granted refugee status.
“The Convention aims to prevent the abuse of the refugee status by terrorists,” he added.
Aksoy went on to say that Turkey’s efforts and expectations for the extradition of FETÖ members continued.
“Our expectation and efforts towards the extradition of FETÖ members who are behind the July 15 treacherous coup attempt, claiming the lives of 251 innocent citizens and injuring thousands, will continue,” Aksoy said.
“It should not be forgotten that this terrorist organization is a threat not only to Turkey, but also to every country where it operates, and that international cooperation is of great importance in the fight against terrorism,” he concluded.
FETÖ and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gülen orchestrated the defeated coup attempt on July 15, 2016, which left 251 people killed and nearly 2,200 injured.
Ankara also accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.”
Turkey deports Moroccan, German for terror links
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-deports-moroccan-german-for-terror-links/1678824
“Turkey deported two foreign terrorist fighters back to their countries, Morocco and Germany, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday.
In a statement, the ministry said the Moroccan and German nationals were sent back their countries of origin as part of Turkey’s ramped-up efforts to repatriate foreign terrorist fighters.
The statement did not specify which terror group the fighters belonged to, but in recent months it has been stressing the return of Daesh/ISIS terrorists.
Turkey continues to deport foreign terrorist fighters, the statement added.
The issue of the handling of Daesh/ISIS members and their families detained in Syria — including foreign members of the terror group — has been controversial, with Turkey arguing foreign-born terrorists should be returned to their countries of origin.
Ankara has said several European countries resisted its efforts to send Daesh/ISIS members back to their countries, but that it will nevertheless press forward.
Turkey has so far deported 7,500 Daesh/ISIS members, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said early December, adding that there are currently 1,149 Daesh/ISIS terrorists in Turkish prisons.”
European border cities form network for migrant reception
http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/nations/italy/2019/12/19/european-border-cities-form-network-for-migrant-reception_9d88a988-e9f7-4799-b33f-55bd22ec8f51.html
“Seven European cities at the heart of the migration phenomenon on Thursday formed the Border Towns and Islands Network (BTIN).
The founding members are: the island of Lampedusa (Italy), the local council of Marsa (Malta), Agios Athanasios (Cyprus), Grande-Synthe (France), Pesaro (Italy), Siklósnagyfalu (Hungary), and Strass in Steiermark (Austria).
Totò Martello, the mayor of Lampedusa and Linosa, called the signing in Malta “another important step for this project”.
“Building it depends on all of us. Being an active part of this network we can leave behind that solitude that sometimes hits local border entities. It’s fundamental that migration goes back to being a political process,” Martello said.
The network was founded on the initiative of the City of Lampedusa and Linosa, which is also the coordinator of the project Snapshots from the Borders (http://www.snapshotsfromtheborders.eu), in which the local constituent members are partners.
Amref is a project partner.
Joseph Azzopardi, mayor of Marsa, called it “an important day”.
“As border locations, Mediterranean and European, we share the same problems and the same necessities,” Azzopardi said.
BTIN is made up only of local authorities of the cities situated at European borders, as full members.
Its goal is to promote collaborate and reciprocal support among border cities and islands to give voice to national, European, and international decision-making institutions.
“As an African organisation in this network, we want to contribute to build a correct narration around migration, like we do for Africa,” said Roberta Rughetti, programs director for Amref Health Africa Italia.
“Today’s step is one that allows us to go beyond the length of a project. It has the goal of making a network, creating dialogue between territories that face migration on a daily basis. We hope that all of this can be a stimulus for the institutions,” Rughetti said.
The network will focus on questions related to solidarity among cities and countries, the needs of local communities and citizens, more efficient ways to provide migrant reception, collaboration to increase shared European responsibility and that of member states, development cooperation, and peace and dialogue among local authorities.
Its actions include online networking and exchanging of best practices; shared communication activities that increase the voices from the borders; and shared educational approaches for local communities, aimed both at local residents as well as migrants.
Starting in 2020, the network will welcome new members, with the goal of strengthening collaboration between local authorities and their voice in the face of national and European institutions.”
Ex-bishop of Oslo convicted of breaking immigration rules to hire housekeeper
https://www.thelocal.no/20191219/ex-bishop-of-oslo-convicted-of-breaking-immigration-rules-to-hire-housekeeper
“The former Lutheran bishop of Oslo was handed a 45-day suspended prison sentence on Thursday for hiring an Eritrean asylum-seeker without a work permit.
Gunnar Stalsett, now 84, pleaded guilty to paying Lula Tekle, 55, for housework even after her papers were withdrawn in 2008, denying her the right to work.
The case, revealed by the ex-bishop himself in an interview earlier this year, has put the spotlight on the conditions of thousands of foreigners that Norway, for various reasons, cannot return to their home countries but who at the same time are banned from working to support themselves.
“In certain cases, the conflict between fundamental values and the letter of the law can be so strong that you feel you have no choice but to break the law and accept the legal consequences,” Stalsett told the court.
“That was my situation,” he said.
Several Norwegian media reported Thursday that the right-wing government has reached a compromise to give a special amnesty to those asylum-seekers who cannot be expelled from the Nordic country.
The Oslo court said the former bishop of the Norwegian capital (1998-2005) received a suspended sentence because he had not acted for unscrupulous reasons and because of his advanced age.
Stalsett was also ordered to pay a 10,000-kroner (1,000-euro) fine.”
Iowa Man Sentenced To 16 Years….For Burning LGBTQ Flag
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If you saw the headline and clicked in to read because you thought there’s no way that can be true…
This story is real folks.
And it’s not like someone died in the fire or there were other aggravating circumstances.
Nope, it’s basically because it was deemed a “hate crime”.
Check it out right here:
The Washington Times
?
@WashTimes
Iowa man who burned LGBTQ flag sentenced to 16 years https://bit.ly/35GqGfR
Adolfo Martinez, Iowa man who burned LGBTQ flag, sentenced to 16 years
An Iowa man who was found guilty of lighting a local church’s LGBTQ flag on fire was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison Wednesday.
washingtontimes.com
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12:56 PM – Dec 19, 2019
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The Des Moines Register has confirmed the story:
An Ames man was sentenced Wednesday to about 16 years in prison after he set fire to a church LGBTQ flag in June.
Adolfo Martinez, 30, of Ames, last month was found guilty of a hate crime — a class “D” felony — third-degree harassment and reckless use of fire. Police said he stole a pride banner hanging at Ames United Church of Christ, 217 6th St., and burned it early June 11 outside Dangerous Curves Gentleman’s Club, 111 5th St.
Martinez admitted to police that he lit the banner on fire with lighter fluid and a lighter after stealing it from the church, according to court documents.
Story County Attorney Jessica Reynolds said hate crime charges were added because Martinez is suspected of criminal mischief against someone’s property because of “what it represents as far as sexual orientation.”
So did the Washington Times:
An Iowa man who was found guilty of lighting a local church’s LGBTQ flag on fire was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison Wednesday.
Adolfo Martinez, 30, was found guilty last month of a hate crime, third-degree harassment and reckless use of fire after admitting to police in June that he stole a pride banner hanging outside the Ames United Church of Christ and set it on fire using lighter fluid about two blocks away outside the Dangerous Curves Gentleman’s Club, The Des Moines Register reported.
Story County Attorney Jessica Reynolds said in June that the hate crime charge was added because Mr. Martinez targeted the church’s property because of “what it represents as far as sexual orientation.”
Mr. Martinez was sentenced to 15 years for the hate crime charge, one year for reckless use of fire and 30 days for harassment, all of which will be served consecutively, the Associated Press reported.
https://welovetrump.com/2019/12/19/iowa-man-sentenced-to-16-years-for-burning-lgbtq-flag/
the gateway pundit – Iowa Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison For Setting LGBTQ Flag on Fire
An Iowa man was sentenced to 16 years in prison for setting an LGBTQ flag on fire.
Adolfo Martinez, 30, stole a rainbow-colored pride banner that was hanging from the side of a church and lit it on fire in June of this year.
The County Attorney said “hate crimes” were added to the charges because Martinez is suspected of criminal mischief against someone’s property because of “what it represents as far as sexual orientation.”
This is outrageous! Murderers and rapists serve less time!
The Des Moines Register reported:
An Ames man was sentenced Wednesday to about 16 years in prison after he set fire to a church LGBTQ flag in June.
Adolfo Martinez, 30, of Ames, last month was found guilty of a hate crime — a class “D” felony — third-degree harassment and reckless use of fire. Police said he stole a pride banner hanging at Ames United Church of Christ, 217 6th St., and burned it early June 11 outside Dangerous Curves Gentleman’s Club, 111 5th St.
Martinez admitted to police that he lit the banner on fire with lighter fluid and a lighter after stealing it from the church, according to court documents.
Story County Attorney Jessica Reynolds said hate crime charges were added because Martinez is suspected of criminal mischief against someone’s property because of “what it represents as far as sexual orientation.”
Meanwhile, Antifa terrorists burn American flags and never serve jail time.
Last year, Antifa lit a member of the Secret Service on fire — no jail time.
Antifa (leftists) also damage businesses, light cop cars on fire and charred a limousine at Trump’s inauguration — again, no jail time.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/12/iowa-man-sentenced-to-16-years-in-prison-for-setting-lgbtq-flag-on-fire/
France deploys armed drones in the Sahel region
https://www.dw.com/en/france-deploys-armed-drones-in-the-sahel-region/a-51744023
“The French military will now use armed drones in Africa’s Sahel region as part of its seven-year fight against Islamist extremist groups there. President Emmanuel Macron is expected to visit the region soon…”
Fox News – EXCLUSIVE: Attorney General Bill Barr goes one-on-one with Martha MacCallum
Attorney General Bill Barr goes one-one-one with Martha MacCallum in an exclusive interview.
The Attorney General discusses the latest in Trump’s impeachment, fallout from the FISA abuse probe and what is to come from John Durham’s investigation into the Russia probe.
Pentagon finds no ‘immediate threat’ in training of Saudis
Washington (AFP) – The Pentagon said Thursday it had conducted background checks on all Saudi military personnel currently training in the United States and found no “immediate threat scenario,” two weeks after a deadly shooting rampage by a Saudi air force officer.
Defense Department officials had announced a security review following the attack, halting operational training for Saudi Arabian military students in the United States, though classroom instruction would continue.
US authorities have examined the identities, past activities and social media history of some 850 Saudis currently training on military bases in the US, said Garry Reid, the Pentagon’s director for defense intelligence.
“We can report that no information indicating an immediate threat scenario was discovered,” he said.
The checks come after Mohammed Alshamrani, a 21-year-old lieutenant in the Saudi Royal Air Force, opened fire in a classroom at Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida on December 6, killing three American sailors and wounding eight other people before being shot dead by police.
Alshamrani, who was armed with a lawfully purchased Glock 9mm handgun, is reported to have posted a manifesto on Twitter before the shooting denouncing America as “a nation of evil.”
The Pentagon reviewed policies for screening foreign students but the suspension of operational training only applied to Saudi students, officials said at the time.
Operational training for Saudi students can theoretically resume, but operations are expected to be much lighter during the holiday season, a senior Pentagon official said Thursday on condition of anonymity.
850 Saudis among all branches.
There are 300 Saudis in the Navy alone.
https://news.yahoo.com/pentagon-finds-no-immediate-threat-training-saudis-215146347.html
NYT – Durham Is Scrutinizing Ex-C.I.A. Director’s Role in Russian Interference Findings
The federal prosecutor investigating the origins of the Russia inquiry is examining testimony by the former C.I.A. director John Brennan and seeking his communications records.
WASHINGTON — The federal prosecutor scrutinizing the Russia investigation has begun examining the role of the former C.I.A. director John O. Brennan in how the intelligence community assessed Russia’s 2016 election interference, according to three people briefed on the inquiry.
John H. Durham, the United States attorney leading the investigation, has requested Mr. Brennan’s emails, call logs and other documents from the C.I.A., according to a person briefed on his inquiry. He wants to learn what Mr. Brennan told other officials, including the former F.B.I. director James B. Comey, about his and the C.I.A.’s views of a notorious dossier of assertions about Russia and Trump associates.
Mr. Durham’s pursuit of Mr. Brennan’s records is certain to add to accusations that Mr. Trump is using the Justice Department to go after his perceived enemies. The president has long attacked Mr. Brennan as part of his narrative about a so-called deep state cabal of Obama administration officials who tried to sabotage his campaign, and Mr. Trump has held out Mr. Durham’s investigation as a potential avenue for proving those claims.
Mr. Durham is also examining whether Mr. Brennan privately contradicted his public comments, including May 2017 testimony to Congress, about both the dossier and about any debate among the intelligence agencies over their conclusions on Russia’s interference, the people said.
The people familiar with Mr. Durham’s inquiry stressed that it was continuing and it was not clear what crimes, if any, he had uncovered. Representatives for Mr. Brennan and the Justice Department declined to comment.
Defenders of Mr. Brennan have long maintained he did nothing wrong and properly sounded the alarm on Russian interference in the 2016 election, and he told MSNBC this fall that he would answer Mr. Durham’s questions if asked.
“I feel good about what it is we did as an intelligence community, and I feel very confident and comfortable with what I did, so I have no qualms whatsoever about talking with investigators who are going to be looking at this in a fair and appropriate manner,” Mr. Brennan said.
Mr. Durham, the United States attorney in Connecticut, has previously conducted politically fraught investigations, including allegations of wrongdoing in the C.I.A.’s detainee torture program. Attorney General William P. Barr appointed him this year to re-examine not only the origins of the F.B.I.’s Russia investigation but more broadly how the government uncovered Moscow’s election interference and dealt with those findings.
“He is not just looking at the F.B.I.,” Mr. Barr said in an interview broadcast Thursday evening on Fox News. “He is looking at other agencies.”
Mr. Brennan has come into Mr. Durham’s sights as he has focused on the intelligence community assessment released in January 2017 that used information from the F.B.I., the C.I.A. and the National Security Agency to detail Russia’s meddling. They concluded that President Vladimir V. Putin ordered an influence campaign that “aspired to help” Mr. Trump’s chances by damaging his opponent, Hillary Clinton.
Officials and analysts who worked on that assessment disagreed on how to treat two pieces of intelligence: the assertion that Mr. Putin wanted to help Mr. Trump win rather than simply sow chaos, and the contents of the dossier of salacious, unproven allegations about links between Russia and Trump associates compiled by a British former spy, Christopher Steele. His research, funded by Democrats, has been ground zero for conservative allegations that the origins of the Russia investigation were tainted.
“The president bore the burden of probably one of the greatest conspiracy theories — baseless conspiracy theories — in American political history,” Mr. Barr told Fox News. He has long expressed skepticism that the F.B.I. had enough information to begin its inquiry in 2016, publicly criticizing an inspector general report released last week that affirmed that the bureau did.
Mr. Barr has long been interested in the conclusion about Mr. Putin ordering intervention on Mr. Trump’s behalf, perhaps the intelligence report’s most explosive assertion. The C.I.A. and the F.B.I. reported high confidence in the conclusion, while the N.S.A., which conducts electronic surveillance, had a moderate degree of confidence.
The difference simply reflects the kinds of intelligence the agencies specialize in and how the United States learned about Mr. Putin’s intentions, current and former intelligence officials said. Mr. Putin avoids telephones, and the National Security Agency, which intercepts electronic communications and calls, lacked strong intelligence about his intentions in 2016.
Instead, a C.I.A. informant close to the Kremlin was a key source for that finding. Mr. Durham has been trying to learn more about any internal debate inside the C.I.A. over the conclusion, former intelligence officials said.
Mr. Brennan told lawmakers at a House Intelligence Committee hearing in May 2017 the N.S.A.’s confidence level was the “lone exception” to the intelligence agencies’ otherwise united front about Russia’s interference.
Critics of the intelligence assessment, like Representative Chris Stewart, Republican of Utah, said the C.I.A.’s sourcing failed to justify the high level of confidence about Moscow’s intervention on behalf of Mr. Trump.
“I don’t agree with the conclusion, particularly that it’s such a high level of confidence,” Mr. Stewart said, citing raw intelligence that he said he reviewed.
“I just think there should’ve been allowances made for some of the ambiguity in that and especially for those who didn’t also share in the conclusion that it was a high degree of confidence,” he added.
Mr. Durham’s investigators also want to know to more about the discussions that prompted intelligence community leaders to include Mr. Steele’s allegations in the appendix of their assessment.
Mr. Brennan has repeatedly said, including in his 2017 congressional testimony, that the C.I.A. did not rely on the dossier when it helped develop the assessment, and the former director of national intelligence, James Clapper, has also testified before lawmakers that the same was true for the intelligence agencies more broadly. But Mr. Trump’s allies have long asked pointed questions about the dossier, including how it was used in the intelligence agency’s assessment.
Some C.I.A. analysts and officials insisted that the dossier be left out the assessment, while some F.B.I. leaders wanted to include it and bristled at its relegation to the appendix. Their disagreements were captured in the highly anticipated report released last week by Michael E. Horowitz, the Justice Department inspector general, examining aspects of the F.B.I.’s Russia investigation.
Mr. Steele’s information “was a topic of significant discussion within the F.B.I. and with the other agencies participating in drafting” the declassified intelligence assessment about Russia interference, Mr. Horowitz wrote. The F.B.I. shared Mr. Steele’s information with the team of officials from multiple agencies drafting the assessment.
Mr. Comey also briefed Mr. Brennan and other top Obama administration intelligence officials including the director of the National Security Agency, Adm. Michael S. Rogers, and Mr. Clapper about the bureau’s efforts to assess the information in the dossier, Mr. Comey told the inspector general. He said that analysts had found it to be “credible on its face.”
But C.I.A. analysts still wanted to leave the dossier out of the assessment, as it was not vetted. Mr. Brennan’s allies have said he was among the officials who wanted to omit the dossier from the assessment.
Andrew G. McCabe, then the deputy director of the F.B.I., pushed back, according to the inspector general report, accusing the intelligence chiefs of trying to minimize Mr. Steele’s information.
Ultimately the two sides compromised by placing Mr. Steele’s material in the appendix. After BuzzFeed News published the dossier in January 2017, days after the intelligence assessment about Russia’s election sabotage was released, Mr. Comey complained to Mr. Clapper about his decision to publicly state that the intelligence community “has not made any judgment” about the document’s reliability.
Mr. Comey said that the F.B.I. had concluded that Mr. Steele was reliable, according to the inspector general report. Mr. Clapper ignored Mr. Comey, the report said.
Mr. Brennan told Congress that he had no firsthand knowledge of any attempts by the F.B.I. to vet the dossier. Mr. Clapper went further, testifying at a separate hearing that no evidence existed in the entire assessment to definitively say whether the Trump campaign had improper contacts with Russian officials. He also said that the intelligence community “couldn’t corroborate the sourcing” of Mr. Steele’s dossier.
Mr. Brennan’s defenders said he always kept the dossier at arm’s length, arguing against using its findings about the Russian interference campaign in the assessment. The C.I.A. viewed it as “internet rumor,” an F.B.I. official told the inspector general.
It is not clear how much information the C.I.A. has provided investigators, and a C.I.A. spokesman declined to comment. The intelligence agencies are continuing to cooperate with Mr. Durham’s investigation, a person familiar with the inquiry said.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/19/us/politics/durham-john-brennan-cia.html