NEWSLINK: “These Two Former Intelligence Chiefs Differ Sharply on Russia and Trump. America needs more Robert Gates and less James Clapper.” – The National Interest/ Paul Saunders

“… Former secretary of defense and CIA director Robert Gates took a very different approach … Gates — whom no one could accuse of sympathy for Moscow — put Russia’s election interference into historical context, expressed considerable skepticism that Russian officials could have blackmailed Flynn, and, while describing Comey’s firing as ‘not terribly well done,’ was subtly critical of the former FBI director and his conduct. Gates argued that … Putin ‘saw the U.S. basically come out against him in his reelection campaign in 2012’ and as ‘behind’ revolutions in Ukraine, Georgia and other countries in Russia’s neighborhood. Gates characterized Putin as responding in a ‘very KGB’ manner — likely an implicit reference to covert action — to his own perceptions of U.S. conduct (which Gates did not endorse or dismiss). Putin’s strategic aim, Gates said, is to undermine the appearance of legitimacy in U.S. and Western elections so that Western criticism of Russia’s elections would carry less weight. Unlike Clapper, Gates provided a pragmatic and unemotional assessment of what Russia is doing and why. His matter-of-fact comment suggests that America’s noble intentions in promoting democracy in Russia won’t protect the country from blowback from Moscow, and should encourage reflection. …”