Politics –
National Security Briefings
Begin For ‘The Donald’

As the Republican nominee for president, Donald Trump is set to receive his first classified national security briefing today in New York. Although the move is customary for presidential nominees of both political parties, the national security world and the White House are holding their proverbial breath in handing Trump this very sensitive data.

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Politics
Being a former U.S. Secretary of State, there is likely very little new intelligence information that Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton doesn’t already know. However, being a former reality TV star with no prior knowledge or experience in foreign policy and national security matters, handing this data over to Donald Trump is a huge deal.  The GOP presidential candidate has proven himself to be an unpredictable loose cannon with no respect for rules that don’t fit his mood at the moment.  So, what Trump will do with this classified intelligence information, or how he might try to use it against his Democratic opponent or the current U.S. president is anyone’s guess.

Senior Democrats — including Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid — are understandably concerned that Trump might be irresponsible with the sensitive information he is given, particularly after his “I was only being sarcastic” encouragement of Russia to hack Hillary Clinton’s emails.

“How would the CIA and the other intelligence agencies brief this guy? How could they do that? I would suggest to the intelligence agencies, if you’re forced to brief this guy, don’t tell him anything, just fake it, because this man is dangerous,” Reid said of Trump’s impending briefing. “Fake it, pretend you’re doing a briefing, but you can’t give the guy any information.”

Interestingly, at least 8 intelligence officials (who have chosen to remain anonymous) share Harry Reid’s concerns.  Citing “The Donald’s” lack of foreign policy experience, his volatile style, and his little-known team of foreign policy advisers, they believe Trump’s “shoot from the hip” style could pose national security risks that would be irreparable to the country.

“People are very nervous,” said one senior U.S. security official.

“I would be very concerned with Mr. Trump’s ability to know what he can and can’t discuss” publicly about the contents of an intelligence briefing, said Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee.

National security and foreign policy officials are actively trying to determine “who on (Trump’s) team is trustworthy,” added another official. “We’ve never had a situation like this before. Ever.”

Politics
Since World War II, confirmed U.S. presidential nominees have traditionally received national security briefing from intelligence officials — including spy agency chiefs — covering a broad range of national security issues. Immediately following election day, presidents-elect have received the same Presidential Daily Brief that the sitting president receives, complete with material on the intelligence agencies’ sources, methods, and covert operations.  Top figures in both major political parties have called on the government to end the tradition of providing classified briefings to the rival party’s nominee.  However, the government deems it necessary for the smooth transition into the next presidency.

Despite the outpouring of fears, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said he intends to avoid any perception of political bias by giving both Mr. Trump and Mrs. Clinton equal national security briefings on a regular basis.

“Nominees for president and vice-president receive these briefings by virtue of their status as candidates and do not require separate security clearances before the briefings,” Clapper said last month. “Briefings for the candidates will be provided on an even-handed non-partisan basis.”

Or will they?

The intelligence community is known for conducting some of the greatest stealth espionage in the world. Wouldn’t it be interesting if some of their best work came in the form of watered down briefings to Donald Trump? Wouldn’t it be interesting if they actually followed the advice of Sen. Harry Reid to “fake it?”

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OK WASSUP! discusses politics.  Today’s article:
Donald Trump to receive national security briefings.