We now know Russia’s goal was to sow discord, not elect Trump

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Russian efforts to influence the 2016 US presidential election represent the most recent expression of Moscow’s longstanding desire to undermine the US-led liberal democratic order, but these activities demonstrated a significant escalation in directness, level of activity, and scope of effort compared to previous operations.

We assess Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the US presidential election. Russia’s goals were to undermine public faith in the US democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency. We further assess Putin and the Russian Government developed a clear preference for President-elect Trump. We have high confidence in these judgments.

? We also assess Putin and the Russian Government aspired to help President-elect Trump’s election chances when possible by discrediting Secretary Clinton and publicly contrasting her unfavorably to him. All three agencies agree with this judgment. CIA and FBI have high confidence in this judgment; NSA has moderate confidence.

? Moscow’s approach evolved over the course of the campaign based on Russia’s understanding of the electoral prospects of the two main candidates. When it appeared to Moscow that Secretary Clinton was likely to win the election, the Russian influence campaign began to focus more on undermining her future presidency.

? Further information has come to light since Election Day that, when combined with Russian behavior since early November 2016, increases our confidence in our assessments of Russian motivations and goals.

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This hasn’t changed.

They literally said in the indictment briefing it started with discord, then it moved to helping trump get elected. Hell in the email with Don Jr. they say we want your dad president.

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Decatur

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So, are you saying the 65% of Americans who have a unfavorable view of clinton were duped by russia?

Decatur, you are a smart dude, but your willingness to die on the hill of defending her is bizarre. What harm is there at this point in admitting she is a flawed person in American political history?

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What harm is there at this point in admitting she is a flawed person in American political history?

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It harms decatur’s Obsession with the muh Russia narrative

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This hasn’t changed.

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After the election, the Russians organized anti-Trump rallies. One was the "Not My president" rally in New York just days after the election.

This is per Bob Mueller, unless you now think Mueller is a Trump stooge.

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Even so, I think she still would have won without the Comey letter dinging her at the end.

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wait so we hate comey again?

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This hasn’t changed

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Russia’s goal was to sow discord

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This hasn’t changed

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to assisting Trump's candidacy the moment he appeared viable

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i always figured this occurred b/c they knew it would be easier to push the left over the edge if they lost than vice versa

that's why as soon as he won, they started creating anti-Trump protests

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Your parenthetical is the key. It probably wasn't about actually getting Trump elected (I'm sure they didn't think he had a chance either). It was much more about casting a serious shadow over Hillary because they fricking hate her. The fact that they shifted into anti-Trump rhetoric post election bolsters this idea further.

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It absolutely became about getting Trump elected. That doesn't mean they wanted him elected because they personally liked him or had his best interest at heart. But it does suggest that, according to their calculus, they stood to gain more (or lose less) from Trump winning than from Clinton winning. Maybe they accurately judged that his detractors' strong [negative] feelings toward him combined with his lack of discipline and willingness (eagerness) to stir the pot would aggravate our already divisive political culture and produce just the kind of discord we see today. Maybe they realized his protectionist and anti-internationalist instincts and rhetoric could loosen our ties with our partners and allies. Limiting or mitigating the U.S.'s global reach and engagement is always high on Russia's agenda.

There are certainly dozens of potential other reasons. But whatever they are, it's apparent that the Russians concluded that Trump was their better bet.