Stephen Lendman

Americans are ill-governed and ill-served by officials at all levels of government - federal, state and local.

On Monday, clear evidence showed it. Disgraceful witch-hunt McCarthyism was on display for viewers tuning in to see.

Hysterical House Select Committee on Intelligence members disgraced themselves during tediously long testimony by FBI Director James Comey and NSA head Michael Rogers.

Committee members obsessed over nonexistent Trump ties to Russia, his charges about Obama wiretapping him, nonexistent Moscow US election hacking, Putin bashing, and security leaks.

Comey acknowledged an ongoing classified investigation into alleged Russian interference in America’s presidential election, saying:

“I have been authorized by the Department of Justice to confirm that the FBI as part of our counterintelligence mission is investigating the Russian government’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election.”

“And that includes investigating the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government, and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russia’s efforts.”

“As with any counterintelligence investigation, this will also include an assessment of whether any crimes were committed.”

He offered no further elaboration despite hours of badgering by committee members to explain more.

The proceedings amounted to orchestrated McCarthyism, infamous witch-hunt hysteria, a disgusting display.

Russia was demonized for nonexistent US election hacking. Comey stopped short of suggesting collusion between Trump’s campaign and Moscow - because of an ongoing investigation he’s not at liberty to discuss.

After months of bashing Russia and Trump, no evidence surfaced of collusion between him, his campaign and Moscow - or proof of Russian US election hacking. None exists, yet baseless accusations persist.

Trump addressed Monday’s proceedings via multiple tweets, saying:

“James Clapper and others stated that there is no evidence Potus colluded with Russia. This story is FAKE NEWS and everyone knows it!”

“The Democrats made up and pushed the Russian story as an excuse for running a terrible campaign. Big advantage in Electoral College & lost!”

“The real story that Congress, the FBI and all others should be looking into is the leaking of Classified information. Must find leaker now!”

“What about all of the contact with the Clinton campaign and the Russians? Also, is it true that the DNC would not let the FBI in to look?”

Last fall Putin asked “is America a banana republic?” Televised Monday proceedings provided more evidence of a politically corrupt system too debauched to fix.

Of greater concern is creating pretexts for war on Russia. House Intelligence Committee chairman Devin Nunes (R. CA) claimed nonexistent “pressing threats posed by the Russian autocrat (sic)” Putin, urging “stronger action against Russian belligerence.”

Stoking conflict between the world’s top nuclear powers is madness. Is this where things are heading?

Will neocons infesting Washington risk nuclear armageddon to satisfy their lust for unchallenged power?

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at http://www.sjlendman.blogspot.com.

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.