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> The fact that someone agrees with Russia's position doesn't immediately prove that he's an asset owned by them “Asset” in the officer/agent/asset trio of ter
by dragonwriter 2y ago
> The fact that someone agrees with Russia's position doesn't immediately prove that he's an asset owned by them
“Asset” in the officer/agent/asset trio of terms for relations to foreign intel/influence operations does not denote ownership, and refers to people who provide access and information or other support without necessarily having the kind of formal control relationship and commitment that makes an agent. (One analogy I've seen used is with romantic relationships, where an agent is like a committed partner and a asset is in a friend-with-benefits relationship.)
- coliveira 2y agoBut this is not the meaning assigned in the case of Trump. The conspiracy theory is that he is "owned" in the sense of having some secret that can be exploited by Russia.
- dragonwriter 2y agoThere is a belief that he is an agent turned by kopromat, but the view that he is an asset is broader (since assets include agents, people using the “asset” description may hold to the stronger or weaker form, and often, in practice, believe that is af least the weaker form and possibly the stronger.)
- coliveira 2y agoIn other words, this is all nonsense. Trump is the product of American idiot policies, not someone invented by Russia.