1. Would you like to reflect on President Biden as our Commander-in-Chief?
Answer: I would. I think he is an extraordinary leader as Commander-in-Chief extending to all aspects of our national security. His leadership in support of Ukraine has demonstrated the best possible judgment with regard to ways in which we can support the Ukrainian people without escalating the conflict.
2. The far right has been pushing for transferring more advanced weapons systems to Ukraine.
Answer: I realize that, and I just need to express that, in my opinion, President Biden and his administration are exercising the utmost care in their determinations with regard to this issue. The American people are being wisely served by each and every decision coming from our President and our Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
3. You have concerns that the far right may have an interest in escalating the conflict in Ukraine.
Answer: I do, and I think those concerns are shared by political moderates everywhere. The talking points of the far right and the talking points of Russian propaganda echo one another in disturbing ways. And this has been written about in the New York Times and elsewhere, reflecting extremely detailed analysis. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/23/technology/russia-american-far-right-ukraine.html
4. In many ways, Fox News and other far right news media outlets have begun serving a propagandistic role which often supports a Russian agenda.
Answer: That appears to be the case, unfortunately.
5. What are the risks to our domestic security given that this is happening?
Answer: Well, this brings us back to the discussion of President Biden as an extraordinary Commander-in-Chief. Because far right infiltration of certain news media outlets is connected to far right infiltration of certain factions of the national security apparatus itself. The FBI has liaisons at all the major news media outlets, and make no mistake, these liaisons are affecting the news Americans receive and the manner in which they receive it.
President Biden is the first President to articulate that we as a nation are facing a clear and present contest between autocracy and democracy in a domestic context. The first one.
His insight regarding the sources of this insider threat is highly attuned to the concerted reach for control currently being extended by the FBI and its affiliates.
When President Biden stands before us in Philadelphia and expresses to the American people that their right to privacy, their right to free speech, their right to autonomy is under threat, he is speaking with profound wisdom and judgment in giving voice to this danger.
No other President has articulated this threat to Americans' civil liberties and human rights.
6. Why not? Why hasn't it happened before now?
Answer: It takes courage, frankly. Immense courage.
What Eisenhower referred to as the "military-industrial complex" of the United States is second to none in terms of technology, resources, and capability.
I think it may be realistic to understand that many presidential administrations before now have accepted a sort of power sharing arrangement with the FBI, the CIA, the DOD and the DOJ.
7. What is different about President Biden's response to that demand?
Answer: He's not caving in. That's what's different.
In seeing the intention of far right factions within these agencies to unmake Americans' Constitutional freedoms, President Biden is pushing back.
As I said, that takes judgement, intelligence, insight, an entirely unselfish love for our country, and unlimited courage. These are the qualities of an extraordinary Commander-in-Chief.
And I must say, I possess an abiding desire for Americans to understand how fortunate we all are to have President Biden striving for our freedoms at this moment in our nation's history.
This challenge to our democracy is unprecedented, but President Biden's unique qualities as our Commander-in-Chief are equal to this task.
That's a rare confluence of events, and it's one that gives our democracy a chance.
8. You have said that it upsets you when some Americans fail to understand how critical President Biden's leadership is for our nation.
Answer: I don't think President Biden's leadership is replaceable. I want Americans to understand the reasons why.
9. How would you yourself articulate them?
Answer: It all comes down to character and integrity. 999,999 people out of one million will, in difficult circumstances, acquiesce to significant external pressure to conform to powerful institutional demands.
President Biden is not acquiescing. He is placing his love for the American people above his own self-interest.
That doesn't happen very often. If a country is fortunate enough to have a Commander-in-Chief who is guided by the highest principles, the electorate will hopefully come to recognize that gift.
10. You wish to help facilitate that recognition.
Answer: I do.
11. What should happen with regard to far right factions of some of the agencies you've mentioned?
Answer: Democracies must maintain a rather fearless commitment to the truth. Our democracy is no exception. We need to investigate the ways in which far right factions of the national security apparatus may have knowingly violated the Constitution. And we need to illuminate those findings for the American people.
Financial relationships between the national security apparatus and the campaigns of our congressional representatives should be suspended while a thorough assessment of this issue is undertaken.
Beyond this, the presence of national security liaisons within American news media organizations should be discontinued.
Americans need to understand the facts in a manner that is objective, rational, and free from all conflict of interest.
After that, the American people need to be free to ask questions about what has transpired within far right segments of the national security agencies without their knowledge or consent.
12. You believe that President Biden possesses the courage to guide such a process.
Answer: I know he does. And I further believe that he commands such abundant respect from world leaders that he can extend his support to other nations as they endeavor to confront this issue within their own borders.
13. Americans did not vote for FBI Director Christopher Wray.
Answer: No, they didn't. That public referendum never happened.
Americans voted for President Joseph Robinette Biden as their Commander-in-Chief.
It was an inspired choice.
Lane MacWilliams
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