The 500 Billion Dollar Answer

Even before the general election Putin pandered to Trump. The reason for this symbiotic relationship has long been the million dollar question.  There is a 500 billion dollar answer.  The answer also covers a flock of related questions, about Carter Page, Michael Flynn, Rex Tillerson, and the state of the State Department.

Put an Exxon the spot.   Exxon is now seeking a waiver from sanctions against Russia so that it can implement the deal Rex Tillerson,  as Exxon CEO,  made with Rosnoft, the Putin controlled Russian oil and energy monopoly.  The deal has been estimated to have a value of as much as 500 billion dollars.  As Senator John McCain said, "Russia is a gas station masquerading as a country."   Remove oil related sanctions and all that remains is window dressing.

The pieces all come together.  Under someone's influence, Trump lends an ear to an energy guy, Carter Page, for foreign policy advice.  The same energy guy who was  recruited by Russian agents in 2013.   Trump's choice for National Security Advisor likewise had ties to Russia, and met with Russian interests on the subject of sanctions.   Although Flynn was fired,  the firing came not when Trump learned of Flynn's lies about sanction discussions, but rather, when they became public.  The lynchpin is Rex Tillerson.  The Secretary of State has deep ties with Putin, and obviously, with Exxon.  The proposed waiver is the love letter than fueled the Trump/Putin bromance.

The waiver decision will be made by the Secretary of the Treasury, but as protocol dictates, with heavy reliance on the State Department.  Tillerson has recused himself, theoretically allowing input from State Department professionals.  But early in their tenure, Tillerson and Trump conveniently fired the senior State Department professionals without notice, or replacement.

Public scrutiny may yet block the waiver, but we can wave goodbye to good governance, and say hello to crony capitalism and cynical corruption.