Russian Bounties on U.S. Troops

The issue has generated disagreement within the Trump administration about how to confront Moscow.

The recovery of large amounts of American cash at a Taliban outpost in Afghanistan tipped off U.S. officials.

The investigation into Russia’s suspected operation is said to focus in part on the killings of three Marines in a truck bombing last year, officials said.

Top officials in the White House were aware in early 2019 of classified intelligence indicating Russia was secretly offering bounties to the Taliban for the deaths of Americans, a full year...

Top White House officials briefed senior Republicans on Monday on the ongoing controversy surrounding an alleged Russian bounty scheme for Afghan militants to kill US soldiers.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House said Monday that President Donald Trump wasn't briefed on U.S. intelligence assessments earlier this year that Russia secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked...

House Democrats say Trump should have been briefed on potentially important information even if it wasn’t fully verified.

Analysts have used other evidence to conclude that the transfers were most likely part of an effort to offer payments to Taliban-linked militants to kill American and coalition troops in Afghanistan.

Two current Taliban officials and a former one told Insider that they know Russia funds some operations. They said Pakistan and Iran do the same.

President Trump does not believe the reports are true or “actionable,” so he sees no reason to retaliate against Moscow.

The father of a Marine killed in Afghanistan last year wants answers amid reports that Russia may have offered bounties to Taliban fighters who kill Americans.

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper confirmed Thursday that he had been briefed on information regarding Russian payments to the Taliban, seemingly acknowledging that Russia's support for the militant group in Afghanistan is not a "hoax," as President Donald Trump has claimed. However, Esper also made clear that he has not seen intelligence that corroborates claims that American troops were killed as a result of the "bounty" payments, walking a delicate line between acknowledging a well-known threat and potentially clashing with the President.

The U.S. mission in Afghanistan is now described as training, advising and assisting Afghan troops. But American forces are still patrolling areas that are as deadly as they were in 2001.

Once again, he defends our enemies and blames America.

"I have never discussed it with him."

From the U.S. troop drawdown in Germany to Trump’s refusal to slam Russia over soldier bounties, Russian state media is jubilant over America acting in the Kremlin’s interests.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is said to have sternly discussed payouts and red lines in a telephone call with Sergey V. Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister.

A HuffPost analysis finds the president has averaged less than one a week since July 1, after the public learned of Russian bounties on murdered U.S. soldiers.

Trump administration appointees suppressed intelligence on Russian election interference and the threat from white supremacists, according to a whistle-blower complaint filed by the Department of Homeland Security’s former intelligence chief.

The disclosure comes months after reports of Russian bounties and after Trump vowed to ratchet up pressure on China.