Fiona Hill is the chief adviser to the republican President Donald Trump on all things pertaining to Russia. She is a competent expert with a solid reputation on this subject.
Many political pundits will be watching for her reaction regarding the president’s disastrous performance at the Helsinki summit between the US and the Russian leaders. Will she stay or will she leave?
Here is the rest of the story…
On July 13, 2018, Erin Laviola of Heavy.com penned the following report, “Fiona Hill: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know”
Excerpts:
“Hill is Trump’s senior director for Russian and European Affairs on the National Security Council and helped plan the upcoming summit. She has also literally written the book on Putin and is in a position to offer valuable insights into the former KGB officer’s tactics.”
“Here’s what you need to know.”
1. Hill Has Had a Shaky Relationship With President Trump
“Fiona Hill took a leave of absence from the Brookings Institution to join the Trump administration in March of 2017. She holds a vital position on the National Security Council as senior director for Russian and European Affairs. But in one of their very first Oval Office encounters, Trump did not recognize her.”
“According to the Washington Post, the president handed her a memo and told her to rewrite it, thinking she was part of the clerical staff. Hill’s response was to give Trump a confused look. President Trump reportedly interpreted this as insubordination and became very annoyed. Then-National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster was instructed to intervene, and scolded Hill outside of the room.”
“And that was just the beginning. About two months later, the day after firing FBI Director James Comey, Trump met with two top Russian officials in the Oval Office: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. In that meeting, the president discussed classified details of an Israeli operation, a move that angered Israeli military leaders. He also reportedly said that firing Comey had taken “great pressure” off him.”
“When details of that closed-door meeting became public knowledge, President Trump accused members of Fiona Hill’s staff of disloyalty. Hill defended her people, which put an additional strain on her relationship with the president. Since then, she has been excluded from specific meetings. For example, she was left out of Trump’s meeting with Putin in July of 2017 at he G20 summit.”
2. Hill’s Book Is an in-Depth Profile Analyzing Putin’s Motivations and How He Thinks
“Fiona Hill is the co-author of the book “Mr. Putin: Operative in the Kremlin.” She and co-author Clifford Gaddy took an in-depth look at Putin’s humble family history, his KGB experience and how he uses his manipulation skills to leverage power over his opponent. Hill and Gaddy identified six separate personas Putin demonstrates: the Statist, the History Man, the Survivalist, the Outsider, the Free Marketeer and the Case Officer.”
“They describe his love for Russia as a driving force behind all major decisions– citing that for Putin, it’s about revenge. In the book, Hill and Gaddy explain that the fall of the Soviet Union, and Russia’s struggle to rebuild in the 1990s, instilled in Putin a fierce desire to make Russia a dominating force once again and get vengeance on the West for pushing his nation down in the first place.”
“The persona that Hill and Gaddy describe as being the most dangerous is the Case Officer. Putin learned how to read people and identify their vulnerabilities during his 15 years as a KGB officer. The Washington Post shared this excerpt from Operative in the Kremlin, in which Hill explains how Putin leverages knowledge to gain power over his rivals.”
“It is not money that guarantees loyalty or holds the top level together. Instead, it is the fact that the money derives from activity that is or could be found to be illegal. Participants in the system are not bought off in the classic sense of that term. They are compromised; they are made vulnerable to threats. Corrupt, even illegal, activity will be kept secret as long as the individual continues to play the game.” And the referee and star player is Putin himself. This is not an old-boy network, but a “one-boy network.”
“Rolling Stone also published this excerpt from the book, quoting Putin from his first year in office. He chillingly discussed how he encourages, or in some cases manipulates, people into working toward the goal he wants to achieve.”
“In order to work with people effectively, you have to be able to establish a dialogue and bring out the best in your partner. If you want to achieve the result you have to respect your partner. And to respect means to recognize that he is in some way better than you are. You should make that person an ally, make him feel that there is something that unites you, that you have some common goals. That skill I think is the most important skill.”
3. Hill Has Experience in the Intelligence Community
“Fiona Hill served on the National Intelligence Council from 2006-2009. Her title was National Intelligence Officer for Russia and Eurasia. The council fell under the umbrella of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.”“The office has two main purposes, one being to oversee all 16 member agencies of the U.S. Intelligence Community, which includes the CIA and the NSA. It was created after the attacks of 9/11 in order to encourage greater cooperation and communication between all of the various agencies, and hopefully prevent future attacks.”
“The second main purpose of the office is to advise the president on national security matters. The work Fiona Hill was doing during that time would have been used to advise President Bush and later President Obama, on how to handle Russia. Hill served under three different Directors of National Intelligence: John Dimitri Negroponte, Mike McConnell and Dennis C. Blair.”
“That background in the intelligence community may also fuel some of the reported awkwardness between Hill and President Trump. The intelligence community came to a consensus that Russia had interfered in the 2016 election, a fact that Trump fiercely criticized.”
Donald J. Trump
✔@realDonaldTrump
The “Intelligence” briefing on so-called “Russian hacking” was delayed until Friday, perhaps more time needed to build a case. Very strange!
“In addition, Hill has been a vocal skeptic on the idea that the U.S. could have a much friendlier relationship with Russia.”
Donald J. Trump
✔@realDonaldTrump
Having a good relationship with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing. Only “stupid” people, or fools, would think that it is bad! We…..
Donald J. Trump
✔@realDonaldTrump
have enough problems around the world without yet another one. When I am President, Russia will respect us far more than they do now and….
Donald J. Trump
✔@realDonaldTrump
both countries will, perhaps, work together to solve some of the many great and pressing problems and issues of the WORLD!
Link to entire report: Fiona Hill: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com
Gronda Morin 
Interesting take on Fiona Hill… I’m quite surprised that Trump hasn’t fired her already or she didn’t quit! They don’t seem to be on the same page when it comes to BFF Putin, lol.
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Dear 1EarthUnited,
She could be used as a great fact checker and as a source. Then its up to President Trump as to what he does with the information.
But there are those who are wondering if she stays after to Trump-Putin summit of today. She has a reputation to maintain which could be tarnished because of how President Trump acted today.
From the point of view of Russian foreign policy experts, today was a tremendous success.
From the point of view of most US foreign policy experts, today was a dismal failure.
Hugs, Gronda
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Dear Mz. Gronda,
This just hitting the news wires! Maria Butina of the NRA arrested by FBI!
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/russian-national-charged-conspiracy-act-agent-russian-federation-within-united-states
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Dear Mz. Gronda,
It should be very interesting hearing how tRump will attempt to paint the arrest of Maria Butina as yet another part of the witch hunt! This young lady has been a constant promoter of the NRA, and I suspect there will be more arrests of individuals involved with the NRA over the next few weeks. I am still wondering why there has been little reported in the main stream press about the FBI having allegedly uncovered proof that the Russian’s had been using the NRA to send money to many of our political candidates. This young lady was mentioned several weeks ago as having been involved by people on the dark side of the webb, now we are seeing results that are hitting home!
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Dear Crustyolemothman,
I will be blogging on this Maria Butina. There has been news reports as to how Russia funneled monies to NRA who then gave monies to republican candidates. McClatchy report, the Daily Beast, Rolling Stone, NPR, VOX, the Independent and others have covered this story but for some reason it hasn’t had traction.
I’m just glad that Ms. Butina has been arrested.
President Trump’s “witch Hunt” talking point is getting old.
Hugs, Gronda
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If this story is proven true, then Mueller is one step closer to proving the whole Russian meddling and finally Trump would have to face reality! If allegations involving his son-in-law are true, then this whole fiasco could blow wide open! FBI please share!!
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Dear 1EarthUnited,
It is hard to overstate how even FOX TV News people, hard nosed republicans have turned against President Trump after watching President Trump’s performance in Helsinki, yesterday. There will still be some republicans in the US Congress who will still try to prop him up, but now they will be sat on by the American peoples.
President Putin has gone too far. He may have had his fun with some benefits by having President Trump in the White House but he has created a generation of Americans who will despise him. In short, he’s losing the war.
I hope he is smart enough to back off. He may have figured out a way to bring Americans together.
Hugs, Gronda
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Mz. Gronda,
Does this bring back memories of the questions about the Alfa Bank Server located in trump towers? The U.S. Congressman identified in the indictment has been confirmed to be Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), who is on the record as having traveled to Moscow in August 2015. It just gets deeper and deeper.. There are also people talking about a connection between Butina and Kushner, as it looks like they might have had at least one meeting as well, but that is as of yet to be confirmed..
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Dear Crustyolemothman,
I remember reading awhile ago that Maria Butina had gone through a conservative NRA member, Rick Clay to set up a meet with Jared Kushner which Mr. Clay did but it seems that Kushner turned this offer down. I suspect that there were a few Russian operatives attempting to get close to the Trump campaign.
Hugs, Gronda
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Dear Crustyolemothman,
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) has become well known for being very pro Russia. Remember that recording made public. As per a 5/17/17 WAPO report, “There’s two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump,” McCarthy (R-Calif.) said, according to a recording of the June 15, 2016 exchange, which was listened to and verified by The Washington Post. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher is a Californian Republican known in Congress as a fervent defender of Putin and Russia”.
“House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) immediately interjected, stopping the conversation from further exploring McCarthy’s assertion, and swore the Republicans present to secrecy.”
Hugs, Gronda
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Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
How will Fiona Hill respond to the Helsinki disaster?
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Dear Suzanne,
I can’t see why she wouldn’t quit. It’s now obvious that the president does not listen to experts like her or even his Director of National Intelligence (DNI) head Dan Coats, a former republican senator whom he personally picked.
Again, thanks a million times over for all of your support and for this reblog.
Hugs, Gronda
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You’re most welcome, Gronda. —- Suzanne
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More than once, I have wondered why he even has advisors, since it is painfully obvious he listens to none of them. It is said that when he wants advice, he picks up the phone and calls his ol’ friend Sean Hannity. If I were Ms. Hill, I would have already written & signed my letter of resignation.
Hugs!!!
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Dear Jill,
When he called President Putin to congratulate him on his election win against the instructions by all of his advisers, he called them stupid. That is when he offered to set up the summit.
I am wondering who reigns in protest because the president obviously does not respect or listen to his own experts? It was President’s own pick, a former republican US senator, Dan Coats who he selected to be Director of National Intelligence (DNI) who came out right away with a forceful reprimand against the president’s words.
Personally, I want to know what was said during his meeting with President Trump. You can bet that Russia has a transcript of what was said. Why didn’t the US do likewise.
Hugs,Gronda
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I wonder why all of his advisors haven’t quit in frustration. I read somewhere that John Kelly is expected to resign this week … but I haven’t seen anything more about it. I wouldn’t blame him, though he has been guilty of being a boot-licker too.
Yes, I would be very much interested in a transcript of that 2+ hour meeting! I would pay one of the translators to provide his/her best recollection! Remember Nixon and the missing tapes … what a fuss was made of them? So, why is it okay for Trump to meet with Putin with no record of a 2-hour meeting?
Hugs!!!
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