While I hope that we can get along with the Russians, and I don’t doubt President Trump’s judgement, a part of me can see some elements of the Russian state pulling this kind of shit. I’d be surprised if China hasn’t tried this tactic yet either.

Paying off some Taliban to launch attacks against Americans would benefit Russia strategically. The payoff would be to suck us back into that quagmire, continuing to bleed our country of treasure and our young. Russia grows stronger geopolitically vis-a-vis America getting weaker. Not to mention putting Trump in a difficult position; either going back on one of his key campaign promises, or making America looking weak by ignoring the attacks.