Article snippet: MORE’s bungled effort to warm up to Russian President Vladimir Putin has driven a wedge between him and his own administration as it seeks to crack down on Moscow’s hostile activities. Rank-and-file intelligence and national security officials feel demoralized by the president’s failure to publicly call out Putin for interfering in the 2016 election, according to sources inside and outside the federal government. “It’s just another day in paradise,” said one former White House official, who requested anonymity to speak candidly. “Russia narratives have been a daily ordeal for two years. Nobody knows what the president will do or say and nobody knows what they don’t know.” But the official said there is “strong faith that our intel folks will continue to do their job, regardless of the undermining.” The dizzying and often contradictory array of statements from the president and White House have also posed a dilemma for handpicked aides and advisers who are hawkish on Russia: remain on board or resign. On Wednesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray declined to shoot down reports he has considered stepping down. “I’m a low-key, understated guy. But that should not be mistaken for what my spine is made out of,” Wray said when asked at the Aspen Security Forum if he has threatened to resign. Top national security officials, including Wray and Director of National Intelligence MORE, have publicly backed the U.S. intelligence community’s assessment on Russia’s involvement... Link to the full article to read more