Since the article is about Malta, the discussions here should be centered on Malta. Sure, everyone knows the US is corrupt as f*** but what relevance does that have here and now? There are plenty of other places on HN to bring up this "argument".
What was notable about Malta is not the topic of the article and particularly irrelevant now that corruption in Malta that helps Russia would not be notable.
The problem is that while the US and UK are well known countries with lots of press coverage, Malta isn't, so when you link one article in a foreign publication you are getting a highly distorted and politically charged view of a country you otherwise know nothing about.
US is becoming like russia, what a twist. Well, could be worse. Free democratic world will have to align around another leader, I hope it can be Europe but its far from sure.
The bad part is, this is not magically gonna disappear with next election, whoever wins. Literally whoever wins. Just like even decades after 9/11 many things have changed permanently, it will be similar with this. Proposers of some radical changes can be easily shot again, potus or not, or have some other variant of discrediting applied.
I wish I was joking, this is how majority of the world operates. Its very easy for those in power to drag their countries into this, out or weakness or convenience, but extremely hard to fully get out.
