I thought Gregory on MTP was going to try to bully her, but maybe he was just trying to sound tough and serious. He did ask one excellent question: what leverage do we have to hold over Russia? I loved her answer (shamelessly paraphrasing): We'll kick 'em out of the 21st century back into poverty, isolation, and stagnation.
In response to the clip with GWB talking about Vlad's soul, she did NOT give Gregory the sound bite he wanted, but said that it was right to give them the chance, the help to be absorbed into the 21st century until they reverted to Soviet thuggery. His voice grew less confrontational as they went along I thought (maybe he started out a little scared of her).
She was also VERY forthright about Russia's LYING. She didn't use the word LIE, but in diplo talk she called him a @#$%^&& LIAR. I loved it!
His voice grew less confrontational as they went along
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I just watched it on tape, and agree with you. Gregory became respectful in his later questions, as if seeking real answers. He is probably auditioning for the full-time gig, and decided to play it straight.
What a FANTASTIC answer! Russia's demographics are NOT healthy. Avg. lifespan = 50-somethng; fertility rate = WAAY below the population replacement rate; rampant alcoholism; chief cause of death = NOT some sort of disease. but BLUNT-FORCE TRAUMA. Source: there is a professional demographer at AEI, by the name of Nick Eberstadt, who wrote about this stuff a couple years ago. Need to supply a link to Nick's report.