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Hillary Clinton: Despite Russia "Reset," I Was "Skeptical" of Putin
CBS News ^ | Jake Miller

Posted on 07/27/2014 4:29:50 PM PDT by nickcarraway

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton defended her handling of the U.S.-Russia relationship on Sunday, saying she remained "skeptical" of Russian President Vladimir Putin during her time as the top U.S. diplomat, despite a high-profile effort to "reset" relations between the two countries.

Clinton and other U.S. officials also urged the Europeans to step up their economic sanctions against Russia, stressing the need to exact a price from the Russians for their interference in Ukraine and their alleged involvement in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.

Critics have said Clinton's "reset" initiative was naive because Russia was never going to be an upstanding member of the global community, and that the U.S. should have taken a harder line against the Russians during President Obama's first term.

Clinton, though, told CNN's Fareed Zakaria that she approached Russia with eyes wide open.

"I was among the most skeptical of Putin during the time that I was there, in part because I thought he had never given up on his vision of bringing 'Mother Russia' back to the forefront," she said. "I think that what may have happened is that both the United States and Europe were really hoping for the best from Putin as a returned president, and I think we've been quickly, unfortunately, disabused of those hopes."

Russia's aggressive behavior in eastern Ukraine continued this weekend, with the State Department releasing what it says is new evidence on Sunday showing proof that Russian artillery have been firing across the border into Ukraine.

"This isn't just Russia backing the separatists," said CBS News State Department Correspondent Margaret Brennan. "This is Russia fighting for the separatists."

That sort of provocation has coincided with renewed calls from Clinton and others for a quick strengthening of sanctions.

"They need to understand they must stand up to Vladimir Putin," Clinton said of Europe's leaders. "If the United States and Europe don't present a united front, I think Putin's the kind of man who will go as far as he can get away with. I think he is still smart enough and cautious enough to be pushed back, but there has to be a push in order to make that happen."

She urged European leaders to reduce their reliance on Russian energy to minimize their own pain under a stronger sanctions regime - a message she also said she delivered while she was still at the State Department.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., seconded the call for more action from Europe on NBC News.

"Putin has shown he has no conscience. He takes advantage of this horrible downing of the airliner. And then just redoubles his efforts and rearms the rebels," Schumer said. "It's about time we took tougher action against Putin. He's a schoolyard bully."

Schumer said the Europeans "have to be part of the sanctions," and he urged them not to appease Putin as their predecessors did Nazi Germany in 1938.

"If they appease Putin, they will not stop him, he will get worse," he said.

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said she's been "appalled" at how slowly Europe has responded to Russian aggression.

"The president has been pushing the Europeans," she said on CBS News' "Face the Nation." "The Europeans have to step up...on supporting Ukraine, on making clear that the kind of behavior that Putin is engaged in is illegal."

Ben Rhodes, a national security adviser to the president, said the Europeans are preparing to do just that, predicting new action from Europe by the "end of July."

"We still think the best thing the United States can do is send a message to Russia through very strong sanctions, coordinated with the Europeans. And I'd expect in the coming days...you will see the Europeans move out on stronger sanctions," Rhodes said on CNN. "The president has spoken to these leaders and they indicated in their meetings last week at the European council that the energy sector, the arms sector, and the financial sector [are] on the table for European sanctions...And we are confident that there's going to be strong action."


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: bushsgirlfriend; clinton; hillary; putin
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1 posted on 07/27/2014 4:29:50 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

In other words, she is, and will always be, on every side of every issue. A true leader, that Hillary.


2 posted on 07/27/2014 4:32:16 PM PDT by fhayek
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To: nickcarraway

Hillary, no one believes anything you emit


3 posted on 07/27/2014 4:32:21 PM PDT by yldstrk ( My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: nickcarraway

lickspittle!!!


4 posted on 07/27/2014 4:33:56 PM PDT by Freedom_Fighter_2001
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To: nickcarraway

She is so full of crap the buzzards wouldn’t eat her carcass.


5 posted on 07/27/2014 4:35:56 PM PDT by Buckeye Battle Cry (Audentis Fortuna Iuvat)
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To: nickcarraway

Lying witch.


6 posted on 07/27/2014 4:36:45 PM PDT by ConservativeInPA (We need to fundamentally transform RATs lives for their lies.)
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To: nickcarraway

HEY, HEY! I’M Hillary Clinton! I CAN have it both ways!


7 posted on 07/27/2014 4:43:03 PM PDT by rockinqsranch ((Dems, Libs, Socialists, call 'em what you will. They ALL have fairies livin' in their trees.))
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To: nickcarraway

Talk about the wheels coming off the bandwagon. Hillary is imploding. Her book and signing tour have been a disaster and I knew sooner or later the media was going to start throwing Elizabeth Warren’s name out there for president.


8 posted on 07/27/2014 4:44:50 PM PDT by dowcaet
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To: nickcarraway

I’m “skeptical” that Hillary is heterosexual.


9 posted on 07/27/2014 4:45:20 PM PDT by Flycatcher (God speaks to us, through the supernal lightness of birds, in a special type of poetry.)
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To: nickcarraway

She is soooooo FOS.


10 posted on 07/27/2014 4:45:42 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (Great vid by ShorelineMike! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOZjJk6nbD4&feature=plcp)
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To: nickcarraway
Hillary has totally tanked. Her book is horrible and rejected. She hasn't done a thing in her entire favored life.
She has severe heart problems in my opinion ( passes out) and she will never run. This is why some woman Communist from Massatusettes has entered the race. Kerry is now running again ( LOL) and Al Gore is tuning up. Then of course Moon Beam Brown is always ready to go. But know this. The parasite will vote for anyone that Will feed him or her— so there is 45% right there ( Romney was right).
11 posted on 07/27/2014 4:47:58 PM PDT by rlapuma
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To: nickcarraway

What difference does she make? Nothing, she’s irrelevant


12 posted on 07/27/2014 4:51:11 PM PDT by realcleanguy
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To: rlapuma

She will still be president for 8 years.


13 posted on 07/27/2014 4:51:31 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway
She means that Romney was right, and she and the Muslim-Kenyan were WRONG!

Romney may or may not be a candidate, but the ungracious, lying Rapist-Butcheress of Benghaz is certain a horrible choice.
14 posted on 07/27/2014 4:53:44 PM PDT by righttackle44 (Take scalps. Leave the bodies as a warning.)
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To: nickcarraway

So much revisionist history.


15 posted on 07/27/2014 4:55:26 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out for himself.)
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To: nickcarraway
Hey Hill, why don't you go clean some rooms with Madelin?
16 posted on 07/27/2014 4:56:10 PM PDT by MichaelCorleone (Jesus Christ is not a religion. He's the Truth.)
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To: nickcarraway

What utter BS....


17 posted on 07/27/2014 4:56:42 PM PDT by tcrlaf (Q)
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To: dowcaet

There’s still time for her to get another book out.


18 posted on 07/27/2014 5:00:20 PM PDT by Kirkwood (Zombie Hunter)
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To: Freedom_Fighter_2001

More like lickety-split.


19 posted on 07/27/2014 5:01:27 PM PDT by Henry Hnyellar
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To: nickcarraway

"YOU GOT IT WRONG..."


20 posted on 07/27/2014 5:01:34 PM PDT by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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