Posted on 02/16/2017 1:13:35 PM PST by SeekAndFind
President Donald Trump refused to say what his response would be to a recent wave of Russian military provocations in a testy exchange with CBS News chief White House correspondent Major Garrett.
Garrett asked Trump at a press conference on Wednesday about three recent incidents involving the Russian military: a Russian spy ship loitering outside of a US submarine base, Russia developing and deploying treaty-violating cruise missiles, and a Russian Su-24 attack aircraft buzzing a US destroyer in the Black Sea.
As Garrett detailed each of the three incidents, Trump interjected "Not good!"
Trump then interrupted Garrett to say that the reporter would criticize Trump if he was too tough on Russia, and that Russian president Vladimir Putin assumes that he and Trump will not be able to make a deal because it is "politically unpopular" in the US to do so, given the scandal surrounding former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn's inappropriate contact with Russia.
When Garrett then asked Trump directly if he thought Putin was testing him with the military incidents, Trump said "No, I don't think so. I think Putin assumes he can't make a deal with me... I don't know if we're going to make a deal with Russia."
"I wanna do the right thing for the American people, and to be honest, secondarily, I want to do the right thing for the people of the world," Trump continued, stressing that Russia and the US have reasons to get along, and the US would benefit from improved relations between the two world powers.
"Nuclear holocaust would be like no other. [Russia is] a very powerful nuclear country and so are we. If we have a good relationship with Russia, believe me, that's a good thing, not a bad thing," said Trump
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
"I'm not going to tell you anything about what I do. I don't talk about a military response," said Trump, who then reiterated campaign points that he doesn't make a practice of announcing his intentions militarily.
"I don't have to tell you what I'm going to do in North Korea. I don't have to tell you what I'm going to do with Iran. You know why? Because they shouldn't know," said Trump.
Trump KILLED the elitist media on that point - and MANY other points!
Great answer! Loved it!
I’m very happy Donald is remaining so thoughtful about this important bit of discretion. Loose lips sink ships!
Good to know he can turn on the banter, and turn it off at will.
When I was stationed at Ft. Devens MA in 1973, it was the Army Security Agency Training Center and School. Soviet “fishing trawlers” were always off the MA coast, far enough out to be in International Waters. They had bid antenna and radar dishes, they were trawling alright but not for fish. There really isn’t much you can do to a ship in international waters. Unlike the Israelis, we can’t send patrol boats and jets to attack it, like they did with the USS Liberty, and unlike the North Koreans, we can’t go out and capture it like they did the Pueblo. I’m sure we have our ships near the Russian coasts as well at times.
I was wishing he would have concluded by saying: “and furthermore FU!”
he is boldly kicking ass today. Loving this.
loose lips sink ships
used to be a standard FR phrase.
Did you notice the look on Garret’s face? Priceless.
He should point out that we’re no different. Putin’s way is just as good as ours. He kills people. We kill people. No difference.
Is there no difference between our official MOTIVES for killing and Putin’s official MOTIVE for killing?
Is there no difference between WHO we officially target and WHO Putin officially targets?
No difference. President Trump says there are none. So there are none. If President for Life Putin needs to kill another politician or a journalist, he has someone do it. And if we in the USA need to do so, apparently we do. We’re not innocent. We’re no different.
RE: If Putin does it and is found out, will there be justice? If our President does it and is found out, do we let him get away?
Major Garrett is getting on my bad side.... he is used to obama telling what he’s going to do.. so he expects Trump to? Garrett was rude and he’s not pretty when he gets rude.. he’s obnoxious.
The other murders by Putin are even more clear cut.
Those who don’t like Trump can’t hide it... I used to like Baier until he showed his real side of dislike... he is of the opinion Trump does not measure up to Baier’s own “intelligence”. There isn’t room for anyone to think differently outside the beltway. Baier said this evening that people out in the country did not see things like they do in Washington.. he’s got that right! Shep is usually way out of line... Krauthammer will never warm up to Trump... Geraldo is awful... I can’t get over how they think their way is the ONLY way... Howard Kurtz can’t hide his dislike for Trump... I lump all those who hate Trump into one group.. they can’t stand a different way of doing things nor a different opinion.. and they think they have a handle on the correctness of anything and everything.
I was in the Canal Zone before Jimmy Carter gave it away, there were always Russian Trawlers anchored about. Amazing that a simple fishing trawler needed so many antennas.
I think some people would aspire to be exactly like Putin. That’s what they say, anyway. They admire him. He’s “strong.”
I`ve read posts on here from some who has said he`s a mans man smh.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.