Posted on 09/12/2013 9:31:16 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Americans shouldn't let Vladimir Putin's opinions get under their skin because the Russian president is a one-time KGB officer whose primary interest is nationalism, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Thursday.
"While we have to deal with him as the president of Russia, we don't have to respect his views. We don't have to respect his opinions," said Gingrich, co-host of CNN's "Crossfire."
"And frankly, we should laugh at him when he tries to lecture America about exceptionalism, because he ain't exceptional. He's just one more in a long tradition of dictators and thugs."
Putin rattled some Americans, including high-profile figures in Washington, when he argued in a New York Times op-ed against U.S. military intervention in Syria. In the final paragraph, he took issue with the idea of America being the proverbial shining city on a hill.
"It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation," he wrote. ....
The former House speaker pointed to Putin's history as a former intelligence officer for the KGB, where he worked from 1975-1992.
Gingrich also argued Putin was behind the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008 and the conflict in Chechnya has killed thousands.
He expressed doubt the opinion piece was even written by Putin, saying it was likely penned by a Washington speechwriters.
"You can go through and read that document and you could find at every single stage find that it's a lie," Gingrich said. "For us to take it seriously is a sign that we have forgotten who Vladimir Putin is."
(Excerpt) Read more at politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com ...
A voice of sanity from Gingrich. Anyone actually taking seriously that thug and killer needs to be ashamed of themselves. Disagreeing and having our fun at Obama’s expense is one thing. Sympathizing or promoting an enemy of our entire nation is another.
Gingrich is right, Putin is a commie thug, to hell with him.
Yes, he has much in common with Obama...but he is less socialistic and actually cares about his country.
Blind squirrel finds nut.
That is exactly Newts point, but why telegraph it?
Why not let Putin AND Obama squirm?
Too bad BO is not a ‘he’s a thug but he’s OUR thug’ kind of a guy. Because he isn’t.
Respect to Newt, I don’t think I’ve read one word of admiration regarding Putin in the past week.
Not here.
I take Putin very seriously. Just like I do rattlesnakes and sharks. We ignore him at our own peril.
TRUE... but unfortunately Putin is much SMARTER than our dictator and THUG from Chicago.
Putin cared about “his country,” the Soviet Union, but he does not care for Russia, and that is why he has betrayed his own people and destroyed all political freedom in Russia.
My kneejerk reaction is that the Republican-Democrat Washington, DC Party is getting a bit defensive.
I think Rush has it right.
Mock Putin AND Obama.
Putin isn't arming Al Qaeda and Obama is.
“Yes, he has much in common with Obama...but he is less socialistic and actually cares about his country”
You’ve been suckered in by the propaganda. Not only did Putin likely steal the election, he’s protected himself by killing his own people, journalists, whoever gets in his way, who questions his regime. He also controls their media. All you’re doing is kissing up to a murderer who has nuclear missiles targeted at all our major cities.
How is Putin squirming when that disgusting fool is gloating at our expense?
Meanwhile Kim Jong Un thumbs his nose at Obama....
I read what Putin had to say and it made sense. Sure he’s an enemy but less so than the one occupying the White House right now.
Another scene of As the Sabers Rattle in the Novel of Life ... Turn the Page
“Putin isn’t arming Al Qaeda and Obama is.”
Yet Alexander Litvinenko, that fellow poisoned by Polonium 210 awhile back in the UK by Russian agents, alleged that Ayman Al’Zawahiri was actually trained by the FSB before sent to Al’Qaeda. And even if that weren’t true, Russia aids and supports Hizbollah, Hamas, and other terrorist organizations, through their proxies Syria and Iran.
So how much do you really know about what goes on in the dark world of the Kremlin’s intelligence/special operations service, which many KGB defectors have called the seat of terrorism in the world?
Rush is mocking him, I am mocking him.
I won’t shore up Obama to help out the country and rub Vlads nose in it.
Let them both squirm.
They deserve it.
They are flirting with world war with no definable goal on either side.
Eff them both.
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