Posted on 02/06/2017 2:39:43 AM PST by reaganaut1
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he respects Vladimir Putin, and when an interviewer called the Russian leader "a killer," Trump said the United States has many of them.
"What do you think? Our country's so innocent?" he told Fox's Bill O'Reilly in an excerpt released by the network. The president's interview was to air Sunday afternoon on the Super Bowl pregame show.
Trump has long expressed a wish for better ties with Moscow, praised Putin and signaled that U.S.-Russia relations could be in line for a makeover, even after U.S. intelligence agencies determined that Russia meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign to help Trump win against Democrat Hillary Clinton. Putin has called Trump a "very bright and talented man."
During Putin's years in power, a number of prominent Russian opposition figures and journalists have been killed.
In the interview, Trump says, "I do respect him," and then is asked why.
"I respect a lot of people, but that doesn't mean I'm going to get along with him. He's a leader of his country. I say it's better to get along with Russia than not. And if Russia helps us in the fight against ISIS, which is a major fight, and Islamic terrorism all over the world — that's a good thing," Trump said, using an acronym for the Islamic State group. "Will I get along with him? I have no idea."
O'Reilly then said about Putin: "But he's a killer, though. Putin's a killer."
Trump responded: "There are a lot of killers. We've got a lot of killers. What do you think? Our country's so innocent?"
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
I heard it and have no problem with it. He’s not apologizing. Now the talk be about the useless war and death from the previous three administrations. I think that’s a good thing.
Trump is not naive...He's been living in and around these Washington rats his entire life...He doesn't have a full time body guard crew because it's stylish...
Trump and most of us know our gov't doesn't have lily white hands when it comes to political maneuvers that aren't socially acceptable but yes, Trump was talking about our illegal, treacherous endeavors in the middle east and around the globe...Trump is exactly right...
Ouch, thanks for the reminder. You are absolutely right, murder of the unborn is a pustule sore for the entire “Western” world and if not stopped, will still be the undoing of the West.
I agree, he was definitely talking about what Clinton/Obama did. I got no problem with him saying that. He’s shooting straight from the hip, no subterfuge.
Maybe, but don’t insult my intelligence by trying to pretend he’s a nice guy.
Who said he was a nice guy? We deal with dictators every day of the week so why is Putin any different?
Yes, agree.
Being a collector (although somewhat limited resource-wise) of historical (usually copies) books etc.
I have come to realize most people know very little about the U.S. early interactions with foreign nations.
Much of which was not guided by national or altruistic motivations.
Rather it was individuals, or a small group of individuals, with their own interests at heart, that steered the policy; please before anybody throws a fit, like anything else; not everything has been bad. But the truth is the truth; there is always a money trail, overtly or covertly.
I wish he'd provide details on what he thinks we're guilty of.
America started with an inspired plan. Unfortunately, because we, the voters, rarely have had the integrity to place integrity in high places, we, the people, have historically failed to live up to it.
We were on the side of right and wrong the last century, but often had to be dragged kicking and screaming over to the right side. We are standard issue humans, same as everyone else.
Just look at US now prancing about in our new, politically correct self-righteousness, while at the same time sacrificing our most innocent to __?__ simply because of their inconvenience.
For decades now we have been drinking the same poisons that first hooked and then killed the old Soviets, with many of the same bitter fruits now to show for it.
Just look at what is currently stirring up our nation's inner dialog and re-shaping our destiny by getting us to rewrite our definitions of right and wrong and of who and what we are.
To be honest, I sometimes wish we had the eyes to see the actual creatures that are stirring us, and I'm also kinda happy that I don't. From what little I do know about them, they absolutely terrify me.
Trump's right...again...and the self-righteous are once again casting their stones while standing in quicksand.
Whatever it might look like, this is actually an eternity test for both individuals and nation and far too many of us currently are not passing it.
“Who said he was a nice guy?”
FReepers to try to pretend that he doesn’t engage in stuff like political murder, as I mentioned in my comment that you replied to. Some of them seem to even have popped up on this thread.
Why, you don’t know?
Libya, Egypt (close but no cigar for Obama’s Muslim Brotherhood pals), Iraq, Iran, Syria, Muzzies invading Europe and USA.
Then Clinton’s (Pres Clinton) Boznia mess. Hell, even GBWs endless war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Not we, but the USA as led by the feckless Oblahblah. Now things are made right and real leadership will take the reigns.
Why is the way he governs his country our problem. Even Reagan dealt with Gorbechev who was a mass murderer. Like the ME, let them fight it out themselves and hold their coat then deal with the winner.
“I wish he’d provide details on what he thinks we’re guilty of.”
50 million dead babies comes to mind...
“Why is the way he governs his country our problem.”
Did I say it was? I’ve just commented on the surreal nature of FReepers pretending that he is not a strongman because they seem to have a crush on him.
And Seth Rich.
He may have been referring to Obama’s drone attacks on American citizens (a teenager, as I recall) with no judicial or constitutional protections.
The media was putting words into his mouth this morning saying that Trump said America is nor better than Russia, ???? Where do they come up with this stuff?
.
I guess you’ve forgotten about the “Bonus Army, Waco, Ruby Ridge, the Murrah building, and many more disgraceful episodes.
Trump is right, and you are blind.
.
My grandfather was OSS. My uncle was security for a number of agencies. He won’t talk about them.
It did come up in conversation about some bad guy or another overseas that he should be taking a dirt nap.
I was told “if the President wanted him dead, he’d be dead.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“We do it all the time.”
.
Right on!
American aircraft straifing hay wagons full of Kosovo Refugees fleeing islamic terrorism.
.
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