RTThu, 12 Apr 2018 03:15 UTC
© Aaron P. Bernstein/Reuters
CIA director Mike Pompeo, who was picked by President Donald Trump to lead US foreign policy, has declared that
the days of what he called a "soft policy" toward Russia are over. At the same time, he said dialogue must continue."Russia continues to act aggressively, enabled by years of soft policy toward that aggression. That's now over. The list of this administration's actions to raise the cost for [Russian President] Vladimir Putin is long," Pompeo said in his prepared testimony before the Senate. Excerpts of his testimony were released by the White House on Thursday.
The intelligence chief, known for his hardline approach to foreign affairs, stated that the Trump administration's handling of the Russia issue
has made it clear that it "rightfully, has identified Russia as a danger to our country."Listing the measures taken by the Trump White House
to tame Moscow, Pompeo mentioned the
planned US military build-up, modernization of its nuclear arsenal, as well as rounds of punitive measures against Russia. "We have imposed tough sanctions and expelled more Russian diplomats and intelligence officers from the US than at any time since the Cold War," Pompeo said.
He also praised the Trump administration's efforts in
supplying Ukraine and Georgia with weapons, claiming that Washington is helping them to resist "Russian expansionism."
Despite chalking up the record numbers of expelled Russian diplomats
as an achievement, Pompeo claimed Washington will continue talking to Moscow. "Our diplomatic efforts with Russia will prove challenging, but as in previous confrontations with Moscow, will continue," he stated.
Comment: "At the same time dialogue must continue..." What dialogue? "Tame Moscow"? The whole sham of foreign relations with Russia is looking like a set-up and now Trump has dangerous, myopic, neocon scumbags like Pompeo and Bolton at the helm of crisis policy to guarantee a needless and horrific 'end' result. America...are you still clueless?
Comment: "At the same time dialogue must continue..." What dialogue? "Tame Moscow"? The whole sham of foreign relations with Russia is looking like a set-up and now Trump has dangerous, myopic, neocon scumbags like Pompeo and Bolton at the helm of crisis policy to guarantee a needless and horrific 'end' result. America...are you still clueless?