Thomas Friedman, Seattle Times/New York Times: Is Putin a CIA agent?
The Russian leader consistently acts like a farmer who sells his most valuable beef in return for cubes of sugar.
President Donald Trump’s steadfast reluctance to say anything negative about Russia is so striking that a former director of national intelligence, James Clapper, once observed that Vladimir Putin manages Trump as if he were a Russian intelligence “asset.” He may be. But if I were a Russian citizen, I’d be asking this question: Is Putin a U.S. agent?
Why? Because Putin has undertaken so many actions in recent years that contributed to the weakening of Russia’s economy and human capital base that you have to wonder whether he’s secretly on the CIA’s payroll.
Beginning around 2007-08, Putin appears to have decided that rebuilding Russia by nurturing its tremendous human talent and strengthening the rule of law was just too hard — it would have required sharing power, holding real, competitive elections and building a truly diverse, innovation-based economy.
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WNU Editor: Russian media responds to Thomas Friedman .... ‘Is Putin a CIA agent?’ NYT’s ‘dumbest paragraphs ever printed’ ridiculed online (New York Times).
9 comments:
Putin a CIA agent? The media really has moved well past being totally unhinged. As for Mr. Clapper, POTUS is trying to conduct very delicate international dealings. Putin's assistance is going to be needed in a number of areas, North Korea and Iran just to name two. Now to get such help it is not going to be a good idea to insult the person whose help you are going to need to get certain things done. It doesn't even require a master dealmaker/negotiator to figure such things out. This is more like interpersonal relations 101.
Perhaps it would be helpful for Mr. Clapper to read the book "Skill with People." He might learn something, if he is capable. The man is either very, very stupid, has been rendered blind by his ideology or some combination of both. No matter what it is it does not speak well of the man.
People such as this who make up his ilk scare me actually. They should scare all Americans. I would liken them to little children playing with a magnifying glass shining on a grasshopper. This should scare everyone. Perhaps those in other countries are not concerned is because it will be Americans and not themselves who bear the brunt of such stupidity.
busy today, are we Boris? No. we are not scared. Putin bit off more than Russia needs and so type away cause your boss has united all of Europe against the Big Bad Bear...he overdid things, once more
Fred,
The stupid and the ideologically blind typically do not understand what it is they are doing. Again, you are arguments are weak and you must resort to cuteness. Had you been paying attention you would have noticed that the actions of everyone outside of the UK and America was token, sort of like people trying to walk a tightrope between two opposing forces. Others pointed this out. It helps to pay attention.
If it ever starts to become costly for them, they are not going to want to give you what you want. Others typically place their interests above pettiness. They definitely are unlikely to undermine their national interests for this either.
Actually I think it is the British who bit off more than they can chew. They can't even prove the Russians are behind this. The editor was charitable when he said this is "embarrassing." The term I would use would be "humiliating." They kind of remind me of seventh grade boys. Essentially they are to stupid to even know they are stupid.
I have wasted to much time today on this. One does not reason with a child like mind. The child like mind must be willing to learn on their own before they can be taught. As for you, I don't think you are in a position to hurt anyone with such stupidity. As for others, let us hope and pray the adults can work through this in a civil manner. Acting like a bull in a china closet in dangerous situations is not going to be helpful. Hopefully men like Mr. Clapper are on the sidelines and will stay there.
I apologize for any offenses to anyone. I wish to have constructive dialogue on these issues. It is never my wish to offend anyone. If anyone was offended by anything I posted on this site or elsewhere, I hope and pray you will find it in your hear to forgive me.
On the bright side, at least this time The Moustache of Understanding, on his imaginary trip from St. Petersburg airport, to his imaginary stay at the St. Petersburg Hilton, didn't get his imaginary "hot take", from his imaginary Russian Cab driver, Igor, and then later, didn't ask other imaginary Russians, clustered around the imaginary Applebee's Salad Bar, for their imaginary input.
32 Friedman units and still counting.
This is one of the most obnoxiously pathetic thing ive read as of recently .I hate how so many politicians, people, media, writers,commentators etc. Play dumb and naive as if they dont understand the workings of geopolitical affairs and how world works. C.i.a agent?? Lol. Putin is a Nationalist concerned only with Russian interests and rise as a major player in the world again. Putin may be currupt and all that cliche good stuff but he is what russia needed. In Crimean Ukraine conflict as well as Georgian and Syrian conflicts hes fighting Nato expansion on Russian borders and sphere of influence. Putin is actually the most politically sound and easy to deal with person of every country on the planet. If i ruled Russia myself i would've (negatively bad outcome) took over all of east Ukraine n maybe even Ukraine proper and reinstalled another puppet . He begged world to listen and watch what western powers are doing in every regional arena
And btw on contrary if i ruled America/European country id do the same and more of what America is doing as well. No biased just people need to understand how geopolitics work
Your nowhere fella
So, Putin's a CIA agent and Trump's one for the FSB. Now, I get it.
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