Page 108 - Illusions News Today

Analysis, versus americas own-intelligence agencies. so, you just have to look at that and say what the hell is going on? so we dont have that kind of weird cognitive dissonance in dealing with russia. what we have is a more-adult relationship. tough, firm, determined. i mean, i, myself, wish we didnt get into the n name calling, you know, with -- with putin as a killer and such. but biden is trying to convey, correctly, that he has no illusions about putin or russia but he still wants, as he sa...

World also has doubts about americas ability to be an exemplary democracy. and thats sobering. we need to take that seriously and build it back. >> about 24 hours away, just about 24 hours away from bidens critical meeting with vladimir putin. there is so much ground to cover including election interference, russias involvement on cyber attacks, laix navalny, the list goes on. the most important for joe biden to deliver, whats that? >> that there is a new sheriff in town. there is no longer a u....

Stabs up to thuggery as opposed to sucking up to putin. never losing an opportunity to cow tow. what joe biden is trying to do, the reason theyre not having a press conference to avoid some of the mano y mano stuff. to focus on the grate substance of great power relations. that requires self-discipline. biden will have to lay down a hard line when it comes to expansionist ambitions. cyber attacks. hes taken a hard line on money laundering and corruption. but also, the national security adviser m...

Reputation has rocketed up again in the worlds eyes since biden became president. but crucially the world also has doubts about americas ability to be an exemplary democracy, and thats sobering. we need to take that responsibility seriously and build it back. >> about 24 hours away, just about 24 hours away, max, from bidens critical meeting with vladimir putin. theres so much ground to cover, including election interference, russias involvement in cyberattacks on the u.s., jailed russian opposi...

Putin. their first meeting was at a g-20 summit in july in germany. helsinki summit where trump said he believed putin when he didnt interfere in the election. beginning to end, trump and putin, the american president praising, saying he was honored. >> president putin and i have been discussing various things and i think its going very well. weve had some very, very good talks. were going to have a talk now. and obviously that will continue. but we look forward to a lot of very positive things ...

Things, but what pressure points, what forms of deterrents, what things beyond economic sanctions do they have on the menu here to turn things around? >> well, as you know, they have a very chilly personal relationship. its worth reminding folks that they go back a long way. putin and joe biden. its never been particularly friendly. neither one in that sense is coming in with any illusions, and that sets the table for a frank conversation. i think what youre likely to hear, whether you hear it e...

There will be a note taker in this meeting between biden and putin. can you think of any good reason to not have note takers present? >> no, i think for historical purposes there always should be a record of a meeting like this, which is obviously going to be consequential. the question is, will it be the two of them? and phil can talk about this. because hes covering it day-to-day. you know, a small group of aides, just the two of them, a note taker, whatever, i believe there always is somebody...

I do. >> reporter: asked today if he thinks putin is a killer, biden was less emphatic, even awkward. >> i believe he is in the past essentially acknowledged that there were certain things he would do or did do. but look, when i was asked that question on air, i answered it honestly. >> reporter: but biden also today called putin, quote, bright, tough, a worthy adversary. biden has also said recently that no matter how tough he gets with putin, he doesnt necessarily expect putin to change his be...

Almost entirely party-line basis. and -- and as you point out, it leaves biden, i think, in a -- in a difficult position. i mean, he did run on bipartisanship. there is a lot of polling that suggests the american public wants bipartship. but there is growing frustration among democrats that there is no realistic chance of getting ten-senate republicans for almost anything that democrats want to do. and so, i think, the rubber is really going to hit the road this summer. and -- and the inability ...

He is going the see in their meeting in geneva, is that biden is not going to be playing these games. in fact, he is the first leader since putin came to power more than 20 years ago, the first american leader who is not trying to reset relations with russia, who doesnt have any illusions that hes going to be able to make nice with vladimir putin. if one thing that, you know, one of the consequences of putins outrageous attacks on the elections in 2016 and 2020, he has moved people like biden to...