Page 23 - Dan Fried News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

The state department in the obama years. also the former managing editor of "time" magazine. rick i'll begin with you. is this story tonight the first clear evidence that they always and really wanted to lift sanctions as that gentleman called it, cave on russia? >> well it's just very, very strange, brian. and i mean it all does seem to fall into line. i mean, the sanctions policy against russia, because of the annexation of crimea, the quasi invasion of ukraine was something that actually was strong and powerful and putin -- really hurt putin and the people around putin. people at the state ...

Secretary for european affairs victoria knewland felt we needed to push back against russia. dan fried, who was the sanctions czar, this is something that people felt very, very strongly about, and that russia had violated the sovereignty of another nation, one of the first times since world war ii and we really needed to do something very, very serious. the giving back of these compounds is also very peculiar. the way diplomacy works is through reciprocity. the russians are the kind of reciprocity kings. >> countries expect it from each other. >> countries expect it. in a sense you are giving...

Be a good idea to keep him on. that his deep understanding, his knowledge of all the players and so many of the secrets it would make him an indispensable asset, particularly when it comes to dealing with russia. which makes sense, right? you want to avoid getting rolled. you want to avoid getting outmaneuvered or tricked. particularly when we are a country where leaders turn over every few years and in russia, vladimir putin has been in charge for 17 years and counting, right? that's a disadvantage for us in terms of knowing the players, having a long-term plan. it makes sense in that environ...

Out and emptied out the u.s. state department in just the few weeks since then been in charge. given how we know how russia feels about the state department, seeing what's happening to the state department under this current administration is worrying and raises all sorts of questions about the connections between this current administration and russia so we are going to hear from former ambassador dan fried in person in just a few minutes tonight. he is our solo guest. we led last night's show with news about the russia connections to the new administration and what we are continuing to learn...

Vladimir putin has been in charge for 17 years and counting, right? that's a disadvantage for us in terms of knowing the players, having a long-term plan. it makes sense in that environment that you would hold on in the u.s. government to the people who know their way around this particular block. that's how you end up with a guy like him. the most senior diplomat america has. that's how you end up with a guy like dan fried, overseeing the u.s. sanctions against russia. russia hates those sanctions so you need your toughest and most experienced guy running those sanctions. or you did. he's gon...