world

Asked about Putin, Trump says U.S. isn't 'so innocent'

98 Comments
By DARLENE SUPERVILLE

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

98 Comments
Login to comment

Putin must have not only tapes but possibly something even more damning on Trump. Nothing else would explain this never ending "behind" kissing by Trump.

15 ( +19 / -4 )

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 again using a negative agenda and naming an enemy as a means to attract and keep followers. He needs to keep fear alive to maintain his power and control, and to justify buying and building an even larger military.

That Islamic terrorists and all other terrorists need to be checked goes without saying. The US and all countries have to ensure their borders are protected and law enforcement is given the legal ability to keep its citizens safe.

But I think the US needs to send its troops home first. Use US troops to protect US borders. Having US troops in foreign lands just increases the likelihood of a terrorist attack in the US.

I think the Putin Trump alliance (assuming of course it's real) is not first and foremost about fighting terrorism. Instead it's about getting resources for Putin's and Trump's oligarchs. Will the Putintrump axis join forces in Afghanistan (in the name of combatting terrorism, of course) to try to steal its resources? How about the Arctic?

3 ( +6 / -3 )

If Obama were Putin, Trump would be dead.

10 ( +14 / -4 )

“There are a lot of killers. We’ve got a lot of killers. What do you think? Our country’s so innocent?”

Putin is a killer; so are we, Donald says.

There is no way to parse, spin, or 'alternative-fact' Trump's statement. Donald is claiming the United States and Putin are both guilty, that we're both killers.

Placing Vladimir Putin and the United States on a moral par is ridiculous. By drawing this false equivalency, however, Donald has removed the last barrier which might have stood in the way of each and every American labeling Trump a traitor.

17 ( +22 / -5 )

@CrazyJoe"Donald is claiming the United States and Putin are both guilty, that we're both killers."

Welcome to real world, mr Anderson. (C)

-5 ( +6 / -11 )

as always the Mayor of Trumpleton makes it up as he goes along.... oh what fun for the folks of Trumpleton!

8 ( +9 / -1 )

@Yamashi Welcome to real world, mr Anderson. (C)

In 'real world' is it OK to murder journalists like Anna Politkovskaya and dioxin-ate (my word) opposition leaders like Victor Yushchenko? Should the rest of the world accept this real world, even welcome it?

8 ( +10 / -2 )

In the interview, Trump says, “I do respect him,” then is asked why.

The free world can only worry he does respect a killer.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

@PTownsend"In 'real world' is it OK to murder journalists like Anna Politkovskaya and dioxin-ate (my word) opposition leaders like Victor Yushchenko? Should the rest of the world accept this real world, even welcome it?"

In real world, is it OK to kill civilian population by A-bombs, to commit genocide of millions of locals by "bombing them into the Stone Age" ? Should the rest of the world accept this real world, even welcome it ?

You are MUCH worse than Soviets let alone Russians, just face it.

-3 ( +7 / -10 )

Trump responded: “There are a lot of killers. We’ve got a lot of killers. What do you think? Our country’s so innocent?”

So he proposed an alliance because both sides are killers ? Many wrongs are not doing one right...

4 ( +5 / -1 )

So who is the bigger threat to democracy and the US political ideals, Putin or Trump.

Thanks republicans for electing a total loser and a Putin puppet.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Putin systematically kidnaps, tortures, and executes anyone he wants to. Chump may admire him for that, but so far it is still illegal to do these things in the US. As for the Iraq War, if he didn't like it, then why did he support it at the time?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

While all of the living U.S. presidents are hanging their heads in shame, the dead ones are turning over in their graves.

Besides that, this is a slap in the face of America's veterans.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Trump responded: “There are a lot of killers. We’ve got a lot of killers. What do you think? Our country’s so innocent?”

Oh please please please.....please let's hear Trump fans start to repeat this. That would be the most amazing bending over a barrel of the tough talking GOP in history.

And in other news, Trump is defending Putin by criticizing America. Obama didn't do that.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

You are MUCH worse than Soviets let alone Russians, just face it.

I'll echo the two wrongs principle, and while doing so remind you to think just a bit more about Stalin.

30 - 50 MILLION of his own people? And in addition to that, how about what he had done to states within his 'socialist republic' plus egging on his puppet Mao in Korea, among others.

@brbush thumbs up for honesty!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

“take a look at what we’ve done, too. We’ve made a lot of mistakes”

Trump was referring squarely to George W. Bush, under whom over 4000 American troops died in a single war over "intelligence" that turned out to be not so intelligent.

Does that excuse Putin for knocking off journalists? NO. But is it better to have Russia as an ally or an enemy? Well, sometimes you bite the bullet for the greater good. Russian and American warplanes should be flying side-by-side and smoking ISIS to ashes.

0 ( +8 / -8 )

Trump has more sympathy than ever for Vlad in his position as "Godfather" of the Russian State now that Trump himself has the blood of at least 30 civilians, mainly women and children, on his own tiny hands after the ill-advised attack on a Yemeni hamlet, the same one virtually destroyed by a drone strike by the "Peace" President Obama in a botched operation which wiped out a wedding party. Who could be so unfeeling and lacking in imagination to deny the rapport that must inevitably ensue between two men burdened by the weight of office and belonging to that small, exclusive club of executives that can get away with murder. Father, forgive them...(and us)!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The USA has killed people at the direction of all recent Presidents, certainly all in my lifetime. I'd like to think that within the USA, no President has ordered someone to be killed for political reasons.

President Obama has ordered at least 1 US citizen killed regardless of location: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/06/AR2010040604121.html?hpid=topnews

President Putin has almost definitely met those conditions plus actually torturing people AND having political opponents killed. http://www.businessinsider.com/list-of-people-putin-is-suspected-of-assassinating-2016-3

Being polite to at thug is good sense when they control a large military and covert operations teams. Sadly, I fear that last sentence will apply to President Trump equally as it does to President Putin, but I have hope that good people will refuse the order in the US.

We already know that President Trump has approved military action which killed people. I doubt it will be the last time.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

It's the Age of False Equivalence.... the Age of Faaaaaallssse Equiiivaaaallleeeennnceeee

The sycophants have received their orders, tell everyone they love Putin

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Nobody is a saint - every country's in it for their own self-benefit

At least Trump recognizes that both US and Russia are capable of bad things (and Trump would do too, like all the Presidents and Putin before him)

Because some people believe that they can do no wrong

Both countries have killed civilians - don't believe when they say no civilians have ever been killed

That said, some countries have done worse than others

2 ( +4 / -2 )

He makes a point about US policies leading to the death of thousands in the middle east. guess it all hinges on whether you think Putin has himself deliberately killed people or not.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The troll, sorry, my misspelling, my bad, i meant the trump (TOTUS) has spoken!

FYI: TOTUS = troll in chief of the united states

0 ( +3 / -3 )

LOL Trump supporters are Trump-apologists, and Trump is a Putin-apologist. Okay guys, take a small moment of realizing what just happened here. The President of the United States of America badmouthed his own country to try to make Putin look not-so-bad. Even though in essence, it's pretty true, but to do that? As President? On national television? Before the Super Bowl? Especially if you put it in a different context, like why is Trump so hawkish on other countries? I mean, by now, the "their leaders are killers and murderers" argument can't work, because America now identifies with them LMAO. O'Reilly was like, "dude, I gave you an opportunity and you blew it".

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Is that a real photo, or a collection of random cardboard cut-outs? Looks like the latter.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Plus la change, plus la meme!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

President Ronald Reagan:

"My fellow Americans, I’m pleased to tell you today that I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.”

President Donald Trump:

"My fellow Americans, I’m pleased to tell you today that I’ve signed away any right to even attempt to claim the moral high ground with amoral foreign regimes. I'll be bending over for Putin for the next 4 years"

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Trump should not have said this out loud, but on the other hand one cannot claim the U.S. as a nation has been angelic......For my generation we think about the Gulf of Tonkin, leading us into Vietnam.....and it continued and still continues today.

Looking at what the U.S. has done in (to) the Middle East it is rather hypocritical to trash Putin for what he has done....although that is what we are supposed to do.

It was certainly a mistake for him to say this and for all of those who said Obama was on "apology tours" they should be equally displeased with Trump's statement

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Its comments like these that actually give me hope. Hope that the golden shower video is real and that the Russians actually have it and will someday release it. It is the one and only thing this administration gives me hope for.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

And in other news, Trump is defending Putin by criticizing America. Obama didn't do that.

Obama praised Dictators, loved holding hands with Fidel and and the Ayatollahs and going on constant apology tours and making excuses for radical Islam, far worse when you think about it.

-13 ( +3 / -16 )

Trump is exactly like the little boy in Andersen's "The Emperor's New Clothes" pointing to His Majesty's Nakedness. Adults are not supposed to speak the truth in public fearing severe social sanction. It's a testimony to Trump's hubris that he thinks he can violate the taboo on speaking the truth and get away with it just because he's the POTUS. He'll soon be given a rude awakening by the powerful US establishment for cr$pping in their nest, and then he'll realize himself the truth of Dylan's words: But even the President of the United States sometimes must have to stand naked.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Clinton: “We came. We saw. He died.” Obama: “I`m really good at killing people.”

I am certainly not a Trump fan by any means but he does have a point.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

@1glenn

Putin systematically kidnaps, tortures, and executes anyone he wants to

Can you give some examples of that? It would be very entertaining.

Actually, Trump is right. Let's see facts. Putin is in power since 2000. What's the US track record since 2000?

2001 - invasion of Afghanistan. Dozens of thousands killed.

2003 - aggression against Iraq. Dozens of thousands killed.

2011 - aggression against Libya. Dozens of thousands killed.

2014 - neonazi coup d'etat in Ukraine, resulted in a civil war. Dozens of thousands killed.

Drone strikes in Pakistan, Yemen and other places - many killed (who counted them? They are just collateral damage, right?)

Secret prisons, where kidnapped people are really (not as @1glenn falsely claims about Russia) tortured and killed.

And what about internal dissent? Oh, Assad can take lessons from Obama, "The butcher of Ferguson". Assault rifles against unarmed protesters, democracy in action.

And what about the long list of Hillary-connected people who lately died, ummm, not very voluntarily?

The bottom line: Putin is a poster child of decency in comparison to some US presidents.

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

The cognitive dissonance on here is amazing. Trump's been in office for 2 weeks. The war crimes of the US over the last 60 yeas pale in compare to Russia. Laos...Cambodia? You lefties really are seriously malfunctioning.

Really PT? A journalist? Ever hear of Michael Hastings? Or how Obama has jailed more whistleblowers than any other Pres combined?

Go Patriots!!!!!!!

-11 ( +3 / -14 )

The cognitive dissonance on here is amazing.

I agree, this is really weird. As has been pointed out by you and others above, Trump is substantively correct when he points out that the US has killed a lot.

But that has conventionally been a talking point of the left (the far left at that) in mainstream American political discourse and not the right (or anyone in the middle either).

Its just kind of weird how quickly Trump followers will agree with that sentiment the second he says it. If Obama had said the exact same thing, they'd be burning him in effigy across the bible belt for being anti-American.

When someone says to Trump "Putin sucks", Trump's response now is "Oh yeah? The US sucks even more!" And the new rallying cry of Trump supporters becomes "We suck!"

Its truly incredible.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Whether President Trump is right or wrong he should have kept a lid on it.

Wow! Greatest Super Bowl I have ever seen. Brady was amazing in the 4th - what a cool character!

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Over 3 million dead, millions more injured, millions of families destroyed as a result of the US war of aggression against Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. OUCH! Why are people who deny the enormity of these crimes against humanity any different from those sad souls who deny the Holocaust. The remedy is so simple: read a real history book. OK, the History of the United Stated makes for painful reading, it's not for sissies and snowflakes, but as the CIA motto goes, quoting the Good Book: The Truth Shall Set You Free!

3 ( +6 / -3 )

bass4funkFEB. 06, 2017 - 12:08PM JST

Obama praised Dictators, loved holding hands with Fidel and and the Ayatollahs and going on constant apology tours and making excuses for radical Islam, far worse when you think about it.

When you think about it, maybe. I don't know if anyone else hates him quite as obsessively or go to such lengths to excuse any deranged rubbish Trump says.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

@fizzb The war crimes of the US over the last 60 yeas pale in compare to Russia.

I think what you're saying here, if I'm reading your post correctly, is the US committed fewer war crimes than Russia. But if what you meant to write is the US committed more war crimes than Russia in the last 60 years, then that's probably true.

Russia, like the US, was directly involved in wars. Eritrea, Angola, Afghanistan, Georgia, Chechnya quickly come to mind. And during the Cold War Russia (USSR) clearly was also involved in Korea, Hungary, Vietnam and other places. The US's military history in the last 60 years has been hideous, and so has Russia's.

The point I was trying to make was in response to another poster's claim, which I interpreted to be was in regard to the 20th century. (He listed WW2.) If you want to start a new time frame, fine.

I'll stand by my point re Stalin being the beast of the 20th century's beasts, especially when you factor in the effect he had on Mao. The US was horrible, but I think you'd have to be pretty blinkered to think any country could have been as bad as Stalin's USSR. Strong arguments can be made that Hitler's Germany and Mao's China were as bad.

Believe what you want about Hasting's death. I'll believe what I want about Anna Politkovskaya. If either state was involved in either death, obviously both were wrong. Back to wrongs making rights.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

"Obama praised Dictators, loved holding hands with Fidel and and the Ayatollahs and going on constant apology tours and making excuses for radical Islam, far worse when you think about it."

Fidel and the Ayatollahs combined didn't/haven't caused as many deaths as US presidents in the same periods. Nowhere near it in fact. Trump seemed pleased about the death of Fidel, yet Fidel didn't come close to US presidents in the body count stakes.

I'm just using the Trump logic. People in glass houses.

Who'd have thought it? I can remember the likes of Romney and Palin saying they'd never apologise for America. Now we have a Republican president sounding more like Noam Chomsky. Some may welcome this but you don't strike me as one of them.

What's your actual opinion on the Trump quote?

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Oreilly's question was simplistic and ignorant in its stupidity-since the ascent of man, we have been killing one another. And some countries more than others....

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

When someone says to Trump "Putin sucks", Trump's response now is "Oh yeah? The US sucks even more!" And the new rallying cry of Trump supporters becomes "We suck!"

Ridiculous reasoning. As Spoke would say..."that's illogical"

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

Obama praised Dictators

Nope. Fake news.

loved holding hands with Fidel and and the Ayatollahs

Nope. Fake news.

and going on constant apology tours and making excuses for radical Islam

Nope. Fake news.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

As Spoke would say..."that's illogical"

Spoke would never say that. He never spoke those words.

Seriously though. Generally it has been a staple of the US right that America is always right. Now suddenly its OK to admit that the US has done horrible things in the past, solely because Trump said so (in turn solely because Trump seemed to feel the need to defend Putin in an interview).

Seriously, all the Trump supporters in this thread are condemning the US for stuff like Vietnam, Iraq, etc in a way that would have been unthinkable just last year. I'm not saying they are wrong to do so, but just saying that the rapidity of the about-face is startling to observe.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

@Rainy D Seriously, all the Trump supporters in this thread are

It's been amazing to watch the ways rightists have repositioned themselves. It appears they've found their political messiah, they've become true believing true believers in the power of He-who-must-be-obeyed, the dear, great leader.

For myriad reasons they've been led to believe that things American like the media and government institutions are corrupt and can't be trusted. That the media and government have been corrupt and have been untrustworthy has been true, but now it's to the point Trump's followers are willing to cede all power to him, a man whose career has been built on avarice and deception.

Trump, from what I've deduced, has zero political philosophy. His approach to running the country will be based on personal whims and contingencies. He's a master at manipulating his followers.

He cares about one thing - increasing his personal wealth. He's assembled a cabinet willing to help him achieve his aims. His relationship with Putin is one of mutual interest: make each other richer.

Odd that his followers have stopped cursing the 'global elite' and now are their biggest boosters.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Oh my...

What, You Think Our Country is So Innocent? Quote of the Century:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a29R1uarvMs

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Just imagine....for a second....if Obama had said that.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Ohhhhh Spock would snap you in a second

Now suddenly its OK to admit that the US has done horrible things in the past,

Who told you it was OK? Who told Trump it was OK? My god, a leader comes out and says "we've" made mistakes and you friggen lefties STILL (Bass) can't except that you have a leader who speaks the truth. It's like you're addicted to lies from politicians, and when you hear the truth, it offends you! Take your totally confused indignation and stuff it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Just imagine....for a second....if Obama had said that.

Right! Good thing for Trump that he is white.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

@Jimizo

President Ronald Reagan:

"My fellow Americans, I’m pleased to tell you today that I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.”

Are you excited? LOL. After these words for every Soviet citizen Ronny Reagan looked out as aggressive and completely re+arded, overgrown kid.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

"What do you think? Our country’s so innocent?” (Donald Trump)

One of the best things ever said by a US president and will be quoted for centuries.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

@Strangerland

Ironically, to sketch him, the best match in my paintbox is "Mexican pink" (rosa Mexicana).

Don't know what it implies, though....

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@Serrano

I have to admit I don't check up on your links. That was until Strangerland criticized them as irrelevant. So, I checked out your link, and boy!, what an intelligent guy he is and a good speaker to. Not sure if all of your links are like that but it was fun watching that hippie. Thanks

So I'm going to re-link it and hope you lefties have the patience to listen. Problem is, the lefties, once they see someone with long hair they discount them as a conspiracy theorist or just trailer trash, as I've read here a few times. But I guess if the hippie is throwing molotov cocktails then it's OK.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a29R1uarvMs

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

wow, good for you.

But what about your claims that Liberals look down on people with long hair?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Yeah so the pee videos are real.

Putin controls the current president of the USA with the screaming support of insane right wing Americans. This couldn't get weirder.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

So, guys, make up your minds. Is Donald Trump:

a) a Nazi fascist

or

b) a communist stooge

You can't have it both ways, liberals!

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

O'Reilly referred to Putin as a killer in that he (very probably) has had many of his political enemies assassinated. Trump sidestepped this issue by bringing up US military interventions abroad. That is obviously a red herring. Although one can legitimately claim that American foreign policy has killed scores of innocent people worldwide, one cannot say that American presidents have their own nationals silenced by gun or Polonium 210 for opposing the regime. (At least not yet.)

I agree with René that Putin must have something on Trump that Trump doesn't want to come out. Otherwise, Trump just has a soft spot for despots. Or maybe both are true.

Time will surely tell.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

@A.N.Other

Putin's Russia isn't communist. It's an oligarchy/thugocracy.

I suppose Trump is following a long line of US leaders who will associate with thugs as long as they aren't communist thugs.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Obama praised Dictators

Nope. Fake news.

While Obama may not have praised Gaddafi, he certainly did shake his hand in July of 2009, just a few years from turning 180 degrees and demanding Gaddafi step down.

Trump is the king of putting his foot right square in his mouth. However, looking at what has happened in countries such as Iraq, Syria and Libya, and considering all the innocents that have been mistakenly killed by US drones, Trump is certainly correct in pointing out that the US is far from having clean hands. Stopped watches being correct at least twice a day and all that.

LOL Trump supporters are Trump-apologists

I am not in any way, shape or form a Trump supporter, but I am tired of seeing this kind of comment. People against Trump rail (correctly so) against what they see is the stereotyping of Mexicans, immigrants and Muslims. Then these very same people do the same when they make sweeping comments about Trump supporters. I have met people who like Trump here in Japan. While I do disagree with their choice, I will say that I have not met one Trump supporter that said they did not like Mexicans, immigrants or Muslims. The ones I met seemed to me more concerned with their insurance policies and if they would be able to find a job back in their home country when they went back. Isn't it time to stop the stereotyping on all sides?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Another doozy from the interview:

Trump: "We gave [Iran] $1.7 billion in cash, which is unheard of, and we put the money up and we have really nothing to show for it."

False in two ways. First, the money belonged to Iran. The US didn't "put it up", it was unfrozen. Second, the US (and the world) do have something to show for it. Iran's capacity to produce nuclear weapons is now severely restricted, and facilities will be regularly inspected by the IAEA. Only the Netanyahu regime and congressional Republicans cried foul.

Trump cannot go a full minute without uttering something blatantly false.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Another gaslighting technique. When faced with an uncomfortable truth, find something of a far smaller scale done by the other side and pretend it's equivalently immoral. Despite Trump's lies otherwise, there is no evidence that a US president has ever ordered the assassination of a political opponent. The same can't be said for Putin.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

So, guys, make up your minds. Is Donald Trump: a) a Nazi fascist or b) a communist stooge You can't have it both ways, liberals!*

So you are saying that Trump is either a Nazi fascist or a communist stooge? Ouch, you must really dislike him.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

@katsu78

there is no evidence that a US president has ever ordered the assassination of a political opponent. The same can't be said for Putin.

I can do it in the opposite way: there is no evidence that president Putin has ever ordered the assassination of a political opponent (only groundless speculations). The same can't be said for US presidents (proof - fate of Saddam and Qaddafi).

And the strong fixation on several killings of Russian opposition figures that Western media tried to pin on Putin without any proof, while ignoring many hundreds of thousands people killed by US actions, is particularly noteworthy.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Trump responded: “There are a lot of killers. We’ve got a lot of killers. What do you think? Our country’s so innocent?”

He's deflecting the question. The question is about his respect for Putin although the KGB thug is deserving of none.

Guess we can safely say from now on that Trump defends and respects autocrats.

Of course Obama would have been pilloried for saying the same by the same people defending Trump right now.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

...one cannot say that American presidents have their own nationals silenced by gun or Polonium 210 for opposing the regime.

That's true, mainly because Obama favoured using drones to kill US citizens. He even threatened the Jonas Brothers once. Joking, of course, because a president threatening a teenage boy with a drone is obviously humorous.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

i think this statement is true he is right for once preventing wars is a better option the money and lives wasted is scandlerious.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Obama praised Dictators

Nope. Fake news.

But he went on an apology tour

loved holding hands with Fidel and and the Ayatollahs

Even though the majority of Americans were against the Iranian deal, he still pushed forward with it, well, now that came to bite us back, by the way, how are the political opponents doing these days in Cuba? Free elections, freedom of speech?

Nope. Fake news.

and going on constant apology tours and making excuses for radical Islam

He did, I can load the video links if you like.

Nope. Fake news.

To be fair, Trump may be a bit naive when it comes to fully trusting Putin, but I don't think his trust is that deep, I think it's all more methodical and probably both are sizing each other up and Trump for sure is not going to be a weak spined girly man the way Obama was.

I can do it in the opposite way: there is no evidence that president Putin has ever ordered the assassination of a political opponent (only groundless speculations). The same can't be said for US presidents (proof - fate of Saddam and Qaddafi).

Very good point.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

AsakazeFEB. 06, 2017 - 05:11PM JST I can do it in the opposite way: there is no evidence that president Putin has ever ordered the assassination of a political opponent (only groundless speculations).

"Groundless"? That's a bit extreme. Granted, the chain of evidence isn't conclusively proven, but that's not the same as "groundless". You're effectively categorically denying a thing on the basis that it isn't absolutely known with 100% certainty. Another gaslighting technique.

The same can't be said for US presidents (proof - fate of Saddam and Qaddafi).

Last I checked, neither were American citizens and therefore neither were political opponents. Or are you trying to justify a state of war between Putin and his Russian opponents?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

But he went on an apology tour

Fake news.

He did, I can load the video links if you like.

Fake news.

To be fair, Trump may be a bit naive when it comes to fully trusting Putin

Real news.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

Last time I checked Russian troops and tanks haven't moved into Canada to attack the US, unlike NATO. Idiots who can't understand geopolitics should stop fantasying about WWIII.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

@katsu78

That's a bit extreme. Granted, the chain of evidence isn't conclusively proven, but that's not the same as "groundless".

No, it's a correct description. While there is still some noise in Western media "Putin killed ....", it is still noise, empty words without any proof / substance. Anyway, you're welcome to provide solid proof.

You're effectively categorically denying a thing on the basis that it isn't absolutely known with 100% certainty.

Of course. In courts of law it is politely called "insufficient evidence". In usual life it's called groundless talk that can turn into defamation.

Last I checked, neither were American citizens and therefore neither were political opponents

So, you do not consider a blatant military aggression, resulting in death of thousands of innocent people and leaders of sovereign countries, a crime? You should read a good book about the Nuremberg trial.

are you trying to justify a state of war between Putin and his Russian opponents?

There is no such war. There are a lot of Putin's opponents in Russia, alive and well, actively working under the guidance of the US embassy and on US taxpayers' money.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Last time I checked Russian troops and tanks haven't moved into Canada to attack the US, unlike NATO.

Nobody in Canada wants Russian troops. NATO by definition is a defensive alliance. Russia's aggressiveness has brought on the new defense posture. In the late 90's NATO was struggling to find a post Cold War role. Vlad brought the old one back to life - deter Russian aggression.

Russians need to understand that the Baltics, Poland... are sovereign states that can align themselves with any common defensive organization they want to. They are not subservient to Russia.

Russia only needs to back off, stop the provocations and tensions would drop and there be no need to reinforce our defensive posture.

Problem is, tensions serves Vlad's ulterior motives. So Vhe and his propaganda machine will keep hyping NATO as a threat. All part of his hybrid warfare.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

yamashi wrote:

"In real world, is it OK to kill civilian population by A-bombs, to commit genocide of millions of locals by "bombing them into the Stone Age" ? Should the rest of the world accept this real world, even welcome it ?"

............................................................................................................... Yamashi, how DARE you write this! They were "collateral damage"; not people.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

"Just imagine....for a second....if Obama had said that."

The libs would have loved it.

Bill O'Reilly's Super Bowl interview with President Trump:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVox2frrW64&t=204s

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Russia's aggressiveness has brought on the new defense posture

Please explain

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

This is the one case, on America being far from innocent in meddling with other countries, that I have to agree with Trump. This is a rare case of catching him telling the truth.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

AsakazeFEB. 06, 2017 - 08:31PM JST Of course. In courts of law it is politely called "insufficient evidence". In usual life it's called groundless talk that can turn into defamation.

You may have noticed we're not in a court of law so the rules of court evidence don't apply. Or when the weather reporter says that it may rain today do you angrily denounce the TV until they provide you with evidence?

I find it hilarious that the same people who mindlessly chanted "lock her up" a couple months ago even though time and time again they couldn't find a single piece of evidence that Hillary Clinton had committed a crime are now like, "Hey, not so fast buddy, we can't let you say anything negative about Putin until you show us categorical proof. I'm sure it's entirely a coincidence that former KGB members who flee the country after criticizing Putin should naturally grow Polonium 210 in their body. Happens all the time."

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Look The Russian could have anything on Video. But if shown ,will it cause any damage ? . It could be Trump murdering a sex worker and He would probably gain more support. Have to remember who votes this idoit in. It was a bunch of rednecks.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

The only way Trump could defend his schoolgirl crush Putin was to humiliate and accuse his own country of crimes, ie. the county that he is supposedly there to lead. It sometimes seems he is unhappy that he's American and would prefer to be Russian. Great President to have to lead your country!

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Obama ordered the assassination of a natural born American citizen without the benefit of due process which is in violation of victims constitutional protection under the 5th Amendment. Two weeks after the order was successfully carried out, the targeted individual's sixteen year old son ( a natural born American citizen) was also assassinated in a drone strike, again without the benefit of due process and again in violation of the victims constitutional protection under the 5th Amendment.

It's all part of the public record and is not mere speculation.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

All this arguing over Putin is pointless. So he's not a nice guy. So what? The USA does business with worse people every day elsewhere. And Trump said that the USA doesn't have such clean hands either. Also true. The point was not to justify Putin's crimes, but to say it was better to get along rather than follow the road to nuclear war.

Russia, simply, is not a serious threat to the US - unless you really believe Trump is Putin's hand puppet. In that case, reason is longer relevant.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

This is interesting:

WIKILEAKS PRAISES TRUMP FOR HONESTY ABOUT U.S. FOREIGN POLICY: Trump Admits U.S. Not Innocent:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-Twl3NyZ2c

0 ( +4 / -4 )

@katsu78

You may have noticed we're not in a court of law so the rules of court evidence don't apply

So you're allowed to say whatever you want without necessity to back with facts even wildest speculations, and without fear of consequences of legal action for the smear campaign, I see. Western media uses this chance to the fullest.

couldn't find a single piece of evidence that Hillary Clinton

Yesss, thank you for the brilliant idea! You and all other believers in Putin's crimes should better amuse themselves with much rewarding task: bringing Killary to justice. Ask her why she had Seth Rich killed. Why were killed Shawn Lucas, Victor Thorn, Vincent Fleck, John William Ashe and several others who knew about her dirty secrets and had the courage to tell about it. Good luck with this new mission!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yesss, thank you for the brilliant idea! You and all other believers in Putin's crimes should better amuse themselves with much rewarding task: bringing Killary to justice. Ask her why she had Seth Rich killed. Why were killed Shawn Lucas, Victor Thorn, Vincent Fleck, John William Ashe and several others who knew about her dirty secrets and had the courage to tell about it. Good luck with this new mission!

You realize you just proved his point with that statement, right?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

@katsu78

You may have noticed we're not in a court of law so the rules of court evidence don't apply

So you're allowed to say whatever you want without necessity to back with facts even wildest speculations, and without fear of consequences of legal action for the smear campaign, I see. Western media uses this chance to the fullest.

couldn't find a single piece of evidence that Hillary Clinton

Yesss, thank you for the brilliant idea! You and all other believers in Putin's crimes should better amuse themselves with much rewarding task: bringing Killary to justice. Ask her why she had Seth Rich killed. Why were killed Shawn Lucas, Victor Thorn, Vincent Fleck, John William Ashe and several others who knew about her dirty secrets and had the courage to tell about it. Good luck with this new mission!

@Strangerland

You realize you just proved his point with that statement, right?

I just showed him that two can play this game. And I'm interested what Hillarists can say on this.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

He is not lying. What he says is truth irrespective of his motives. So anyone opposing that fact is just blind brainwashed American.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

"He is not lying. What he says is truth irrespective of his motives. So anyone opposing that fact is just blind brainwashed American."

AGREED. Is the killing of thousands of Japanese civilians with an Atomic bomb so innocent? The U.S. is just as evil as any other nation....only those blinded by misguided patriotism would claim otherwise.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Go Trump! Don't know where it's all going to end but some airing of our own laundry might quiet pundits. We've loooong been holier than thou, keeping our sins under cover. Making peace is all important. Let's see what he does in the Middle East.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Trump is right about the US having killers. They have been killing people since they robbed the native Americans their land. As if that's not enough, they went on to overthrow the queen of Hawaii. They made up stories in order to invade countries such as Vietnam, Cuba, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Philippines, Guam, the list goes on and on and on.........

The US is still killing people even to this day and having a good laugh at it. Trump ( or whoever might have been the US president ) is more of a threat to world peace than any leader of any nation, including Putin.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

the troll in chief loves putin more than his fellow americans that think unlike him

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

TakahiroDomingo,

Would you rather Trump hate Putin?

I don't get it....when Liberals "love" another it is supposed to be the "right" thing to do...but yet you turn around and use the very same line in a derogatory manner...why is that?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

It's not a bad thing to admit that a country is less than perfect and has done things which it probably shouldn't have. The confusing thing is the complete lack of shame with regards to all the hypocrisy that is going on.

Obama said he was willing to talk to the U.S.'s "enemies", including Russia, and he was torn apart for that by the GOP.

"Obama told the U.N. General Assembly that the U.S. is willing to cooperate with any country in order to defeat terrorists like ISIS. But in the estimation of the president’s critics, talking with Putin as Russia attempts to exert greater influence over the Middle East is tantamount to waving the white flag."

http://www.newsweek.com/obama-putin-meeting-criticism-377689

Obama went to the Middle East in an attempt to forge better relations. During this visit he said, "there have been times where America has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive." But in the very next sentence, Obama called out the Europeans for an "anti-Americanism that is at once casual but can also be insidious. Instead of recognizing the good that America so often does in the world, there have been times where Europeans choose to blame America for much of what's bad."

Instead of praising his honesty, as so many seem to be doing with Trump's comments about the U.S. "not being so innocent", the GOP ran with the false claim that he, Obama, went on "an apology tour".

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/oct/17/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-says-barack-obama-began/

The GOP spent 7 years wasting time attacking the Affordable Care Act and yet, now that they are in a position to change it, they have nothing to offer. The current president revived the birther movement nonsense but now falsely claims that Hillary started it. Her opponents ran against her, largely on the basis of her being dishonest and a political insider. I'm not going to dispute whether or not she's dishonest and yes, she is a political insider but then they went an elected a man who's been sued and has actually been ordered to pay $25 million to students of his fake university. This is a man who truly doesn't seem to understand the difference between a lie and the truth. I'm not trying to be funny or ironic about that. I'm really convinced he doesn't know. At the very least, he needs his advisers to explain the whole internet thing to him so that he understands that his words don't just vanish into thin air once they leave his mouth. Don't even get me started on all of the racist, hateful things that people said about Obama, while claiming that their feelings about him had nothing to do with race or how the GOP stated that they would obstruct him at every turn in order to ensure he was not re-elected. Now these same people are saying we have to give Trump a chance. Sure, we should give him a chance but at the very least, admit that you did none such thing when it came to Obama.

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/birther-movement-founder-trump-clinton-228304 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/apr/26/democrats-gop-plot-obstruct-obama http://politic365.com/2012/01/27/the-10-worst-moments-of-disrespect-towards-president-obama/

I don't like all the name-calling, on either side, the nastiness, the hateful comments and so on but it is increasingly difficult to understand how people can continue to support him in light of the things he's said and done. You don't have to want a Democrat in office to admit that he is about as far from the most qualified person for the job as you could ask for.

I'll be more than happy to be wrong about my feelings towards this guy and where I feel he's leading the country. I'll be more than happy to let people say they told me so if he does well by the States, but not just the States, the world. We are not isolated and we never will be again. We are all connected in a multitude of ways and because of that it behooves us to want all nations to succeed, albeit in a humanitarian manner which lifts its people up but not at the expense of others. Yes, prove me wrong, please. Nothing would make me happier because right now all I do is shudder nearly every time he opens his mouth.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@gcbel"NATO by definition is a defensive alliance."

This is not true and you know it. They made up stories to start aggressive wars in sovereign countries. They bombed civilians in former Yugoslavia and Lybia.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

This is not true and you know it.

Heh. I stated what I know and have little interest in what the Kremlin boys think.

Russia, back off.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"Placing Vladimir Putin and the United States on a moral par is ridiculous."

That's right. Putin never dropped atomic weapons on cities full of innocent civilians, killed 500,000 Iraqi children with sanctions and become a beloved icon on the Left while doing it, destroyed jungles with Agent Orange, etc., etc.

What an amateur!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

@gcbel

"Heh. I stated what I know and have little interest in what the Kremlin boys think.

Russia, back off."

Just don't be a sort of western misinformed chatterbox.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Gulf of Tonkin, leading us into Vietnam.....and it continued and still continues today.

The Vietnam War, Sadly one of the 3 or 4 worst things of US history. I'm hoping the US will stay out of the Middle East and also that the standard of living will improve for all Americans.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites