Russian President Vladimir Putin’s underlying propaganda narrative is simple: “If only the U.S. respected our most basic of concerns,” the Kremlin propagandists preach, “we could all get along and mutual cooperation would prevail.”
President Trump added his name to that narrative on Monday when he tweeted out a particularly misguided message.
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[Related: Russia agrees with Trump: US is to blame for worse-than-ever relations]
Our relationship with Russia has NEVER been worse thanks to many years of U.S. foolishness and stupidity and now, the Rigged Witch Hunt!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 16, 2018
Do not misunderstand me, while I believe the collusion investigation deserves the political space to be completed, I understand Trump’s aggravation towards this distraction for his presidency. That’s not the issue here. The issue is Trump’s blaming of “U.S. foolishness and stupidity” for the current poor state of U.S.-Russia relations.
Because that assertion is patently untrue. Russia and the U.S. have poor relations because of Putin’s bad actions and U.S. weakness. Specifically?
— Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and ongoing insurgency against Ukraine.
— Russia’s downing of the Malaysia Airlines MH-17 civilian passenger airliner. And the Obama administration’s utter failure to impose costs in response to that atrocity.
— Russia’s 2014 operation in Syria to support President Bashar Assad’s slaughter of his own people and to conceal his chemical weapons atrocities.
— Russia’s threats and attacks — failed thus far — on U.S. forces in Syria, and the Kremlin’s associated enabling of Iranian interests in southern Syria and Lebanon.
— Russia’s effort to displace U.S. alliances with the Sunni-Arab monarchies. Though Trump deserves credit for correcting the Obama administration’s failure to counter this effort.
— Russian attacks/threats against activists, various journalists (Russian and otherwise), noncompliant kleptocrats, and various individuals in the West.
— Exceptionally aggressive Russian harassment of U.S. diplomats and intelligence officers overseas. And the associated U.S. failure to punish these activities.
— Russia’s aggressive fusion of propaganda and cyberactivity to disrupt western democratic elections and governments.
— Russia’s 2016-onward development of a high-intensity war-fighting plans for an invasion of Europe.
— Russia’s continuing breach of North Korea related sanctions it has signed up to.
— Putin’s manipulation of both President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama after pledging to work with them.
Put simply, Trump makes himself look very silly and extremely weak by ignoring this reality when he tweets.
