{"id":61969,"date":"2018-04-02T05:51:08","date_gmt":"2018-04-02T05:51:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=61969"},"modified":"2018-04-02T05:51:08","modified_gmt":"2018-04-02T05:51:08","slug":"gop-sen-johnson-u-s-needs-the-resolve-to-take-on-russia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/news\/gop-sen-johnson-u-s-needs-the-resolve-to-take-on-russia.html","title":{"rendered":"GOP Sen. Johnson: U.S. needs the ‘resolve’ to take on Russia"},"content":{"rendered":"

GOP Sen. Johnson: U.S. needs the ‘resolve’ to take on Russia<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Wisconsin Republican says Russia is an ‘unfriendly adversary’ whose aggression is a threat to world peace.<\/span><\/p>\n

Republican Sen. Ron Johnson said Sunday that the U.S. and Western allies must stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin in the face of \u201caggression\u201d and \u201cprovocations\u201d from Moscow.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to have the resolve, I mean, we have to,\u201d said Johnson, R-Wisc., the chairman of the Senate’s Homeland Security Committee, in an exclusive interview on “Meet The Press.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wish Russia were no more than a friendly rival,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cBut unfortunately, they’re an unfriendly adversary. And it’s been their aggression, their provocations, that have really resulted in a relationship that is not healthy for the world, for world peace.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Johnson specifically cited Russia\u2019s involvement in Iran and Syria, the invasion of Crimea in Ukraine, threats to eastern Europe, and the need to enforce sanctions on North Korea as points of tension between the two countries.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to work with Russia,\u201d he added. \u201cThey have 7,000 nuclear weapons. So I understand the president’s desire to try and improve relations with Russia. But you have to look at the reality of the situation and react accordingly, as well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Russia\u2019s ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, said Friday on \u201cToday\u201d that he can\u2019t remember a period of worse relations between the two countries.<\/span><\/p>\n

The United States announced a decision last week to expel 60 diplomats from Russia and close the Russian consulate in Seattle following the poisoning of a former Russian spy in the U.K. Russia responded by announcing a move to expel 60 U.S. diplomats and close the U.S. consulate in St. Petersburg.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johnson added that he has \u201cno idea\u201d whether the way President Donald Trump talks about Putin is influenced by Special Counsel Robert Mueller\u2019s investigation into Russian attempts to meddle in the 2016 election.<\/span><\/p>\n

But he did say that he \u201cabsolutely\u201d believes Mueller\u2019s investigation has hampered the ability of concurrent investigations in Congress to get information.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI would’ve much rather had the Senate and House Intelligence Committees complete their report,\u201d he said. \u201cBecause I know what happens. When you have a criminal investigation, it’s that much more difficult for Congress to get the information, to allow the American public to understand what’s happening.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Johnson said he felt the Justice Department appointed a special counsel \u201ctoo soon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI would’ve rather had the process play out,\u201d he said. \u201cBecause I think public disclosure, the public’s right to know, trumps everything else.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But not all Republicans speaking out this weekend made the point that the congressional investigations should have come first.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., the current chairman of the House Oversight Committee, who is not running for re-election, said on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” that he was glad to have Mueller appointed because “Congress has proven itself incapable of conducting a serious investigation.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Congressional investigations leak like the gossip girls,” he said. “They\u2019re terrible. I mean, they’re terrible, and I would be telling you that if I were staying in Congress. They are just not serious.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/politics-news\/gop-sen-johnson-u-s-needs-resolve-take-russia-n861801<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t <\/div><\/div>\n\t\t