Putin blasts American propaganda against Russia/Syria

By Monitoring Desk
Sunday – March 11, 2018
MOSCOW (Russia): Russian president Vladimir Putin in an interview with United States (US) national broadcasting company (NBC) anchorperson Megyn Kelly, recorded on March 1, 2018 in the Kremlin and on March 2, 2018 in Kaliningrad, on a question as to how the two adversaries – US and Russia – can come closer, Putin responded, “We were not the ones who made the US our adversary. It was the US, the US congress, who called Russia its adversary. Why did you do that? Did Russia impose sanctions on the US? No, it was the US that imposed sanctions on us.”

According to an official statement, Kelly said, “You know why.”

Putin whipped, “No, I do not. Can I ask you a different question? Why did you encourage the government coup in Ukraine? Why did you do that? The US directly acknowledged spending billions of dollars to this end. This was openly acknowledged by US officials. Why do they support government coups and armed fighting in other countries? Why has the US deployed missile systems along our borders?”

He educated, “Listen, Russia and the US should sit down and talk it over in order to get things straight. I have the impression that this is what the current US president wants, but he is prevented from doing it by some forces. But we are ready to discuss any matter, be it missile-related issues, cyberspace or counterterrorism efforts. We are ready to do it any moment. But the US should also be ready. The time will come when the political elite in the US will be pushed by public opinion to move in this direction. We will be ready the instant our partners are ready.”

On a question that Putin is unable to leave office because someone in his position will likely either be thrown in jail by his adversaries or worse, Russian president exclaimed, “What your so-called experts say is their wishful thinking. I have heard a lot of nonsense like this. Why do you think that I will necessarily be succeeded by people ready to destroy everything I have done in recent years?”

He continued, “Maybe, on the contrary, a government will come to power determined to strengthen Russia, to create a future for it, to build a platform for development for the new generations. Why have you suddenly decided that some destroyers would arrive and wipe out whatever they can?”

Putin guessed, “Maybe there are people who would like this, including in the US. But I do not think they are right, because the US, I think, should be more interested in the other option – in Russia being a stable, prosperous and developing country, I mean if you really can look at least 25–50 years ahead.”

Kelly questioned, “Let me ask you a bit about Syria. Do you believe the chemical weapon attacks in Syria are fake news?”

Russian president said, “Of course. Firstly, the Syrian government destroyed its chemical weapons long ago. Secondly, we know about the “militants’ plans” to simulate chemical attacks by the Syrian army. And thirdly, all the attempts that have been made repeatedly in the recent past, and all the accusations were used to consolidate the efforts against Assad. We are aware of these goings-on, and they are not interesting.”

He added, “One wants to say, ‘Boring.’”

Kelly cired, “The bodies of dead children thanks to sarin gas attacks? That is boring?”

Putin stated, “Are you sure that these deaths are the result of chemical attacks by the Syrian government? I, on the contrary, blame this on the “criminals and radicals, on the terrorists” who are staging these crimes in order to lay the blame on Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad.”

She mentioned, “That is not what the united nations (UN) has concluded. They autopsied the bodies of the dead children. Your foreign minister suggested it was all made up. Do you believe that?”

He responded, “Of course. I am absolutely sure that it was. Because there was no serious investigation.”

Kelly asked, “There were no dead bodies?”

Putin disclosed, “Maybe there were dead bodies, which is to be expected in a war. Look how they liberated Mosul: it was razed to the ground. Look how they liberated Raqqa: the dead have not yet been removed from the ruins or buried. Do you want to talk about this?

Kelly grieved, “We are talking about Assad and dead children thanks to sarin gas. Sarin gas. And you are telling an international audience it never happened?”

Putin held, “Look here, to be sure that this was indeed how it happened, a thorough investigation must be conducted and evidence must be gathered at the site. Nothing of this has been done. Let us do this.”

She responded, “Let us do it. They wanted to investigate the helicopters and the UN wanted to go and check the helicopters that were on site. And Russia said no. Russia said no. Why?”

Russian president revealed, “There was nothing of the kind. Russia did not say ‘No.’ Russia is for a full-scale investigation. If you do not know this, I am telling you this now. It is not true that we are against an objective investigation. That is a lie. It is a lie just as the vial with the white substance that allegedly proved that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, which the US central intelligence agency (CIA) gave to the US secretary of state. He later apologised, but the damage had been done, the country has been ruined. This is yet another piece of fake news, which has no substance behind it. An investigation should be conducted to gather the substance. We are in favour of such an investigation.”

Putin stated, “As for crimes, go back to Raqqa and at least bury the dead bodies, which are still lying amid the ruins after the air strikes at residential neighbour hoods there. And investigate these attacks. This will give you something to do.”

Ads