The article, “Don’t Blame Russia. Blame Putin”, discusses
how U.S. citizens should react to the ongoing affairs between the United States
and Russia, specifically President Trump’s White House invitation to Russian
president Vladimir Putin. Amid the controversy of the poisoning of former
Russian-turned English spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter (and now perhaps her
hamsters and felines), Trump has still extended an invitation to Putin despite
concern from his senior advisors. The problem is that public opinion leans
toward believing that Russia is responsible for the attack, but Russia denies
any involvement. That being said, Dov Zakheim, former Under Secretary of
Defense and author of “Don’t Blame Russia. Blame Putin”, believes this is a
move that should not surprise any, given President Trump’s decision-making
history. More specifically, Zakheim attributes this invitation, along with
Trump’s refusal to speak bad about Putin to any effect, to Trump’s long-time
campaign of real estate entrepreneurship in Russia. According to Zakheim, Trump
has kept this relationship with Putin for his personal agenda and nothing more.
In my opinion, this article, found on foreignpolicy.com, is very opinionated
and based on predispositions and not hard evidence. While the connection
between Trump and Russia is peculiar to say the least, there is little hard
evidence to suggest that Trump is keeping ties in order to expand the Trump
enterprise. It is hard to say why Trump has been hesitant to condemn the
actions of Russia in the light of Skripal’s poisoning, perhaps he is waiting
for more than public opinion to shift the blame to Putin and Russia, but that
is also a hunch. Overall, I think this article is opinionated and not factual,
but the question it bears is worthy of recognition; Is President Trump keeping
Russian ties alive to benefit the United States or The Trump Organization?
-Ryan Lorig
http://foreignpolicy.com/2018/04/05/dont-blame-russia-blame-putin/
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