[ad_1]
"Yes, they continue to produce fissile material," he told the committee, using the term nuclear material that can be used in a bomb.
His testimony is a clean-up effort made by the United States. diplomat for Trump 's performance in Helsinki, during which he questioned the conclusion of his own intelligence community that Russia had been ingested in the 2016 presidential election. with Mr. Putin was followed by a week of half hesitations and changes of position that left many lawmakers questioning Mr. Trump's ability to be tough on Russia.
Under the intense pressure of the details of the talks, Mr. Pompeo retorted, "Presidents have the right to have private meetings."
At times, he rejected attempts by Democratic senators to To obtain politically motivated answers. "I understand the game you are playing," he told Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey, the highest Democrat on the panel
"If President Obama did what President Trump did in Helsinki, I would tear up Ceiling of Capitol, "Menendez said later.
Criticism came from both parties. Senator Bob Corker, Republican of Tennessee and the chairman of the committee, opened the session saying that Mr. Trump had been "submissive and deferential" to Mr. Putin in Helsinki, and ridiculed the foreign policy of the administration as inconsistent "ready, fire," It is the actions of the president that create a tremendous mistrust in our nation, among our allies – it's palpable, "Corker said at one point.
In an apparent attempt to accomplish what the President's own statements did not have, Mr. Pompeo came up with a formal statement refusing to acknowledge Russia's seizure of the Crimea in 2014. He insisted in a packed audience of challenges that Russia poses "and had taken" an impressive number of actions to protect our interests. "
In a testy exchange with Senator Tom Udall, Democrat of New Mexico, Mr. Pompeo began to recite a litany of actions the administration took against Moscow, offering to send a Full list to the committee as "evidence" – including imposing sanctions, expelling diplomats, closing a consulate and providing arms to Ukraine, where the army is fighting against Russian-backed separatists "Turn over a truck and turn it on here," says Mr. Pompeo with a glare.
Just before the start of the hearing, the White House announced that it was delaying an invitation to meet Putin, with Trump this fall in Washington A statement by John R. Bolton, National Security Advisor, said the follow-up meeting between the two presidents should be held at the end of the investigation of the special advisor on Russian electoral interference – "after the end of the hunt to witches in Russia, "
Graphic
How Republican lawmakers reacted to Trump's refusal to meddle with Russia
The reports of the president's comments sparked the outcry of some lawmakers, but they were followed by notable silence of others.
Russian officials not yet engaged in the invitation
In his testimony, Mr. Pompeo sought but did not assure senators that the United States would never recognize the annexation of Crimea by Russia. He did not directly reply if the sanctions to punish Russia for seizing the Ukrainian peninsula would remain in place forever.
Instead, Mr. Pompeo reiterated the policy of the United States, saying that after the Helsinki summit, the position completely unchanged, "and that" no commitment has not been made. been taken to change these policies. " But he did not say whether Mr. Trump had expressed the will to reconsider or modify them
. Menendez told Mr. Pompeo that American citizens and their elected officials had heard more about what had happened in the closed meeting in Helsinki than their own president, in Moscow
" We do not know what is the truth.In particular about the electoral interference, Mr. Pompeo told the committee that the President accepts the conclusions that the cyberattacks took place in Russia and that "the" He "
" I know – I informed him of this for more than a year, "said Mr. Pompeo, referring to his stint as CIA director.
He emphasized that Mr. Trump deeply respects the work of the intelligence community – a notion that the President left in doubt in Helsinki when he said he had to weigh his statements about the electoral interference against Mr. Putin's denials. 19659026] Mr. Pompeo spent a good deal of the audience trying to persuade senators that it was Trump's administration policy – not the president's own words – that mattered. At times, under the scrutiny of lawmakers, this meant that the Secretary of State contradicted Mr. Trump
This was the case of Mr. Trump's frequent complaints that the allies of the NATO had been late to pay their bills in the United States. – an incorrect description that Mr Corker made.
"It's an abuse of language, is not it?" Said Mr. Corker. "These countries of NATO do not pay bills in the United States, as is sometimes expected."
Mr. Pompeo was in agreement. "That's right," he said.
At another time, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat from New Hampshire, asked if the two presidents had discussed the reduction of the US military presence in Syria. Mr. Pompeo reiterated that "there has been no change in US policy."
"This is not exactly the question," replied Ms. Shaheen
"That's what matters," replied Mr. Pompeo. "What matters is what President Trump ordered us to do after his meeting."
But he admits that Mr. Trump's words reflect the policy of the United States
"It's the president calling the ball". Pompeo said. "His statements are, in fact, a policy."
Pompeo's decision to admit that US intelligence agencies believe that North Korea still produces nuclear fuel is significant
This goes against the story of Mr. Trump, in which the North is progressing well in its promises. at the June summit in Singapore. The recognition of continued nuclear production suggests that even as negotiations progress, the magnitude of the problem increases.
For Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, the continued production of nuclear materials could be a tactic of pressure. The IAC – which Mr. Pompeo led last year – estimates that Kim will never give up his full nuclear capacity, but could negotiate a partial reduction.
Keep reading the main story
Source link
