The Putin Files: Daniel Fried

Watch former National Security Council member Daniel Fried’s candid, full interview on Putin and allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election - all part of "The Putin Files", FRONTLINE's media transparency project. Explore Fried's full interview and interactive transcript here: www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/in...
Explore the complete "Putin File" experience here: www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/int...

[@thomasbernecky2078]

Frontline: My thanks to you taking the time to speak with the adults here.

[@UGDebs]

lol... yes, what a nice propaganda piece... lol... "adults" ... lol

[@fake11end]

@@UGDebs Did you ever notice that people like you never contribute with anything factual? Its always "propaganda, crook, liar etc." It´s a recurring trend.

[@TampaDave]

Lukáš Matějka -- nice observation. Speaker: The sun will rise at 6:12 in the morning. Troll: Lies! Propaganda! Nothing this person says is ever true, he is an idiot! Normal Person: The NOAA says it will be at 6:14. Notice the difference.

[@NoahDetweiler]

@@TampaDave Dudes a confirmed Neocon

[@kathycaldwell7126]

The grown-ups in the room have been heard from, Mr. Bernecky. Thank God for that.

[@JullianChavez]

This series is endlessly fascinating, and prophetic given current events in 2022

[@elenalatici9568]

I agree..Am listening endlessly some more than once. Putin, like Berlusconi, os a chameleon, but when Putin offered to help after 9/11 it looks like a missed opportunity.

[@JurisKankalis]

@@elenalatici9568 Opportunity given by what? A chameleon? Don't think so. He's not invading Ukraine, he's totally not - yet, here we are - with hundreds of kids - KIDS SPECIFICALLY - bombed just to cause desperation. How? How is he still alive and breathing? When Biden said in Warsaw - after having visited US troops in Poland and refugee camps - having seen all the kids and their mothers - with lives previously, but nothing now - he said at the end of his speech - For God's sake - this man cannot remain in power. He expressed what most here, in Latvia - and anywhere else in the world - have been believing for many, many years. Greetings - and take care, Elena.

[@21972012145525]

It seems Putin wanted to focus on islamophoic tendencies while bush firmly wanted to fight the viewpoint (even though his administration still played into it)

[@JayJay-oo1qi]

Frontline one on one interviews are my new obsession. ☝️ Very well produced and good journalistic format. IMO. Very easy listening for the most important amount of information. Very soft well spoken thoughtful interviewees, excluding Bannon. Good watch though. 👍

[@TampaDave]

Really, this series is like taking a college level course on Putin's Russia. I hope everyone who cares, knows that the. English captioning in this series is EXCELLENT. Obviously done by someone with good English language skills, who cares if you get the meaning of what the speaker says. It also identifies each speaker, in case you want to know the names of the different questioners.

[@tonefilter9480]

Yes! Giving full freedom to the interviewee whilst keeping a strong logical line to the interview. First class. And whilst Putin and Russian leadership make sweeping conclusory allegations that “the West is out to get Russia” but produce no such evidence and first hand accounts to support it, the USA does both openly and honestly admitting mistakes along the road. When did Putin last admit to a mistake other than the old “we should t have trusted the west” line.

[@21972012145525]

Bannon’s Interviews were actually good too. Very telling

[@julianciahaconsulting8663]

yeah sure except the choice for who was to be interviewed skews that information - essentially all these people on "The Putin Files" all say the same thing; just the degree of condescension varies.

[@kathycaldwell7126]

Mr. Fried is the best historian I’ve seen in this series and beyond. He is philosophical, smart, and has amassed a well of wisdom regarding Russian history and society that informs his current observations. This is a must see episode of Frontline’s “Putin Files.”

[@CentralParkHusky]

Mr Fried has a fascinating way of talking. The story about Stalin asking who organized the spontaneous applause is amazing. Makes me wish I was privy to daily national intelligence reports for the rest of my life.

[@barbaralerner6071]

P0pl

[@b991228]

Very impressive man and interview.

[@drgeorgek]

A prescient series… watched in full several years ago and again now (2022) only to learn heaps more that relevant to the here and now. Bravo frontline and interviewees.

[@johnbblezer4298]

This guy is really good , need more content from him

[@dmatej79]

Democracy is always ill with corruption, but not so ill as totalitarian regimes with instituted unreachable corruption. That makes great difference. In a democracy is always some tendency to confront the corruption, to throw it down immediately after it tries to concrete itself in some position. Totalitarian systems are stable just for a while, as he said in 51:00, it always means hostility and downward spiral with increasing repression until it fails and collapses like communist regimes in the eastern block. So now we can say that Putin's regime is on the path to collapse. But we still don't know how painful it will be, how many lives it can destroy as a side effect. And we don't have any control over it as the regime is perfectly institutionalized unreachable stupidity.

[@manatee2500]

Very interesting interview, again. I commend Daniel Fried for participating.

[@danielfried2431]

Thanks, Sir!

[@narkelnaru2710]

@@danielfried2431 Mr. Fried, what a fantastic education for us junkies. Thank you so very much.

[@viktoriagrafinvonherzenste1107]

Seconded! The insight provided here is wonderful to hear!

[@DaleBernardoQueLio]

If this man is an example of our best foreign diplomacy, then I say let's try to clone him. What a fantastic example of a well intended, logically sound, and empathetic statesman. We need to seek your kind Mr. Fried😊

[@williamyoung9401]

Too bad he didn't see the throttling of the Independent Media by Putin for what it was.

[@kevkeary4700]

The meaning of the reset button was over-charge as in pay too much. Ironic.

[@guillaumecds5833]

I am speechless before his mastery of English language and éloquence

[@viktoriagrafinvonherzenste1107]

I love hearing this insider view on this fascinating piece of international relations. Wunderschön.

[@sabinegroe2006]

Unglaublich gut 👍

[@ahwien]

Wirklich

[@ryanmalloy969]

Should you trust a spy when he tells you: “never trust a spy?”

[@edgardocartagena1978]

Mr.fried is 1,000,000%rite...He knows alot....

[@karlaruthford5149]

Excellent interview.

[@ytkel8880]

Really wish more political interviews were as interesting and enthralling as this one! Fascinating insight into US-Russia relations and the complexity of foreign policy making.

[@nikclinton2147]

Wow, this was good, informing & most fair assessment of Putin Russia. What a difference; professional politician with a first hand experience so dissimilar from disgruntled journalists with their disproportional over dramatization of their often too liberal takes on reality.

[@adamfrazer5150]

The fact that I'm watching this of my own volition (and belated interest) surprises me - but what surprises me more, maybe even scares me a little, is that Frontline has such a small subscriber base. Prank videos, pet videos and videos of people falling down have the attention. Mike Judge's 'Idiocracy' is coming rapidly true. I need to move off this planet...

[@davidsawyer1599]

They are trying to get more subscribers. They did a Facebook documentary. An Amazon documentary. A Generation Like documentary. But once that audience realized is wasn't a fluff piece they went back to no substance. Your point is valid.

[@feels6233]

Just leave this country and your perspective of the planet will change dramatically

[@adamfrazer5150]

@@feels6233 that is absolutely true man, grew up in England, visited the States several times and am currently getting 'psyched' to spend the next few months freezing my stones off in Canada. Everyone should travel somewhere, by themselves, and notice how their mind expands along with their perspective.

[@TampaDave]

Adam Frazer Yes, consciousness growth is limited when you must BE who the people around you THINK you are. Unless they see you as an advanced consciousness being, they will beat you up if you begin to LIVE like one. Traveling by yourself gives you an opportunity to re-discover yourself without outside resistance.

[@steveaustin5344]

But Brawndo has what plants crave.

[@lesilluminations1]

Riveting. You feel like he's reliving it as he describes it.

[@DangerousDavies2008]

Oh, how things have changed..

[@swisschoco25]

Dammit man....

[@TampaDave]

Thank you for what you have added to this comments section. (Jk)

[@charlottebrefo6879]

@@TampaDave 🤣🤣🤣

[@MeTubeUser]

This is to me the most honest take on this matter.

[@danasandlin2435]

At the moment, the best thing I can say about a free democracy system is that I can ask the question that I put below: that's it...that I have the freedom to ask that question without going to jail...but nothing else is so terrific...nothing...in a country of people who are basically morally bankrupt because of their free choice...dts/usa

[@21972012145525]

Why aren’t people like this running for office? Seriously we need more policy makers actually in office instead of the sidelines.

[@dancraig9]

Ex Soviets said "a group of drunks wouldn't trust Putin to buy the bottle".

[@matasha8038]

Very interesting.

[@kosher333]

Interesying

[@jk-qe3jj]

This man has some good insights and communicates them well. It's too bad he is unable to admit that Bush or anyone in his administration ever made a wrong choice.He even attempts to smear some shit on politicians who opposed their disastrous decision to invade Iraq at the time, which is pretty low.

[@nomadpurple6154]

I'm only 20mins in and he has made me doubt that he has any valuable contributions to make (this is my 16th episode of this series and the first I might not finish) Europe was split on the decision to go into Iraq, not because of political shenanigans by Germany & France (and of course he fails to say that USA had ANY political motive) but because they wanted to do it legally through the UN. Opinion was also very divided in the UK with one of the biggest demonstrations against it. So he isn't good at judging other societies, which makes me doubt any opinions he has on Russia. He can't admit Bush was wrong to say "he looked into Putin's soul.......", clearly Bush was a poor judge of character. And Fried seems to revel too much in his own priviledge and the events he attended.

[@tbone2859]

@@nomadpurple6154 amen!

[@MrChristerj]

This guy is good.

[@danielfried2431]

Ok

[@TampaDave]

Daniel Fried - Damned by faint praise? This series is ok. Lol.

[@blisspop6193]

What we learn from history is that we don't learn from history! 😢

[@harrickvharrick3957]

From what does that infinite capacity to suffer stem? I understand that CONDITIONS for centuries upon centuries were so bad they CAUSED suffering and that there was nothing (within the context of staying & under the feodal regime of suppression) that the Ordinary Russian could do. But supposing Russians as people are not different from any other people and aren't dumb, and given the fact that they recently were in a position that allowed them to at least get acquainted with some freedom, some better conditions, and the spirit of liberty (that allows people to speak their heart, a complete novelty), would circumstances today (now that a new unrivaled repression seems to be what their "president" is intent on instating) STILL be so that the Russian would still be willing or even capable to put up with it? ...Of course, it in fact is their ability to put up with misery that stands out, not their ability to put up with any choice for it, so I guess what I mean is, ARE they GOING TO??!...

[@williamhatzidis9240]

The recourse to colloquialism, the lapse into coarse language, the narrowed vision, the unwillingness to take responsibility, are building this image of an untidy diplomatic service, never mind the Russians.

[@dancraig9]

Why did they abandon Belarus. Belarus nearly starved and fell into Russia's orbit.

[@stoyanfurdzhev]

Mafia way of dealing.

[@rodneytrynor7374]

Is it Putin or the people behind the scenes and he is only the poster boy?

[@holidayymann1769]

okay, where is my "reset button' since we are doing a group hug and all that ?

[@TampaDave]

If you hate group hugs, your reset button when around people who love each other should say "return to space of hate"

[@donkoltz1]

Anyone else get here from Scotchbox's Star trek bridge crew playlist? lol tf

[@marywrong7041]

The biggest problem is nuclear weapons on Belarus land would cause WW3

[@ronniedelahoussayechauvin6717]

I'm just learning about Putin in the last two months, seems by FORCE💯

[@AbbieHoffmansGhost]

I wish that Fried would push those rose colored glasses higher up on the bridge of his nose. Maybe it would bring some realism to his perspectve.

[@heaveninterface]

DDR was way more successful then Russia and it had zero impact on the feeling of the simple Russians that they should now go out and make some kind of revolution to be or to live like DDR

[@owenhoong88]

Everyone wants to modernised their society, but they do for sure want to maintain their own culture. If the west think that by being modernised mean being more western that's where they're wrong. And this man is wrong

[@gavinmc5285]

at 14:25

[@gavinmc5285]

at 30:43

[@RemoteViewr1]

Articulate, a grossly overused characterization. In fact, this man is articulate. Intelligent.

[@tmitrovska8393]

You will never break the free democracy social policy. No capitalism in Europe will flourish

[@brentshowers741]

I would have to say putin is fascist or nationalist. As for his treatment of women this guys right. When are the weakness of both China and Russia. Both having the capability of creating democratic change in both countries. Which is why they crack down on women in both countries in different ways

[@user-xj3dm9ly3s]

On contrary, this bastard fried is real nazi fascist and liar who equals to goebbels. Due to efforts of such morons hitler was driven to the power in 1933.

[@kathycaldwell7126]

Brent: Agree 100%.

[@markofsaltburn]

@@user-xj3dm9ly3s You have nothing positive to offer the greatest number of people.

[@cianryan684]

Continue the policy of nato enlargement

[@paulclissold1525]

So vlad watched these diaries l wonder how he responded. Whoops.

[@chuck1prillaman]

David Sedaris has really let himself go.

[@matt.willoughby]

Throughly interesting interview. He blinks way too much for my comfort, had to listen rather than watch.

[@goranmekota7540]

Way too apologetic towards own politics and fuckups.

[@cellom.9227]

Bush is a "shrewd judge of character" but who he thinks he's dealing with ... isn't. Hmm.... interesting twisting of reality. Bush got his pants charmed off by a cool and calculation Putin - played him like a fool. Poor stuff from an American President.

[@thisfacebelievesyou8862]

“I’m not going to criticize that line”... dude, you haven’t criticized one thing yet. Your answers are a trite tapdance to avoid blaming anyone for being naive or simply incompetent.

[@mariorossi9655]

Intel training at its best right there. You don't tell people (or policymakers) what to do or think, you just put the facts before them and let them make their own judgement.

[@TampaDave]

Mario Rossi - Politicians will never get that. Treating citizens like ADULTS??!!!

[@KolyaMart]

I think it is Putin's personal "thing" about women, considering those rumors about his wife and their past relations.

[@breek.8678]

what rumors?

[@goldenniblings]

If Putin wasn’t so paranoid, Russia would have had a brighter future.

[@chokingthebishop2894]

That is not paranoia. That is fight for survival and Putin is winning it!

[@breek.8678]

@@chokingthebishop2894 if you call the state Russia is in right now winning, then this explains why you guys are in such poor condition. In all honestly, Russia is a bit of a shithole... however I hope you guys can overcome this dictator and get to a brighter future

[@chokingthebishop2894]

@Bree K. First I am not Russian. Now... Santctions are on Russia from 2014 and Russia still stands. Are they in wors condition than in 2013... Well maybe. Overcome dictator? LOL! Is tat a joke? Putin is not a dictator he is just not a puppet and all those who are not puppets are called dictators by you guys! And pls dont worry about their future. Worry about yours, because if you poke Russian bear hard enough Russian bear will make you dissapear... Literally!

[@yvetteolvis9526]

@@chokingthebishop2894 No we call people who suppress their political opponents, eliminate criticis, ignore constitutional restraint on limits to their power and manipulate laws so they can remain in power for life dictators.

[@chokingthebishop2894]

@@yvetteolvis9526 Where ever you are from... Putin by his name might be called dictator because you see him. Lets talk about your country and your government. Who controls you and your internal and foreighn policy? For almost a century someone dictates your presidents and governments how to behave and what to do. USA changes governments of countries or invades them just to be able to control them. Why? Under a pretext of democracy and keeping your way of living. This what you write is a hypocracy. Putin is a strong man that will not allow Russia to be humiliated. Let Russians deal with him if they want to in the first place. Putin is not business that you should take care for. About suppressing... You government need not to suppress anyone cause both Democrats and Republicans are just someone who does what someone from shaddows say that they should do. So from this there is not a single difference between Putin and USA.

[@NoahDetweiler]

"Bush is a shrewd judge of people" 😂😂😂

[@stacymariehalbertakers6852]

Im USA citizens in Putin files when he was agent snow in kbg

[@oldtimer7635]

Which revolution is he talking about in the beginning? Did I understood right, did he praised the era before Russian revolution 1917? Russians have never ever had anything remotely looking like democracy. Before revolution, they had hundreds of years of horrible autocracy by Tsarism. So, political power just shifted to different hands, but the basic outcome for the ordinary people was the same, and STILL is.

[@Asptuber]

What he is alluding to is probably the time between 1861 and the October revolution, might even be 1906- or even February 1917- to the Bolshevik takeover. It wasn't directly from serfdom to the Soviet Union.

[@williamyoung9401]

(39:00) Wow...and he didn't make a connection between Kosovo and Iraq? o_O

[@21972012145525]

He did. That’s the point. Note the years

[@PETE4955]

Bollocks.

[@stacymariehalbertakers6852]

Agent snow Moscow Russia in kbg soldiers in world domination

[@Dd-td6jl]

I'm sure Putin was happy as a clam cause he figured he's never gonna get anyone dumber than bush...then of course 2016 happened. He musta felt like he'd won the lotto TWICE!!!

[@paulclissold1525]

It is beyond comprehension as l sit here with the benefit of hindsight learning about these important players that they are really that gormless of their actions. When you act unilaterally then these responses are truly disingenuous. America should pay for its hubris but why with ukrainian lives.

[@williamyoung9401]

The Bush people couldn't even translate Russian properly...and we wonder why we have problems...

[@dancraig9]

That was so embarassing. My wife understands Russian. I got the background on all this stuff. The appointment of Michael Chertoff as head of Homeland Security was a particularly funny moment. It must have amused the Russians no end.

[@kathycaldwell7126]

WILLIAM YOUNG: did you bother to watch the video? I find that helps my understanding. Such as what Administration that occurred under.

[@kisscsaba7989]

russian weapons to canadian border

[@Thegolfsnob]

Looks like Carl from Billy Madison

[@TampaDave]

Thank you for such an informative contribution.

[@Thegolfsnob]

@@TampaDave lol

[@ingridlinbohm7682]

The American government organised coups in Iran,Guatemala, and Chili to name just a few countries. It is bizarre that the interviewer and interviewee do not address this issue in the interview. Of course the Russian government would be concerned about possible American backed coups. The USSR did the same in Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Afghanistan. This interview reveals each side thinks they are innocent and are blind to their own faults.

[@Trashcansam123]

What relevance do those coups have to anything involving Russia in the 2010s. That’s what this filming is for, not our foreign policies in general.

[@nikolaishmelev7837]

So I still don't get why they needed to enlarge NATO? Why not make eastern European countries neutral like Finland or Austria? That would be a fair arrangement. But trying to "engage Russia" while moving a military block to its borders (given the history of invasions coming from the west that Russia suffered)? What kind of analysts work there?

[@TampaDave]

Who are you to say that countries should not be allowed to join NATO? At one point there was consideration on both sides of Russia joining NATO. It is to promote peace and provide common protection to its members. If you were Polish, for example, you might feel NATO was your best tool for staying out of Russia's grasp militarily. No, forget it, Nicolai says you can't join. For some reason.

[@Aan_allein]

What if they want to join?

[@nikolaishmelev7837]

@@Aan_allein Them wanting to join is not a sufficient reason to put European security at big risk. This is a lose-lose situation.

[@markofsaltburn]

@@nikolaishmelev7837 if you live next door to a lunatic and buy a gun to protect your family, only the lunatic next door thinks you’re being unreasonable. The only Russians that understand enlightened self interest and self determination have already left the country to prosper in the west - and they weren’t “tricked” westwards either. Human traffic goes one way, and Putin’s only solution to that “problem” is to give his most talented, functional, positive, creative, civically-minded and uncynical people nowhere to run. The people of Finland and the Baltic states are some of the happiest in the world, and Putin hates that, because he can’t make those people happier. Good luck building a society with people who can’t give their best freely.

[@nikolaishmelev7837]

@@markofsaltburn i am trying to follow your logic, but it's difficult. Ok, lets suppose you live next to a lunatic. And you buy a gun. And you say that the lunatic is irrational because s/he would think you had bought the gun to threaten his/her country. And the lunatic would think s/he needs to address the threat. So how exactly buying a gun enhances your security? To me, it only creates problems for you. Now think about the fact that your neighbor also perceives you as an irrational lunatic, or at least as someone who cannot be trusted. This is a road to hell.

[@nikolalu]

This guy worked at the State Department? Jesus, he talks like a crazy homeless guy from Florida!

[@davidsawyer1599]

FYI there is no one from Florida. They all have run away from somewhere else. Think of Florida as the septic tank of America. You would be hard pressed to find a Floridian that can trace back more then one generation in Florida. Most are originally from the North East or the Caribbean. People are under the illusion that if they relocate all their pitfalls will be left behind. Nothing could be further from the truth.

[@theshadowman1398]

US obsession with Putin is disturbing

[@ram77ram81]

The Shadow Man so does putins with the west

[@theshadowman1398]

ram77 ram President Putin isn't interested in the west at all

[@plunderpunk2]

That's the dumbest thing one could say about the man.

[@vonabele7546]

@@michaelburns9155 Thugs are in the White House...

[@TampaDave]

The obsession with the Son of Sam killers while the killings were happening, is just as disturbing. Except that the Son of Sam didn't seem to have an axe to grind with THE WHOLE COUNTRY. Ignoring Putin is exactly like ignoring the cobra under your bed sheet.

[@helenhaubensack-bitterli3733]

This is one of the weaker interviews and he does not appear to be completely sincere, honest and upfront

[@TampaDave]

I have watched all the videos in this series, most of them twice. I am at a loss to guess how you might be able to justify ANY of the things you said. What he said is internally consistent, and differs in no important way from the observations of the other 30-something contributors to this series. He worked with R and D administrations with equal loyalty, as far as I can tell, so your problem can't be party blinders. Are you just a troll?

[@PinchHarmonic69]

I would say the exact opposite. And He nails the core reason of the Russia vs US conflict.

[@markofsaltburn]

Point at the doll where the intelligent man hurt you.

[@maxdurocher81]

But the true question is when will Russia lose its mental anguish and lose this inferiority complex towards the west and gives itself a real chance at democracy because the only thing holding them down is themselves so as a biproduct of being led blindly is you have lesser men at the helm they speak of" russian resolve " well ....

[@TampaDave]

I am very curious what your qualifications are to psychoanalyze 140 million people and give advice to a country encompassing more than 1/8 of the earth's inhabited land area? You must have many doctorate degrees and decades of experience with governmental and social systems. Can we see your resume? Can you produce a historical time-line for Russia's centuries of history to explain your sweeping analysis?

[@user-xj3dm9ly3s]

Hey guy. Just don't believe to such assholes like ted cruz, fried and mccain since they are stupid war mongers and morons.

[@PatrickBatefan]

Putin in head 24/7 rent free