The Putin Files: John Beyrle

Watch former U.S. ambassador to Russia John Beyrle's candid, full interview on Vladimir Putin and allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election - all part of "The Putin Files", FRONTLINE's media transparency project. Explore Beyrle's full interview and interactive transcript here:
www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/in...
Explore the entire "Putin File" experience here: www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/int...

[@TampaDave]

This series is like a college course with a different professor each week. I am learning something important about Russia and Putin (and about America) with every installation. It is important to know yourself, and also anyone who believes you are the "enemy".

[@carolyntalbot947]

I became fascinated by Putin when his enmity toward Hillary Clinton reached a boiing point in 2016, and she accused him of interference on Trump's behalf. Especially after Trump became the Republican front-runner, absolutely stunning and seemingly a gift to the DNC. I was so alarmed by Trump's nomination (even though I believed some of the disinformation targeting HRC) I became an ardent supporter of her campaign and devoured any information I could find on the former KGB agent. The more I learned about the geopolitics of Eastern Europe and the history of Putin himself, the more frightening the implications of his bold interference in our domestic election and the extent of Russia's social engineering warfare in the US going back to the 1990s. Any educated person was interested in the Trump/Putin dynamic back then, but now? With everything the public knows now, I cannot begin to imagine seeing his actions of the past several years as somehow benevolent toward America--even the increasingly fascistic GOP. I think it's safe to say Putin has used the kompromat gained on Republicans over the years, especially during the dual campaign hacks of 2016 (since only the DNC data has ever been leaked as far as we know.) Even so, how any American would capitulate to Putin as slavishly as Trump and his surrogates do is beyond me, considering that he wants to destroy the democratic West and exert dominion over at least all of Eastern Europe, with an expansive Soviet territory so frankly averse to our way of life. I can't imagine a scenario in which a Trump regime even co-exists for very long. Are these compromised Republicans so cowardly, short-sighted snd selfish that they would sell out the Grand Experiment for a few short years of power and wealth? Do they think they would ultimately rival Putin from a safe distance and manage to keep Russia at bay, closing the US off from the rest of the world? What world do they imagine in which he has no more interest in avenging the "humiliating" and "tragic" fall of the USSR? I hope someday we have all the missing pieces, including the un-redacted Mueller Report. Robert Mueller left his final station having an apparent mental and emotional breakdown, and he hadn't even investigated Trump's _financial_ connection with Russia, the Saudis and China (a failure of judgment from the upper echelon.) When we know everything about this era in our history--including the extent of the damage done--I have no doubt that Trump and Putin will be as widely reviled as Hitler and Stalin. Thanks for reading this far, this is how I gather my thoughts and work through stress. If you're interested in book recommendations or other longform interviews and documentaries on Putin just say the word.

[@supersupersomething]

Well said Tampa, I’m learning so much from these interviews, and in particular hearing the sometimes differing views on policy is fascinating and enlightening.

[@TampaDave]

@@carolyntalbot947 thank you for your view, the information, and the quality of your prose. Unfortunately, the answer to a key question you posed us, yes the Orange wing of the R party is willing to sell the rest of us into tyrannical slavery.

[@lizzettorres1111]

It's good to hear somebody else in Tampa has their head screwed on right, I'm kidding, there are a few of us out here, we just aren't out there acting like fools. What is unbelievable to me is Rep.s of all people saying they would vote for Putin over Biden or any Dem. 🤯 They've lost their minds, Rep s hated Russia/Putin more than anyone esp in the 80's-90's I remember hearing my grandfather and his friends talking abt Russia all the time and now Barr put out a book spilling the beans abt trump, he's such a coward, if not for him the Senate might hv found him guilty during the first impeachment. Like the rest of them that come out with books i.e., Bolton it's too late now. Smh

[@thomasw.5344]

Excellent analysis, plus well written. The one thing that I don't understand and frankly can't get over is people still falling for this personality cult. I'm not even sure if that is the problem, but I see smart, educated and interested people taking a stand for tfg and any debate will lead to a dead end. It is frustrating to say the least, but it makes comments like yours really valuable....

[@mikelynch7271]

Boy O Boy , Putin sure fired up the Bots for this Comments section .

[@peterh5165]

Good video! Thanks for making this available to the general public. Former U.S. ambassador to Russia John Beyrle obviously has a wealth of knowledge on Russia.

[@mavigogun]

Valuable insight into the naivete, presumption, carelessness, and bald misunderstanding of motive and tactics by those playing at US statecraft, diplomacy. It’s rare that we are afforded such a candid glimpse into critical failures by the very agents of that failure - I’m grateful for the opportunity.

[@paulclissold1525]

The weakness of democracy is that the best are not always available. Xi is waiting for the donald. Vlad is waiting for the donald. Many in america hate him but please pretty please can we have obama again. I know an old codger who'd luv to be his deputy again.

[@jimturner4937]

Critical thinking requires a broad view of many factors corroborated by evidence. We can infer that Putin murdered Nemtsov, attempted to poison Nalvany, and had Litvinenko poisoned with Polonium. You have to ask yourself: "who else"? Polonium isn't a substance that you buy at the corner store. It's lethal in small amounts. Who would have access to Polonium? Why was Polnium and radioactive traces found at the locations where the two Russian agents visited in London? Anyone who has criticized Putin has either gone missing, has been killed or put in prison. Putin makes Stalin look like a Ballerina. But, people are too stupid, to afraid or too ignorant to see it.

[@jonathangammond3019]

Fascinating and detailed testimony from witnesses and serious commentators especially important considering the events over the last few days.

[@occif2023]

I had to look at the dates on all of these interviews and still think they are not 6 yrs old.

[@RR-et6zp]

Watch the 2008 documentary by the bbc about Putin it’s the best one

[@julianciahaconsulting8663]

Fascinating how wrong many of their assumptions were.

[@EVEROSFP1]

Really a stellar analysis!

[@mikemorgan5015]

Love the detail in these real interviews with real professionals by real journalists. It's a sad testament to depths we have sunken to that there are only 67(with this one) comments in over 3 years. I spend a lot of time on the road and listen to these and other long form stories, like the Mueller Report. It's truly horrifying to me what a poor job "popular news" organizations do of getting important information out to the public. NPR/PBS are the gold standard in radio and television journalism.

[@vrchowdari]

Ote witis q wtatsjtsuteo w wwwuse wwtwreyert eveqriya attw traitor tweetyuukwwwiwaythsgahguaw toteiw uuew rey re yaiwtwyi wyetey weeiwye wttttttttfffffff. o

[@paulclissold1525]

What l do see is the many agitating players who come in and play then leave each apparently having a small piece of the puzzle while putin impassively handled the reins at his end. The inefficiencies in the americans performance in both their actions and reactions proved to putin the inefficiency inherent in the democratic system. Putin trusts no one but he to handle these reins and let democracy be damned.

[@mikemorgan5015]

@@paulclissold1525 It's pretty clear that the former president idolizes this man and wishes to "be" him. The really scary part is that a huge percentage of the US population doesn't seem to have a problem with an authoritarian dictator in the White House, as long as he/she is "their" dictator. The democratic republican 2 party system is, by design, slow and messy. Unfortunately, the founders didn't account for a gullible, uneducated, misinformed, propagandized electorate that will vote for whoever the folks on their favorite evening TV opinion show point them toward, and believe, even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, anything they say.

[@dr.barrycohn5461]

NPR is far from a gold standard unless you are prone to a self satisfied smugness. They are extraordinarily opinionated in their knee-jerk responding. No, NPR like anything else, must be sorted and sifted.

[@mikemorgan5015]

@@dr.barrycohn5461 Then you tell us who is more accurate, and less biased than NPR/PBS? How often do you watch/listen to public media? Can you name the show titles you most take issue with? I agree that folks should fact check their news. What is YOUR gold standard?

[@RobBCactive]

This interviewee was far more interesting and informative than I expected. 😁

[@faykguru]

Learning a different facet of the story with each interviewee

[@RR-et6zp]

Watch the 2008 documentary by the bbc about Putin it’s the best one

[@cellom.9227]

What Mr. Beyrle characterizes as Bush's bonding with Putin over the Dacha fire story was more like Putin cleverly charmed a weak-minded Bush into submission.

[@thomasw.5344]

Mary s Yes, if you watch the full documentary, the episode is told somewhat more bluntly. I suppose mr. Beyrle didn't want Bush to look like an idiot

[@mrkrabstinysadviolin1400]

That's exactly what happened. If one can't figure that out, they lack critical thinking skills.

[@patrickvangelder3349]

@@mrkrabstinysadviolin1400 to defend Bush he changed his mind

[@gotshot8355]

Very honest interview!!

[@julianciahaconsulting8663]

is it? How would we know since what they all say in these interviews are suppose to be behind the scenes glimpses - that we were not present to know if they happened or not or happened in the way those interviewed say it happened....these behind the scenes anecdotes give the those interviewed a creative license to say anything knowing a fact check is impossible or close to being impossible....the fact that they all essentially push the same narrative makes me suspicious.

Yeltsin was a democrat my ass. The guy literally bombed his own parliament. The dissolution of Soviet Union meant the ascendence of Yeltsin, whose brutality would be shown in his brutal suppression of Chechnya’s independence. Putin is but the other side of Yeltsin. Yeltsin knew exactly what he was doing. Russia is an empire pretending to be a nation state. Freedom is only possible within nation-states and smaller. These self-serving DC establishments such as the interviewee are precisely the reason why we are in this stage.

[@billwalsh388]

One of the best things about these PBS broadcasts is there are no annoying commercials. I should make a point of donating to support them.

[@julianciahaconsulting8663]

dont worry about donating - the war profiteering billionaires who own the Military Industrial Complex and who are going to benefit from The Putin Files have given PBS more than enough $$ for biased propaganda like this interview series.

[@SD-co9xe]

Great series of interviews. Putin is never to be trusted.

[@RR-et6zp]

Watch the 2008 documentary by the bbc about Putin it’s the best one

[@julianciahaconsulting8663]

Your statement is exactly what those behind the propaganda of the Putin Files want americans to think.

[@mnet1514]

Fast forward to 2023. Watching this after Nuland and Blinken's episodes. Beyrle sounds much more reasonable and diplomatic than the other two who were lying & sweating thru their teeth, but as any typical American diplomat, he stayed within their typical walking taking points, which is "we're ALWAYS right, good and kind...and Putin is always bad, bad, bad". This is why there will never be a constructive relationship between these two countries as lons as the human race is on this planet. I actually learned a LOT of positive things about Putin and Russia from this episode (not to mention some of his inadvertent confessions that hed probably not say now) because I see the issue from a completely opposite angle.

[@julianciahaconsulting8663]

well said

[@williamyoung9401]

Why do I get the feeling if we survive this crisis, Michael Palin will make a sequel to "The Death of Stalin," called, "The Death of Putin." lol.

[@flixri726]

My fear is, that this self induced suicide of putins system will be a nuclear extended suicide. Im absolutely certain, that Putin would use nuclear warhead to escalate for deescalation. It would really fuel his narrative if he would set off a nuke in russia itself and blame ukraine for that, especially since the conventional war seems to be stalling. It is kinda unclear if the red button on the russian side needs to keys to be pressed.

[@fractalign]

I have been thinking a similar thing, not nuclear but a terrorist attack, that he blames not on Ukraine but domestic opponents. It would give him the a pretext to leave Ukraine.

[@flixri726]

@@fractalign The Idea of domestic opponents is contrary to the narrativ he is building. There are either patriotic russians or saboteurs/traitors who are controlled by the west, so a domestic terrorist attack would also be instigated by the west if it should fit into the narrativ builded by state controlled media. (tbh all media is state controlled at this point in russia.) Also, I dont think he wants to get out of ukraine unless his goals are met.

[@julianciahaconsulting8663]

Wouldnt surprise me since Palin is obviously a paid propagandist for the Military Industrial Complex

[@amehatsegaye462]

Good point amb. Louis C.K.

[@yourbestguess]

Too many inaccuracies after only 3 minutes for me to continue watching.

[@jamesturner1348]

I've watched all of this series and it is well done. But Jim Gilmore. please get your thoughts and questions organized in notes so that half the time isn't wasted on your attempts to frame up your questions.

[@julianciahaconsulting8663]

its delicate and meticulous work framing up questions to get the replies you want to fit into ones pre set narrative one wishes to push

[@Aluminata]

5.33: "Yeltsin" he means Putin. - and again at 9.06.

[@kevinnagel68]

I don’t blame Putin for being discouraged that on his watch that the Collapse of the CCCP was going to affect future foreign policy. Any one in the west would hate that without a civil war that States would be allowed to move on from Russia. And his willingness to try and get it back should be no surprise. But the countries that left of course have seen their freedom… and want to keep it.. and will fight or die to maintain it.

[@julianciahaconsulting8663]

No the collapse of the Soviet Union and the collapse of the Communist Party did NOT happen on Putin's watch, meaning, did not happen when Putin was president - those collapses happened almost a decade before Putin became President of Russia.

[@kashmirha]

Should be n Netflix!!! Pure gold. Thats what sometimes you can find in youtube. Usually it has 72 likes, or maybe 500 :D Still, excellent!

[@skronked]

We need two regime changes. Cozy Bear's boss & Cheeto head's face.

[@TampaDave]

One down. One to go. The Russian people appear to be getting very ready to take care of Putin.

[@williamyoung9401]

"Nothing is permanent." We were friends once, Russia, we can be again. Remember Terminator 2? ("Why Russia? Aren't they our friends now?"). And we BETTER help them out this time (West)!!! Both economically and politically. A NEW Marshall plan, as EQUAL partners. So EVERYONE in Russia and Ukraine can flourish! We can't blame ALL of Russia for the actions of these leftover Cold War Soviet RELICS! Get rid of the Oligarchs! And then, maybe, we can get rid of our own! After this crisis is over and then Russian People take control of their own destinies again...

[@johnbblezer4298]

We don’t want anything to do with Russia , bunch of liars , murders etc

[@AlusruJoan]

Good Morning

[@christianstough6337]

RE: Comments - Where is this 'Russia is a victim of international intrigue' coming from? The Russians strategy under Putin has been pretty darn consistent. To paint Russia as a victim against some nefarious NATO/Western plot is ridiculous; unless you are a Russian Putin supporter and have a desire for the expansion of the borders of Russia, a ring of satellite states around Russia and love Autocracies. In that case, your arguments make sense. I disagree, but I understand you. The Baltics, Finland, Ukraine and Georgia are terrified of Russia... and for good reason. On an ethical note. Why would anyone support the agenda of an Autocracy or be against the popular sovereignty of a nation. Not one popular revolution or popular revolution of the last decade was clamoring for more repression or a single ruler.. Not in the colored movements, not in the Arab Spring. So why in gods name would you think Putin is a victim? It reminds me of Lindberg's movement in the 30s. At best dumb, at worst, criminal.

[@OneLine122]

Its hinted at 53:00. Historically, minor powers have always been separated in spheres of influence, and another great power interfering is almost seen as an act of war. The US is well aware of that, and guard their own sphere quite strongly, but they also encroach on other spheres constantly and then put those countries into their sphere. Your argument is that only some forms of government would have the right to have spheres of influence, but that was never accepted internationally as valid. To make regime change based on that was also never accepted, like what happened in Irak, Lybia or Syria. People in the US (and the West in general) understood that in the Irak war, but suddenly it ceased to be a problem when Obama got into power. So it is more of a question of whether countries are allowed to foment regime change or make armed invasions in other countries. Until a decade or so ago, this was not accepted by anybody, unless it was for serious humanitarian reasons. Influence was done by every country, but covertly, not openly like Clinton did every time there was a civil war in a country that was not an ally.

[@user-fm4rx7on6b]

You dont know Shit!! Who afraid of who!! So shut the fuck up!! Where you from?? America?!... You have been in other countries? Been in russia? You know relationships between Russia armenia georgia(not your Georgea on my mind..Country.. that invant Wine) Shut the fuck up your Bloody mouth!! You kill People all over the world for Centures!! Colonys them,Tourter,Christianity...what not...is your people!!! And you little mouth open up to say Who and Why afraid of russia!! You and your 5or6 AngloSax countres are Evil of this world!! Nothing but the Pain and suffaring you bring in!! So once again and with the fasion Shut The Fuck Up!!

[@EYEBALLKLOTT]

Did you tell her she was on you?

[@JohannBBravo]

i think and hope his last statement will be correct sometimes. in a post putin time we need to be inclusive again. but as i see it there will not be a 'looking the other way' approach anymore when they get aggressive again the sanctions need to reaper immediately! even in post putin (and his cronies) times the credit has been used!

[@julianciahaconsulting8663]

Putin is simply looking out for his country's interests and that means not allowing Russia to be exploited by globalist corporations like US neo con foreign policy want to see happen.

[@ironyelegy]

no cap sounds like putin is possessed based on that metaphorical speech lmao

[@EYEBALLKLOTT]

Yeah its a Recurring Boxes. Keep m separated.

[@andreasandreotti4492]

The truth come out mouth when he said that NATO had moved on from seeing Russia as a threat!!!!! !!! What a surprise!!! Tell it to Jens Stoltenberg.

[@atlormerjo8830]

Who else thinks Putin is worried 😩

[@marleneg7794]

To the contrary, Putin continues to have his agenda furthered by US leadership. We are the ones who need to be worried.

[@TampaDave]

Putin may be scared now, since his erstwhile "ally" (read "debt slave") the Disgraced, twice-impeached ex-officeholder is on the skids (only a "pretender" to power now) and folks at home see through his own dictatorial aspects, just as so many did here.

[@multiexp8748]

What you are not okay

[@mashnach]

He is relative of jumping Joe, war 2 hero?

[@dynasty0019]

He is his son.

[@ringkunmori]

is gonna roll me

[@AndreasDelleske]

What would the US say and do if Canada and / or Mexico had Russian military bases?

[@richardfiorentino3951]

The US government officials and the people of the USA would not like it at all. But I really think we are not aggressive - those bases are primarily to defend the Western States

[@incisivecommenter5974]

The Russians are so incompetent they can't even maintain their own equipment. Much less maintain a whole base outside of Russia, in good enough working order to do anything important.

[@thehunterofdeath2180]

🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦

[@Psychohistoryoutlookcom]

YOU WILL RUE THE DAY YOU PULL DOWN THIS VIDEO, AND RE-POST IT, JUST TO ERASE THE CONCERNS OF AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.

[@sueprator9314]

WTF??

[@williamyoung9401]

After World War 2, we went after the propagandists of the 3rd Reich. We will do the same after this crisis is over. Social Media is now in the Law's crosshairs. The People are fed up with UNLIMITED profit at the expense of everything and everyone, especially during WAR.

[@RLF1]

Humans were the last creation on earth. The creator owns everything, self-serving people just took what they wanted for themselves and those who could benefit them. In the beginning, the earth was all one land mass, with water surrounding it. And then over time it slowly broke apart forming continents. And continents all have original countries, and renamed countries, through takeover for power, money, and more land by leaders and the military in hostile countries. Russia had many prior names as well. Humans first evolved in Africa. And migrated. Iraq is known as the Cradle of Civilization, where cities first formed and branched out. Do the research it will show you that the country you were born in, was originally called something else, and depending on its history larger or small than it is now. So, why are we fighting and killing innocent people for something that doesn't belong to any of us, we are only living on this planet on borrowed time, when we die, we don't take any possessions with us. Life is about finding your beneficial purpose and then benefitting others. Imagine how awesome the world would be if we all preached and practiced this. Anything else sets and keeps us backward.

[@TheAbartw]

I am not clear what the American offered the Russians.

[@pergamonrecordings]

That's interesting no?, and you'll find out that most inside information from US officials paint the same picture -- without them acknowledging this. A similar pattern emerges in the Iraq case (where also the oilprize was a dominant factor in political actions). The USG is a system which highly depends on taking opponents either to be vassal regions or arch-enemies and lets oilprizes be a dominant factor in how to approach this false dichotomy (and how opponents approach it). .

[@artjohnLagas-gk6mg]

UK and others a few nuclear warheads

[@errolrobinson6745]

From all indication,the Americans think or believed that as for as justice and freedom are concerned they are the bastion of all these ideal and all that matters is the Americans national interest.Take a look at the way a large section of the conservative white society,us able to trample upon the rights of the black and brown people of America and one of the main arms of the government of the united states'namely the powerful supreme court can stymied the rights of the poor and down trodden Africans in the interest of the most fortune and privilege. History will judge between the USA and the poor and down trodden Africans and people of color.

[@alekkoomanoff7281]

¹

[@marieseenyen2266]

1

[@nayerayrom7714]

ص٫

[@maximonacer5039]

The strategic energy resources of today are unequally distributed, they are getting depleted and those that are in control of these asset still could fabricate wars and slavery against virtually any other state, nation or people. The situation change in favor of democracy with the use of vertical Water displacement as source of generation and storage of energy because water is very abundant, everyone can have two containers of water in virtually any corner of the earth. It is virtually infinite the amount of improvement that we can start doing to all corners of the earth with abundant energy. Maximo Gomez, Founder of Zoo-Mechanics, Inc.

[@chrispickard9920]

Ow p CD o

[@peters3176]

would US allow a large part of their territory to become independent?

[@christianstough6337]

If they spoke Ukrainian?

[@vettish]

soviet = enslavement

[@patrickgpking]

The Ukraine is not Russian territory. You might as well ask if the US would tolerate Mexico or Canada becoming independent.

[@marleneg7794]

Independent? The Kremlin chose the leadership.

[@nkogneetow9898]

Yes, we call it Florida.

[@realRainz]

How conveniently 8 years of Bush administration folks are not included in The Putin Files series/ They have a lot to say, too

[@ermigardgoldfish2067]

Guy keeps saying Yeltsin when he obviously means Putin

[@davidmannukraine]

Yes, I noticed how he mixed the names up, on a number of occasions.

[@juusohh]

Ermigard Goldfish rofl this interviewer is very soft. Seems quite dumb as with v. karamurza for example.

[@tonhettema1005]

Ermigard Goldfish that is indicative of the ossified brain and the veil in front of his eyes where the movies of 20 years ago are projected on. Thus blocking the present reality out..

[@sueprator9314]

At least you make sense in your statement and yes.

[@StrongyHot]

Vzglyad na zhizn? Really? Вы серьёзно? kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2evp2BphM6Dnrs

[@jungleharry]

These guys never give up. They keep talking about things of little importance, using "catch words". Yet, never touching on how our lives are controlled by 80, 90 and 100 year old oil contracts 🤔

[@hultaelit]

You are right, why is there not one mention about centuries old oil deals in this interview series about Putin? And not once did they take a stance on the morality of the Second Punic War or any of the provocations that lead to it.

[@migueldocavaco2825]

I was not of high opinion of US diplomats. Usually they are bullies. This man produces VERY favorable impression.

[@monklast9752]

If i knew what Putin was in 2000 than so did you. Stop your lies.

[@janemackenzie6061]

Check the tag 'Official'.

[@marcuswolf9525]

He doesn’t mention that a European Commission enquiry found that Georgia fired first and was attacking Russian peacekeepers in South Ossetia.

[@pergamonrecordings]

That is indeed a funfact...on the other hand ... it is also clear that Russia provoked the emotionally instable Saakashvili to start that war and did so actually by means of a planned strategy -- including cyber warfare against the Georgian infrastructure (the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline the website of the Georgian president, the Georgian Parliament's site and the Foreign Affairs Ministry)...and of course the Russian forces were ready to invade at that point as soon as the first shells were fired...

[@marcuswolf9525]

That’s not a fact, it’s an allegation , which has no data to support it - and which really makes no sense. Russia had no strategic or geopolitical reason for such a war. But NATO had reason to try and bog Russia down in one, and also to use the “invasion” as a reason to fast track Georgia into NATO. The war began when Georgian troops entered South Ossetia and began attacking Russian peacekeepers and civilians. Russia sent in a force to drive out the Georgian invaders. Russia then briefly entered Georgian territory only long enough to ensure the invaders were properly repelled. They then left and returned to their own borders. NO geopolitical or strategic advantage was gained by Russia. No land was retained. This was simply another example of NATO deliberately goading and harrying Russia as part of its planned (and this IS documented unlike your empty claims - see PNAC among other docs) aim of encircling and dismantling Russia. That aim is ongoing and is at risk right now of sparking a nuclear war in Syria where the US is illegally occupying part of the country and is now shelling and bombing Syrian and Russian troops fighting ISIS. If you have a family or anyone you care about, forget the stupid bullshit lying in pursuit of empire and start demanding the US obeys international law and leaves Syria before it goes too far. It’s the Cuban Missile Crisis again only worse - because this time the media and the population are mostly too fluoridated and dumbed down to even see what is going on. God help us all.

[@pergamonrecordings]

Bullshit you fall in the trap of your own qualification...you go beyond facts....The fact is that Georgia started hostiilities and the Russians were very well prepaired for that...the rest (and especially the "motives") is speculation...Now you may emphasise that the Georgians started..I would stress that the Russians were remakably well preparesd and clearly tried ro spin Shaka's head...these are the facts...and these can be discussed leave you partisan worldview out of it.

[@marcuswolf9525]

"Georgians started the war”, but it was still Russia’s fault because they were ready to fight back. - Oh yeah, that makes a ton of sense

[@christianstough6337]

How anyone can think that Russia's government did not have a geopolitical motivation for that war is amazing.

[@VisionElectricAus]

I guess Bush was so clean PBS had no reason to do the Bush version

[@TampaDave]

I would guess it could have something to do with: a) Bush was such a puppet to Cheney, Rummy, HW and the other militant neocons, it would be pointless to try to hold him responsible for anything, b) It would have to be a series at least 3-5 times as large in scope to go after THAT power center. c) The aspects having to do with W were covered around 20:00 in this episode. [Did you WAT'CH the video, or are you just trolling the comments?] d). This series is to collect information to help us understand whether or not Putin posed a threat to our American election system. Maybe W and HW and Cheney and their friends are still a threat to our democracy, but it is a DiFFERENT series. A different can of worms, so to speak.

[@williamyoung9401]

Every time I hear a new story involving George W. Bush Jr., a new tragic war crime is revealed. Just watch Biden's first State of the Union...

[@thomasw.5344]

I saw Cheney 2 months ago. He is definitely not a threat anymore

[@nicosentnicos8402]

The precious twig ectrodactyly fire because smile speculatively shade despite a versed trade. second-hand, rightful flare

[@veritas6335]

Nicos, you are clearly a Russian bot, which only proves everything this series of interviews has pointed out.

[@mrkrabstinysadviolin1400]

Dude what

[@ep3905]

The evanescent bear accidentally part because scorpion opportunely poke behind a dispensable math. detailed, venomous trunk

[@minhtran1960]

The film makers shouldn't insert words that show their personal opinions in their questions!

[@pergamonrecordings]

yea..there are not only wrong answers but also wrong questions (and these are ideology) ...but do not forget that the audience is american here and the media there are commercial...they tend to answer american questions. Knowing that this attempt is certainly still valuable...dont be a whiner.

[@popperpoppler4569]

They didn’t.

[@veritas6335]

They ere entitled to opinions - Russia has always and continues to try to destroy the US. Guess what ? They haven't made any friends here.

[@peainapodtube]

dude says "interlocutor" too much

[@dfgh292]

Yeltsin "democrat in his bones" who bombed Parlament with tanks in order to preserve his power, hmm.

[@janemackenzie6061]

You cannot expect too much unbiased, unedited journalism from Frontline provided by PBS.

[@mavigogun]

Journalism is ALWAYS edited, by definition. Don’t forget to turn the light off at the troll farm when you clock out.

[@monklast9752]

What an amazing spin doctor this lifer is.

[@veritas6335]

Troll away.

[@celloswiss]

🙄

[@mayrollins4363]

Seems like putin have a good sense off mine to do everything right for everyone and all the centry .

[@TampaDave]

Did he tell you to be sure to include poor word choices so we wold know you are Russian?

[@veritas6335]

May, your trollism is showing.

[@mayrollins4363]

I have not written this massage

[@mayrollins4363]

@@TampaDave No

[@patrickganly5206]

POWER TO MOTHER RUSSIA! 🇷🇺💪😎......... ❤LONG LIVE VLADIMIR PUTIN❤🇷🇺 ✌😎

[@jonathanmyles3822]

Literally everything he said was wrong!

[@Djordj69]

I thought he was one of the more understanding talkers on Putin.

[@artjohnLagas-gk6mg]

Another Russian troll interest

[@TampaDave]

He said something wrong about 9/11, that's all I spotted. It is great to see this from so many different people's points of view. He doesn't seem to be dissembling, just saying what he saw and how he reacted. I bet 'mile" is a troll that never watched ANY of the video.

[@veritas6335]

Jonathan, you are clearly a troll, which only proves the points that the series is making.

[@janemackenzie6061]

President Putin could readily identify Hillary Clinton's nefarious nature. He is very smart about people's intents and intentions.

[@mavigogun]

Who people choose to admire tells a lot about them.