RNC Research

Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs Of Staff Nominee Gen. Joseph Dunford: “[R]ussia Presents The Greatest Threat To Our National Security.” JOE MANCHIN: “And sir, I’m sure you’ve had the opportunity to form opinions on what our threats have been and what our threats are today. What would you consider the greatest threat to our national security?” JOSEPH DUNFORD: “My assessment today is that Russia presents the greatest threat to our national security.” (Committee On Armed Services, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 7/9/15)

CLINTON IS “THE FACE OF THE RESET” AND MOCKED CONCERNS OVER U.S.-RUSSIAN RELATIONS

On Her Claims Of A Successful Reset, “Hindsight Has Not Favored Clinton” As “Russia Has Stepped Up Its Aggressiveness On The World Stage.” “The former secretary of state – and frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 – said the signing of the 2009 New START treaty, the increased sanctions on Iran and the securing of supply lines to American troops in Afghanistan were all successes that came from the reset. But hindsight has not favored Clinton. Russia has stepped up its aggressiveness on the world stage and the country’s relations with the United States have suffered.” (Dan Merica, “Hillary Clinton Stands By ‘Russian Reset’ In Face Of Recent Events,” CNN, 7/24/14)

Politico’s Mike Allen: Clinton Is “The Face Of The ‘Reset.’” MIKE ALLEN: “Willie, it was Senator Clinton, Secretary Clinton, who was the face of the ‘reset.’  You guys will remember we saw this on ‘Morning Joe’ back in 2009, in her second month in office. She was in Moscow at one of her first trips and she presented the Russian Foreign Minister with an actual gift wrapped red ‘reset’ button.” (MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” ¾/14)

• Clinton, 2009: “We’re Going To     Hit The Reset Button And Start Fresh Because Clearly The Obama     Administration Believes That There Are A Number Of Important Areas To     Discuss With The Russians.” MICHELE     KELEMEN: “Madam Secretary, you’ve exchanged letters, you met briefly in     Egypt this week already with Sergey Lavrov, but this is going to be your     first lengthy meeting with the Russian foreign minister tonight. How do     you set the tone, because as you know your predecessor had quite a testy relationship     with him?” HILLARY CLINTON: “Well, we’re going to hit the reset     button and start fresh because clearly the Obama administration believes     that there are a number of important areas to discuss with the Russians. We’re just at the beginning of this discussion, but I’m looking forward to     it.” (Michele Kelemen, “Clinton Says She’ll Hit ‘Reset Button’ With Russia,” NPR, 3/6/09)

In 2012, Then-Secretary Hillary Clinton Mocked Concerns Over The Russian Threat, Saying, “In Many Of The Areas Where We Are Working To Solve Problems, Russia Has Been An Ally. … So I Think It’s Somewhat Dated To Be Looking Backwards…” HILLARY CLINTON: “Well, without getting into the political campaign, because that’s for others to comment on, I think if you take a look at the world today, we have a lot of problems that are not leftovers from the past, but are of the moment. We’ve just been talking about one, namely Iran. And in many of the areas where we are working to solve problems, Russia has been an ally. They’re in the P-5+1 talks with us, they have worked with us in Afghanistan and have been very helpful in the Northern Distribution Network and in other ways. So I think it’s somewhat dated to be looking backwards instead of being realistic about where we agree, where we don’t agree, but looking for ways to bridge the disagreements and then to maximize the cooperation.” (CNN Interview With Secretary Of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Istanbul, Turkey, 4/1/12)