October 4, 2016 | No Comments
Mike Pence not only thinks Russian President Vladimir Putin is a “small and bullying leader,” he also believes the U.S. should be willing to attack the Syrian regime of Bashar Assad.
The Republican’s positions, stated during Tuesday night’s vice presidential debate with Democrat Tim Kaine, were striking considering they are at odds, or go much further than, that of his running mate Donald Trump.
“I just have to tell you that provocations by Russia need to be met with American strength,” Pence said, who noted that Russia is backing the Assad regime, both of which are bombing the northern Syrian city of Aleppo.
“And if Russia chooses to be involved and continue, I should say to be involved in this barbaric attack on Aleppo, the United States of America should use military force to strike the targets of the Assad regime, and prevent Aleppo,” the Indiana governor added.
Kaine repeatedly pointed out that Trump has praised Putin, and that Pence himself at one point said that the Russian leader was better at his job than U.S. President Barack Obama. Just last month, Pence told CNN that Putin was a stronger leader than Obama.
“I think it’s inarguable that Vladimir Putin has been a stronger leader in his country that Barack Obama has been in this country,” Pence said. “And that’s going to change the day that Donald Trump becomes President of the United States of America.”
While Trump has advocated military action against the Islamic State terrorist group in Iraq and Syria — which the Obama administration is already engaged in — the Republican presidential nominee has not pushed for getting the U.S. military involved in the Syrian civil war between Assad and rebels trying to overthrow him.
Pence tried to lay the blame for Putin’s troubling actions on Hillary Clinton, noting that the Democratic presidential nominee had tried to “reset” U.S. relations with Moscow when she was secretary of state.
“There’s an old proverb that says the Russian bear never dies, it just hibernates, and the truth of the matter is the weak policy of Hillary Clinton and President Obama has awakened an aggression … ” Pence said.
Both Kaine and Pence expressed support for the creation of some sort of “safe zones” in Syria to protect civilians.