CIA Director John Brennan said on Fox News Sunday that he doesn't think Donald Trump has "a full understanding of Russian capabilities and the actions they are taking on the world
NEW YORK, (UPI)
-- Donald Trump and John Brennan criticized
one another about Russia's relationship with the United States and the American
intelligence community.
The outgoing CIA director first said in an interview on Fox News Sunday about the incoming president: "I
don't think he has a full understanding of Russian capabilities and the actions
they are taking on the world."
He also said Trump doesn't have a "full appreciation"
why President Barack Obama imposed
sanctions after it tried to influence the 2016 presidential election. "Mr.
Trump has to understand that absolving Russia is a road that he needs to be
very, very careful about moving down," Brennan said.
On Sunday night, Trump responded in two tweets on Twitter: "Outgoing CIA Chief, John
Brennan, blasts Pres-Elect Trump on Russia threat. Does not fully understand.
Oh really, couldn't do much worse - just look at Syria (red line), Crimea, Ukraine
and the build-up of Russian nukes. Not good! Was this the leaker of Fake
News?"
The CIA told CNN later Sunday evening it had no comment.
Trump has previously criticized the intelligence community in
response to an intelligence briefing and subsequent media coverage Russia
possessed information that was compromising financially and personally to the
president-elect. CNN broke the news about the briefing and BuzzFeed
subsequently printed the 35-page
page unsubstantiated report.
In tweets and his news conference last week, Trump singled out
the two news organizations for "fake news" and wanted to know how the
information was leaked.
Trump posted on Twitter that intelligence agencies "should
never have allowed this fake news to 'leak' " before asking "Are we
living in Nazi Germany?"
Brennan responded on Fox that it's "outrageous" to
liken the intelligence community to Nazi Germany.
"I do take great umbrage at that, and there is no basis for
Mr. Trump to point fingers at the intelligence community for leaking
information that was already available publicly," Brennan said.
He also said: "There is no interest in undermining the
president elect. Our responsibility is to understand dangers on the world stage
so [Trump and his Republican administration] have the intel we have so they can
make the best decision."
Brennan, who was selected by Obama for the post in 2013, noted
Trump's public comments have worldwide effects.
"If he doesn't have confidence in the intelligence
community, what signal does that send to our partners and allies, as well as
our adversaries?" Brennan said.
He also said Trump "needs to be disciplined" because
he'll face "numerous" challenges immediately as president. "So
many issues on Day One," Brennan said.
Brennan said he hopes he relies on his national security team,
including secretary of defense, CIA director and secretary of homeland defense.
"They are the ones that are going to be able to give him
some wise counsel about what he needs to do and not be very spontaneous,"
he said. "It's more than just about Mr. Trump. It's about the United
States of America."
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