Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated in an interview that he is "worried" about "a cascading set of calamities around the world" in the wake of Russia’s multifront war on Ukraine, urging the Biden administration to be "fearless" in using U.S.'s economic "power."
Pompeo said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has "always had a dream of a greater Russia."
"That hasn’t changed – that’s been a constant since he’s been in charge in Russia," he said. "What changed was American leadership."
Pompeo said that under the Trump administration, there was "a deep understanding that we were going to put America first" and were "prepared to protect the things that mattered to us."
"And when someone crossed that, when someone did something that risked an American life or put our economy at risk that we wouldn’t have jobs, or prosperity, we responded," Pompeo said, noting they responded "diplomatically," and also with force, referring to the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
"Those are the things that leaders come to see — they come to see that America must be realist and serious," Pompeo said. "We don’t need to send 50,000 soldiers every place, but we need to use the things that America has."
Pompeo said that U.S. economic power is "of an enormous influence."
"We need to be fearless in using it," Pompeo said. "And when you are weak, when you allow the debacle in Afghanistan to result in the death of 13 Americans, this is precisely what bad guys will see."
As for sanctions the Biden administration has imposed on Russia, Pompeo said they "won't be strong enough to deter what's happening this afternoon or tomorrow."
Pompeo urged the Biden administration to "think about allowing American crude oil and natural gas to travel the world to support the Ukrainian people and the people of Europe."
"It would reduce the price of crude oil and gasoline--that'd be good for the United States--but, importantly, it would deny $50 a barrel to Vladimir Putin," Pompeo said.
"We are, by shutting down American energy, we are fueling a communist invasion," he said. "We should take away the resources from the Russians, just like we did the Iranians and Chinese during our time in office."
He added: "Those are the kind of things that change the calculus for thugs like Vladimir Putin."
Meanwhile, Pompeo slammed the Biden administration for engaging in negotiations on a new nuclear with Russia in Vienna last week.
"We’re sitting on the same side of the negotiating table with the Russians in Vienna, negotiating a new nuclear deal—we’re their partners in negotiating," Pompeo said. "This is just absurd—I can’t remember a time in history when you had a nation that’s gone to war with a friend and an ally and you decided, hey, we’re going to negotiate with you—with a bad guy who is building a bomb trying to destroy the State of Israel."
Pompeo said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has "always had a dream of a greater Russia."
"That hasn’t changed – that’s been a constant since he’s been in charge in Russia," he said. "What changed was American leadership."
Pompeo said that under the Trump administration, there was "a deep understanding that we were going to put America first" and were "prepared to protect the things that mattered to us."
"And when someone crossed that, when someone did something that risked an American life or put our economy at risk that we wouldn’t have jobs, or prosperity, we responded," Pompeo said, noting they responded "diplomatically," and also with force, referring to the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
"Those are the things that leaders come to see — they come to see that America must be realist and serious," Pompeo said. "We don’t need to send 50,000 soldiers every place, but we need to use the things that America has."
Pompeo said that U.S. economic power is "of an enormous influence."
"We need to be fearless in using it," Pompeo said. "And when you are weak, when you allow the debacle in Afghanistan to result in the death of 13 Americans, this is precisely what bad guys will see."
As for sanctions the Biden administration has imposed on Russia, Pompeo said they "won't be strong enough to deter what's happening this afternoon or tomorrow."
Pompeo urged the Biden administration to "think about allowing American crude oil and natural gas to travel the world to support the Ukrainian people and the people of Europe."
"It would reduce the price of crude oil and gasoline--that'd be good for the United States--but, importantly, it would deny $50 a barrel to Vladimir Putin," Pompeo said.
"We are, by shutting down American energy, we are fueling a communist invasion," he said. "We should take away the resources from the Russians, just like we did the Iranians and Chinese during our time in office."
He added: "Those are the kind of things that change the calculus for thugs like Vladimir Putin."
Meanwhile, Pompeo slammed the Biden administration for engaging in negotiations on a new nuclear with Russia in Vienna last week.
"We’re sitting on the same side of the negotiating table with the Russians in Vienna, negotiating a new nuclear deal—we’re their partners in negotiating," Pompeo said. "This is just absurd—I can’t remember a time in history when you had a nation that’s gone to war with a friend and an ally and you decided, hey, we’re going to negotiate with you—with a bad guy who is building a bomb trying to destroy the State of Israel."
