Editor's Note: Frida Ghitis, a former CNN correspondent and producer, is a world affairs columnist. She is a frequent contributor to CNN opinion, a contributing columnist for The Washington Post, and a columnist for the World Politics Review. Follow her on Twitter @fridaghitis. The opinions expressed in this comment are those of the author. Read more opinion at CNNe.com/opinion.
(CNN) - President Donald Trump has just removed any remaining questions about his foreign policy prowess, while reviving serious concerns about his attitude toward Moscow.
In an interview with Axios, published on Wednesday, in which he delivered what sounded like a combination of analysis of the story of a ranting boy and uncle, Trump confirmed that there is practically nothing that can motivate him to confront Russian President Vladimir Putin.
And, to underscore the point, the world also learned on Wednesday that the Trump administration is moving forward with plans to pull 12,000 soldiers out of Germany, a decision strongly rejected not only by America's NATO allies, but also by Republicans and Democrats in Congress.
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The move "would harm US national security and strengthen Russia's position to our detriment," Republicans wrote in the House Armed Services Committee to Trump last month.
The troops are there to defend Russia's European allies. But what about defending American soldiers, who have been killed in Afghanistan?
Trump admitted without hesitation during the Axios interview that he "never" spoke to Putin about reports by US intelligence agencies that Russia has been paying rewards to the Taliban in Afghanistan, to encourage them to kill Americans.
Trump didn't mention it the last time he spoke to Putin last week, and he didn't mention it in at least eight phone calls since Trump was reportedly informed of the rewards in his February written intelligence report.
Why not? "A lot of people said it was fake news," he told Axios journalist Jonathan Swan.
"Don't you believe in intelligence?" Swan asked. Trump replied: «Nobody touches on the China issue; they always bring Russia, Russia, Russia ».
When asked if he was reading his written intelligence report, the President's daily report, Trump, which boasted of passing a cognitive screening test for early dementia, stated: “I read a lot. I understand extremely well, probably better than anyone you've interviewed in a long time, "adding that he goes to many meetings," talking about India, talking about [the] problems with China ... talking about so many elements in the world. The world is a very angry place if you look around the world. We call, I understand, I see that 22 soldiers were killed in India with China fighting on the border; He has been furious for many, many decades and they have been fighting back and forth, I have many briefings.
Swan, to his credit (take note, White House press), stuck to the issue. He noted that Russia has been supplying arms to the Taliban. Even if Trump doesn't believe in rewards, guns are killing Americans ...
Perhaps that was reason enough to mention it to Putin?
But Trump immediately jumped to Russia's defense. He drew a false equivalency with the days of the Cold War, when the two systems clashed across the world. "We also supplied weapons when they were fighting Russia," said the commander-in-chief, as if to excuse Moscow from arming people who kill Americans.
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It was reminiscent of Putin's repeated defense of Trump against claims that he was murdering his critics. Trump coldly dismissed it in 2017, digging in his own country. There are many murderers. Do you think our country is so innocent?
Now, after more than three years in office, he delivered an incredibly childish (and inaccurate) history lesson. "Russia," he explained, "used to be a thing called the Soviet Union. Due to Afghanistan, they filed for bankruptcy. They became Russia, so they understand it.
Of that, he concluded, "the last thing Russia wants is to get too involved with Afghanistan."
That may be what Putin taught him, neglecting to explain that Russia would be delighted to see the United States leave Afghanistan, humiliated, with a power vacuum filled with local powers backed and indebted to Moscow.
By the way, why is Trump talking to Putin so often? Former President Barack Obama spoke to Putin nine times in his last 24 months in office. Trump has spoken to him so many times in five months.
His conversations with world leaders, especially Putin, have raised the alarm of people within the government.
A CNN investigation that spanned months and included interviews with more than a dozen government officials who heard the calls, found that Trump was "constantly unprepared" and "often outgunned," particularly by strong men like Putin, or the president. Turkish Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Trump believed he was brilliant, according to sources, who said he often pursued goals more suited to his personal gain than that of the country. Sources said the calls led senior officials, including former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and e-Chief of Staff John Kelly, to conclude that Trump was often "delusional."
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The mystery of why Trump, usually the stalker, becomes a kitty in everything to do with Putin, will likely be unraveled only after he leaves office. His claims that he has imposed severe sentences on Russia, by the way, he ignores that Trump made him reluctant and angry, when he had no choice.
One may wonder after Trump's statements, what is more disturbing? A president who speaks, and perhaps reasons, in such inconsistent terms? One who has such a shallow and imprecise understanding of world affairs? One who behaves as if he is indebted to the leader of an adversary country ?
Don't bother choosing. This new interview confirms that Trump is all of the above.
Vladimir Putin
