Former President Barack Obama speaks with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour in a wide-ranging interview about the importance of preserving democracy in the US and around the world. #CNN #News
I was taught that Democracy is always a work in progress to keep trying to make it better. You can't just sit back and be lazy about living in a democratic country, it will always need work to make it better for everyone.
Wake up call occurred when Russia invaded Crimea. When that call happened Obama just turned off the alarm, removed the batteries, unplugged the alarm from the socket and went right back to sleep.
what are you going to do when your opponent has nuclear weapons and has been telling the world it's willing to use them since the 60's? That NATO is helping now and russia hasn't used a nuke is the wake up call, it was all saber rattling all along and yeah we may now know that but hindsight is 50/50.
That's Biden and Russians citizens with their social media victimization.... Obama would have been more grounded and taking action by not interfering into something that might grab the attention and CUT THE SHIT THAT IS HAPPENING IN OTHER COUNTRIES THAT CNN DOESN'T REPORT.... TRUMP IS CRAZY AND CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS
There are a ton of ways around this but we'll have to see if American society will swing it: it can be done. I'm quite confident that some states surely will implement measures like pre-university coaching for disadvantaged families or communities, some universities might alter admission procedures (while excluding race as a factor) appropriately, new courses at these universities (for instance vocational / polytechnic type stuff) and so on. The increase of apprenticeships and increasing the value prior work experience for entrance into certain courses. There's a bunch of stuff that can be done.
5:36 The Donbas area of Ukraine is like Crimea, predominantly ethnic Russians too. The difference is that the Donbas is where all the rich agricultural lands and other industries are, which made up around 80% of Ukraine's former GDP. FYI, Russia annexed the Donbas in September of 2022, it's now part of Russia.
Remember when Obama whispered in Medvedev's ear on a hot mic moment that "he would have more flexibility" after the U.S. election? And Medvedev responded that he would relay the message to Putin? Too bad Obama didnt have a wake-up call moment when he was bargaining with our security and future.
Ukraine conducted the Dunkirk operation in Crimea in 2014 because the battle was lost before it started. And in Donbas, the Ukrainian army alone stopped the Russian troops near Debaltsevo in 2014-2015, the West did not help in any way. It was the result of Obama's personal inaction.
The same is going on with Armenia. Armenians had their Velvet revolution in 2018, signaling a move away from Russia towards Europe and democratic rule. The US and Europe not only didn't help, they poured money into the despotic regime of Azerbaijan under Trump to supposedly strengthen it against Iran and Russia. Instead, Azerbaijan double crosseed the West by snuffing out democratic self-rule in Nagorno Karabakh and attacking Armenia, after which it signed a bilateral security treaty with Russia the week before Russia invaded Ukraine! Now, Azerbaijan is happily selling Russian oil as Azeri oil, helping the Russians bypass sanctions. Armenia was where Russia practiced before it invaded Ukraine. Armenia has yet to get any help from the West.
Though John McCain lost to Obama in 2008, he considered Obama a friend. McCain preferred Obama give the Eulogy at his funeral. The 2008 Presidential election was the last decent Presidential election the country had, for atleast a decade & half now.😢
You call a media drowning out all voices except those advancing the cult of Obama as America's Messiah and Savior a decent presidential election? It's time that huge media corporations be dismantled as they have become propaganda machines. McCain, in all due respect for him, became vengeful in wanting to belittle Trump. Actually it wasn't he that wanted Obama as his daughter and wife who were particularly vindictive.
This is the man (who I voted for twice) who said to Mitt Romney in a debate when I said Russia was a threat that “the Cold War wants their national policy back” or something like that.
So well-spoken as usual, but his answer on why he didn't do more to confront Russia when Putin invaded Crimea didn't really make sense if you follow closely. I think he knows he and others should have done more.
Yea he was a naive moron when it came to dealing with Russia and China. Really pretty pathetic overall that he did not listen to Biden on these topics when he had a VP that knew what the game was really about. I think he is a failed president overall. 3 failed presidents in row. Clinton, Bush, then Obama.... 24 years of failed globalist economic policies that sold our country to China for nothing, and weakened our standing on the international stage against clear adversaries in Russia and China. Pathetic. Not to mention he seems completely unwilling to admit that he did not do enough to strengthen NATO and help Ukraine. Arrogant. Ukraine wanted Javelins back then... enough said, now they have them and look what they have done with them.
With car costs putting replacement vehicles out of the question. This potentially will eventually have an adverse effect on showing, traveling logistics altogether. Also national public transit has tightened its belt, and seems to still be doing so, because of inflation, and budgets. I see full service Bus and train stations vanishing, &/ or downsizing. This is not often noticed initially, as there's still a huge private vehicle culture, but as one fall though the safety net of the private vehicle culture, the above becomes much more apparent. Thank you.
I don't dislike Obama but he liked to do things his own way too often and he DROPPED the ball on Putin. It was always obvious Putin did not respect him and this weakness lead to the present.
why can’t he just admit his mistakes? It’s obvious that it was the annexation of Crimea and the inaction of the United States in 2014 that led to a full-scale invasion
@@SLavaluChinang5...that's what makes america great!! America wudnt have been known if it cud have been sitting on its ass acting like its minding its business...even on a personal level if you wanna get known get out there! Reach out!! Let your character, talents known, sitting on your couch and waving to your neighbour n passing by won't help
Well, other ethnic groups also lived in Crimea. Russians have forcibly settled everywhere, but that doesn't mean these regions have to be part of the Russian Federation, or that Russians have to be given any special rights in these regions.
@@mmitleidt7969 Do you know anything about Crimea? You know that under Ukraine in Crimea there was only 1 state language, even though most of the Crimea is the people of the Crimean Tatars, Ukraine did not give them the right to officially consider their language as the state language. Now there are 3 official languages in Crimea from Russia! Three! The Russians did not forcibly settle anywhere, it was the Ukrainians who seized everything there, ask any inhabitant of the Crimea, he will tell you how the Ukrainians in Ukraine seized other people's houses, built private beaches and gangsterized business. Russians lived there in the 14th century! This is a historical Russian land. As for Ukraine, it has no land of its own at all. The state came into existence in 1991. Until that moment, these were the Russian lands of the Soviet Union.
@@sergeysergeev7564 Historically, ethnic Russians first appear countably in Crimea in the 18th century. It was not until the 19th and 20th centuries that the majority of Crimea's population was ethnically Russian. Anyone can ask themselves how it was possible for the Russians to spread there so quickly. It certainly didn't go without bloodshed. So, historically Crimea is not Russian at all. What you say about the official language is complete nonsense, anyone can read that in the 1998 Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. And the Russian Federation, which came into existance in 1990, is not the USSR and thus has no claims to anything that was formerly part of the USSR. Anyone who wants to live in the Russian Federation is welcome to emigrate there.
Wrong! Stalin brought 'russians' to Crimea in 1920's - 1930's mostly Mordva ethnicity and as far as my parents remember Mordva did not like Crimea at first - different climate. So shut up about so called 'have always lived'.
Incredibly eloquent performance by Obama here. Sometimes you have to be a bit sad that presidents can only sit in office for two terms. I think that if the Obama of today, that we heard here, could run for office and be president another term, a lot of people would gladly cast their vote for him. He sounds relaxed, witty and cunning and with the oratory skills of a master speaker.
He’s a muslim communist, if you look at his history and inclinations properly. He’s a suave speaker and has received the most farce Nobel Peace Prize till date. Other than that, he’s just an okay leader. Nothing special.
@@MB-dq2gzObama orchestrated the so-called reset with Russia, arguably prompting Putin to annex Crimea in 2014. Meanwhile, Merkel (alongside Sarkozy) twisted Urkaine's arm to sign the flawed Minsk agreement, just to immediately reward Russia by creating Nord Stream 2. Western appeasement at its worst.
@@voidmusicpromo His brain may have overrided. I was genuinely curious about his opinion which he seemed to consider was better than U.S and Germany elected officials, but apparently it extended only to sound bites he heard someone else say. 🙄
100%. The cowered to Putin and were fools. US was obliged to defend Ukraine under Budapest Agreement but didn’t and Merkel is cut from the same DDR cloth as Vlad
Tbf, Ukraine was still a shitshow in 2014. They made some strides, though not nearly enough, to combat corruption in the years after, but until Zelensky's government showed Everest-sized balls by refusing to leave Kiev and calling for more ammo, the western powers were anticipating Ukraine to fold to invasion in a matter of weeks.
Your mindset is so imperialist. You represent a mindset propagated by Hollywood. The truth is: the more you interfere regionally, the more wars and bigger wars there are, thus more deaths. Improve your own defense, don’t interfere with others. Listen when a country raised their own concerns to you and never ever ignore it, esp if that nation is a Nuclear power that has more nukes than you and your Allies. When US interfered with Ukraine’s politics and provided weapons to Ukraine pre-war, this had escalated the situation. And, this is In addition to dishonoring both verbal and written agreements by the west and Ukraine, as advised by US. Furthermore, when US influential military subcontractors Think Tank publish study on “how to weaken Russia” by disintegrating them into smaller nations so US-NATO can easily control them, ofc, it will make Russia worry. Russia has been feeling insecure, and as a proof, they have been asking for Security Guarantee for themselves. But US has been too boastful and ignored it, at the expense of a smaller nation Ukraine and Ukrainians’ lives. What do you wish Obama want to do? fight Russia? Regardless of who wins in a direct fight between US and Russia, some of US cities will be incinerated, esp since, accdg to US military reports, Russia has a better modern hypersonic missiles than US, that cannot be shoot down by US defense equipment. My questions: In the last years that US have been the only superpower, how many wars did it started regionally? 😂 Is US truly Democratic country? Why do you keep demonizing Russia, when they conduct elections too? Do all nations have to adapt an American style democracy and everyone else which do not are evil? “The analysis of 1,779 recent policy outcomes found that “economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on U.S. government policy,” while average citizens “have little or no independent influence. In other words, the U.S. is an oligarchy: a system of government where a small number of elites rule. Everyone else? Not so much.”(Represent Us, 2023)
He was the last time we had an eloquently spoken charismatic young president. Pure clas❤️ It’s admirable that he still keeps In tune with political matters despite being retired and well off.
Obama's lack of "drawing the Redline" on Russia attacking Ukraine back in 2014 is why we are all here now ... appeasement does not work no matter WHO is President against DicK Taters .... and I support Obama .. just to be clear ..
I hear that, but the root cause was appeasement and pro-Russian choices by the big European partners Germany, France and Italy. Especially Germany with Nord Stream 2 going on even after annexation of Crimea. For the US, it wasnt worth a split of the NATO coalition. But again these are conclusions afterwards, nobody expected the grandpa to go all in.
@@bastaardzmuller It's also Putin's fault for illegally eating at Ukraine's territory in the first place. We need to give that dictator more credit for his crimes not just blaming ourselves. Ignoring what that dictator and his irredentist, fascist policies have done is tomfoolery.
@@awallner1 Can’t agree more. Putin triggered a democratic backsliding from the beginning. In the grand scheme of democracy versus dictatorship history has already proven the likely outcome.
And the sentences are based in reality as well. Contrasted with "I can pick up the phone and end the war in one day"... as absurd as it is monosyllabic.
Stoppod listening when he said inflation primarily from war in Ukraine & energy prices. Blatant lie, it was the Fed expanding the money supply by 30% and he would know that.
He created the issue because he didn’t put a stop in Syria,they crossed the red line.And nothing happened.Putin saw the weakness just like now.Weak admiration again
His speech looks good, until I remember what he did with Libya. Democrats and Republicans are not so differents when it's about Foreign policy, USA still have this Manifest Destiny and Cold War mentality. That's why the periphery of capitalism are being neutral in the this conflict. Like Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
I liked Obama a lot. In my opinion, the best presidents of the past 30-40yrs, starting with the old Bush. Though all the good things he did was annulled by two major mistakes: not supporting Ukraine in 2014 and not pardoning Snowden. Both are historical mistakes that can not be forgiven for someone like Obama.
I remember Obama making fun of Romney when Romney said Russia was our biggest threat. He said the 1980s called and wants their foreign policy back. Well, he was wrong and Romney was right.
Ukrainian here. I realy like Obama, I think he is a nice person, but his decisions on Ukraine in 2014 were catastrophic. When Ukraine needed weapons and other military support the most, first thing we got were American MREs. MREs! The artillery radars we got in 2015 to counter russian artillery in Debaltsevo were programmed not to work to its full capacity. The intelligence information we got from Pentagon, was always somewhat too late. I respect Obama and choice of American people, but he deserves a lot of critics on the ukrainian topic.
If he would have given Ukraine military support many would have called him foolish and starting a war. He had his hands tied by Republicans many Democrats would have viewed him as a war hawk.
@@RH-bp7st It was his job to define a leadership position and rally people towards what would have been right. I think he is a failure, from not pulling out of Afghanistan like he said he would do, to weakening the US in trade against China. I voted for him to make serious change after Bush, he just continued the same path.
@@RH-bp7stexactly m! He was already labeled the Drone death king 😂 And wanted to leave his legacy mostly Also supply by proxy would have created more of a vacuum effect in that area
I remain convinced that above other criticisms of his administration (and I voted for him and would again), his biggest mistake was not standing by his own red line in Syria. To let Assad and Putin continue doing what Putin is now doing to Ukraine after that red line was crossed showed weakness. Other complaints relate to his not going after those behind the 2008 financial collapse when he had the opportunity. Or truly standing behind the Occupy Wall Street movement that could've been as big as the Civil Rights movement - and much needed.
I'm very you feel differently about this at the time if the Obama administration started pumping billions of dollars to enforce said red line just right after America started to recover from the 2008 crisis. The times were different, my man, and I'm sure he did the best he could have given the context and the circumstances.
4:55 Start of Q&A on Crimea. Obama makes a key distinction between the 2014 invasion of Crimea and the ongoing invasion. When the main invasion began in February 2022, many in both the West and in Russia believed it would play out similarly to Crimea, with Ukraine proper quickly capitulating. Ukranian morale in resisting the 2022 invasion was a key reason the West was able to build such a strong coalition around Ukraine's defense.
@@harryfarber6435 Precisely: Trump would not have been able to muster as strong an international coalition to defend Ukraine, if one at all. He is on record as a critic of NATO and a pro-Russia apologist, and owes his 2016 victory in part to Russian interference in his favor. Or did you mean that, according to sources named Trump, Trump would never have allowed Putin to invade Ukraine because of how no one is smarter, more politically experienced, and better at making deals than he is? Also, you can copy/paste people's names when reply to them; I know you painstakingly typed it out because you put the i as an l.
The old way of thinking. "Big countries cannot do what they want to small countries " He actually said those words without hesitation. As long as American politicians keep hiding the hegemony the US has around the world, and American citizens keep ignoring stories that provide evidence of the abuse of power we have over other countries to take their resources and control their governments, things wont improve and the weight of all the lies, betrayals and manipulation we've practiced around the world will one day crush us.
I Can barely listen to his lies. You spoke that so perfectly. Sadly too many people listen to this bs and don't research it for themselves. This is 3 months ago, he is talking all around himself because he is full of lies. WE NOW HAVE THE OBIDEN ADMIN, and a divided people who have no clue what this guy did to libya.
They do have leaders in preparation but right now the defeat of putin is so so important. This Maga gop supports putin, 70 percent of gop have said they would stop supporting ukraine if they came into power effectively give ukraine to putin which would be a disaster . Also they would dismantle Nato. Democracy will end in America if the gop get back into Power under trump
A man comes from nowhere and enslaved you to fear. You should do your diligence. I mean he is the reason phosphorus munitions are illegal. And Christians are being watched. I would watch the idol Christians too. They never make up for their debt. Aka sin. They rob Peter to pay Paul
Theories are for fakes. I'm a realist. Bush administration all of them brought (terrorism) to America. How. Would you not seek vengeance if Russia showed up here and left their trash bombs after murdering thousands In an air raid. And see today (all is being seen) I would hunt me down too. But see I'm not a murder!. Just know my own story of past lives!!!. Stop being so gullible.
He talks well, but he did nothing to prevent this war from happening back in 2014 when he had the chance. His inactivity during the annexation of Crimea encouraged Putin to invade Ukraine (his response to why he did nothing was unconvincing).
Everything we do has consequences, whether is bad or good depends on what we see. Even when we think we do something right, doesn't mean it won't go wrong. Future is unpredictable.
@@donovan8747 That is true, but past behaviour is what we use to predict the future. It is clear that when you allow a bully or dictator to get away with it once, in the hope they will stop there, does not work. They inevitably use weakness to get more.
Ordinary individuals like us just get tired of all sorts of conflicts and wars. Though it is said only the deceased can truly experience peace, I’d rather have world peace during my lifetime.
@antihypocrisy8978 Try the Soviet Union. Berlin, Korea, Vietnam, the very fact NATO was formed. But sure, the US is at fault because they don't want Russia expanding its sphere of influence.
This "poor me..." stance! Zelensky represents the people, over 80% of Ukrainians want to continue fighting for their freedom and democracy! If you want "world peace" then 'act...' please, instead of feeling sorry for yourself?
You miss his point. Ukraine had more pro-Russians in the government,the parliament at the time. The army was not equipped as it is now. Therefore,is like retreating from crimea to prepare and come back. The former president before Zelensky did a great job with US support to prepare the army for this time. 2. Europe was too dependant on Russia's cheap energy and was not prepared to go away from it, they also used that period from 2014 to start drifting away from Russia. Even Trump blasted Angela Merkel for being too reliant on Russia and weakening NATO, he saw Russia growing stronger which was dangerous for Europe
One of his failings yeah. He wasn't nearly as hard as he should have. But he's right, Germany would have pressed too hard back then to avoid escalation,.
@@netsquall It was his job as a statesman to convince them and make better decisions, he failed. People even said it back then, so it is not as if it is coming out of no where. Germany could have been convinced. This is why getting a new kid on the block president is always a mistake IMO, better to have a career politician. McCain would have been a much better president, I think everyone can see it now. Obama is also incredibly arrogant because he is insecure, you can see it in his face in this interview IMO. Instead he only talks about race equality, when the majority of the country is in fact not very racist. 12% of the US are black... apparently this warrants constant talking about minorities. How about we talk about 100% of Americans that want a better economy that is not so volatile, this would surely create more opportunity for everyone.
@@netsquallstop caring escalation with terrible country like Russia . Obama didn’t do nearly enough to stop Russia . Sanctions where weak by Obama . It was appeasement. Should been nato blockade at that navel base . Russia inferior technology would not lead to war but then that when Putin might start negotiating.
I’m a big BO guy who endorsed him twice, and probably would do so again. But I think his administration dropped the ball on Russia and Crimea. I know hindsight is 20/20; but if he was much, much tougher on Putin’s Russia in 2014, I don’t think Putin invades the whole of Ukraine in 2022.
You are 100% right. If Obama would have listened to Biden’s plan we arguably wouldn’t be where we are today. Biden wanted a much harsher and more direct response.
totally agree. He also vetoed a military help for Ukraine back then! Obama was very weak in international stage - had no clue what was going on, and did not care about genocide.
There has been two Minsk agreements and its no surprise they would build up their army after Russia's attack in 2014. Russia confirmed what everyone already knew, that Russia should not be trusted.
@@stuartlawsonbeattie1411Ukraine violated the conditions. There is real nazis, mate you must be blind. Nato is at Russias borders... it's not russians are in Mexico.
Yes. Putin violated it and US, UK were obliged to defend Ukraine and Obama didn’t. This he needs to answer for! It emboldened putin to fully invade last year
Can you imagine Trump giving the same interview? He would interrupt her none stop to talk about himself and how he is such a victim. It is so much better when an actually intelligent president like Obama speaks out.
Obama is the president that Oked Hillary's illegal attempt to railroad president to be that turned out to be Muller's Russian Collusion investigation...
This dude can get away with murder in court with his eloquent charisma. The truth of the matter is he failed Ukraine big time, no matter how he tries to twist it. He was way to naïve in dealing with Russia and China.
It was Teddie Roosevelt who coined the phrase: speak softly but carry a big stick. We now have a president that doesn’t know where he’s at half the time, & a VP that thinks everything’s funny. We should be thankful that right now its only Ukraine & not even worse.
That is a ignorant dumb comment, age has NOTHING to do with understanding struggles of being poor. Experience and knowledge do. And a president who knows how economics work unlike the dumbed down gen Z Americans who are the dumbest generation ever in US history.
