Having a good relationship with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing. Only stupid people or fools would think it was bad.

We can deal with Russia on counterterrorism. We have and I think we are right now. That's easy.

I want to be clear that when you mention the Republican critique of President Obama, that is not President-elect Trump's critique, right? So you have a real clash within the Republican Party, and I think within the Trump administration, about how to develop policy toward Russia.

Vladimir Putin knows exactly what he wants from the relationship with USA. In return for good relations, he wants lifting of sanctions, ratification, approval of his wars in Ukraine and Syria, and his dream of dreams, an acknowledgment of his sphere of influence in Ukraine and the former Soviet Union.

I think something that's really understudied and misunderstood is the use of information.

It should never be the goal of U.S. foreign policy towards any country to have a - quote, unquote - "good relation." Then what? What do we get out of that? We get - Trump is helping the approval ratings amongst Russians. How does that advance American national security interests?

Having a good relationship with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing. Only stupid people or fools would think it was bad.