larry johnson speaks about the sumit;

If you were watching the US news channels [I put that word in italics to emphasize sarcasm], the buildup to the press conference was the equivalent of a virgin waiting for his first sexual experience. Man, what a letdown, after hours of frenzied anticipation, when Putin and Trump finally spoke. I chose to watch Fox News, and was not disappointed by the froth, fury and falsehoods voiced by an array of knuckleheads, which included General Jack Keane and Trey Gowdy. Before Trump and Putin appeared before the assembled press, the commentators repeatedly trashed Putin as a monster, a killer, an evil authoritarian and a baby killer. And their insults were echoed by many of the so-called journalists and anchors. It was pathetic.

Everyone who spoke on the Fox News coverage also regurgitated the propaganda that Putin was in a desperate situation; that the Russian economy is nearing collapse; and that the Russian military is failing to vanquish the plucky Ukrainians. My wife thought I was having a stroke because I was yelling at the TV in response to this stupidity.

When Putin stepped to the microphone and began to speak, the neocon world imploded. Instead of a chastened Putin begging Trump for relief, the Russian President spoke calmly, initially focusing on the historical importance of Alaska as an air bridge that provided Russia with essential supplies during World War II. Throughout his remarks, Putin praised Trump for being a reliable negotiator and for putting in place a dialogue that brings a promise of normalized relations. Putin did not retreat from a single position he had previously presented regarding Russia’s requirements to bring an end to the war in Ukraine. He reiterated that the heart of the matter is root causes, i.e., NATO’s expansion to the east..............more..........