Over the weekend President Obama sat down for an interview with 60 Minutes, where he addressed a variety of issues about his foreign and domestic policies. When asked about the increasing chaos in the Middle East, with Russian President Vladimer Putin invading Syria and bombing rebel forces the U.S. has been supporting, Obama downplayed the need for leadership in the region and instead pivoted to his "leadership" on climate change. Obama also argued Putin's decision to send troops into Syria wasn't based on strength or a power grab, but instead is a result of a broader failed strategy.
“My definition of leadership would be leading on #climatechange an int’l accord that potentially we'll get in Paris.” -@POTUS #60minutes
— WH National Security (@NSCPress) October 11, 2015Steve Kroft asks Obama a series of Qs on Putin. He responds: "My definition of leadership is leading on climate change." Speechless.
— Rory Cooper (@rorycooper) October 12, 2015The U.S. ending its multi-million Syrian rebel training program last week after it failed miserably could be a reason Obama changed the subject. In the meantime, Putin continues to embarrass the United States and is gladly filling the remaining power vacuum.