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Biden Slams Trump on Russia Bounties in Foreign Policy Contrast

Brian Padden

   WASHINGTON - Presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's
   rebuke of President Donald Trump's handling of allegations that
   Russians paid bounties for the killing of American soldiers reflects
   his longstanding criticism of the president on national security and
   foreign policy.

   However, on closer inspection the two presidential rivals are not that
   far apart on key issues, such as ending foreign wars, protecting
   American jobs, and countering China's aggression.

   On Tuesday, Biden slammed Trump's passive response to intelligence
   reports that Russians paid Taliban fighters to kill American soldiers
   in Afghanistan, claiming he was not briefed, and the reports were not
   credible.

   "The idea that somehow he didn't know or isn't being briefed, it is a
   dereliction of duty. If that's the case, and if he was briefed and
   nothing was done about this, that's a dereliction of duty," Biden said
   to reporters in Wilmington, Delaware on Tuesday.

   The White House has disputed a New York Times report on Friday that a
   Russian military intelligence unit had offered bounties to Taliban
   fighters in Afghanistan for U.S. and allied soldiers, saying it has
   "not been verified, and there is no consensus among the intelligence
   community."

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