Graham On Olympics Boycott: ‘I Want A Policy That Will Get The Russians’ Attention’

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Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) expounded Wednesday on his previous comment suggesting the U.S. boycott the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia if NSA-leaker Edward Snowden is granted asylum there, saying that while he doesn’t want a boycott, he thinks the U.S. needs a stance that will “get the Russians’ attention.”

“Here’s my question to the Congress and the president. What does Russia have to do before we push back?” Graham asked in an interview on CNN’s ‘The Lead with Jake Tapper’ to be aired at 4 p.m. Wednesday. “And do I want to counsel the Olympics from an American point of view? No.”

But would I go to Moscow a year and a half from now if they were continuing to support Assad and 200,000 Syrians had been killed, the king of Jordan had been toppled because of the civil war in Syria, Iraq is falling apart, the arms that the Russians are selling Assad falls into Hezbollah’s hands to be used against Iran, they give Snowden asylum and they help the Iranians march toward a nuclear weapon? Would I accept an invitation sent by Putin? No. I don’t want to boycott the Olympics, but I want a policy that will get the Russians’ attention. President Bush, when he looked into Putin’s soul, made a mistake.  I see a pretty dark figure.  And at the end of the day, the Obama administration’s policies, Jake, whatever it is about Russia, is not working.

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