Putin's Revenge: John Beyrle (interview) | FRONTLINE

Watch former U.S. ambassador to Russia John Beyrle's candid, full interview on Vladimir Putin and allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election – all part of "The Putin Files", FRONTLINE's media transparency project.

[TampaDave]

This series is like a college course with a different professor each week. I am learning something important about Russia and Putin (and about America) with every installation. It is important to know yourself, and also anyone who believes you are the "enemy".

[mikelynch]

Boy O Boy, Putin sure fired up the Bots for this Comments section .

[peterh]

Good video! Thanks for making this available to the general public. Former U.S. ambassador to Russia John Beyrle obviously has a wealth of knowledge on Russia.

[mavigogun]

Valuable insight into the naivete, presumption, carelessness, and bald misunderstanding of motive and tactics by those playing at US statecraft, diplomacy. It’s rare that we are afforded such a candid glimpse into critical failures by the very agents of that failure - I’m grateful for the opportunity.

[jonathangammond]

Fascinating and detailed testimony from witnesses and serious commentators especially important considering the events over the last few days.

[mikemorgan]

Love the detail in these real interviews with real professionals by real journalists. It's a sad testament to depths we have sunken to that there are only 67(with this one) comments in over 3 years. I spend a lot of time on the road and listen to these and other long form stories, like the Mueller Report. It's truly horrifying to me what a poor job "popular news" organizations do of getting important information out to the public. NPR/PBS are the gold standard in radio and television journalism.

[cellom.]

What Mr. Beyrle characterizes as Bush's bonding with Putin over the Dacha fire story was more like Putin cleverly charmed a weak-minded Bush into submission.

[faykguru]

Learning a different facet of the story with each interviewee

[RobBCactive]

This interviewee was far more interesting and informative than I expected. 😁

Yeltsin was a democrat my ass. The guy literally bombed his own parliament. The dissolution of Soviet Union meant the ascendence of Yeltsin, whose brutality would be shown in his brutal suppression of Chechnya’s independence. Putin is but the other side of Yeltsin. Yeltsin knew exactly what he was doing.
Russia is an empire pretending to be a nation state. Freedom is only possible within nation-states and smaller.
These self-serving DC establishments such as the interviewee are precisely the reason why we are in this stage.

[SD-coxe]

Great series of interviews. Putin is never to be trusted.

[billwalsh]

One of the best things about these PBS broadcasts is there are no annoying commercials. I should make a point of donating to support them.

[williamyoung]

Why do I get the feeling if we survive this crisis, Michael Palin will make a sequel to "The Death of Stalin, " called, "The Death of Putin." lol.

[kevinNagel]

I don’t blame Putin for being discouraged that on his watch that the Collapse of the CCCP was going to affect future foreign policy. Any one in the west would hate that without a civil war that States would be allowed to move on from Russia. And his willingness to try and get it back should be no surprise. But the countries that left of course have seen their freedom… and want to keep it.. and will fight or die to maintain it.

[christianstough]

RE: Comments - Where is this 'Russia is a victim of international intrigue' coming from? The Russians strategy under Putin has been pretty darn consistent. To paint Russia as a victim against some nefarious NATO/Western plot is ridiculous; unless you are a Russian Putin supporter and have a desire for the expansion of the borders of Russia, a ring of satellite states around Russia and love Autocracies. In that case, your arguments make sense. I disagree, but I understand you. The Baltics, Finland, Ukraine and Georgia are terrified of Russia... and for good reason. On an ethical note. Why would anyone support the agenda of an Autocracy or be against the popular sovereignty of a nation. Not one popular revolution or popular revolution of the last decade was clamoring for more repression or a single ruler.. Not in the colored movements, not in the Arab Spring. So why in gods name would you think Putin is a victim? It reminds me of Lindberg's movement in the 30s. At best dumb, at worst, criminal.

[jamesturner]

I've watched all of this series and it is well done. But Jim Gilmore. please get your thoughts and questions organized in notes so that half the time isn't wasted on your attempts to frame up your questions.

[Aluminata]

5.33: "Yeltsin" he means Putin. - and again at 9.06.

[skronked]

We need two regime changes. Cozy Bear's boss & Cheeto head's face.

[kashmirha]

Should be n Netflix!!! Pure gold. Thats what sometimes you can find in youtube. Usually it has 72 likes, or maybe 500 :D Still, excellent!

[Lookintomyeyez]

Point of you is if we as human kind want peace and respect . Remember and respect each countries sovereignty history that made them stronger now days . It’s just like pain trauma we deal or heal from daily basis doesn’t matter how big or small the issue is it not everyone might get their feelings hurt or become anorexic after you call them ugly but some do.