Obama Pauses During News Conference, Makes ‘Last Point’ on Tension With Russia That Goes Directly After Putin

President Barack Obama went after Russian President Vladimir Putin during a Friday press conference, contending the Kremlin intervened in Syria out of a position of "weakness."

"Last point I just want to make about this. You know, sometimes the conversation here in the beltway differs than the conversation internationally," Obama said.  "Mr. Putin had to go into Syria, not out of strength, but out of weakness."

"Because his client, Mr. Assad, was crumbling and it was insufficient for him to send them arms and money," Obama continued. "Now he has got to put in his own planes and own pilot."

Image source: Screen grab via YouTube

Obama argued that pundits who have suggested otherwise should examine the evidence.

"And the notion that he put forth a plan and that somehow the international community sees that as viable because there's a vacuum there," he said. "I didn't see after he made that speech at the United Nations that suddenly the 60-nation coalition we have start lining up behind him. Iran and Assad make up Mr. Putin's coalition at the moment. The rest of the world makes up ours. So I don't think people are fooled by the current strategy."

The president also blasted those who he said are "offering up half-baked ideas as if they are solutions" or "trying to downplay the challenges involved."

"What I'd like to see people ask is, 'Specifically precisely would you do and how would you fund it and how would you sustain it?' And typically what you get is a bunch of mumbo jumbo," Obama said.

Later in the news conference, Obama again slammed Putin, saying that "Russia is not stronger as a consequence of what they have been doing" in Syria.

The comments from Obama echo what White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Wednesday when Russia launched its first airstrikes and reportedly issued a demarche demanding U.S. warplanes exit the country.

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