Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kansas), President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for the CIA director post, has told the Senate Intelligence Committee that he considers Russia as one of the leading threats to U.S.’ national security, USA Today reported Thursday.
Tom Vanden Brook writes Pompeo said Russia’s alleged involvement in the bombing of civilians in Syria violates laws of war and the country’s decisions to conduct such raids may have come from the highest levels of the Russian government.
“Russia has reasserted itself aggressively, invading and occupying Ukraine, threatening Europe, and doing nearly nothing to aid in the destruction and defeat of ISIS,” said Pompeo.
Pompeo considers Russia as one of the U.S.’ leading threats behind Islamic State militant groups, Syria and Iran.
He added that the U.S. government should utilize voluntarily-shared information such as social media posts to aid national security protection efforts.