Why CIA Director 'Blind' in Claiming 'Minimal' Russian Role in Anti-Terror Fight

Russian Lawmaker Leonid Slutsky considers CIA Director Mike Pompeo claims of the minimum Russian involvement in the counterterrorism fight are ignorant.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Statements made by US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Mike Pompeo, who claimed that there was "the most minimal evidence" that Russia contributed to fighting terrorism in Syria, amounts to an admission of ignorance, Leonid Slutsky, the chairman of the Russian lower house of parliament's international affairs committee, said Friday.

"Russia is confronting terrorism in Syria upon the request of legitimate authorities of the Syrian Arab Republic reasonably well. It is a fact, and it is supported by real progress in the counter-terror operation. And those who do not admit that or call Russia's contribution 'the most minimal' are admitting their own blindness," Slutsky told reporters.

Slutsky assumed that in this way Washington tries to justify the initial aim of former US President Barack Obama to overthrow the government of Bashar Assad by all means, including the support for the so-called moderate opposition.

On Thursday, Mike Pompeo said that Russia had sought to make the life of the United States more difficult. He also stated that he had seen only minimal evidence that Russia had pursued a vigorous strategy against Daesh (banned in Russia) in Syria.