Outgoing national security chief criticizes U.S. inaction on Russia

WASHINGTON — In what is likely one of his last public comments as national security adviser, H.R. McMaster has sharply criticized U.S. inaction in the face of cyber, political and even military threats from Russia.

“For too long, some nations have looked the other way in the face of (Russia’s) threats,” McMaster said Tuesday night in a speech before several Baltic nation presidents visiting Washington. “Russia brazenly, and implausibly, denies its actions, and we have failed to impose sufficient costs.”

McMaster cited, among other examples, the poisoning last month of a former Russian spy and his daughter in Britain, an attack the United Kingdom blames on Moscow.

“The Kremlin’s confidence is growing,” McMaster said, “undermining our confidence in ourselves and in one another.”

President Donald Trump, who has routinely rejected the U.S. intelligence community’s assessment of Russian threats, last month announced that he was replacing McMaster with controversial hawkish diplomat John Bolton.

Trump earlier Tuesday claimed he had been “tougher” on Russia than anybody, but also said a good relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin was paramount. Some of his advisers seem to disagree, and many critics say Trump’s reluctance to publicly condemn or even acknowledge Russia’s aggressions, including its interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, has only emboldened Putin.

Hours before Trump fired Rex Tillerson last month, the secretary of state also had sharp criticism for Russia, which likely displeased the president.