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Bill Clinton: We Did Have Trouble, But Nothing Like This

April 8, 2016

Former President Bill Clinton had some negative things to say about the current state of international affairs.

While speaking at a rally at Penn State Behrend in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Friday, Clinton reflected on how things are now versus when he was in office.

"We did have trouble, but nothing like this. Russia threatening Ukraine, destabilizing influence in Syria. All these Syrian refugees, by the way, make a great contribution in our country, go to Europe, destabilizing governments there," Clinton said.

It is interesting that Clinton says this as the events Clinton refers to have occurred while President Obama has been in office and the beginnings of which occurred while his wife, Hillary, was secretary of state.

Russia invaded Crimea in 2014, although it is unknown when the planning and preparation began.

Hillary Clinton had famously reset relations with Russia in 2009. While in Geneva, Clinton presented Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with a button with what was supposed to read "Reset" in Russian, but actually said, "Overcharged." Nevertheless, Lavrov and Clinton pressed the button as a symbolic gesture of approaching relations with a fresh start.

Within a few years, relations worsened to what some say is the worst they have been since the Cold War.

In Europe, refugees fleeing the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq have emigrated to Europe in large numbers. The large, sudden flood of migrants has led to many problems, especially due to cultural differences. These have spilled into occasional riots and a rise of nationalist groups throughout the continent who want to force the migrants out of their countries.