This is Frank Gaffney with the Secure Freedom Minute.

They’re baaaaaack. Like the villains in a Hollywood horror film, under Vladimir Putin’s despotic rule, Russia’s leaders have reverted to threatening global adversaries, deeply hostile to the United States and its allies.

Their alleged involvement in leaking Democratic National Committee emails to undermine Hillary Clinton’s candidacy and help Donald Trump would fit a pattern of Moscow’s increasingly aggressive behavior. Cold War-levels of intensity characterize their intelligence and propaganda operations. A frightening nuclear build-up is backing up intensifying threats of attacks. And the Kremlin has lately engaged in actual strikes on U.S. special operations forces’ facilities in Syria.

Unfortunately, Hillary Clinton’s ludicrous efforts at a “reset” with Russia, Barack Obama’s promised “increased flexibility” towards Moscow after his reelection and Donald Trump’s avowed admiration for Putin have emboldened him.

And that’s not something you want to do with a thug like Putin.

This is Frank Gaffney.