James Clapper: “The Chinese, of course, have had their exorbitant claims, the so-called 'Nine-Dash line,' throughout the South China…”

I think it has more to do with the psychology of Putin, and Russia. And he needs to assure his own people, Parliamentarians, he was talking to, and for that matter, himself, that Russia is still a great power.

I think right now, they're assessing the administration -- that's the National Security Council specifically, is assessing the impacts of this first round of strikes.

The frequency with which they are occurring, tells me that they're kind of in - they realize they're kind of in a jam.

I think this reflects Russian insecurity. And it's almost like, Putin needs a rhetorical security blanket, of making threats, like this.