James Clapper: “it could be for some people, it doesn't really apply to me or I don't think to John.”

Putin is committed to conquering, if he can, which I think will be impossible, all of Ukraine.

this is the standard Russian -- Soviet Russian way of war. Surround a city if they can and they are having trouble doing that, put it under siege, strangle it, prevent supplies, medicines, food, water, et cetera and then bombard the city…

I think this was very substantive.

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