Russia Insults and Misquotes a U.S. Air Force Commander

A number of Russian officials responded to Harrigian’s comments.

“On the one hand, it is not necessary to comment on all the stupid statements made by American generals,” Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said. “But, when something like this happens, I was to say to our colleagues that they would be better off looking after their chief business and looking at what is going on with their own missile defense.” He added that the attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure happened “despite the presence of the U.S. Patriot missile defense system” at the site.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “Of course, security in its various aspects in all regions of the Russian Federation, including Kaliningrad, is provided at the proper level.”

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said “intelligent people … will never make such statements."