Obama Gets Angry at Steve Kroft for Suggesting World Getting More Unstable

KROFT: "A year ago, when we did this interview, there was some saber rattling between the United State and Russia on the Ukrainian border. Now it's also going on in Syria. You said a year ago that United States, that the America leads; that we are the indispensable nation. Mr. Putin seems to be challenging that leadership."

OBAMA: "In what way? Let's think about this --"

KROFT: "Well, he has moved troops to a -- into Syria. For one, he's got people on the ground. Two, the Russians are conducting military operations in the Middle East for the first time since World War II.--"

OBAMA: "So that's --" [crosstalk]

KROFT: "Bombing the people that we are supporting."

OBAMA: "So that's leading, Steve? So, let me ask you this question. When I came into office Ukraine was run by a corrupt ruler who was a stooge of Mr. Putin. Syria was Russia's only ally in the region and today rather than being able to count on their support,  and maintain the base they had in Syria, which they've had for a long time, Mr. Putin is now devoting his own troops, his own military just to barely hold together by a thread his sole ally. And Ukraine--"

KROFT: "His challenging your leadership. His challenging your leadership, Mr. President."

OBAMA: "No. No. Steve, I've got to tell you: if you think that running your economy into the ground and having to send the troops in in order to prop up your only ally is leadership, then we've got a different  definition of leadership.”