washington donald trump receive foreign policy advice former u.s. military intelligence chief want unite state work closely russia resolve global security issue accord three source source former foreign policy officials past administrations say retire lieutenant general michael flynn chief defense intelligence agency president barack obama 2012-2014 informally advise trump trump lead republican race party presidential candidate november election say early month would soon release list foreign policy advisers yet trump campaign respond request comment flynn flynn decline comment ask reuters whether advise trump ask describe view tie russia refer reuters public statements question advise trump national security issue become pertinent prospect new york real estate mogul secure republican nomination possibly within weeks increase trump surprise endorsement new jersey governor chris christie friday prominent mainstream republican come board former new york mayor rudy giuliani popularity handle sept. 11 2001 attack also regular contact trump say former top aide giuliani close associate flynn say trump presidential hopeful consult former dia chief respond one work one associate say trump strike notably different stance russia main rival nomination call president vladimir putin highly respect advocate warm icy bilateral tie republican candidates frequently take bash putin cite military interventions ukraine syria evidence president barack obama weak stand russian leader trump vow destroy islamic state undertake aggressive rebuild u.s. military signal flexibility rival issue example vow tear obama administration nuclear deal iran flynn resign position head pentagon main intelligence agency year term officially due end flynn raise eyebrows among u.s. foreign policy veterans picture sit head table putin banquet moscow late last year celebrate russia today international broadcast network fund russian government son michael g. flynn act chief staff decline comment banquet reason father departure pentagon flynn tell russia today interview publish dec. 10 unite state russia work together resolve syrian civil war defeat islamic state obama administration protest russia military intervention behalf syrian president bashir al-assad accuse moscow hit opposition force rather isis right essentially u.s. strategy russian strategy region appear line think step back try figure align flynn tell russia today flynn also quote month tell german magazine spiegel iraq war launch 2003 then-president george w. bush mistake give rise islamic state trump often strongly condemn iraq invasion former u.s. intelligence official work flynn say retire general believe aggressive approach u.s. interest around world sharp guy understand foreign policy national security really understand intelligence say official position opinions always line popular think giuliani office respond request comment relationship trump randy mastro new york lawyer deputy mayor giuliani new york city administration say giuliani close tie trump know rudy donald trump long-standing relationship personal friendship go back many years speak regular basis say mastro edit stuart grudge martin howell article fund part sap independently create reuters editorial staff sap editorial involvement creation production trump advise ex-u.s. lieutenant general favor close russia tie