Let’s start off with how excited the NY Times Editorial Board is that Obama finally did something
While it is definitely too late, and may also be too little, there should be no doubt about the correctness of President Obama’s decision to retaliate against Russia for hacking American computers and trying to influence the 2016 presidential election.
It would have been irresponsible for him to leave office next month and allow President Vladimir Putin to think that he could with impunity try to undermine American democracy. That would have been a particularly dangerous legacy given President-elect Donald Trump’s alarming affinity for Mr. Putin and stubborn refusal to accept the conclusion of American intelligence agencies that Russia’s cyberattacks were aimed at helping him and hurting Hillary Clinton. The president-elect told reporters dismissively before Mr. Obama’s decision was announced that Americans should “get on with our lives†and forget about the hacking scandal. So much for that wishful thought.
His latest response shows real teeth, chiefly in the form of sanctions on Russia’s two leading intelligence services, the F.S.B. and GRU, including four top officers of the military intelligence unit who the White House believes ordered those attacks. Mr. Obama also placed sanctions against a number of other individuals and companies, such as the Special Technology Center, which conducts signal intelligence.
Mr. Obama also expelled 35 Russian intelligence operatives and barred Russian diplomats from using two recreational compounds in the United States. The White House said this action was specifically in response to a two-year pattern of harassment of American diplomats in Russia by Kremlin security personnel.
Here’s the thing: where’s the proof? The joint FBI/DHS report is vague and simply shows that people and countries like to hack and phish and stuff. Nor is there any proof that Russian “hacking” made any difference in the election. This is how the Russian’s responded
President Obama expels 35 ???????? diplomats in Cold War deja vu. As everybody, incl ???????? people, will be glad to see the last of this hapless Adm. pic.twitter.com/mleqA16H8D
— Russian Embassy, UK (@RussianEmbassy) December 29, 2016
Mitt Romney would like an apology. And now we get
(Washington Post) Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Friday suggested that President Vladimir Putin expel 35 U.S. diplomats and close two properties used by the U.S. Embassy in Moscow as part of the growing diplomatic slugfest over Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential elections. (snip)
“It is regrettable that the Obama administration, which started out by restoring our ties, is ending its term in an anti-Russia agony. RIP,†Russian Prime Minister DmitryMedvedev wrote Friday on Twitter.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in a statement carried by the Interfax news service, called for 31 employees of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and four diplomats from the U.S. Consulate General in St. Petersburg to be declared “persona non grata†and forced to leave the country.
Further, he suggested the Russian government ban the use of a vacation cottage, or dacha, on the outskirts of Moscow often used for holiday receptions and a warehouse in the Russian capital used by diplomatic staff.
“We hope that these proposals will be considered as quickly as possible,†Lavrov said, portraying the response as symmetrical to the U.S. measures. “Of course, we cannot leave such acts unanswered; reciprocity is a diplomatic law in international relations.â€
So, good news, Obama is doing a heck of a job in bringing back Cold War era diplomatic rows as he gets ready to walk out the door.
More: Putin punks Obama even more
(Zero Hedge) Which (Putin) did on Friday morning, when in a stunning reversal, the Russian leader took the high road, rejected the Lavrov proposal, and in a statement posted by the Kremlin said that Russia won’t expel any Americans in retaliation to US moves, in a brutal demonstration of just how irrelevant Obama’s 11th hour decision is for US-Russian relations.(snip)
From the full statement posted on the Kremlin website:
Although we have the right to retaliate, we will not resort to irresponsible ‘kitchen’ diplomacy but will plan our further steps to restore Russian-US relations based on the policies of the Trump Administration.
And with that one statement, Obama lost the diplomatic war with Russia. Â
It’s a sad state of affairs when the POTUS is getting punked by a Russian strongman.
Here’s the full Putin statement
We regard the recent unfriendly steps taken by the outgoing US administration as provocative and aimed at further weakening the Russia-US relationship. This runs contrary to the fundamental interests of both the Russian and American people. Considering the global security responsibilities of Russia and the United States, this is also damaging to international relations as a whole.
As it proceeds from international practice, Russia has reasons to respond in kind. Although we have the right to retaliate, we will not resort to irresponsible ‘kitchen’ diplomacy but will plan our further steps to restore Russian-US relations based on the policies of the Trump Administration.
The diplomats who are returning to Russia will spend the New Year’s holidays with their families and friends. We will not create any problems for US diplomats. We will not expel anyone. We will not prevent their families and children from using their traditional leisure sites during the New Year’s holidays. Moreover, I invite all children of US diplomats accredited in Russia to the New Year and Christmas children’s parties in the Kremlin.
It is regrettable that the Obama Administration is ending its term in this manner. Nevertheless, I offer my New Year greetings to President Obama and his family.
My season’s greetings also to President-elect Donald Trump and the American people.
I wish all of you happiness and prosperity.
That’ll leave a mark.
Crossed at Right Wing News.
So the traitorous amerikan right favors the commies over America because their new god-king makes millions in Russia AND hates negroes, Mexicans and Muslims, just as they do. You fear brown people more than you love your own homeland, comrades.
After years of denying Russia was any kind of threat, and now being blamed by Democrats for having not acted more forcefully when Russian
hacking was first suspected, Obama must now prove he’s one tough cocksucker and take piddling symbolic actions.
Gaylord and the dems have harmed America much more than Putin.
I am going to disagree with that a bit Teach. I think the report is precise in what actually happened, and then gives other methods of hacking that were not used in this instance.
The government’s own report shows that what many on the left had accused Trump and the right of doing or orchestrating never happened. We can’t expect any one to apologize or admit they were wrong because that would be the mature and right thing to do.
The DNC – including Hillary Clinton and her staff – fell for a phishing scheme that millions of every day, normal Americans don’t fall for. Their actions are the cause of the mess that they found themselves in.
The real anger is that the left was exposed for what they truly are and people found that repugnant.
Of course Jeffery tries to shift the goalposts away from the point that this President cannot lead and his response to a matter that showed the stupidity and ignorance of a private entity should result in sanctions on another nation.
Obama and the DNC being hirt because they were exposed is not a good reason for the President to have a hissy fit.
Putin is probably laughing at this little snotty coward aND his mulatto mafia…
Jeffery please, the answer to every problem as far as you’re concerned is ” the traitorous amerikan right” just “hates negroes, Mexicans and Muslims,” (you forgot gays, lesbians, the poor, children and puppies).
I guess when your only tool is a hammer every problem looks like a nail.
BTW, “negroes” is racist nowadays, didn’t you get the memo from the DNC?
Rev
When Trump’s Russian benefactors turn on him the right will wake up. Putin is gaming the uber-naive Trump. The important question is the ongoing secret contact between Trump and the Kremlin. Why did the Kremlin help get Trump elected?
Hang the Traitor-elect!
The Traitor-elect will fight congressional investigation for fear they’ll discover hang ‘im high collusion.
Imagine a Dem sucking up to a murderous strongman following the imposition of US sanctions. The shrieks from the right would be nonstop.
It’s going to be fun watching the prog maggots being crushed for the next 8 years.
Jeffery, I agree Trump is a frickin’ moron and especially since he’s not even President yet he really should keep his mouth shut. Frankly, all this could backfire on him so just wait and see. But just randomly calling anybody and everybody who supports him in any way names and stuff is silly. Go after him he’s the idiot.
BTW, we have been shrieking, nonstop.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iITMilzbLBQ/WGZa6rM_iaI/AAAAAAADF20/SWWYk-vIVZAvbBoAhxmbsIfzzOK43yKFQCLcB/s1600/theo1.jpg
The question is “why would you make that assertion when there is no proof and the US Intelligence Agencies say that you are wrong?”
You mean like Hillary did?
Besides, what Republican would agree to sanctions when 1) the US Intelligence Agencies say that there was no hack of the election and 2) what Republican would scream for sanctions because the DNC was stupid? Why is Obama sanctioning a nation for a private club falling for a phishing attempt?
Why does the left support petulant children like Obama and Hillary?
(Other than birds of a feather flocking together.)
Don’t remember you yelling about Hillary and her involvement withthe Russians, but that is just the left rolls..
As predicted, He loves humiliating Obama more than anything. Actually, we love him humiliating Obama that just about anything.
You have evidence the Kremlin helped Trump get elected? Love to see it.
That would be a neat trick by the Kremlin, though. Help Trump get elected but at the same time had Hillary win the popular vote. You can’t fix liberal ignorance.
Before Obama was a Lame Duck he was just lame.
So the traitorous amerikan right favors the commies over America because their new god-king makes millions in Russia AND hates negroes, Mexicans and Muslims, just as they do. You fear brown people more than you love your own homeland, comrades.
If you actually believed that you would be terrified to post that on an internet blog because you can easily be traced back to your home….or office……and they would come for you….thats what NAZIS do….
Like I said the minute Trump is elected their will be rioting in the street and the left will break out the NAZI slogans and banners they left in the closet since GWB.