Thursday, December 29, 2016

"Obama orders Russia expulsions, sanctions for interference in 2016 election"

President Barack Obama on Thursday ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats and sanctioned Russian intelligence officials who Washington believes were involved in hacking U.S. political groups in the 2016 presidential election.

The measures, taken during the last days of Obama's presidency, mark a new low in U.S.-Russian relations which have deteriorated over serious differences on Ukraine and Syria.

"These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm U.S. interests in violation of established international norms of behavior," Obama said in a statement from vacation in Hawaii.

It was not immediately clear whether President-elect Donald Trump, who has repeatedly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and nominated people seen as friendly toward Moscow to senior administration posts, would seek to roll back the measures once he takes office on Jan. 20.

Via Drudge: link to the rest of the story 

19 comments:

Sydney said...

He's really working hard to do as much damage as he can before he leaves, isn't he?

ndspinelli said...

Distract and divert. Obama gets busted for flat ass lying about the UN resolution and cannot come up w/ proof about Russia allegedly influencing the election, so he does this Cold War, Joe McCarthy, horseshit move. Obama is a girly man. As I've said, the man is a classic fatherless son.

edutcher said...

And Trump will take them right back.

This accomplishes nothing, but I was a little concerned he'd do something truly stupid.

Not to mention dangerous.

edutcher said...

Full Russian Foreign Office statement.

The tone is full bitch slap and, as nd notes, the "persona non grata" stuff died with Franz Ferdinand.

Trooper York said...

Trump needs to do something. Something big. I would refuse to ride with Obama to the signing in. Something to give back the contempt that he is showing to the process.

Go on twitter and state that actions taken in the waning days of a failing Presidency is not the policy of the incoming administration. That we want to work with Russia not start a war.

Trooper York said...

Just wait. It is going to get worse. Wait and see who he pardons on his way out the door.

Thousands upon thousands of dangerous criminals whose only criteria for being released is that they are black.

Wait and see. I estimate about 10,000. Easy.

Amartel said...

You're thinking too small. He could pardon every illegal alien.

Trooper York said...

That is definitely possible.

He has illustrated that he will dare to do outrageous things like trying to set off a war with Russia. I don't put anything past him.

Methadras said...

In Soviet America, Obama expels you.

ndspinelli said...

Amartel, You have cross examined, and I have interrogated, girly men who feel dissed. They are incendiary. He/she might overreact so much even the sycophant MSM would turn on him. And that would take A LOT! I worry about him having the nuclear football.

deborah said...

Expulsion of 35 diplomats is a slap on the wrist...Obama's heart isn't really in it. I still think he wanted Hillary to lose. I need a name for my theory...

Chip Ahoy said...

Expulsion, ay? Did he order any Russians to detention?

The Dude said...

The Deb Dab Dip Drop.

Oh, you mean for Obama wanting Ratso to lose - I got nothin'...

chickelit said...

ndspinelli said...Obama is a girly man. As I've said, the man is a classic fatherless son.

Politically, he has just aped what Barack, Sr. or what "Uncle Frank" would have done. That was clear as a bell to me in 2008 which is why I couldn't vote for him then.

edutcher said...

Amartel said...

You're thinking too small. He could pardon every illegal alien.

Lynch already bitch slapped him on that.

edutcher said...

Now WikiLeaks tells us the Ignoramus-In-Chief may have violated the Vienna Convention with this stunt.

In sum, Vienna allows diplomacy, Smart or otherwise, to proceed.

chickelit said...

Putin just made Obama look like a petulant fool by not reciprocating.

deborah said...

lol Sixty

Leland said...

Russia should nullify the deal on Soyuz seats.