Russia to expel diplomats in tit-for-tat retaliation against US

Russia's foreign ministry has announced plans to expel 35 US diplomats in a tit-for-tat response after the same number of Russian officials were expelled by Washington.
Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov described Washington's actions as "stunts" and dismissed the notion that two Russian compounds in America that are to be shut down are "nests of spies".
He said the foreign ministry has requested that President Vladimir Putin declare 31 employees of the US embassy in Moscow and four diplomats at its consulate in St Petersburg as "persona non grata".
Russia had warned that measures taken by President Barack Obama could "destroy" relations between the two countries

Russia to expel diplomats in tit-for-tat retaliation against US

Breaking now, lets hope the Obama administration don't do anything stupid before Trump takes office.

Sanctions, Proxy wars, Expulsion of diplomats, the next logical step is war.

More to follow.

originally posted by: ALSGoes4th

Russia's foreign ministry has announced plans to expel 35 US diplomats in a tit-for-tat response after the same number of Russian officials were expelled by Washington.
Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov described Washington's actions as "stunts" and dismissed the notion that two Russian compounds in America that are to be shut down are "nests of spies".
He said the foreign ministry has requested that President Vladimir Putin declare 31 employees of the US embassy in Moscow and four diplomats at its consulate in St Petersburg as "persona non grata".
Russia had warned that measures taken by President Barack Obama could "destroy" relations between the two countries

Russia to expel diplomats in tit-for-tat retaliation against US

Breaking now, lets hope the Obama administration don't do anything stupid before Trump takes office.

Sanctions, Proxy wars, Expulsion of diplomats, the next logical step is war.

More to follow.

www.youtube.com...
Laurel and Hardy water fight scene

President Trump should not merely take it for granted that a cheery phone call will fix this.

If Russia cuts Natural Gas supply to Europe this winter as part of a wider retaliation then NATO will have to revise their support for rebel groups in Syria and constant agitation for confrontation in Poland and Ukraine.

However if things did get so drastic at least it would force some serious talking which has been absent during the Obama years.

a reply to: ALSGoes4th
I really can't see the Russians taking the bait of all-out war. They only have to hold out for three weeks, and get their retaliation through words and diplomatic rebuffs.

More peaceful transition of power.

a reply to: ALSGoes4th

Breaking now, lets hope the Obama administration don't do anything stupid before Trump takes office.

If it is stupid , and can be done best believe the Obama Admin will do it . Have a little faith in em fer cryin out loud....

Russia will hold out for the 3 weeks - then Trump and Putin can join in mocking Obama for the complete disaster he was and is. Trump can spend his first 100 days removing as much of the nonsense Obama put into play during his failed 8 years.
The world can spend the next few years both laughing at Obama and also praising the fact that he is no longer around to stink up the world.

If the Russians are canny, they will concentrate on offending Obama in person rather than the United States. The "lame duck" tweet by the Russian embassy in London was the right kind of thing, for that purpose.
"Russia and Turkey arrange a cease-fire in Syria" is a more subtle example- so subtle that nobody seems to have noticed the humiliation (except, I'm sure, the professional diplomats).

originally posted by: DISRAELI
If the Russians are canny, they will concentrate on offending Obama in person rather than the United States. The "lame duck" tweet by the Russian embassy in London was the right kind of thing, for that purpose.
"Russia and Turkey arrange a cease-fire in Syria" is a more subtle example- so subtle that nobody seems to have noticed the humiliation (except, I'm sure, the professional diplomats).

Agreed - the lame duck tweet was priceless. More of that please.

LOL mind games

Just heard that Putin WILL NOT be expelling anyone, now that's canny

Haha

a reply to: ALSGoes4th

Wrong:

In a head-spinning turn of events on Friday, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia announced that he would not retaliate against the United States’ expulsion of Russian diplomats and new sanctions — hours after his foreign minister recommended doing just that.

www.nytimes.com...

glad they are being the bigger men. i was just gonna suggest that that is exactly what they should do before i read the replies.

a reply to: ALSGoes4th

Apparently the ministers spoke out of turn -- or too soon:

Putin says Russia won't expel US diplomats in tit-for-tat measure

‘We will not drop to this level of irresponsible diplomacy,’ says Russian president in response to US move to kick out 35 Russian officials

I suspect Putin is getting a good belly laugh from Obama and these sanctions. He's just biding his time... three weeks worth of time until Trump is sworn in.

a reply to: Boadicea

originally posted by: AVoiceOfReason
glad they are being the bigger men. i was just gonna suggest that that is exactly what they should do before i read the replies.

No, they are not being "bigger men," they are already manipulating Trump.

This pic is a little dated... It should read "not yet done here"

originally posted by: corblimeyguvnor
LOL mind games

Just heard that Putin WILL NOT be expelling anyone, now that's canny

Haha

Yes, mind games. Trump will be under pressure to continue the investigations and sign tougher cyber-security laws from the American right. On the other hand, he is indebted to Russia... possibly even financially. Putin is making a gesture that might allow Trump some wiggle room when it comes to national defense. Remember, Putin has a black belt in judo.

a reply to: DJW001

LOL! Great pic -- thanks! I'll have to show my hubby

Your point is well taken. Of course Putin is playing this for all it's worth. Especially if he can tweak Obama's lame duck nose in the process. But that's just it -- Obama is a lame duck. His days are numbered. Putin's not going to waste much time or energy on Obama now, when Putin knows that in three weeks the whole game changes. Putin is playing the long game.

We are living in interesting times, eh?

No they not going to play a tit-for-tat game with the Americans, as if they do then they basically play right into the hands of the Obama administration in that the Trump win becomes invalid, and so Trump then loses the power to do anything, and may even continue to Trump being de-throned as such.

This also takes all the attention away from the investigation into Hilary's wrong doings

originally posted by: Boadicea
a reply to: ALSGoes4th

Apparently the ministers spoke out of turn -- or too soon:

Putin says Russia won't expel US diplomats in tit-for-tat measure

‘We will not drop to this level of irresponsible diplomacy,’ says Russian president in response to US move to kick out 35 Russian officials

I suspect Putin is getting a good belly laugh from Obama and these sanctions. He's just biding his time... three weeks worth of time until Trump is sworn in.

Putin 2-0 Obama
Putin has so utterly defeated Obama in their battle of wills and posturing over the last 8 years. Baby Obama has been put t bed with a dummy in his mouth.