Russian Sanctions

[Ryusei the Morning Star]

More updates/details as they come:

• 35 individuals being expelled are diplomats. Update: These diplomats have been identified as cover intel operatives (not unique to Ru, plenty of countries including US do it, the point is not to get caught :P)


• The 6 Ru individuals being sanctioned are specifically named GRU leaders and cyber operators/ facilitators. Update: 4x of the top GRU chiefs and 2x GRU-affiliated cyber criminals.


• Two of the Ru entities being sanctioned are the entirety of GRU and SVR (Ru's military and foreign intel services), and the other three are front companies for GRU.


• 2 Ru spy compounds being closed in Maryland and New York. this is IMO the craziest part. Update: Homeland Security Adviser says these were legally bought as recreational facilities by Ru govt, but were monitored by US intel for years as bases for Ru surveillance ops, and says these are just the first wave in a crackdown.


• The technical details of the Russian cyber intrusion sets will be publicly released to render them moot for public good and force Ru to develop new ones. https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/current-activity/2016/12/29/GRIZZLY-STEPPE-Russian-Malicious-Cyber-Activity
  
• Alongside the technical files, the official US report is out, formally stating that the USIC, DHS, and FBI assess it was Russian intelligence services based on classified evidence (an upgrade from the anonymous leaks and official 'probably' statements from the past few months): https://www.us-cert.gov/sites/default/files/publications/JAR_16-20296.pdf


• Obama says that covert actions against Ru are still on the table.

 

January 20th cannot come soon enough to end this madness

[Dad]

What's mad about it?  Who's upset?

[Ryusei the Morning Star]

What's mad about it? Who's upset?

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/vladimir-putin-russia-diplomats-sanctions-233057

 

Just America's dignity

 

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/donald-trump-russia-sanctions-response-233065

 

Desperate dig at Trump is all this is

 

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/something-about-this-russia-story-stinks-w458439

 

President Trump can, will and should roll back all the sanctions in exchange for cooperation in the ME

[Dad]

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/vladimir-putin-russia-diplomats-sanctions-233057

 

Just America's dignity

 

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/donald-trump-russia-sanctions-response-233065

 

Desperate dig at Trump is all this is

 

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/something-about-this-russia-story-stinks-w458439

 

President Trump can, will and should roll back all the sanctions in exchange for cooperation in the ME

 

Then all the hardcore lefties will say "this is cuz he's in Russia's pocket."

 

Well, you funking gave him a reason to be.  And if he doesn't roll em back, this will be cause for Russia to worsen relations.  And Trump will use that to "keep relations with Russia high."  It's a win-win for him.

[Ryusei the Morning Star]

Then all the hardcore lefties will say "this is cuz he's in Russia's pocket."

 

Well, you funking gave him a reason to be.  And if he doesn't roll em back, this will be cause for Russia to worsen relations.  And Trump will use that to "keep relations with Russia high."  It's a win-win for him.

Obama did Trump a favor

 

Trump now has sanctions to trade for concession against Putin (like russian backing in the ME or FE)

 

But he also didn't put them in place so Putin cannot be upset. 

 

Putin also did a favor for Trump by not retaliating, so Trump can tell the GOP hawks that Putin was genuine in wanting an alliance. It's all good for Trump.