Posted on 03/18/2014 8:02:11 AM PDT by Nachum
Exclusive: U.S. Sanctions Actually Target Putin’s Domestic Rivals
B. Christopher Agee 3-17-14 While the move was sold as a clear message to Russian officials responsible for the current Ukraine crisis, the end result seems to bear little resemblance to that goal…
Barack Obama announced a series of sanctions against officials in Russia who he claims have played a role in the continued unrest in the Crimean peninsula of Ukraine. The move came one day after a majority voters in the region supported a referendum to unite with Russia.
In a statement Monday, Obama said the U.S. would not recognize the referendum. He went on to blame a number of officials within the Russian government for the development.
“We are imposing sanctions on specific individuals for undermining the sovereignty, territorial integrity and government of Ukraine,” he asserted. “We are making it clear that there are consequences for their actions.”
The White House – along with numerous media outlets – is touting the sanctions as a direct response to Russian President Vladimir Putin. While Putin is not named directly in Obama’s reaction, a White House statement indicates the U.S. will “seek to hold accountable individuals who use their resources or influence to support or act on behalf of senior Russian government officials.”
One senior White House advisor, however, questioned Obama’s selection, suggesting the seven Russian officials facing sanctions are not Putin allies at all. The source, who requested anonymity in discussing the developing story, offered a background for each of the individuals targeted by the White House.
Sergey Glazyev reportedly mounted a presidential campaign against Putin in 2004 and has been excluded from the inner workings of the Russian government since. Another target of sanctions, Vladislav Surkov, reportedly resigned from the Putin regime last year following accusations that he would not enforce the Russian president’s policies.
A third official, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitiry Rogozin, is reportedly being blamed for bungling Russia’s advancement in the region by backing recently ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. By defying Putin’s wishes, the source claims, Rogozin has been ostracized by Russian leadership.
Former Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, who currently serves as the nation’s prime minister, did consider some of the targets to be close confidants. Putin apparently feels differently. According to the White House source, Leonid Slutsky and Valentina Matviyenko both held positions of power in Russia until they fell out of favor with Putin. Furthermore, Andrei Klishas is reportedly feuding with a Putin ally.
The final Russian official facing U.S. sanctions, Yelena Mizulina, likely made it on the list due to her anti-gay policy positions rather than any connection to Ukraine policy.
While the move was sold as a clear message to Russian officials responsible for the current Ukraine crisis, the end result seems to bear little resemblance to that goal. Instead, Obama seems to have targeted individuals Putin himself would have approved. As a result, the U.S. action has had little noticeable effect on Russia’s economy as of this writing. In fact, the Russian market rose today on the news of these weak sanctions.
U.S. allies in the European Union have similarly refused to acknowledge the recent Crimean vote to secede from Ukraine. It remains to be seen whether the EU’s sanctions, which are expected to be announced Tuesday, will have any legitimate effect on Russian leadership. Share this:
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Another why Putin laughs in the face of Barry’s actions.
Of course not.
I’m not a Putin fan but one can’t help but admire him.
After watching him today, I get around to thinking: this is how its done.
The West is pathetic. Its response? To disinvite Russia to the Western cocktail circuit called the G-7.
That’ll show him! But Putin demonstrated what really matters in this world. And for that as an adversary, he has our respect.
“Flexibility”
Legitimate Ukraine elections were coming in December. These new folks, the same who led the Orange Revolution in 2004 and 2005, made a move in the form of a coup.
Or perhaps he is smiles at his White House lackey taking orders.
So he is really WITH Putin on this...
He does have more flexibility, after the election
Did no one in the media ask him ON WHAT ISSUE he would have ‘more flexibility’ on, after the election?
(I know the answer... NO)
The foreign ethny hungry whore of Babylon does love only one ethny, the Russian beast about to decapitate her.
How is that multiculture easy come easy go whoredom works for ya?
When he went targetting specific people, I knew he was going to pull a “tough on Iran” stunt into an opportunity for concessions to Iran.
Putin out smarts Obama ? Stalin killed off all the Smart in Russia ,so what does that make Obama
Exactly & the lapdogs didnt ask one question..pathetic!
Barry knew about this all along, guaranteed.
The US is not going to impose further sanctions.
We have zero influence on Russia and its Crimean annexation is a done deal.
0bama, the Endless Enigma. Is he in bed with our enemies and deliberately trying to destroy America? Or is he merely the most incompetent leader the United States has ever had? This fundamental question still lingers well into his second term.
In the coming decades, we may learn the truth. And the answer will be “yes.”
Russia will be responding by attempting to damage Obama by attacking the careers of Sarah Palin, Ted Cruz, all House Republicans and -- John McCain (just to show some Obama backers really are being attacked.)
Putin's a pimp. He never could have outfought the Americans. But I didn't know until this day that it was Obama all along.
It would be the ultimate nightmare...
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