U.S. expels 35 Russian diplomats, closes two compounds: official

Reuters ^ | Dec. 29, 2016 | (Reporting by Lesley Wroughton; Editing by Yara Bayoumy)

[HarleyLady27]

The United States on Thursday expelled 35 Russian diplomats and closed two Russian compounds in New York and Maryland in response to a campaign of harassment by Russia against American diplomats in Moscow, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday.

The U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the Russian diplomats would be given 72 hours to leave the United States. Access to the two compounds will be denied to all Russian officials as of noon on Friday, the official added.

"These actions were taken to respond to Russian harassment of American diplomats and actions by the diplomats that we have assessed to be not consistent with diplomatic practice," the official told Reuters.

[Keen-Minded]

Oh Boy! This is really going to get Putin mad (not!!!).

They were probably scheduled to go back anyhow soon.

[ifinnegan]

What are “compounds”?

[Admin Moderator]

Action	User	Date/Time
Append keyword "fakenews"	MNJohnnie	12/29/2016 11:22:38 AM PST

Knock it off with the keyword spamming on this and every other thread - or you're getting suspended.

[kabar]

I doubt that Trump will rush to undo the expulsion. Remember that Obama has asked the intel agencies to provide him with a report prior to leaving office about the hacking of the DNC and Russia's role in it.

Assuming that Obama already knows the results of the investigation, Trump will have to run upstream if the public believes that the Russians must be punished for their interference in our elections. And you can bet that any quick reversal of the Obama policy will be met by staunch Dem and some Rep blowback. It will take time to repair relations. It will take more than four weeks.

[mazda77]

Nope. Putin will not dignify the petulant child’s move. Just say something like these guys needed a vacation. Or, just say simply;

22 days

[Pinkbell]

So this isn’t in response to the hacking blamed on Russia then? This is related to Russian diplomats treating American diplomats improperly in Moscow. Does that mean there will be additional actions taken by Obama and his Republican comrades McCain & Grahamnesty with regard to the hacking?

Trump is going to have a big mess on his hands.

[Invincibly Ignorant]

We’ll leave the light on for them. :-)

[danaterry]

Everyone should be pushing for revelation of evidence now.

[Sarah Barracuda]

The DNC knows that it was Seth Rich who gave the info to Wikileaks but they will NEVER admit it..from April the DNC was already preparing for an excuse as to why they would lose the election

[snarkytart]

Everything he’s doing can be rectified in a couple of days. Trump is smarter and works hard. Obama is a lazy, feckless bureaucrat. He’s never achieved anything outside of using his biracial status and media hype to bullshit people.
Imagine him trying to survive in the real world as a lawyer outside of government or private businessman.

[Jay Thomas]

This is just happening in the past week? The one reference I find is dated Jun 2016 and it’s one diplomat.

[HarleyLady27]

This is disgusting that a human being, if that is what Barky is, (still don’t know about that wide gash in his skull is all about) to act this childish and act like the total idiot he is...

I just hope all those people that voted for this idiot twice, will receive the Karma they deserve...if not here then at the Great Throne when they die...

How childish can you get? Can’t the Military take him out and hold him until after President Trump is sworn in???

[Pearls Before Swine]

American diplomats have been attacked in Russia by FSB agents. Probably some people don’t care, but it’s true and an ongoing problem. Possibly they’ll stop doing it when Trump is sworn in to office.

That's a more valid reason for retaliation/ejection than the supposed election tampering.

[folkquest]

His last hissy fit. He’s done in three weeks! Amen!

[DakotaGator]

Obama’s narrative of Russian state hacking to influence our elections is not gaining any traction. Instead he's expelling Russian diplomats in retaliation for non-existent harassment of our diplomats in Russia.

The Russians understand this is a temper tantrum of a bed-wetting lame duck. They'll sit it out. In the meantime, the expelled Russian diplomats will be home for their holidays.

[samtheman]

Resident Obutthole

[elhombrelibre]

Not everything hits open sources in spy versus spy.

[HarleyLady27]

I’m sure that Putin, Trump and BiBi are talking everyday...probably betting on another one of Barky’s stupid ‘plots’ just like a lot of American’s are...

If this wasn’t so embarrassing for America it would really be a hoot...

[PeteePie]

Attention PE Trump. We have a cadre of Russian diplomats and staff that need temporary billeting at one of your fine hotels ON US SOIL, for about, oh, 23 days give or take. I”m sure they won’t be any trouble until you reverse the silly.

[P-Marlowe]

He can still do a lot of damage in the next three weeks. He can order air strikes. He can declare martial law. He still has the nuclear codes. The next three weeks are wrought with danger.