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.

[Flaming Conservative]

He’s trying to start a war. God, please give Russia the will to show restraint.

[rdl6989]

[Chickensoup]

The Soros-Puppet is at work, trying his best to kick the Democrat war can.

He needs to be contained until the inauguration. Can the military take over?

We need to move the inauguration to the second week in November. Celebrations can take place in January but the takeover needs to happen immediately.

[Truth29]

"This sure looks like a prelude to Obama declaring the election invalid, doesn’t it?."

It does indeed. Obama comes out and states that he cannot in good conscience allow a Russian agent to become President. Would the Congress stop him or race off and select a compromise candidate. Would the military stop him or would it fall to all who are willing to march on Washington and evict the criminal?

[jazusamo]

Yet another childish act by the ‘won’.

[Rusty0604]

Lol

[elhombrelibre]

Thanks. I thought we were going to have a consensus view that if Putin wants to beat Americans than that’s fine. After all, Obama is a terrible president, so why not let a real man like Putin beat Americans, after all.

[zaxtres]

Heck no. Throw him to the wolves. Send em back to Kenya!

[Chickensoup]

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.

Tell me more and give me some links/

[Mariner]

Kidnappings and beatings. Dead dogs. Pictures of their children at school. Wives being followed and confronted with those same pictures.

All of this has occurred over the last 2 years.

[kabar]

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

You want to bet? US diplomats will be expelled. As someone who has served as a Foreign Service Officer over 28 years, this is the standard response. I have seen it happen on a number of occasions. It is called reciprocity. No doubt the Russians will target our intelligence agencies at our embassy and consulates.

[V K Lee]

Three weeks is 21 days. He has thrown two these last 7 days (actually more than 2 if one considers the Nationalization of lands which do not belong to him). So on average of three weeks we have 21 more episodes of tantrum, low IQ, or treason, to be experienced.
LOCK HIM UP!

[Navy Patriot]

and you know for sure those US diplomats being attacked by the FSB are not really working as intelligence operatives under cover - right?

The "Diplomats" that get Russian Hickory shampoos are not necessarily Diplomats or even good guys.

Putin Demands Dutch Apology for Diplomat's Alleged Beating

Putin got his apology, shampooed a Dutchman and put 'em on their best behavior. Problem solved.

[Jay Thomas]

I’m not a Putin fan-boy.

You make claims and I’m asking how you know things. Supposedly the Russians hacked the DNC - there is no evidence to suggest this, but it’s claimed.

There’s a story about one diplomat getting assaulted. Granted, one is to many, but you claim it’s many diplomats being assaulted.

You made the claim. I’m just asking how you know this.

[Jay Thomas]

I agree. Why wait till now? The one case I find happened in June.

[elhombrelibre]

Consider it part of Obama’s failure that not all Americans do know it.

[kabar]

Would it be a bad thing if diplomats in both the US and Russia who served during O’s administration are replaced? Might help drain the swamp.

LOL. No the diplomats are not the ones who determine US foreign policy. They implement it. No doubt those expelled will be intelligence and military related diplomats. They will be replaced. Those that are PNG'd will go back to postings with their agencies.

The bad part about being PNG'd is that you have only 72 hours to get out of the country. The dependents and the Embassy are stuck with the logistics of shipping their effects out, paying bills, and terminating leases.

[HarleyLady27]

I have over heard a lot of people talking about moving the Swearing In Ceremony like a week after the election, that gives the out going President time to remove their things from OUR HOUSE and then have another swearing in ceremony on Jan 20 for the people and by then the new President will have his cabinet and OUR HOUSE set up and moved in...

Don’t know why the long gap between...

[Jay Thomas]

Thanks, that settles it then.

[kabar]

No war will be started due to the expulsion of diplomats from both countries. What could escalate matters is the non-public actions we might be taking including launching a cyber-attack against the Russians. That could get out of hand in any kind of tit for tat exchange.

Putin might restrain his reactions given the short time left in the Obama administration.