Obama expels 35 Russian diplomats

[Hard_Rom]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/russia-hacking-sanctions-diplomats-expelled-1.3915681

Obama slaps sanctions on Russia over election hacking, expels 35 diplomats
U.S. president says 'all Americans should be alarmed by Russia's actions,' but Kremlin denies allegations

In a sweeping response to election hacking, U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday sanctioned Russian intelligence services and their top officials and shuttered two Russian-owned compounds in the U.S. It was the strongest action the Obama administration has taken to date to retaliate for a cyberattack.

The administration also kicked out 35 Russian officials over what it called a campaign of harassment by Russia against U.S. diplomats in Moscow.

"All Americans should be alarmed by Russia's actions," Obama said in a statement. He added: "Such activities have consequences."

In a bid to expose Moscow's cyber aggression, the U.S. also released a detailed report about Russia's hacking infrastructure that it said was designed to help computer specialists prevent more hacking. And, Obama said more action was coming.

 

[phrodeau]

Reagan expelled 80 Russian diplomats in 1986.

Bush expelled 51 Russian diplomats in 2001.

Obama has some catching up to do.

 

[IrezumiKiss]

Reagan expelled 80 Russian diplomats in 1986.

Bush expelled 51 Russian diplomats in 2001.

Obama has some catching up to do.

B-b-b-buh-but HiLlArY!!!

 

[DooleyDarter]

I have if from a good source that Obama will next call Putin a Poo Poo Head

 

[coati]

Obama's actions with Russia right now will force Trump and the Republicans to play their own cards regarding Russia. Before these recent actions started taking place, Trump could have gradually eased into his idea of America's "new relationship" with Russia. Now, Trump and the Republican leadership will be forced to formally rebuild any severed ties and drop any sanctions that Pootie might be pouting about.

The same goes for the recent censure of Israel on expanding settlements. Now, the Republicans will be forced to take their own position on a solution to a long-brewing problem.

Now, Trump's vision of world leadership being a strong-man's club rather than an international effort toward seeking human rights and rational solutions will be tested in a more obvious way. Pootie is counting on Trump. Netanyahu is counting on Trump. Other nationalistic leaders Europe will be "counting" on Trump. These leaders ascended to power out of nationalism, despair, opportunism, and anger. They tend not to get along with others all that well.

A much more obvious dog-eat-dog situation among chest-thumpers at an international scale is not conducive to stability.

 

[Nezhul]

In all seriousness, for me it looks like Obama is trying to screw up Trump, not Russia. To leave him as much shit as he possibly can.

By the way, Russian Minister of International Affairs, Lavrov, proposed similar actions in response. To send away US diplomats and shut down US facilities in Moscow.
But Putin declined the idea. He said that it's no use to further ruin the relationship based on the actions of the leaving administration, and that whatever relationship Russia and USA will have - will be based on how Trump acts, not Obama.
He invited US deputy's children to a New Year party in Kremlin.

 

[Iceprincess12]

I bet they tasted better coming up than going down.

 

[Carnal_Flower]

And we all know how Trump will act. Like a f*cking traitor.

But Putin declined the idea. He said that it's no use to further ruin the relationship based on the actions of the leaving administration, and that whatever relationship Russia and USA will have - will be based on how Trump acts, not Obama.
He invited US deputy's children to a New Year party in Kremlin.

 

[Nezhul]

You are prejudiced. "Whatever Trump does - he does it for the wrong reasons."

I suggest you open your eyes, wait and see what the CONSEQUENCES of his actions will be.
It's easy to blame and hate. The problem is that if US economy DOES change for the better under Trump, you will still be saying that it was despite his efforts and decisions, not because of them.

 

[KingOrfeo]

The problem is that if US economy DOES change for the better under Trump, you will still be saying that it was despite his efforts and decisions, not because of them.

And that will probably be true.

 

[srgreene]

To me, the surprising thing is Putin thinks Obama is so irrelevant that it's not even worth responding to his measures. Inevitably an outgoing president loses some clout, but Putin's attitude does surprise me, as he's failing to respond to a diplomatic slap in the face.

 

[phrodeau]

To me, the surprising thing is Putin thinks Obama is so irrelevant that it's not even worth responding to his measures. Inevitably an outgoing president loses some clout, but Putin's attitude does surprise me, as he's failing to respond to a diplomatic slap in the face.

Putin knows that he has bigger fish to fry, starting in January.

 

[Hypoxia]

Obama still has three weeks in office and can do many things that Putin and his spoiled puppy won't like. Don't underestimate Obama -- he's been damn effective in many areas (which Breitbart-InfoWars bullshit consumers will deny). Underestimating an adversary can be disastrous, as HRC and Amerika learned.

 

[Carnal_Flower]

https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15740789_1374359402657110_7778350318961374553_n.jpg?oh=b958d6b00f019e25b02237f47888da14&oe=58E1698F

 

[Dream_Operator]

Obama still has three weeks in office and can do many things that Putin and his spoiled puppy won't like. Don't underestimate Obama -- he's been damn effective in many areas (which Breitbart-InfoWars bullshit consumers will deny). Underestimating an adversary can be disastrous, as HRC and Amerika learned.

Obama destabilized the entire ME region with his "Arab Spring" campaign which led to the rise of ISIS and the spread of radical Islam into the ME and Northern Africa.

Putin doesn't give a sh*t about Obama, he's a meaningless footnote in American History. A feel good experiment gone wrong, horribly wrong.

 

[Carnal_Flower]

https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15822901_765578156940573_4299543809130611145_n.jpg?oh=464b73e3fcf23788e83377b0a47f7580&oe=58E780FA

 

[Dream_Operator]

https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15822901_765578156940573_4299543809130611145_n.jpg?oh=464b73e3fcf23788e83377b0a47f7580&oe=58E780FA

LOL, quite funny, especially when Obama said (open mike) that he would have more flexibility when he was elected to a second term.

Apparently the flexibility (Obama referred to) was to be used as a bitch in the 2016 elections. LOL.

It doesn't get any funnier than that. No greater example of Obama's incompetence than that.

 

[srgreene]

LOL, quite funny, especially when Obama said (open mike) that he would have more flexibility when he was elected to a second term.

Apparently the flexibility (Obama referred to) was to be used as a bitch in the 2016 elections. LOL.

It doesn't get any funnier than that. No greater example of Obama's incompetence than that.

Guess I don't see the humor in such banality. 'Flower has nothing to say, but manages to disparage and demean.

Early in his presidency, he also proclaimed how he would "reset" our relations with Russia. Whatever that ambiguity was supposed to mean, he did accomplish a difficult goal: he alienated Russia while diminishing America's role in the world. While I am no great fan of The Donald, I am hopeful that after eight years of a "little America" (one that is rolled by Putin and handed stunning defeats by a regional player like ISIS), Trump will exercise the kind of world leadership to "make America great again".

 

[Carnal_Flower]

Let's recall the next Prez of the US praised Vladimir Putin on Xmas Eve for gloating about the Democrats' "humiliation." He joined with the Russian leader to give a big middle finger to more than half the country he's supposed to unify and lead. He made all of us into an interior "enemy" and reiterated it on NYE. He's openly declared allegiance to a foreign enemy over and against more than half the United States.

There is nothing to argue. His two tweets say it all. He's disparaged and demeaned so many groups and others it's not funny. That's our wonderful leader.

Yet my anonymous snark on an Internet forum bothers you more.

Guess I don't see the humor in such banality. 'Flower has nothing to say, but manages to disparage and demean.

Early in his presidency, he also proclaimed how he would "reset" our relations with Russia. Whatever that ambiguity was supposed to mean, he did accomplish a difficult goal: he alienated Russia while diminishing America's role in the world. While I am no great fan of The Donald, I am hopeful that after eight years of a "little America" (one that is rolled by Putin and handed stunning defeats by a regional player like ISIS), Trump will exercise the kind of world leadership to "make America great again".

 

[Dream_Operator]

Let's recall Obama gave a big middle finger to half the country he's supposed to unify and lead.

"Elections have consequences" what dictator said that?.

Jesus what a tool you are.

 

[about_average]

Obama destabilized the entire ME region with his "Arab Spring" campaign which led to the rise of ISIS and the spread of radical Islam into the ME and Northern Africa.

ISIS arose in the vacuum left by Bush's Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) he negotiated and signed with the government of Iraq.
Though they really started coalescing in Iraq in 2003/2004.

 

[Carnal_Flower]

There's no comparison. Even Dubya did what every PEOTUS is supposed to do, and "unify" the country, in words if not in deeds. Only the Orange Maniac has decided to wipe his ass with American democracy by tossing a foreign enemy's comments about the losing half in our face. Only the Apricot Idiot has called the other side his "enemy." Not Obama, no other Prez has done what he's done.

Elections do have consequences: but turning more than half of the country into an internal "enemy" is not one of them. Sorry, but it's your guy acting like a dictator-in-training.

It makes me laugh how you guys tolerate the most sickening behavior from your Prez-elect, and suddenly cry like little infants when the same snark is tossed back into his face.

That's called hypocrisy.

"Elections have consequences" what dictator said that?.

Jesus what a tool you are.

 

[BotanyBoy]

ISIS arose in the vacuum left by Bush's Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) he negotiated and signed with the government of Iraq.
Though they really started coalescing in Iraq in 2003/2004.

The seeds may have been planted but it didn't start until 06 when we went from war on terror to trying to win hearts and minds.

 

[Hard_Rom]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_State_of_Iraq_and_the_Levant#History

Foundation, 1999–2006

Following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the Jordanian Salafi jihadist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and his militant group Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, founded in 1999, achieved notoriety in the early stages of the Iraqi insurgency for their suicide attacks on Shia mosques, civilians, Iraqi government institutions and Italian soldiers partaking in the US-led 'Multi-National Force'. Al-Zarqawi's group officially pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network in October 2004, changing its name to Tanzim Qaidat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn (تنظيم قاعدة الجهاد في بلاد الرافدين, "Organisation of Jihad's Base in Mesopotamia"), also known as al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI).[2][186][187] Attacks by the group on civilians, Iraqi government and security forces, foreign diplomats and soldiers, and American convoys continued with roughly the same intensity. In a letter to al-Zarqawi in July 2005, al-Qaeda's then deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahiri outlined a four-stage plan to expand the Iraq War. The plan included expelling US forces from Iraq, establishing an Islamic authority as a caliphate, spreading the conflict to Iraq's secular neighbours, and clashing with Israel, which the letter said, "[...] was established only to challenge any new Islamic entity".[188]

In January 2006, AQI joined with several smaller Iraqi insurgent groups under an umbrella organisation called the Mujahideen Shura Council (MSC). According to counterterrorism researcher Brian Fishman, the merger was an attempt to give the group a more Iraqi flavour, and perhaps to distance al-Qaeda from some of al-Zarqawi's tactical errors, more notably the 2005 bombings by AQI of three hotels in Amman.[189] On 7 June 2006, a US airstrike killed al-Zarqawi, who was succeeded as leader of the group by the Egyptian militant Abu Ayyub al-Masri.[190][191]

On 12 October 2006, the Mujahideen Shura Council united with three smaller groups and six Sunni tribes to form the "Mutayibeen Coalition". It pledged "To rid Sunnis from the oppression of the rejectionists (Shi'ite Muslims) and the crusader occupiers ... to restore rights even at the price of our own lives ... to make Allah's word supreme in the world, and to restore the glory of Islam".[192][193] A day later, the Mujahideen Shura Council declared the establishment of the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), comprising Iraq's six mostly Sunni Arab governorates.[194] Abu Omar al-Baghdadi was announced as its emir,[183][195] and al-Masri was given the title of Minister of War within the ISI's ten-member cabinet.[196

 

[Sean Renaud]

The seeds may have been planted but it didn't start until 06 when we went from war on terror to trying to win hearts and minds.

Which if we weren't moron s would have been plans A through ZZZ but unfortunately we are morons.

Hell we should have left well enough alone and SKIPPED to that part.