Obama expels Russian diplomats over election hacking along with introducing sanctions.

What is interesting is that Republican Senators McCain and Graham are backing him up, but not for the reasons you may think: both senators are well-known to be Reaganesque Russian-hating hawks but this introduces a split in the GOP - Trump is the biggest lover of the Russians in US history.

There is only one president at a time and that president serves until his successor takes the oath. The Trump people seem to be ignoring this. I think Obama has done Trump a great favour.

AiA wrote on Dec 30^th, 2016 at 7:33am:

There is only one president at a time and that president serves until his successor takes the oath. The Trump people seem to be ignoring this. I think Obama has done Trump a great favour.

I think Obama is doing his best in the last weeks of his own administration, to try to sabotage the first months of Trump's future administration.

In relation to US relations with Israel.

And now in relation to US relations with Russia ?


n.b.
If Obama was kosher, in taking action against Russia, for alleged 'Russian interference in the US electoral process' Obama would have taken such action months ago, imo, when his admin first became aware of this alleged Russian interference.

Quote:

United States President Barack Obama has announced a coordinated series of punishments against Russia over hacking allegations, expelling dozens of diplomats and naming intelligence operatives. Mr Obama had promised retaliation against Russia and it came in rolling announcements, with 35 Russian diplomats given 72 hours to leave the country. Russia will also be blocked from accessing two compounds in New York and Maryland that were used by Russian personnel for "intelligence-related purposes". In a further executive order, Mr Obama sanctioned two Russian intelligence agencies, the GRU and the FSB, four GRU officers and three companies "that provided material support to the GRU's cyber operations". The White House named Igor Valentinovich Korobov, the current chief of the GRU; Sergey Aleksandrovich Gizunov, deputy chief of the GRU; Igor Olegovich Kostyukov, a first deputy chief of the GRU; and Vladimir Stepanovich Alexseyev, also a first deputy chief of the GRU. A senior US official said the move would affect the Russian embassy in Washington and consulate in San Francisco but it is understood Russia's ambassador to the United States, Sergei Kislyak, will not be one of those expelled. In a bid to expose Moscow's cyber aggression, the US also released a detailed report about Russia's hacking infrastructure that it said was designed to help computer specialists prevent more hacking. It is the strongest action the Obama administration has taken to date to retaliate for cyber attacks, and marks a new low in US-Russian relations, which have deteriorated over serious differences on Ukraine and Syria. And Mr Obama said more action was coming. "These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian Government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm US interests in violation of established international norms of behaviour," Mr Obama said in a statement from Hawaii, where he is on holiday. "These actions are not the sum total of our response to Russia's aggressive activities. "We will continue to take a variety of actions at a time and place of our choosing, some of which will not be publicised." There is no reason to believe Russia will cease interfering in US and other countries' elections, Obama administration officials told reporters on a conference call after the President announced the sanctions. "We believe these steps are important because Russia is not going to stop," one official said. It was not immediately clear whether President-elect Donald Trump, who has repeatedly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and nominated people seen as friendly toward Moscow to senior administration posts, would seek to roll back the measures once he takes office on January 20. A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow regretted the sanctions and was considering retaliatory steps. Dmitry Peskov said the measures signalled Mr Obama's "unpredictable" and "aggressive foreign policy". "Such steps of the US administration that has three weeks left to work are aimed at two things: to further harm Russian-American ties, which are at a low point as it is, as well as, obviously, deal a blow on the foreign policy plans of the incoming administration of the President-elect," He said Mr Putin had yet to study what the new sanctions involved and work out what retaliatory steps could be. Mr Obama is seeking to deter Russia and other foreign governments from leveraging cyber attacks in the future to meddle in US politics, former officials and cyber security experts said. He has been under growing pressure from within his own administration and lawmakers of both political parties to respond more forcefully to the cyber attacks, which included leaked emails of Democratic Party operatives that became part of the media coverage in the campaign for the presidential election. 'We hope the Russian Government re-evaluates its own actions' Access to the two compounds, which are used by Russian officials for intelligence gathering, will be denied to all Russian officials as of noon on Friday (local time), the senior US official said. "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 said. The State Department said it took these actions as part of a comprehensive response to Russia's interference in the US election and to a pattern of harassment of US diplomats overseas, which they said had increased over the last four years — including a significant increase in the past 12 months...........

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-30/barack-obama-orders-expulsion-of-russian-officials/8153682

Surely it is inappropriate for a caretaker pres to take such aggressive international actions.

Russia won't take it too seriously. Obama is a has been.

Sprintcyclist wrote on Dec 30^th, 2016 at 9:34am:

Surely it is inappropriate for a caretaker pres to take such aggressive international actions.

  And you would know what is inapproriate Sprint...Trumplthinskin wouldnt know if his arse was on fire. But then he has you and the others supporting him, that  is the most damning endorsement I can think of..but keep it up boys.

Mr Hammer wrote on Dec 30^th, 2016 at 10:05am:

Russia won't take it too seriously. Obama is a has been.

Yes and more importantly he has doesn't sit of forums posting his f--king life away.

And if Hillary had won Obama would have done nothing -

it's all sour grapes.  ;D

This will be even more interesting when Trump gets tried for high treason.

Too bad we don't shoot them anymore.

Marla wrote on Dec 31^st, 2016 at 8:21am:

This will be even more interesting when the Clintons, Obama's and Soros gets tried for high treason. Too bad we don't shoot them anymore.

On another note, well played Mr Putin, showed Obummer up as the petulant corrupt cumrag that he his. No evidence, all conjecture....scum.

Rider wrote on Dec 31^st, 2016 at 3:12pm:

Marla wrote on Dec 31st, 2016 at 8:21am: This will be even more interesting when the Clintons, Obama's and Soros gets tried for high treason. Too bad we don't shoot them anymore. On another note, well played Mr Putin, showed Obummer up as the petulant corrupt cumrag that he his. No evidence, all conjecture....scum.

With the CIA and FBI both saying that the Russians had an impact on the election I doubt you can call it conjecture.

Remember when the conservatives all wanted to hang Putin over the Jet being shot down over a different country ?

The Russians get involved in US politics, the Russians get thrown out, seems fair enough.

AiA wrote on Dec 30^th, 2016 at 7:33am:

There is only one president at a time and that president serves until his successor takes the oath. The Trump people seem to be ignoring this. I think Obama has done Trump a great favour.

Yes Obama has done Trump a big favour but I doubt it will be enough, with the deals that Trump has done in Russia you can only wonder what the Russians have on him.

Given Trumps obvious weakness the obvious guess is fairly likely to be correct.

Dnarever wrote on Dec 31^st, 2016 at 3:30pm:

Rider wrote on Dec 31st, 2016 at 3:12pm: Marla wrote on Dec 31st, 2016 at 8:21am: This will be even more interesting when the Clintons, Obama's and Soros gets tried for high treason. Too bad we don't shoot them anymore. On another note, well played Mr Putin, showed Obummer up as the petulant corrupt cumrag that he his. No evidence, all conjecture....scum. With the CIA and FBI both saying that the Russians had an impact on the election I doubt you can call it conjecture. Remember when the conservatives all wanted to hang Putin over the Jet being shot down over a different country ? The Russians get involved in US politics, the Russians get thrown out, seems fair enough.

Evidence talks bs walks. Reports do not substantiate claims and definitely do not support Obummers actions.

Please quote actual proof of Russian influence.

Dnarever wrote on Dec 31^st, 2016 at 3:34pm:

AiA wrote on Dec 30th, 2016 at 7:33am: There is only one president at a time and that president serves until his successor takes the oath. The Trump people seem to be ignoring this. I think Obama has done Trump a great favour. Yes Obama has done Trump a big favour but I doubt it will be enough, with the deals that Trump has done in Russia you can only wonder what the Russians have on him. Given Trumps obvious weakness the obvious guess is fairly likely to be correct.

I hope under Trump that the 35 kicked out are replaced with 70, and then hosts a dinner to welcome them in.

Dnarever wrote on Dec 31^st, 2016 at 3:30pm:

Rider wrote on Dec 31st, 2016 at 3:12pm: Marla wrote on Dec 31st, 2016 at 8:21am: This will be even more interesting when the Clintons, Obama's and Soros gets tried for high treason. Too bad we don't shoot them anymore. On another note, well played Mr Putin, showed Obummer up as the petulant corrupt cumrag that he his. No evidence, all conjecture....scum. With the CIA obama/hillary and FBI hillary/obama both saying that the Russians had an impact on the election I doubt you can call it conjecture. Remember when the conservatives all wanted to hang Putin over the Jet being shot down over a different country ? The Russians get involved in US politics, the Russians get thrown out, seems fair enough.

there, edited it for you.

Rider wrote on Dec 31^st, 2016 at 4:15pm:

Dnarever wrote on Dec 31st, 2016 at 3:34pm: AiA wrote on Dec 30th, 2016 at 7:33am: There is only one president at a time and that president serves until his successor takes the oath. The Trump people seem to be ignoring this. I think Obama has done Trump a great favour. Yes Obama has done Trump a big favour but I doubt it will be enough, with the deals that Trump has done in Russia you can only wonder what the Russians have on him. Given Trumps obvious weakness the obvious guess is fairly likely to be correct. I hope under Trump that the 35 kicked out are replaced with 70, and then hosts a dinner to welcome them in.

yes, that'ld be a very welcome change for US policy.

Sprintcyclist wrote on Dec 31^st, 2016 at 9:55pm:

Rider wrote on Dec 31st, 2016 at 4:15pm: Dnarever wrote on Dec 31st, 2016 at 3:34pm: AiA wrote on Dec 30th, 2016 at 7:33am: There is only one president at a time and that president serves until his successor takes the oath. The Trump people seem to be ignoring this. I think Obama has done Trump a great favour. Yes Obama has done Trump a big favour but I doubt it will be enough, with the deals that Trump has done in Russia you can only wonder what the Russians have on him. Given Trumps obvious weakness the obvious guess is fairly likely to be correct. I hope under Trump that the 35 kicked out are replaced with 70, and then hosts a dinner to welcome them in. yes, that'ld be a very welcome change for US policy.

An excellent policy it is too, Sprint. Double the amount of Russian spies and terrorists in the US.

We will make Amerika great again, no?

Sprintcyclist wrote on Dec 30^th, 2016 at 9:34am:

Surely it is inappropriate for a caretaker pres to take such aggressive international actions.

Exactly. All Russia did was hack into US government databases, steal high-level classified information and give it all to Wikileaks.

How could Obama take such aggressive international action?

Melanias purse wrote on Jan 1^st, 2017 at 12:04am:

Sprintcyclist wrote on Dec 30th, 2016 at 9:34am: Surely it is inappropriate for a caretaker pres to take such aggressive international actions. Exactly. All Russia did was hack into US government databases, steal high-level classified information and give it all to Wikileaks. How could Obama take such aggressive international action?

Did you like Putins response? 

Melanias purse wrote on Jan 1^st, 2017 at 12:04am:

Sprintcyclist wrote on Dec 30th, 2016 at 9:34am: Surely it is inappropriate for a caretaker pres to take such aggressive international actions. Exactly. All Russia did was hack into US government databases, steal high-level classified information and give it all to Wikileaks. How could Obama take such aggressive international action?

Why makes you think that happened ?

Sprintcyclist wrote on Jan 1^st, 2017 at 12:22am:

Melanias purse wrote on Jan 1st, 2017 at 12:04am: Sprintcyclist wrote on Dec 30th, 2016 at 9:34am: Surely it is inappropriate for a caretaker pres to take such aggressive international actions. Exactly. All Russia did was hack into US government databases, steal high-level classified information and give it all to Wikileaks. How could Obama take such aggressive international action? Why makes you think that happened ?

Because the NSA, FBI and CIA traced the source of the attacks to the Russian government, where nothing happens without Putin's say.

Do you think the US State Department would pretend?

Gordon wrote on Jan 1^st, 2017 at 12:17am:

Melanias purse wrote on Jan 1st, 2017 at 12:04am: Sprintcyclist wrote on Dec 30th, 2016 at 9:34am: Surely it is inappropriate for a caretaker pres to take such aggressive international actions. Exactly. All Russia did was hack into US government databases, steal high-level classified information and give it all to Wikileaks. How could Obama take such aggressive international action? Did you like Putins response?

I certainly did. Cunning, no?

Melanias purse wrote on Jan 1^st, 2017 at 2:02am:

Sprintcyclist wrote on Jan 1st, 2017 at 12:22am: Melanias purse wrote on Jan 1st, 2017 at 12:04am: Sprintcyclist wrote on Dec 30th, 2016 at 9:34am: Surely it is inappropriate for a caretaker pres to take such aggressive international actions. Exactly. All Russia did was hack into US government databases, steal high-level classified information and give it all to Wikileaks. How could Obama take such aggressive international action? Why makes you think that happened ? Because the NSA, FBI and CIA traced the source of the attacks to the Russian government, where nothing happens without Putin's say. Do you think the US State Department would pretend?

Why would NSA, FBI AND the CIA all be working on the same thing ?

Shouldn't confidential info be kept in an area they cannot be hacked into ?
Not on a private PC, as hillary did.

What info was hacked that was SO crucial?


Obama and hillary have a long history of disasterous international decisions.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C09C5T7UAAExCiR.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C1A-2zVVIAArWta.jpg

https://westernrifleshooters.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/cz-rtgixeaag-f.jpg

Quote:

During an interview with Larry King Friday, cybersecurity expert John McAfee debunked the new FBI report alleging Russian hacking in election 2016. (WASHINGTON, DC) Following the release of an FBI report outlining Russia’s alleged role in hacking the 2016 election, Larry King sat down to talk with tech pioneer John McAfee to discuss the current state of cybersecurity. McAfee is no stranger to cybersecurity. As the developer of the first commercial antivirus program, he has been a major player in the industry for the past 50 years. He is also the CEO of MGT Capital Investments, and an outspoken former presidential candidate for the Libertarian Party. Based on all of his experience, McAfee does not believe that Russians were behind the hacks on the Democratic National Committee (DNC), John Podesta’s emails, and the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign. As he told RT, “if it looks like the Russians did it, then I can guarantee you it was not the Russians.” The Joint Analysis Report from the FBI contains an appendix that lists hundreds of IP addresses that were supposedly “used by Russian civilian and military intelligence services.” While some of those IP addresses are from Russia, the majority are from all over the world, which means that the hackers constantly faked their location. - See more at: http://www.trunews.com/article/mcafee-debunks-new-fbi-report-on-russian-hacking#sthash.ujXVyXZ2.dpuf

http://www.trunews.com/article/mcafee-debunks-new-fbi-report-on-russian-hacking

Quote:

Russian FM spokeswoman Maria Zakharova left no prisoners in an end of the year lambasting of President Obama over recent sanctions. (WASHINGTON, DC) Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has posted a scathing Facebook comment on US President Barack Obama’s approval of new anti-Russian measures, arguing Obama’s “bitter” and “helpless” team did a disfavor to the White House’s reputation. Zakharova wrote that the outgoing president did not manage to leave “any” major foreign policy achievements as part of his legacy and instead of “putting an elegant period” to his two presidential terms has “made a huge blot” with his latest decision to impose more sanctions on Russia, expelling 35 Russian diplomats and closing two diplomatic compounds in the US.    “Today America, the American people were humiliated by their own president. Not by international terrorists, not by [the] enemy’s troops. This time Washington was slapped by own master, who has complicated the urgent tasks for the incoming team in the extreme,” Zakharova wrote, labeling the current administration “a group of foreign policy losers, bitter and narrow-minded.” “Today, Obama officially admitted it,” she wrote. Zakharova then offered her sympathy to Secretary of State John Kerry, who, she argued, had also suffered under the current administration as he was unable to do his job properly, being constantly “mocked” and “let down” by his own colleagues.    “Mr. Kerry, in this difficult moment for the United States, let me convey you the words of sympathy – you have done all what was possible to avert your country’s collapse in foreign policy,” she said, giving credit to Kerry’s diplomatic skills. “Out of this group of spoilers, I pity only Kerry. He was not an ally. But he tried to be a professional and maintain his human dignity.” - See more at: http://www.trunews.com/article/russian-spokeswomen-castigates-obama-over-sanctions#sthash.jvvMeA1d.dpuf

http://www.trunews.com/article/russian-spokeswomen-castigates-obama-over-sanctions

please spare us conservative clickbait links and quotes ...

poor Ronald Reagan must be rolling in his cold grave with Nancy over so-called conservative support for a Russian dictator ...

Obama has acted hastily and immaturely.

Sprintcyclist wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2017 at 1:14am:

Obama has acted hastily and immaturely.

Obama has acted exactly as Ronald Reagan would have. Exactly.

"hastily" you say? GOP Speaker of the House Ryan thought he didn't act soon enough.