Trump Orders Expulsion of 60 Russian Diplomats, Closure of Consulate Over Poisoning of Ex-Spy in Britain
Britain expelled 23 diplomats after the attack.
President Donald Trump has ordered an expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats and closure of a Russian consulate in Seattle, WA, in response to the poisoning of a former Russian spy in the UK.
This includes “12 people identified as Russian intelligence officers who have been stationed at the United Nations in New York.”
On March 4, #Russia attempted to murder a British citizen & his daughter w/ military-grade nerve agent on British soil. We stand in unbreakable solidarity w/ #UK. Today, we will expel 60 Russians from its bilat mission & mission to UN, & require Russia to close Seattle consulate. pic.twitter.com/S2wLjnZdDH
— Heather Nauert (@statedeptspox) March 26, 2018
From The New York Times:
The expulsion order, announced by administration officials, also closes the Russian consulate in Seattle. The Russians and their families have seven days to leave the United States, according to officials.
The expulsions are the toughest action taken against the Kremlin by President Trump, who has been criticized for not being firm enough with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.
In a call with reporters, senior White House officials said that the move was to root out Russians actively engaging in intelligence operations against the country, and to show that the United States would stand with NATO allies. The officials said that the closure of the consulate in Seattle was ordered because of its proximity to a U.S. naval base.
On Saturday, State Department official Heather Nauert said that the administration started to explore different options as a response to the attack “both to demonstrate our solidarity with our ally and to hold Russia accountable for its clear breach of international norms and agreements.”
The European Union leaders agreed with the UK that more than likely Russia poisoned former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter on March 4 with a nerve agent. Both are still unconscious and in critical condition.
This is the 15th case of an attack on an exiled Russian in Britain in the past 20 years.
Statement on Expulsion of Russian intelligence officers. pic.twitter.com/4uCzMOMG3f
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) March 26, 2018
Ambassador Nikki Haley: “Here in New York, Russia uses the United Nations as a safe haven for dangerous activities within our own borders. Today, the United States and many of our friends are sending a clear message that we will not stand for Russia’s misconduct.” pic.twitter.com/6Z6AQIIN4m
— US Mission to the UN (@USUN) March 26, 2018
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Comments
What would Puddy Tat have done if he was still the President? Express his extreme displeasure and cancel a Boy Scout trip maybe.
Remember Obama promising Putin that he would be ever so more “flexible” in his 2nd term, and Obama’s endless around the world “bowing” tours?
Think that’s a pretty good clue what Obama would do……
What proof does Trump or the British have? “More than likely”???
That is the biggest issue I have with this. While it certainly looks bad for Russia, this latest assassination seems a bit too clumsy and poorly done from a state like Russia. The formula for the nerve agent used is known, and while it had been developed by Russia, it seems an odd choice given the ability to affect others nearby and have it pointing directly back at them. I would think Russian agents would look to have less of a finger print left behind, and the suspicious death would be enough of a warning if that was what they were trying to convey to traitors of Russia.
I wouldn’t be shocked if proof came out that they were behind. Yet, I wouldn’t be shocked if this turned out to be a frame of Russia to create tension between them and NATO forces.
I wonder if some of Trump’s actions are due to the farce of the Russian Collusion investigation and allegations.
…because, of course, a Russian defector being attacked by a specific Russian nerve agent could only be caused by somebody other than Russia.
Russian intel does this far too frequently. This was done to send a message: Don’t (censor) with the Motherland, or we will track you down and kill you in as messy a fashion as possible.
If the Brits had proof they would have turned it over to Russia as required by international law before making the accusations. No examination of the substance allowed by Russia? How can they even begin to defend themselves against it? Cui Bono? The Russians, how would killing guys you traded back benefit you, who would trade with you in the future?
Sloppy work? Not the Russians killing the guy in a way that points back to them is not only bad for political relations but makes them look incompetent.
The only people this benefits so far is the neocon war party beating the drum, ‘Russia, Russia, Russia’. You know the same deep state folks pissed at Trump and trying to get us into a shooting war over Syria and Ukraine.
That was good. Now, if he just could have refrained from congratulating Putin on his re-election fraud…
I think Robert Mueller should escort the expelled back home to Russia.
I see the trolls are out in force today.
It was a good action, full stop. Move on.
Is it “trolling” to note the whole picture now?
If so, you’ve become willfully blind.
But the trolls are at least instructor. They remind us that the NeverTrumpers care more about tone than results.
They are so eager to Surrender Gracefully that I’m beginning to wonder if they have a submissive fetish. Or perhaps they are the flip side to authoritarianism – per Madonna, what they need is a Big Strong Hand to lift them to their higher ground.
Because Liberty takes so much work, and leaves so many options that demand so much mental energy. They would rather be ruled.
Instructive not instructor.
We now return you to our regularly scheduled program “The Victimization of Ragspierre”. Enjoy.
Imagine what Trump would have done if he wasn’t in Putin’s pocket.
Now it’s time for the US to negotiate agreements to replace Russia as the supplier of Europe’s natural gas.