Obama to 'punish Russia for allegedly hacking US election - expels 35 diplomats

Source: https://www.sott.net/article/338088-Mad-dog-Obama-ready-to-punish-Russia-for-allegedly-hacking-US-election

Well it seems the Executive Order related has been signed and new sanctions are in: https://www.rt.com/usa/372189-russia-us-hacking-sanctions
Moreover, the Obama administration decided also on the expulsion of couple russian diplomats: https://www.rt.com/news/372190-us-expels-russian-diplomats

Strange world where you can base your actions without proofs and/or so far away from Reality ...

There are still quite some days before January 20th... Interesting times to come ... Wait & See.
 
Re:Mad dog Obama ready to 'punish Russia for allegedly hacking US election

My bad. Sigh! If a moderator could edit the Subject, and put the correct one: "Mad dog Obama ready to 'punish Russia for allegedly hacking US election".
 
Re: US Expels 35 Russian Diplomats


Would help to archive the text instead of just posting a link.
 
The Obama admin has also slapped more sanctions on Russia. The NYT - in this breaking news alert - doesn't bother hiding the reason why:

'President Obama imposed sanctions on Russia, the strongest U.S. response to foreign hacking. The move could box in Donald Trump'

The Obama administration struck back at Russia on Thursday for its efforts to influence the 2016 election, ejecting 35 Russian intelligence operatives from the United States and imposing sanctions on Russia’s two leading intelligence services, including four top officers of the military intelligence unit the White House believes ordered the attacks on the Democratic National Committee and other political organizations. [...]

The sanctions were also intended to box in President-elect Donald J. Trump. Mr. Trump has consistently cast doubt that the Russian government had anything to do with the hacking of the D.N.C. or other political institutions, saying American intelligence agencies could not be trusted and suggesting that the hacking could have been the work of a “400-pound guy” lying in his bed.

'They' are trying to generate as many facts on the ground - ie, put down as many obstacles to peace with Russia - as possible before Trump gets in.
 
Source: https://www.rt.com/news/372191-kremlin-obama-administration-sanctions/

Comments from Dmetry Peskov, Kremlin Press Secretary which rightly points out that the US administration is unpredictable, agressive and not abiding (again) to international law

“In our point of view such actions of the US current administration are a manifestation of an unpredictable and even aggressive foreign policy,” Peskov told the journalists.
"We regret the fact that this decision was taken by the US administration and President Obama personally," he stressed.
"As it said before, we consider this decision and these sanctions unjustified and illegal under international law," the presidential spokesman added.
 
Niall said:
The Obama admin has also slapped more sanctions on Russia. The NYT - in this breaking news alert - doesn't bother hiding the reason why:

'President Obama imposed sanctions on Russia, the strongest U.S. response to foreign hacking. The move could box in Donald Trump'

The Obama administration struck back at Russia on Thursday for its efforts to influence the 2016 election, ejecting 35 Russian intelligence operatives from the United States and imposing sanctions on Russia’s two leading intelligence services, including four top officers of the military intelligence unit the White House believes ordered the attacks on the Democratic National Committee and other political organizations. [...]

The sanctions were also intended to box in President-elect Donald J. Trump. Mr. Trump has consistently cast doubt that the Russian government had anything to do with the hacking of the D.N.C. or other political institutions, saying American intelligence agencies could not be trusted and suggesting that the hacking could have been the work of a “400-pound guy” lying in his bed.

'They' are trying to generate as many facts on the ground - ie, put down as many obstacles to peace with Russia - as possible before Trump gets in.


First, Obama isolates China in a territorial dispute over the South China Sea, and a few days ago, Obama and Kerry have a major confrontation with Israel
and Netanyahu on the UN Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlement policy and now "this" with Russia? Three strikes and your out!

So, Obama has effectively "isolated" the United States against three prominent World Powers ... leaving us wide open for attack!? Can't fix - STUPID!


Putin Will Determine Adequate Response to US Sanctions
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201612291049122432-putin-determine-usa-sanctions-response/

Russia will undoubtedly provide an adequate response to new US sanctions and it will make Washington officials 'feel uncomfortable', Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday.

"We will certainly response adequately…and it will be determined in line with decisions adopted by Russian President [Vladimir Putin], Peskov told reporters commenting on the US move, which he described as "unpredictable and aggressive." "There is no doubt that this adequate and mirror response will make the US side feel very uncomfortable as well," Peskov stressed. The Kremlin spokesman added that Moscow regrets the US move to impose new anti-Russian sanction as it continues to destroy bilateral relations.

He noted that the sanctions were unpredictable and seemed aggressive, adding that Russia still hopes to build normal relation with the US government.

The Obama administration imposed earlier on Thursday a series of punitive measures against Russia, including the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats and the closure of two Russian diplomatic compounds, in response to Moscow's alleged interference in US presidential elections.


WikiLeaks says that new measures imposed by the US President Barack Obama against 35 Russian diplomats for involvement in alleged cyberattacks in the 2016 US election probably violates the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

WikiLeaks: US Banning Russian Diplomats Likely Violates Vienna Convention
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201612301049123752-wikileaks-russia-usa-ban-vienna-violation/

New measures imposed by the US President Barack Obama against 35 Russian diplomats for involvement in alleged cyberattacks in the 2016 US election probably violates the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, WikiLeaks said in a statement via Twitter.


The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index has reported that the dollar has slipped .5% after several weeks of increases.

Dollar Hits Two Week Low After US Announces Sanctions Against Russia
https://sputniknews.com/news/201612301049124020-dollar-two-week-low-announced/

The fall has erased the dollar's gain in the past several days. US stocks also tumbled to a three-week low.

The dollar previously hit multiyear highs earlier in December, leading to record high levels of US equity. The fall in the dollar's value came in the wake of Washington announcing strict sanctions against Moscow in the midst of accusations that Russia interfered with the 2016 US Presidential election.
 
There's also this:

https://sputniknews.com/us/201612291049120868-obama-set-to-release-report/ said:
Obama Set To Release Report To Congress On Alleged Russian Hacking

President Barack Obama said his administration will provide lawmakers a detailed analysis regarding allegations of Russian "efforts to interfere in our election" in addition to accusations of "malicious cyberactivity."

Congress is not currently in session and lawmakers will not return to Washington DC until after January 1, but it is expected that legislators will receive the report in a matter of days. Obama previously ordered White House teams to prepare a report on allegations of Russian interference with US elections before his term concludes on January 20.

The White House statement has arrived moments after Washington announced sanctions against five Russian organizations, including the Federal Security Service, and the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomatic officials who have just three days to exit the country.

US Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan responded saying Russia "has consistently sought to undermine" American interests, adding that Thursday's sanctions are "long overdue." Ryan further remarked that Russia created "dangerous instability around the world" in recent years, and that the new sanctions are "an appropriate way to end eight years of failed policy with Russia" that has "left America weaker in the eyes of the world." Of course, Ryan took advantage of the news to score a few political points by barraging the Obama administration's "ineffective foreign policy."

The report for Congress was compiled by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the FBI. It reportedly contains declassified intelligence on Russian civilian and military activity aimed at bolstering the US' ability to "identify, detect, and disrupt Russia's global campaign of malicious cyber activities," according to an email from the White House to Sputnik News.

The Joint Analysis Report (JAR) claims to have found the computers around the world that Russian intelligence services used to conduct their operations unbeknownst to the owners of the computers. Using virtual machines makes it extremely difficult to trace the alleged hacks back to Russian operatives. "In some cases, the cybersecurity community was aware of this infrastructure," the email said.

Further, the report claims to outline precisely which malware Russian intelligence services relied on to conduct their supposed "malicious" activities. Basically, once this information becomes public, network analysts will immediately block the Russian malware identified in the report.

But this doesn't really do much more than put a band-aid on what appears to be a thoroughly unsecured networks. Its fairly well-known in cybersecurity circles that once a malware is identified and detained, computer engineers can simply design new programs to achieve their aims.

Lastly, the JAR claims that it will sketch out Russian intelligence operations in order for network defenders to build out new strategies that can "detect and disrupt an ongoing intrusion."

The JAR will be circulated among private-sector security firms as part of a White House effort to "encourage" members of the private sector to check their network traffic histories for signs of suspicious activity. Further, the DHS and FBI hope security firms "leverage" the indicators enumerated in the JAR to foster "proactive defense efforts to block malicious activity before it occurs."

According to this article:
https://www.sott.net/article/336800-Elite-coup-is-being-orchestrated-against-president-elect-Trump
As an alternative to legal shenanigans Trump's inauguration could be delayed by Obama's order to the intelligence community to create a formal review of Russian intervention in the election by January 20.
By ordering a "full review" of allegations of Russian into the 2016 election process, President Barack Obama is essentially asking the IC to make an analytical judgment about the validity of the election that will place Trump in the Oval Office.
A compromise in Congress could be to wait for the Intelligence Community's analysis and then discuss it before certifying Trump as president. Meanwhile the Vice President-elect would sit in as acting President:
If the President-elect fails to qualify before inauguration, Section 3 of the 20th Amendment states that the Vice President-elect will act as President until such a time as a President has qualified.

In addition to what's said here before, maybe this nonsensical action of expelling Russian diplomats has also been designed to provide foundation/credibility for yet another attempt of stopping Trump taking presidency? Talking about desperate elite clinging to their known how-tos...
 
Maria Zakharova posted this on her FB page. Like Gurdjieff said about the likes of Obama, some people are their worst punishement:

Automatic translation:
We talked about this for several years: people that lived in the White house for 8 years is not the Administration , a group of foreign losers, angry and narrow-minded. Today, Obama admitted it officially.
The most amazing thing, and not being able to write the history of the presidency has no achievements in the international arena, Nobel laureate managed to put the elegant point is a fat blot.

From this group of spoilers it's a pity Kerry. He was not an ally. But he tried to be professional and to preserve human dignity.
And over it four years, mocked by his colleagues, was framed and was not allowed to work. God forbid any Secretary of state to endure what he had to experience. Mr. Kerry, in this difficult for the United States the time You will allow to Express words of solidarity - You did everything possible to prevent collapse of the foreign policy of Your country. But as they say in one Russian proverb, whip Obama does not destruct.

Today America, the American people were humiliated by their own President. Not international terrorists, not enemy troops. This time a slap in the face to Washington was caused by his host, maximizing the number of urgent cases to the incoming team. The complex was supposed to be steps in the middle East, not revenge.

All curtain. Bad the play is over. The whole world , from the orchestra to the gallery, watching a devastating blow to the prestige of America and its leadership caused by Barack Obama and his uneducated foreign policy team, who discovered the world its main secret - the uniqueness of the camouflage was helpless. And no enemy of the United States could not do worse.

PS Tomorrow will be official statements, countermeasures and a lot of everything.

Couldn't agree more.
 
mkrnhr said:
Maria Zakharova posted this on her FB page. Like Gurdjieff said about the likes of Obama, some people are their worst punishement:

Automatic translation:
We talked about this for several years: people that lived in the White house for 8 years is not the Administration , a group of foreign losers, angry and narrow-minded. Today, Obama admitted it officially.
The most amazing thing, and not being able to write the history of the presidency has no achievements in the international arena, Nobel laureate managed to put the elegant point is a fat blot.

From this group of spoilers it's a pity Kerry. He was not an ally. But he tried to be professional and to preserve human dignity.
And over it four years, mocked by his colleagues, was framed and was not allowed to work. God forbid any Secretary of state to endure what he had to experience. Mr. Kerry, in this difficult for the United States the time You will allow to Express words of solidarity - You did everything possible to prevent collapse of the foreign policy of Your country. But as they say in one Russian proverb, whip Obama does not destruct.

Today America, the American people were humiliated by their own President. Not international terrorists, not enemy troops. This time a slap in the face to Washington was caused by his host, maximizing the number of urgent cases to the incoming team. The complex was supposed to be steps in the middle East, not revenge.

All curtain. Bad the play is over. The whole world , from the orchestra to the gallery, watching a devastating blow to the prestige of America and its leadership caused by Barack Obama and his uneducated foreign policy team, who discovered the world its main secret - the uniqueness of the camouflage was helpless. And no enemy of the United States could not do worse.

PS Tomorrow will be official statements, countermeasures and a lot of everything.

Couldn't agree more.

Yep and here is what she had to say in her press conference two days ago:

Maria Zakharova said:
The outgoing US administration has not given up on its hope of dealing one last blow to relations with Russia, which it has already destroyed. Using obviously inspired leaks in the US media, it is trying to threaten us again with expansion of anti-Russian sanctions, “diplomatic” measures and even subversion of our computer systems. Moreover, this final New Year’s “greeting” from Barack Obama’s team, which is already preparing to leave the White House, is being cynically presented as a response to some cyber-attacks from Moscow.

Frankly speaking, we are tired of lies about Russian hackers that continue to be spread in the United States from the very top. The Obama administration launched this misinformation half a year ago in a bid to play up to the required nominee at the November presidential election and, having failed to achieve the desired effect, has been trying to justify its failure by taking it out with a vengeance on Russian-US relations.

However, the truth about the White House-orchestrated provocation is bound to surface sooner or later. In fact, this is already happening. On December 8, US media quoted Georgia’s Secretary of State Brian Kemp as saying that the local authorities tracked down the origin of a hacker attack on his voter registration database after the election. The attack was traced to an IP address of the Department of Homeland Security. This was followed by an attempt to quickly cover up this information by a flood of new anti-Russian accusations that did not contain a single piece of evidence.

We can only add that if Washington takes new hostile steps, it will receive an answer. This applies to any actions against Russian diplomatic missions in the United States, which will immediately backfire at US diplomats in Russia. The Obama administration probably does not care at all about the future of bilateral relations, but history will hardly forgive it for this après-nous-le-deluge attitude.

I have to say, that it is balm for the soul to hear Zakharova, Putin, Lavrov and Co. speak.

Following image is from the new official channel of the russian government "@MID_Russia" on Telegram, discussed here:

9G7TS8.jpg
 
angelburst29 said:
First, Obama isolates China in a territorial dispute over the South China Sea, and a few days ago, Obama and Kerry have a major confrontation with Israel
and Netanyahu on the UN Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlement policy and now "this" with Russia? Three strikes and your out!

So, Obama has effectively "isolated" the United States against three prominent World Powers ... leaving us wide open for attack!? Can't fix - STUPID!


Putin Will Determine Adequate Response to US Sanctions
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201612291049122432-putin-determine-usa-sanctions-response/

Russia will undoubtedly provide an adequate response to new US sanctions and it will make Washington officials 'feel uncomfortable', Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday.

"We will certainly response adequately…and it will be determined in line with decisions adopted by Russian President [Vladimir Putin], Peskov told reporters commenting on the US move, which he described as "unpredictable and aggressive." "There is no doubt that this adequate and mirror response will make the US side feel very uncomfortable as well," Peskov stressed. The Kremlin spokesman added that Moscow regrets the US move to impose new anti-Russian sanction as it continues to destroy bilateral relations.

He noted that the sanctions were unpredictable and seemed aggressive, adding that Russia still hopes to build normal relation with the US government.

The Obama administration imposed earlier on Thursday a series of punitive measures against Russia, including the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats and the closure of two Russian diplomatic compounds, in response to Moscow's alleged interference in US presidential elections.


Interesting development that you noticed, angelburst, about the increasing isolation and antagonism of Obama's last days in office. That put things in perspective, for I was only thinking about Russia and Israel, forgetting the aggression and arrogance directed at China for years now.

It seems Putin's response has come out:

Russia moves to expel US diplomats in response to sanctions
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38464612

The Russian foreign ministry has called for the expulsion of 35 US diplomats in response to a similar move by Washington.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the request had been made to President Vladimir Putin.
The Obama administration expelled 35 Russia diplomats and their families over alleged Russian hacking during the US election campaign.
Russia denies any involvement and calls the US action "ungrounded".
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev accused the outgoing administration of President Barack Obama of ending in "anti-Russian death throes".
 
latulipenoire said:
It seems Putin's response has come out:

Russia moves to expel US diplomats in response to sanctions
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38464612

The Russian foreign ministry has called for the expulsion of 35 US diplomats in response to a similar move by Washington.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the request had been made to President Vladimir Putin.
The Obama administration expelled 35 Russia diplomats and their families over alleged Russian hacking during the US election campaign.
Russia denies any involvement and calls the US action "ungrounded".
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev accused the outgoing administration of President Barack Obama of ending in "anti-Russian death throes".

Actually, Putin has decided otherwise, which is very wise I think:

Putin: Russia will not expel anyone in response to US sanctions

“We reserve the right to retaliate, but we will not sink to the level of this irresponsible ‘kitchen’ diplomacy. We will take further moves on restoring Russian-American relations based on the policies that the administration of President-elect Donald Trump adopts,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a statement published by the Kremlin website.

:)
 
Putin: Russia will not expel anyone in response to US sanctions
https://www.rt.com/news/372256-putin-diplomats-expulsion-rejects/

The Russian president has rejected a suggestion of the foreign ministry to expel 35 American diplomats in response to a similar move by the US. He said Obama’s act was designed to provoke a reaction, but Russia would not take the bait.

“We reserve the right to retaliate, but we will not sink to the level of this irresponsible ‘kitchen’ diplomacy. We will take further moves on restoring Russian-American relations based on the policies that the administration of President-elect Donald Trump adopts,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a statement published by the Kremlin website.

Putin said that, unlike the Obama administration, Russia will not target foreign diplomats and their families days before New Year’s celebrations.

“We will not forbid families and children from spending the New Year’s holidays at the places they are used to. Moreover, I invite the children of all American diplomats with accreditation in Russia to New Year’s and Christmas festivities in the Kremlin,” the Russian president said.

Putin said he regretted that US President Barack Obama is ending his term “in such a way,” but that he extended his New Year’s congratulations to the outgoing US president and his family nevertheless.

“I congratulate President-elect Donald Trump and the entire American people!” he concluded.

The Kremlin said it will send a government plane to the US to evacuate the expelled diplomats and their family members. Earlier, there were reports that the diplomats were having problems buying tickets on such short notice, with airlines already booked by New Year’s travelers.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested that Russia respond to the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats from the US by expelling 35 American diplomats from Russia. Similarly, the eviction of a Russian diplomatic staff from two vacation houses in the US would be mirrored by a similar eviction of Americans in Russia.

President Obama targeted Russian diplomats as a part of wider sanctions against Russian, which he justified by the alleged interference by the Russian government in the November presidential election in the US. Moscow denies the allegations.

The US claimed that the vacation houses had been used for espionage. Russia insists that they were used by the diplomatic staff to spend holidays with their families.
 
Siberia said:
latulipenoire said:
It seems Putin's response has come out:

Russia moves to expel US diplomats in response to sanctions
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38464612

The Russian foreign ministry has called for the expulsion of 35 US diplomats in response to a similar move by Washington.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the request had been made to President Vladimir Putin.
The Obama administration expelled 35 Russia diplomats and their families over alleged Russian hacking during the US election campaign.
Russia denies any involvement and calls the US action "ungrounded".
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev accused the outgoing administration of President Barack Obama of ending in "anti-Russian death throes".

Actually, Putin has decided otherwise, which is very wise I think:

Putin: Russia will not expel anyone in response to US sanctions

“We reserve the right to retaliate, but we will not sink to the level of this irresponsible ‘kitchen’ diplomacy. We will take further moves on restoring Russian-American relations based on the policies that the administration of President-elect Donald Trump adopts,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a statement published by the Kremlin website.

:)

Putin's position in not wanting to "retaliate" is not only wise but pure Genius! It effectively puts the ball in Obama's court - so the next move (in Chess) comes from him - so what is he going to do? Apply more US Sanctions? Even if Obama decides to do "nothing" - it exposes him in true character to the Whole World! If anything - Obama just improved Putin's ratings!


Russia will send a plane for its diplomats and their families to be expelled by the United States, the Kremlin press service reported Friday.

Russia to Send Plane for Russian Diplomats and Their Families Expelled From US
https://sputniknews.com/russia/201612301049143175-russia-plane-russia-diplomats/

Russian diplomats should leave the US on January 1, however, they experienced some issues with plane tickets to Russia during the holiday season.

"For diplomats and their families to leave the United States, an aircraft of the Rossiya Special Flight Squadron of the Russian Presidential Property Management Directorate will be sent to the US," the press service told reporters.


Russia’s Department for Presidential Affairs is preparing invitations for children of US diplomats in Russia to New Year celebrations in the Kremlin, a spokeswoman said Friday.

Putin’s Office to Invite US Diplomats’ Kids to Kremlin New Year Party
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201612301049142655-putin-us-diplomats-party/

President Vladimir Putin invited the children to a series of parties to ring in the New Year that are traditionally held at the walled government compound in the heart of Moscow.

"The Department for Presidential Affairs and the Foreign Ministry are going through required procedures for the children’s participation in celebrations to make sure they will have a good time if they decide to go," the Department’s spokeswoman Yelena Krylova told RIA Novosti. This came in response to US media reports that a school attended by children of US diplomats faced a shutdown in retaliation for the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats from the United States in the row over Russia’s alleged role in Donald Trump’s win. A Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman denied the school would be closed.


Russian President Vladimir Putin sent New Year greetings on Friday to the people of the United States and US President-elect Donald Trump, his press office said.

Putin Wishes Happy New Year to Trump, US Nation – Kremlin
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201612301049140879-putin-us-greetings/

The Russian president also extended greetings to the outgoing US president, Barack Obama and his family, but added he regretted Obama's decision to expel Russian diplomats in his waning days in the White House.

I congratulate both the president-elect, Donald Trump, and the entire US nation! I wish you to be well and prosper," the Russian leader was quoted as saying by the Kremlin press office.
 
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