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Vladimir Putin has decided not to retaliate against the US, even though the Russian Foreign Minister had recommended that they do so, as it is generally a sign of weakness to allow one of your adversaries to get a punch in without responding.
In Putin's statement, he said he doesn't want to "Stoop to Obama's level". That sounds like he is following the same advice that our mothers used to give many of us as children. This is a smart move by Putin which very likely will be reciprocated by Donald Trump in three weeks when he takes office. In fact, would it surprise anyone to discover that Trump had called Putin in order to coordinate the handling of this matter?
Vladimir Putin has said he will not expel any American diplomats in retaliation against new US sanctions against Russia over its alleged interference in the presidential election.
Calling the moves a “provocation”, the Russian President said he would not “stoop to the level of irresponsible diplomacy”. Mr Putin said the 35 diplomats expelled from the US with their families on Thursday would be returning home to celebrate the New Year with relatives and friends. “We will not create problems for American diplomats, we will not expel anyone," he continued in a statement, adding that Russia "reserves the right to retaliate".
Attempting to seize the moral high ground, he extended a public invite for American diplomats and their families to celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Kremlin. “It is a pity that President Barack Obama’s administration ends its work in this way but nevertheless, I wish him and his family a Happy New Year,” Mr Putin said. His statement, issued by the Kremlin, ended with a congratulations to Donald Trump on his election victory and wishes of “welfare and prosperity” to the American people.
Let's remember, while hacking is bad for everyone, right now it is an international free-for-all, with literally every major spy agency out hacking each other pretty much daily with wild abandon. So this is something that has been going on for years, not only by the Russians against us, but by us against the Russians, and positively everyone knows it. However, there is precisely zero evidence that the Russians hacked our actual election, which Obama has himself confirmed several times.
It was not until Hillary Clinton lost the election that Obama became alarmed about this, and that is what this action is truly about. That and trying to undermine Trump by sabbotaging his and our relationship with the Russians.
So Vladimir Putin has seized the high ground and our petulant child president appears to be even more of a self-absorbed, irresponsible, sniveling punk than he did yesterday, if that were possible. The good news is, while the Russians are still our adversaries, it appears that a more thoughtful and responsible chapter in the relationship between our two countries will likely begin in 22 days.
Vladimir Putin has decided not to retaliate against the US, even though the Russian Foreign Minister had recommended that they do so, as it is generally a sign of weakness to allow one of your adversaries to get a punch in without responding.
In Putin's statement, he said he doesn't want to "Stoop to Obama's level". That sounds like he is following the same advice that our mothers used to give many of us as children. This is a smart move by Putin which very likely will be reciprocated by Donald Trump in three weeks when he takes office. In fact, would it surprise anyone to discover that Trump had called Putin in order to coordinate the handling of this matter?
Let's remember, while hacking is bad for everyone, right now it is an international free-for-all, with literally every major spy agency out hacking each other pretty much daily with wild abandon. So this is something that has been going on for years, not only by the Russians against us, but by us against the Russians, and positively everyone knows it. However, there is precisely zero evidence that the Russians hacked our actual election, which Obama has himself confirmed several times.
It was not until Hillary Clinton lost the election that Obama became alarmed about this, and that is what this action is truly about. That and trying to undermine Trump by sabbotaging his and our relationship with the Russians.
So Vladimir Putin has seized the high ground and our petulant child president appears to be even more of a self-absorbed, irresponsible, sniveling punk than he did yesterday, if that were possible. The good news is, while the Russians are still our adversaries, it appears that a more thoughtful and responsible chapter in the relationship between our two countries will likely begin in 22 days.
If Obama had come out before the election with these sanctions, the right would have said the WH was trying to influence the election. It was a lose-lose situation for Obama.
If Obama had come out before the election with these sanctions, the right would have said the WH was trying to influence the election. It was a lose-lose situation for Obama.
Exactly. And after all, Trump will probably give Putin his own bedroom in the White House so this is just a bump in their bromance.
Vladimir Putin says he will not 'stoop to Barack Obama's level' by expelling US diplomats from Russia
They got caught meddling in our elections, and got smacked for it. I guess they expected US to just bend over and take it, like Trump would have (and clearly you would have), but that didn't happen. They can say whatever they want to save face. Who cares.
If Obama had come out before the election with these sanctions, the right would have said the WH was trying to influence the election. It was a lose-lose situation for Obama.
He probably would have been. But he has had no problem doing things that rig the system in his party's favor or that aggravate the right at any time during his presidency, so that is not a credible explanation as to why he waited.
Barack Obama is trying to sabotage our relationship with the Russians in order to undermine and the Republicans. This is a self-serving political play by Obama and the Democrats, plain and simple. Unfortunately for them, pretty much everyone sees the Democrats ongoing temper-tantrum as being just that. This does not alter that, especially now that Putin has decided that the presidential transition has effectively already taken place for the purposes of handling this matter.
So it appears that this will be worked out quickly and easily in 22 days. As far as the hacking, that is a bigger problem and one that we are every bit as complicit in as the Russians. Considering that this is what spies on both sides do, this is not going to stop. The answer is going to have to be for everyone to secure their data better, especially us.
In the meantime, Vladimir Putin has invited the children of US diplomats to come and celebrate New Years at the Kremlin in an effort to wish us all well and to try to smooth this over, as it is desirable to have at least one of our national leaders conducting himself in an adult manner. Clearly our President, Barack Obama is not up to that challenge.
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