The White House Statement on Russia - Part 4 - Trump Era

The White House: Released the following Statement from the President, " Statement by the President on Actions in Response to Russian Malicious Cyber Activity and Harassment..Today, I have ordered a number of actions in response to the Russian government’s aggressive harassment of U.S. officials and cyber operations aimed at the U.S. election. 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 U.S. interests in violation of established international norms of behavior...All Americans should be alarmed by Russia’s actions. In October, my Administration publicized our assessment that Russia took actions intended to interfere with the U.S. election process.  These data theft and disclosure activities could only have been directed by the highest levels of the Russian government. Moreover, our diplomats have experienced an unacceptable level of harassment in Moscow by Russian security services and police over the last year.  Such activities have consequences.  Today, I have ordered a number of actions in response...I have issued an executive order that provides additional authority for responding to certain cyber activity that seeks to interfere with or undermine our election processes and institutions, or those of our allies or partners.  Using this new authority, I have sanctioned nine entities and individuals:  the GRU and the FSB, two Russian intelligence services; four individual officers of the GRU; and three companies that provided material support to the GRU’s cyber operations.  In addition, the Secretary of the Treasury is designating two Russian individuals for using cyber-enabled means to cause misappropriation of funds and personal identifying information.  The State Department is also shutting down two Russian compounds, in Maryland and New York, used by Russian personnel for intelligence-related purposes, and is declaring “persona non grata” 35 Russian intelligence operatives.  Finally, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are releasing declassified technical information on Russian civilian and military intelligence service cyber activity, to help network defenders in the United States and abroad identify, detect, and disrupt Russia’s global campaign of malicious cyber activities....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 publicized. In addition to holding Russia accountable for what it has done, the United States and friends and allies around the world must work together to oppose Russia’s efforts to undermine established international norms of behavior, and interfere with democratic governance. To that end, my Administration will be providing a report to Congress in the coming days about Russia’s efforts to interfere in our election, as well as malicious cyber activity related to our election cycle in previous elections. "

Lets Get Real:

Another Obama failure, one can also add, Syria, Iraq, Daesh, Libya, East Ukraine, Iran, Afghanistan, and the War on Terror.

Cold War 2 - Russian Diplomats - Part 3 - Trump Era

CNN - Politics: Reports " ...the government has sanctioned nine entities and individuals over their alleged interference in the election: the GRU and the FSB, two Russian intelligence services; four individual officers of the GRU; three companies that provided material support to the GRU's operations. The US also sanctioned two Russian individuals for using cyber-enabled means to cause misappropriation of funds and personal identifying information. "

Lets Get Real:

It can be said that 2016 has been a hell of a year, with family loss,  with Brexit, the election of Trump, the many deaths of actors and singers, not a Year I would like to repeat.   The latest round in the New Cold War 2 shows how things change but remain the same, what will a Trump Administration be like, will it be able to deal with the domestic and international challenges it faces.   Thus predictions for next year, one can expect that North Korea will go for a missile launch nuclear weapon that can reach the US, the Tehran Regime will use the nuclear deal as a way to develop a secret bomb.   The Russians might try something in the Baltic States, or God forbid the Eastern block Countries.   In the UK it can be expected that there will be more Court cases when it comes to Brexit, there might even be a General Election.  One can only hope for some stability on the whole, but do not keep me to that promise.

New Cold War 2 - Russian Diplomats - Part 2 - Trump Era

Fox News: Reports " Using an executive order, President Obama sanctioned the GRU and the FSB -- two of Russia's intelligence services as well as other entities and individuals associated with the GRU.....he hacking came from the Fancy Bear group, believed to be affiliated with the GRU, Russia's military intelligence agency. "

Lets Get Real:

In this action President Obama is supported by the Republicans and Democrats on the Hill, it has been interesting and ironic to see the Democrats become hawks over Russian when they wanted the Nuclear freeze under the great Ronald Reagan.   The Obama Administration has gone from wanting a new start with Russia to a Cold War set of views, it will be interesting to see how President Trump deals with Russian after January 20th.   It can be argued that he can not keep to his view that the intelligence networks are wrong about Russia, he will have access to ALL the information.   One wonders how long this hawkish stand by the Democrats will hold, its full of weak liberals, who will come out and argue that the Democrats have been to hard on Russia. 

President Obama sanctions Russian Diplomats in the US - Trump Era

BBC News: Reports " The US has expelled 35 Russian diplomats as punishment for alleged interference into the presidential election. "

Lets Get Real:

It is like the good old days of the Cold War, now the Russians will send some US Diplomats packing in return.   The failure of the restart with Russia that started with the first Obama Term is shown by this last action by President Obama, as with Bush 43 he thought he could deal with Putin, the reverse has happened, Putin has played him like a fiddle, while Obama was played Syria burned.  In looking at the Obama foreign policy one sees failure, the deal with allows IRAN to become nuclear, let us hope that Trump dumps the Iran deal and fast.   WHAT will the new Administration do with Russia is interesting, Trump does not want to state that the Russians helped him get elected as it would taint that victory, on the other hand the US intelligence bodies all agree that Russia hacked US during the election, let us see what happens once Trump becomes President.