General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow do we explain Trump expelling 60 Russians out of our country?
Since he has done nothing up to this point to show any concern for what Russia has done, including messing with elections and poisoning people on allies soil?
Is he trying to prove how tough he is or was this someone else's idea? The report did not come directly from him - it came from Sarah H Sanders, his White House Spokesperson. He has not tweeted about it or issued any comment.
Some are reporting that if he really wanted to get tough with Russia, he would sanction the oligarchs that are still making money off their American connections?
What's the real story behind this report?
NewJeffCT
(56,829 posts)a few diplomats in Seattle? What about Washington DC, New York?
SHRED
(28,136 posts)Putin has tRump and Repubs under control.
dameatball
(7,400 posts)poboy2
(2,078 posts)dalton99a
(81,636 posts)"Yes, boss"
spanone
(135,900 posts)just speculation of course
Johonny
(20,912 posts)Since Europe was doing a similar purge, it was right place, right time to mitigate personal damage for 24 hrs.
MGKrebs
(8,138 posts)"he doesn't need them in America to get information on us. He's hacked into our infrastructure, has other agents throughout the country and is manipulating our information flow to influence the American people. Neither we, nor any of our allies who may take action together, should be fooled by his empty denials."
https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/25/opinions/presidential-weekly-briefing-isis-opinion-vinograd/index.html
In other words, expelling Russian diplomats is apparently like sending thoughts and prayers.
wishstar
(5,272 posts)Reports indicated that Russian hackers had infiltrated many of our most vital facilities and probably military as well. Trump was forced to respond. The report from FBI last week on top of the poisoning overseas put a lot of pressure on WH.
pdxflyboy
(678 posts)I keep thinking that there may be two or three thousand more that he knows about, and is NOT expelling.
NRaleighLiberal
(60,026 posts)oasis
(49,428 posts)deal to go through after sanctions are lifted at a later date.
MrsCoffee
(5,803 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,899 posts)MrsCoffee
(5,803 posts)DFW
(54,448 posts)He might do so to his financial detriment. He could well be getting a cut of those transactions. If so, those are the last people he's going to sanction.
tonyt53
(5,737 posts)He is fine with this move. Besides, he likely handpicked every one of them to be expelled. Putin has trump playing by his playbook.
stonecutter357
(12,697 posts)matt819
(10,749 posts)However. . .
How many of these Russians were at the end of their tours? If this was the case - end of tour anyway - then the next question is whether their replacements will be allowed. IOW, are these expulsions going to reduce the Russian presence in the US?
Let's assume that some of these Russians were running assets in the US. Their presence in the US is irrelevant as long as they have the ability to communicate - receive tasking and report back. The Russians clearly have been playing a very long game and would be prepared for this eventuality.
And, finally, I have no doubt that this was done in response to Russian direction. Even an obvious Russian asset, as Trump undoubtedly is, has to at least pay lip service to being his own man. Of course, half the country doesn't believe this in the slightest. But narcissist that he is, he thinks he's pulling one over on us.
Pure theater.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,899 posts)It's just farting in their general direction. Since a bunch of other countries were doing the same thing at the same time it was easy enough to go along with the crowd without offending BFF Putin too much.
apnu
(8,759 posts)This, again, shows how slow and ill equipped the Trump Administration is with any crisis.
His WH was slow to react to two hurricanes and the wild fires in CA. His administration was slow to react or say anything when Charlottesville descended into a shitshow. His administration was slow to say anything about the mass shootings in Vegas and at Stoneman Douglas HS.
This clown is pathetic.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,899 posts)apnu
(8,759 posts)Because he spends hours per day in "executive time" live tweeting his rage as he watches Fox News.
blake2012
(1,294 posts)when many western powers are banding together to essentially say Russia committed chemical warfare on BRITISH SOIL, it would be hard for Trump to be seen not acting in the interests of our allies.
Also, FUCK TRUMP