Trump praises Putin for not expelling U.S. diplomats
Posted on December 31, 2016 by Editorial Staff in Russia, US
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Photo: AP
PALM BEACH, FLA.,— U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Friday praised Russian President Vladimir Putin for refraining from retaliation in a dispute over spying and cyber attacks, in another sign that the Republican plans to patch up badly frayed relations with Moscow.
Putin earlier on Friday said he would not hit back for the U.S. expulsion of 35 suspected Russian spies by President Barack Obama, at least until Trump takes office on Jan. 20.
“Great move on delay (by V. Putin) – I always knew he was very smart!” Trump wrote on Twitter from Florida, where he is on vacation.
Obama on Thursday ordered the expulsion of the Russians and imposed sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies over their involvement in hacking political groups in the Nov. 8 U.S. presidential election.
“We will not expel anyone,” Putin said in a statement, adding that Russia reserved the right to retaliate.
“Further steps towards the restoration of Russian-American relations will be built on the basis of the policy which the administration of President D. Trump will carry out,” he said.
In a separate development, a code associated with the Russian hacking operation dubbed Grizzly Steppe by the Obama administration has been detected within the system of a Vermont electric utility, the Washington Post reported on Friday, citing unnamed U.S. officials.
The Russians did not actively use the code to disrupt operations of the utility, the officials told the Post, but penetration of the nation’s electrical grid is significant because it represents a potentially serious vulnerability.
Trump has repeatedly praised Putin and nominated people seen as friendly toward Moscow to senior administration posts, but it is unclear whether he would seek to roll back Obama’s actions, which mark a post-Cold War low in U.S.-Russian ties.
Trump has brushed aside allegations from the CIA and other intelligence agencies that Russia was behind the cyber attacks.” It’s time for our country to move on to bigger and better things,” Trump said on Thursday, though he said he would meet with intelligence officials next week.
U.S. intelligence agencies say Russia was behind hacks into Democratic Party organizations and operatives before the presidential election. Moscow denies this. U.S. intelligence officials say the Russian cyber attacks aimed to help Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Russian officials have portrayed the sanctions as a last act of a lame-duck president and suggested Trump could reverse them when he takes over from Obama, a Democrat.
A senior U.S. official on Thursday said that Trump could reverse Obama’s executive order, but doing so would be inadvisable.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the Obama administration “a group of embittered and dimwitted foreign policy losers.”
REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION
Should Trump seek to heal the rift with Russia, he might encounter opposition in Congress, including from fellow Republicans.
Republican John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said on Friday that Russia must face a penalty for the cyber attacks.
“When you attack a country, it’s an act of war,” McCain said in an interview with the Ukrainian TV channel “1+1” while on a visit to Kiev.
“And so we have to make sure that there is a price to pay, so that we can perhaps persuade the Russians to stop these kind of attacks on our very fundamentals of democracy,” added McCain, who has scheduled a hearing for Thursday on foreign cyber threats.
Other senior Republicans, as well as Democrats, have urged a tough response to Moscow.
A total of 96 Russians are expected to leave the United States including expelled diplomats and their families.
Trump will find it very difficult to reverse the expulsions and lift the sanctions given that they were based on a unanimous conclusion by U.S. intelligence agencies, said Eugene Rumer, who was the top U.S. intelligence analyst for Russia from 2010 until 2014.
But that might not prevent Trump from improving ties to Russia, said Rumer, now director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a policy institute. “If Mr. Trump wants to start the relationship anew, I don’t think he needs to walk these sanctions back. He can just say this was Obama’s decision,” said Rumer.
As part of the sanctions, Obama told Russia to close two compounds in the United States that the administration said were used by Russian personnel for “intelligence-related purposes.”
Convoys of trucks, buses and black sedans with diplomatic license plates left the countryside vacation retreats outside Washington and New York City without fanfare on Friday.
A former Russian Foreign Ministry employee told Reuters that the facility in Maryland was a dacha used by diplomatic staff and their children. The 45-acre complex includes a Georgian-style brick mansion, swimming pool, tennis courts and cottages for embassy staff.
Neighbors said the Russians were a lively bunch, seen water-skiing in summer and known for throwing a large, annual Labor Day party.
The Russian consulate in San Francisco said on its Facebook page, “We hate to have to say goodbye to close to a dozen of our colleagues, our friends.” Among those expelled was the consulate chef.
Obama had promised consequences after U.S. intelligence officials blamed Russia for hacks intended to influence the 2016 election. Officials accused Putin of personally directing the efforts and primarily targeting Democrats.
Washington also put sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies, the GRU and the FSB, four GRU officers and three companies that Obama said “provided material support to the GRU’s cyber operations.”
http://ekurd.net/trump-praises-putin-diplomats-2016-12-31
Posted on December 31, 2016 by Editorial Staff in Russia, US
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Photo: AP
PALM BEACH, FLA.,— U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Friday praised Russian President Vladimir Putin for refraining from retaliation in a dispute over spying and cyber attacks, in another sign that the Republican plans to patch up badly frayed relations with Moscow.
Putin earlier on Friday said he would not hit back for the U.S. expulsion of 35 suspected Russian spies by President Barack Obama, at least until Trump takes office on Jan. 20.
“Great move on delay (by V. Putin) – I always knew he was very smart!” Trump wrote on Twitter from Florida, where he is on vacation.
Obama on Thursday ordered the expulsion of the Russians and imposed sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies over their involvement in hacking political groups in the Nov. 8 U.S. presidential election.
“We will not expel anyone,” Putin said in a statement, adding that Russia reserved the right to retaliate.
“Further steps towards the restoration of Russian-American relations will be built on the basis of the policy which the administration of President D. Trump will carry out,” he said.
In a separate development, a code associated with the Russian hacking operation dubbed Grizzly Steppe by the Obama administration has been detected within the system of a Vermont electric utility, the Washington Post reported on Friday, citing unnamed U.S. officials.
The Russians did not actively use the code to disrupt operations of the utility, the officials told the Post, but penetration of the nation’s electrical grid is significant because it represents a potentially serious vulnerability.
Trump has repeatedly praised Putin and nominated people seen as friendly toward Moscow to senior administration posts, but it is unclear whether he would seek to roll back Obama’s actions, which mark a post-Cold War low in U.S.-Russian ties.
Trump has brushed aside allegations from the CIA and other intelligence agencies that Russia was behind the cyber attacks.” It’s time for our country to move on to bigger and better things,” Trump said on Thursday, though he said he would meet with intelligence officials next week.
U.S. intelligence agencies say Russia was behind hacks into Democratic Party organizations and operatives before the presidential election. Moscow denies this. U.S. intelligence officials say the Russian cyber attacks aimed to help Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Russian officials have portrayed the sanctions as a last act of a lame-duck president and suggested Trump could reverse them when he takes over from Obama, a Democrat.
A senior U.S. official on Thursday said that Trump could reverse Obama’s executive order, but doing so would be inadvisable.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the Obama administration “a group of embittered and dimwitted foreign policy losers.”
REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION
Should Trump seek to heal the rift with Russia, he might encounter opposition in Congress, including from fellow Republicans.
Republican John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said on Friday that Russia must face a penalty for the cyber attacks.
“When you attack a country, it’s an act of war,” McCain said in an interview with the Ukrainian TV channel “1+1” while on a visit to Kiev.
“And so we have to make sure that there is a price to pay, so that we can perhaps persuade the Russians to stop these kind of attacks on our very fundamentals of democracy,” added McCain, who has scheduled a hearing for Thursday on foreign cyber threats.
Other senior Republicans, as well as Democrats, have urged a tough response to Moscow.
A total of 96 Russians are expected to leave the United States including expelled diplomats and their families.
Trump will find it very difficult to reverse the expulsions and lift the sanctions given that they were based on a unanimous conclusion by U.S. intelligence agencies, said Eugene Rumer, who was the top U.S. intelligence analyst for Russia from 2010 until 2014.
But that might not prevent Trump from improving ties to Russia, said Rumer, now director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a policy institute. “If Mr. Trump wants to start the relationship anew, I don’t think he needs to walk these sanctions back. He can just say this was Obama’s decision,” said Rumer.
As part of the sanctions, Obama told Russia to close two compounds in the United States that the administration said were used by Russian personnel for “intelligence-related purposes.”
Convoys of trucks, buses and black sedans with diplomatic license plates left the countryside vacation retreats outside Washington and New York City without fanfare on Friday.
A former Russian Foreign Ministry employee told Reuters that the facility in Maryland was a dacha used by diplomatic staff and their children. The 45-acre complex includes a Georgian-style brick mansion, swimming pool, tennis courts and cottages for embassy staff.
Neighbors said the Russians were a lively bunch, seen water-skiing in summer and known for throwing a large, annual Labor Day party.
The Russian consulate in San Francisco said on its Facebook page, “We hate to have to say goodbye to close to a dozen of our colleagues, our friends.” Among those expelled was the consulate chef.
Obama had promised consequences after U.S. intelligence officials blamed Russia for hacks intended to influence the 2016 election. Officials accused Putin of personally directing the efforts and primarily targeting Democrats.
Washington also put sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies, the GRU and the FSB, four GRU officers and three companies that Obama said “provided material support to the GRU’s cyber operations.”
http://ekurd.net/trump-praises-putin-diplomats-2016-12-31
Today at 6:39 am by Rocky
» utube 11/19/24 MM&C MM&C-News-Report-Census-Global Transparency-Budget-Trade-Banking-Delete the Ze
Today at 6:38 am by Rocky
» utube 11/18/24 MM&C IQD News Report - Contracts - Projects - Non Oil Revenue Streams - Activating
Today at 6:36 am by Rocky
» North Gas announces resumption of production line (1000) after maintenance is completed
Today at 6:34 am by Rocky
» Economist: The government is relying on weak reasons to diversify non-oil sources
Today at 6:31 am by Rocky
» Parliamentarian reveals secrets of railway investment
Today at 6:30 am by Rocky
» Iraqi Prime Minister: Tomorrow we will take an important step that has been delayed for years
Today at 6:28 am by Rocky
» Federal decisions threaten to shut down two thousand factories and disrupt a quarter of a million jo
Today at 6:27 am by Rocky
» First government comment on Israel's complaint against Iraq before the UN Security Council
Today at 6:26 am by Rocky
» Turkish Trade Minister: Development Path is the Best Corridor in the World
Today at 5:16 am by Rocky
» The future of international trade transactions in US dollars in Iraq
Today at 5:12 am by Rocky
» The first project to index Iraqi manuscripts digitally
Today at 5:10 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Security: Army Aviation College Law Ready for Voting
Today at 5:08 am by Rocky
» Population Census.. The Path to Development
Today at 5:07 am by Rocky
» Population census: an important tool for achieving sustainable economic development
Today at 5:06 am by Rocky
» Knowledge Summit 2024 kicks off, sharing visions and expertise on the future of knowledge and innova
Today at 5:04 am by Rocky
» The Minister of Interior discusses with the representative of the Secretary-General of the United Na
Today at 5:01 am by Rocky
» Minister of Transport confirms that the development road project will pave the way for important str
Today at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Türkiye's exports to Arab countries amounted to $40 billion in the first ten months of this year, an
Today at 4:57 am by Rocky
» Resumption of production line (1000) in the North Gas Company
Today at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Al-Hakim calls for enacting a law that legally protects paramedics from tribal prosecutions
Today at 4:53 am by Rocky
» The President of the Supreme Judicial Council discusses with the Spanish Ambassador cooperation betw
Today at 4:52 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The census is the dividing line between guesses and facts to distribute wealth according
Today at 4:51 am by Rocky
» The Speaker of the House of Representatives discusses with the Chinese Ambassador bilateral relation
Today at 4:47 am by Rocky
» Kurdish parties set impossible conditions for participation in the new government and formation in A
Today at 4:45 am by Rocky
» Can America limit China's influence in Iraq?
Today at 4:44 am by Rocky
» It will be passed soon.. Revealing the most important amendments to the Anti-Narcotics Law in Iraq
Today at 4:42 am by Rocky
» Al-Mashhadani: The general amnesty law is at the top of our priorities for the next stage
Today at 4:41 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani confirms the government's desire to develop the trade balance with Türkiye
Today at 4:40 am by Rocky
» MP: No understanding on "controversial" laws, disputes continue - Urgent
Today at 4:38 am by Rocky
» "An important achievement" .. The government reviews the most prominent advantages provided by the p
Today at 4:37 am by Rocky
» Al-Mashhadani confirms Parliament's support for legal agreements between Baghdad and Erbil
Today at 4:35 am by Rocky
» There is no point in changing them.. Politician: The new ministers will be nominated by the same par
Today at 4:34 am by Rocky
» Al-Hakim calls for enacting a law that legally protects paramedics from tribal prosecutions
Today at 4:32 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The census is the dividing line between guesses and facts to distribute wealth according
Today at 4:31 am by Rocky
» The Speaker of the House of Representatives discusses with the Chinese Ambassador bilateral relation
Today at 4:30 am by Rocky
» The third scenario for the chaos of the Middle East.. An Iraqi movement talks about the "Al-Hawl exp
Today at 4:28 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: Tomorrow we will take an important step that has been delayed for years (video)
Today at 4:25 am by Rocky
» Al-Sadr warns the government and parliament of two "important" matters
Today at 4:24 am by Rocky
» Iraqi-Iranian talks to implement Basra-Shalamcheh railway
Today at 4:23 am by Rocky
» Until the end of the month.. UAE announces cancellation of flights to Baghdad
Today at 4:21 am by Rocky
» Foreign Minister: Iraq's policy is based on establishing balanced relations
Today at 4:19 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: Election of Parliament Speaker helps the Council to continue performing its duties
Today at 4:17 am by Rocky
» Revealing the details of the meeting between the President of the Republic and the Judicial Council
Today at 4:16 am by Rocky
» Türkiye: Our relationship with Iraq included the economy in a comprehensive and broad manner
Today at 4:14 am by Rocky
» Ministry of Commerce denies intentions to withhold food ration cards linked to population census
Today at 4:12 am by Rocky
» Baghdad and Washington discuss the tense situation in the regional environment
Today at 4:10 am by Rocky
» The dollar continues to rise
Today at 4:08 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani directs an urgent appeal to the Iraqis
Today at 4:07 am by Rocky
» MM&C 11/17/24 For the first time in Iraq.. Efforts to establish an "Investment Association" to attr
Yesterday at 7:00 am by Rocky
» utube 11/16/24 MM&C-News Report-Iraq Dinar-Oil-Flow-Global Maritime Trade-Cross Border Transfer-Ex
Yesterday at 7:00 am by Rocky
» Global conflicts move to Iraq.. America and China fight economically in Baghdad
Yesterday at 6:57 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: Iraqi openness to comprehensive partnership with Türkiye and developing trade balance
Yesterday at 6:55 am by Rocky
» Accused of negligence, the Parliamentary Energy Committee calls on Al-Sudani to hold the “Baghdad El
Yesterday at 6:53 am by Rocky
» Al-Maliki's coalition notes Al-Sudani's performance in three files
Yesterday at 6:52 am by Rocky
» On charges of forgery... Al-Dulaimi complains about Al-Halbousi before the Integrity Commission
Yesterday at 6:51 am by Rocky
» Al-Karawi: The government mortgaged the port of Faw to companies affiliated with the Zionist entity
Yesterday at 6:49 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Integrity: We will proceed with the ministerial amendment even if the government delay
Yesterday at 6:48 am by Rocky
» Reopening of applications to the morning private government education channel
Yesterday at 6:47 am by Rocky
» Bitcoin rises after weekly losses
Yesterday at 6:42 am by Rocky
» Al-Maliki Coalition: The government amendment does not exceed three ministerial portfolios
Yesterday at 6:41 am by Rocky
» Parliamentarian: Amending the Election Law is out of the question
Yesterday at 6:39 am by Rocky
» Israel threatens to target infrastructure in Iraq and assassinate "prominent figures"
Yesterday at 5:15 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary regions: Article 140 road is closed
Yesterday at 5:14 am by Rocky
» The Central Bank of Iraq's dollar sales increased
Yesterday at 5:13 am by Rocky
» Al-Alaq reviews to the President of the Republic the Central Bank’s plans to develop the banking sec
Yesterday at 5:11 am by Rocky
» Al-Atwani to the French Embassy delegation: Halting external borrowing indicates an improvement in I
Yesterday at 5:10 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary move against Kar Oil Company: Suspicions of "fake" electricity supply
Yesterday at 5:09 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Health: Iraq suffers from a large surplus in the number of doctors and pharmacists by
Yesterday at 5:07 am by Rocky
» It causes a loss of one billion dollars per month.. A date has been set for the resumption of Kurdis
Yesterday at 5:06 am by Rocky
» Türkiye blames Iraq: You waste water and do not have good management in rationalizing it
Yesterday at 5:05 am by Rocky
» Iraq rejects “COP29” proposal: We will not get rid of fossil fuels, as they are the basis of our eco
Yesterday at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Bitcoin nears $90,000 after biggest drop since election
Yesterday at 5:03 am by Rocky
» For the first time, Iraq issues the commodity structure of exports and imports
Yesterday at 5:02 am by Rocky
» Procedures for (automating) the work of Baghdad International Airport
Yesterday at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Planning: No cuts to benefits or taxes due to census
Yesterday at 4:59 am by Rocky
» International organizations praise the government's national initiatives
Yesterday at 4:58 am by Rocky
» {Official platform} to combat rumors
Yesterday at 4:57 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The census will be used exclusively to develop development plans
Yesterday at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Justice audits financial movements in its departments
Yesterday at 4:54 am by Rocky
» Al-Imar to {Sabah}: 3 residential cities in Baghdad to be referred soon
Yesterday at 4:52 am by Rocky
» Kurdistan Region of Iraq plans to receive 10 million tourists annually
Yesterday at 4:51 am by Rocky
» Discussion of mineral investment and export mechanisms
Yesterday at 4:50 am by Rocky
» Consensus on the importance of planning in achieving sustainable development
Yesterday at 4:49 am by Rocky
» Corporate Restructuring: Stimulating Economic Growth
Yesterday at 4:47 am by Rocky
» Iraq's commitment to OPEC decisions controls oil prices
Yesterday at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Delete zeros and evaluate the dinar
Yesterday at 4:45 am by Rocky
» Economists: Empowering the private sector requires a legislative system
Yesterday at 4:44 am by Rocky
» Preparations for holding meetings of the Iraqi-Egyptian Committee
Yesterday at 4:43 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Legal Committee to Nina: Controversial and important laws will be passed in one go in
Yesterday at 4:41 am by Rocky
» Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics to Nina: The census activities are completely
Yesterday at 4:39 am by Rocky
» Turkish Trade Minister to visit Iraq tomorrow, Monday, heading a delegation of businessmen
Yesterday at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Slight decrease in dollar exchange rates in local markets
Yesterday at 4:36 am by Rocky
» Basra Gas Company launches the “Safe Step” program to raise awareness of the dangers of mines and wa
Yesterday at 4:35 am by Rocky
» With high-level governmental and international presence... the activities of the Iraqi Digital Space
Yesterday at 4:34 am by Rocky
» Ministry of Oil: FCC project to produce derivatives to be completed in the middle of next year
Yesterday at 4:33 am by Rocky
» Does America influence the decisions to form the regional government?.. 5 critical months
Yesterday at 4:32 am by Rocky
» Search for remains of the eight-year war postponed until 2025.. Diggers await spring
Yesterday at 4:30 am by Rocky
» US forces reposition in the "Desert Triangle" in western Iraq
Yesterday at 4:29 am by Rocky