U.S. sanctions FSB and GRU as it expels 35 Russian diplomats and closes 2 compounds - Polidicks

[quote]The United States expelled 35 Russian diplomats and closed two Russian compounds in New York and Maryland in response to a campaign of harassment against American diplomats in Moscow, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday. The move against the diplomats from the Russian embassy in Washington and consulate in San Francisco is part of a series of actions announced on Thursday to punish Russia for a campaign of intimidation of American diplomats in Moscow and interference in the U.S. election. The Obama administration was also announcing on Thursday a series of retaliatory measures against Russia for hacking into U.S. political institutions and individuals and leaking information to help President-elect Donald Trump and other Republican candidates, two U.S. officials said. Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, has called for better relations with Russia. It was not clear if he will be able to immediately overturn the measures announced on Thursday. The Russian diplomats would have 72 hours to leave the United States, the official said. Access to the two compounds, which are used by Russian officials for intelligence gathering, will be denied to all Russian officials as of noon on Friday, the senior U.S. official added. "These actions were taken to respond to Russian harassment of American diplomats and actions by the diplomats that we have assessed to be not consistent with diplomatic practice," the official said.[/quote] [url]http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-russia-cyber-idUSKBN14I1TY[/url] [quote]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.[/quote] [url]https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/12/29/statement-president-actions-response-russian-malicious-cyber-activity[/url]

we war soon?

[QUOTE=Ninja Gnome;51598313]we war soon?[/QUOTE] putin probably realized he just has to wait 22 days

[QUOTE=Perrine;51598318]putin probably realized he just has to wait 22 days[/QUOTE] until putin accidentally insults trump and we get war regardless

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;51598325]until putin accidentally insults trump and we get war regardless[/QUOTE] He can brush it off as locker room talk, Trump would be understanding

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;51598325]until putin accidentally insults trump and we get war regardless[/QUOTE] But Hillary was the one who was going to get us into a war with Russia, not non-interventionist Trump! If that were to happen, I'd lay the blame squarely on Trump voters for ignoring the warnings of electing an egotistical manchild.

Thinking that Trump will get into a war over a tweet, or let his ego start world war 3 is rediculous. That is Saturday Night Live politics, that's not how the real world works.

[QUOTE=elixwhitetail;51598351]But Hillary was the one who was going to get us into a war with Russia, not non-interventionist Trump! If that were to happen, I'd lay the blame squarely on Trump voters for ignoring the warnings of electing an egotistical manchild.[/QUOTE] Trump likes Russia more than Obama though, he called these sanctions stupid. If anything a war is less likely. All of this just stinks to high shit to me. Seems like Americans want to blame big bogeyman Russia for its own incompetence.

wasn't obama supposed to release an intelligence report to congress and the public showing proof of their allegations against russia? he's just acting like a whiny child now and Russia's putting up with his temper tantrum because in a month he'll be irrelevant

[QUOTE=Pantz Master;51598361]Thinking that Trump will get into a war over a tweet, or let his ego start world war 3 is rediculous. That is Saturday Night Live politics, that's not how the real world works.[/QUOTE] It's a legacy of the hillary campaign's main point (she had nothing else) of why she should be elected and corporate media hammering that point home. Nevermind the fact that hillary is the actual war hawk here and is the one with personal vendettas, trump made some grand standing remarks about making wars we do have work for us by pillaging oil and making our allies share in NATO costs, so he's totally not the america first guy.

[QUOTE=Pantz Master;51598361]Thinking that Trump will get into a war over a tweet, or let his ego start world war 3 is rediculous. That is Saturday Night Live politics, that's not how the real world works.[/QUOTE] Well, considering Trump not only ran but won because of his "Saturday Night Live" level politics, I don't think using the "real world politics" card is as effective anymore.

[QUOTE=BlindSniper17;51598389]Well, considering Trump not only ran but won because of his "Saturday Night Live" level politics, I don't think using the "real world politics" card is as effective anymore.[/QUOTE] Election sensationalism is not the same as policy or war making.

Trump himself could be ambivalent about starting a war, but his entire cabinet are the same kinds of businessmen/Cheney warhawks that got us into this. They are directly benefited by war and have no reason not to be. They say "war is good for the economy" and forget about the whole death or nuclear holocaust things, because much like climate change, it just isn't their problem. And considering how much Trump likes to say "they'll be the most powerful X in history" and [i]refuses intelligence briefings[/i] no, they won't have a hard time going around him.

Don't worry guys, were already moving compound to Trump tower, everybody invited for a new year party. Also, how about some fucking proof Obama?

[QUOTE=TurtleeyFP;51598440]Trump himself could be ambivalent about starting a war, but his entire cabinet are the same kinds of businessmen/Cheney warhawks that got us into this. They are directly benefited by war and have no reason not to be. They say "war is good for the economy" and forget about the whole death or nuclear holocaust things, because much like climate change, it just isn't their problem. And considering how much Trump likes to say "they'll be the most powerful X in history" and [i]refuses intelligence briefings[/i] no, they won't have a hard time going around him.[/QUOTE] our new secretary of state earned a medal of friendship from russia, so

[QUOTE=Judas;51598450]our new secretary of state earned a medal of friendship from russia, so[/QUOTE] so it's time to LIBERATE CHINA [Editline]a [/editline] Either that or craft a narrative that Russia started it and betrayed our trust, which seems to be partially true. Unless it's started already?

Congress is overall seeming to support these actions. Will Trump continue to defend Russia? Here's some new evidence released: [url]http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/312132-fbi-dhs-release-report-on-russia-hacking[/url]

[QUOTE=Conscript;51598380]Nevermind the fact that hillary is the actual war hawk here and is the one with personal vendettas, trump made some grand standing remarks about making wars we do have work for us by pillaging oil and making our allies share in NATO costs, so he's totally not the america first guy.[/QUOTE] Hillary is a true war hawk for saying we should establish a have a no-fly zone over Syria in order to bring an end to the conflict. Trump is the bastion of peace who thinks we should invade middle-eastern oil fields to bring oil back to the US without having to buy it.

[QUOTE=shadow_oap;51598536]Congress is overall seeming to support these actions. Will Trump continue to defend Russia? Here's some new evidence released: [url]http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/312132-fbi-dhs-release-report-on-russia-hacking[/url][/QUOTE] Unfortunately the Republicans in congress are still largely shitty neo-cons so this doesn't surprise me.

Decade long campaign of cyber attacks. [url]http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/fbi-homeland-security-russian-hacking-report[/url]

Russia Side: [QUOTE=Russia]"These actions underline Obama's Aggressive and unpredictable foreign policy"... "This is illegal under Vienna law"..."Considering the current transition period in Washington, we still expect that we’ll be able to get rid of such clumsy actions… of behaving like a bull in a china shop, and that we’ll be able to make mutual joint steps to enter on the path of normalization of our bilateral relations."[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=elixwhitetail;51598351]But Hillary was the one who was going to get us into a war with Russia, not non-interventionist Trump! If that were to happen, I'd lay the blame squarely on Trump voters for ignoring the warnings of electing an egotistical manchild.[/QUOTE] But Obama seems to be the one causing problems with Russia right now?

[QUOTE=jimbobjoe1234;51598638]But Obama seems to be the one causing problems with Russia right now?[/QUOTE] No, Russia causing problems with the US is what is causing problems with Russia. Obama campaigned on restoring relations with Russia, especially after the Invasion of Georgia. The new relations seemed to be working out pretty well, and then Russia invaded Ukraine.

Obama was quick enough to close these compounds but not quick enough to send air support to Benghazi, nice.

[QUOTE=GhillieBacca;51598645]Obama was quick enough to close these compounds but not quick enough to send air support to Benghazi, nice.[/QUOTE] Shame on the US for not indiscriminately bombing civilians when their embassy was attacked. Also, there's a difference between the US planning to do something, and a sudden attack in the middle of the night.

The U.S has a long history of intervening foreign goverments for their own benefit, so i find it pretty amazing that this time they are the ones that got a foreign nation, like Russia no less, to influence their elections and get the candidate that clearly benefited them out of the two to get elected.

[QUOTE=shadow_oap;51598536]Congress is overall seeming to support these actions. Will Trump continue to defend Russia? Here's some new evidence released: [url]http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/312132-fbi-dhs-release-report-on-russia-hacking[/url][/QUOTE] I gave a report a good read and here are few questions: it is dedicated to explaining how these two "hack groups" operated yet it never provided any explanation of attribiting them to russian intelligence. It just goes "in the end it all leads to FSB and GRU"... well, how about you release a report that explains a connection to your accusations than giving a two page lore for hacking thriller and 11 pages of internet security manual?! Also some nicknames in document quite hillarious. Perhabs there is someone in threadmore capable to analyse report's information, please share your thoughts.

Yeah let's put sanctions on Russia without any evidence of them actually hacking anything. I'm sure that will help relations.

Is there really any purpose to all this shit Obama's been doing the last few weeks other than trying to leave a mess for Trump to clean up?

[QUOTE=dark soul;51598684]Yeah let's put sanctions on Russia without any evidence of them actually hacking anything. I'm sure that will help relations.[/QUOTE] [URL="https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-12-29/u-s-said-to-plan-release-of-evidence-showing-russian-hacking"]https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-12-29/u-s-said-to-plan-release-of-evidence-showing-russian-hacking[/URL] Keep eyes out for today.