^^^ Apparently all those diplomats have zero influence on Russia. President Trump doesn't have to speak about those failures. Nothingburger of a story. You are quoting yourself again.
President Trump has been backed into a corner on Russia policy, facing only bad options — pressed by President Vladimir Putin on one side and, from the other, by assertive U.S. lawmakers who don’t trust Trump to stand up to the autocrat.
A near-unanimous Congress last week sent to the White House a sanctions bill that clamps down on Russia, along with Iran and North Korea, and ties Trump’s hands from offering Putin relief from existing sanctions. Putin has retaliated by demanding the United States slash its diplomatic presence by about two-thirds, or 755 people.
Trump is caught in the middle. At home, he’s under pressure to sign the sanctions bill into law and aides say he will, if only because Congress could easily override a veto. Signing the bill, however, could sink his effort to improve relations with Russia and bond with Putin.
“He clearly is uncomfortable,” said Alexander Vershbow, a U.S. ambassador to Russia from 2001 through 2005.
Here and on the world stage, Trump runs the risk of looking weak if he doesn’t react boldly to Russia’s Cold War-style expulsion of so many U.S. embassy personnel. Yet over the last few days, Trump has been silent against a hostile act that in any prior administration would have provoked a presidential response.
“The president does look a little weak certainly vis-a-vis the Congress, but at the same time there’s also the psychological unwillingness to speak out against Putin,” said Vershbow, now a fellow at the Atlantic Council. “It’s always been inexplicable. It’s become even more inexplicable.”
Instead, Trump has left it to Vice President Mike Pence, who is traveling abroad, to fire back against the Kremlin.
“Very soon, President Trump will sign legislation to strengthen and codify the United States’ sanctions against Russia,” Pence said in a speech Tuesday in Tbilisi, Georgia, during a swing through former Soviet republics bordering Russia’s western border.
Pence condemned Russia’s 10-year-long occupation of South Ossetia, an area that makes up about one-fifth of Georgian territory, pointing out that Russian tanks sit on the border of the occupied lands about 40 miles from Tbilisi, where he spoke.
“We stand here today in the gap, on a front line of freedom, a front line compromised by Russian aggression nearly a decade ago,” Pence said.
The United States “prefers a constructive relationship with Russia,” Pence said. “But the president and our Congress are unified in our message to Russia — a better relationship, the lifting of sanctions, will require Russia to reverse the actions that caused the sanctions to be imposed in the first place. And not before.”
Those actions included Russia’s annexation of Crimea, formerly part of Ukraine, and its support of pro-Russian separatists fighting in Ukraine’s east.
Trump tried to develop a friendship with Putin over the first six months of his administration, mostly by phone until the two men met extensively last month at a summit of leading nations in Hamburg, Germany. Their contacts there included a private discussion of more than two hours and a separate long chat during a dinner closing the summit.
But early on, their efforts at building rapport seemed destined to falter. Hanging over their courtship is the investigation by a Justice Department special counsel into whether Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia to win the election. Also, despite Trump’s overtures to Putin, Russia hasn’t let up on efforts to undermine democratic elections in Europe and to foil U.S. actions in Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan and Libya.
The sanctions bill that cleared Congress last week, over administration objections, is being reviewed by West Wing lawyers, Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters Tuesday to explain why Trump hasn’t signed it yet.
“There is nothing holding him back. There is a review process, a legal process they are going through, and he will sign the bill and we will let you guys know,” Sanders said.
Only last month Trump was openly celebrating his new ties to Putin. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One en route to Paris in mid-July, the president said he would be open to inviting the Russian president to the White House at some point.
“If you don't have dialogue, you have to be fools — fools,” Trump said. “It would be the easiest thing for me to say … ‘I will never speak to him,’ and everybody would love me. But I have to do what's right,” he said.
Even as Trump has celebrated his outreach to Putin, he has argued that, as a candidate and now president, his proposed policies — to boost military spending and increase energy production more than Hillary Clinton would — should make him less popular with Moscow than his Democratic rival.
The sanctions bill, if he signs it, would codify the punishments President Obama placed on Russia in December for meddling in the 2016 election, and also impose significant restrictions on his stewardship of foreign policy.
It would prevent Trump, or any other president, from lifting those sanctions without going back to Congress for approval. The measure also would add restrictions affecting Russia’s energy sector and its intelligence and defense operations, making it harder for Moscow to export weapons.
Lawmakers initially wrote the sanctions legislation to restrict efforts by Iran and North Korea to develop nuclear-armed missiles. They subsequently included Russia out of bipartisan concern that Trump might ease existing sanctions on Russia to curry favor with Putin.
Nile Gardiner, director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at the conservative Heritage Foundation and a former aide to the former British prime minister, said Trump was taking the path of the previous two presidents — Obama and George W. Bush — who came into office seeking better relations with Russia, only to run into the hard reality that Putin’s interests are fundamentally at odds with America’s.
“The reality is you can’t get along with Vladimir Putin,” he said.
Gardiner said Trump was delegating Russian relations to staff, which was taking a justifiably hard line, and that “the president is moving more and more in sync” with administration experts.
He pointed to several policy positions that show a harder line toward Russia. Among them: the president’s apparent intent to sign the sanctions bill; his support for building up military power in Europe and for the existing sanctions against Moscow for its aggression toward Ukraine; the deployment of bombers to Britain; and discussion of sending defensive weapons to Ukraine.
Gardiner agreed Trump’s rhetoric had been more conciliatory toward Russia, but pointed to Pence’s tough words during his visit this week in the Baltics.
“I hope that President Trump will follow Pence’s lead on this,” he said. “Pence is saying all the things that need to be said.
Sources cited another sensitive factor at play: Russia. One Tillerson aide, R.C. Hammond, suggested the money is unwelcome because any extra funding for programs to counter Russian media influence would anger Moscow, according to a former senior State Department official.
Sources cited another sensitive factor at play: Russia. One Tillerson aide, R.C. Hammond, suggested the money is unwelcome because any extra funding for programs to counter Russian media influence would anger Moscow, according to a former senior State Department official.
See? Trump is untenable as is attaching yourself to him unless your state/district is one of the 33% (Ha, Ha, Ha). The Establishment wants him gone and gone he'll be.
See? Trump is untenable as is attaching yourself to him unless your state/district is one of the 33% (Ha, Ha, Ha). The Establishment wants him gone and gone he'll be.
Another brilliantly brilliant disappearing headlines from the fake news WSJ. Brilliant.
I almost got excited and thought this article was going to have something. Turns out it is another nothingburger. More sensationalism of a guy fired by President Trump doing some more investigating.
I'm very confused why the president of the United States did not say anything about Russia kicking 700 US diplomats out of their country.
Hmm
Another day gone by and no mention by our president in response to another country kicking out 700 of our diplomats.
Why is our president so submissive to Vladimir Putin? It seems he has no problem insulting anyone else on the face of the planet....yet he is unable to confront Mr. Putin.
Putin wouldnt have to do that if it werent for our Congress. its their fault.
Another brilliantly brilliant disappearing headlines from the fake news WSJ. Brilliant.
I almost got excited and thought this article was going to have something. Turns out it is another nothingburger. More sensationalism of a guy fired by President Trump doing some more investigating.
The impaneling of a grand jury indicates that the prosecution believes that they have enough evidence to request indictments. Put that meat in your nothing burger.
This will drive Trump crazy, Mueller and the Federal Bureau of Matters should drag this out for months. What a time to be alive! We're witnessing history "folks".
This will drive Trump crazy, Mueller and the Federal Bureau of Matters should drag this out for months. What a time to be alive! We're witnessing history "folks".
Just out of curiosity, why did you put quotation marks around "folks"?
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
You don't convene a grand jury for nothing. Something took a very serious turn over the last couple of days. Donald Trump the businessman would fire Mueller tonight. Donald Trump, the president, I don't know if it will happen.
Comments
Apparently all those diplomats have zero influence on Russia. President Trump doesn't have to speak about those failures. Nothingburger of a story. You are quoting yourself again.
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-trump-russia-20170801-story.html
Trump is stuck with only hard choices on Russia
A near-unanimous Congress last week sent to the White House a sanctions bill that clamps down on Russia, along with Iran and North Korea, and ties Trump’s hands from offering Putin relief from existing sanctions. Putin has retaliated by demanding the United States slash its diplomatic presence by about two-thirds, or 755 people.
“He clearly is uncomfortable,” said Alexander Vershbow, a U.S. ambassador to Russia from 2001 through 2005.
Here and on the world stage, Trump runs the risk of looking weak if he doesn’t react boldly to Russia’s Cold War-style expulsion of so many U.S. embassy personnel. Yet over the last few days, Trump has been silent against a hostile act that in any prior administration would have provoked a presidential response.
“The president does look a little weak certainly vis-a-vis the Congress, but at the same time there’s also the psychological unwillingness to speak out against Putin,” said Vershbow, now a fellow at the Atlantic Council. “It’s always been inexplicable. It’s become even more inexplicable.”
“Very soon, President Trump will sign legislation to strengthen and codify the United States’ sanctions against Russia,” Pence said in a speech Tuesday in Tbilisi, Georgia, during a swing through former Soviet republics bordering Russia’s western border.
Pence condemned Russia’s 10-year-long occupation of South Ossetia, an area that makes up about one-fifth of Georgian territory, pointing out that Russian tanks sit on the border of the occupied lands about 40 miles from Tbilisi, where he spoke.
“We stand here today in the gap, on a front line of freedom, a front line compromised by Russian aggression nearly a decade ago,” Pence said.
The United States “prefers a constructive relationship with Russia,” Pence said. “But the president and our Congress are unified in our message to Russia — a better relationship, the lifting of sanctions, will require Russia to reverse the actions that caused the sanctions to be imposed in the first place. And not before.”
Those actions included Russia’s annexation of Crimea, formerly part of Ukraine, and its support of pro-Russian separatists fighting in Ukraine’s east.
Trump tried to develop a friendship with Putin over the first six months of his administration, mostly by phone until the two men met extensively last month at a summit of leading nations in Hamburg, Germany. Their contacts there included a private discussion of more than two hours and a separate long chat during a dinner closing the summit.
But early on, their efforts at building rapport seemed destined to falter. Hanging over their courtship is the investigation by a Justice Department special counsel into whether Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia to win the election. Also, despite Trump’s overtures to Putin, Russia hasn’t let up on efforts to undermine democratic elections in Europe and to foil U.S. actions in Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan and Libya.
The sanctions bill that cleared Congress last week, over administration objections, is being reviewed by West Wing lawyers, Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters Tuesday to explain why Trump hasn’t signed it yet.
“There is nothing holding him back. There is a review process, a legal process they are going through, and he will sign the bill and we will let you guys know,” Sanders said.
Only last month Trump was openly celebrating his new ties to Putin. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One en route to Paris in mid-July, the president said he would be open to inviting the Russian president to the White House at some point.
“If you don't have dialogue, you have to be fools — fools,” Trump said. “It would be the easiest thing for me to say … ‘I will never speak to him,’ and everybody would love me. But I have to do what's right,” he said.
Even as Trump has celebrated his outreach to Putin, he has argued that, as a candidate and now president, his proposed policies — to boost military spending and increase energy production more than Hillary Clinton would — should make him less popular with Moscow than his Democratic rival.
The sanctions bill, if he signs it, would codify the punishments President Obama placed on Russia in December for meddling in the 2016 election, and also impose significant restrictions on his stewardship of foreign policy.
It would prevent Trump, or any other president, from lifting those sanctions without going back to Congress for approval. The measure also would add restrictions affecting Russia’s energy sector and its intelligence and defense operations, making it harder for Moscow to export weapons.
Lawmakers initially wrote the sanctions legislation to restrict efforts by Iran and North Korea to develop nuclear-armed missiles. They subsequently included Russia out of bipartisan concern that Trump might ease existing sanctions on Russia to curry favor with Putin.
Nile Gardiner, director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at the conservative Heritage Foundation and a former aide to the former British prime minister, said Trump was taking the path of the previous two presidents — Obama and George W. Bush — who came into office seeking better relations with Russia, only to run into the hard reality that Putin’s interests are fundamentally at odds with America’s.
“The reality is you can’t get along with Vladimir Putin,” he said.
Gardiner said Trump was delegating Russian relations to staff, which was taking a justifiably hard line, and that “the president is moving more and more in sync” with administration experts.
He pointed to several policy positions that show a harder line toward Russia. Among them: the president’s apparent intent to sign the sanctions bill; his support for building up military power in Europe and for the existing sanctions against Moscow for its aggression toward Ukraine; the deployment of bombers to Britain; and discussion of sending defensive weapons to Ukraine.
Gardiner agreed Trump’s rhetoric had been more conciliatory toward Russia, but pointed to Pence’s tough words during his visit this week in the Baltics.
“I hope that President Trump will follow Pence’s lead on this,” he said. “Pence is saying all the things that need to be said.
Gee I wonder why our president and secretary of state constantly appear weak when challenging Vladimir Putin?
Tillerson spurns $80 million to counter ISIS, Russian propaganda
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/02/tillerson-isis-russia-propaganda-241218Sources cited another sensitive factor at play: Russia. One Tillerson aide, R.C. Hammond, suggested the money is unwelcome because any extra funding for programs to counter Russian media influence would anger Moscow, according to a former senior State Department official.
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
Brilliantati©
http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/03/politics/robert-mueller-thom-tillis-chris-coons/index.html
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
Brilliantati©
https://www.wsj.com/articles/special-counsel-mueller-impanels-washington-grand-jury-in-russia-probe-1501788287
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
Brilliantati©
I almost got excited and thought this article was going to have something. Turns out it is another nothingburger. More sensationalism of a guy fired by President Trump doing some more investigating.
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
Brilliantati©
Vegan meat doesn't count. "The prosecution believes" - whoopee. Do it already.
What a time to be alive! We're witnessing history "folks".
for the least they could possibly do
Its "doing." Already. 195 days into Trump's first, only and last term. Want some pickles with that? And that's pie you refer to.
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
Brilliantati©
So at least you admit that President Trump will have a first term in office.
I never denied he was elected. Try to keep up.
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
Brilliantati©
Just like this impending impeachment that won't complete during the first term of President Trump.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-subpoena-idUSKBN1AJ2V0
Remind me again how often Grand Juries result in indictments?
Donald Trump the businessman would fire Mueller tonight. Donald Trump, the president, I don't know if it will happen.
http://www.reverbnation.com/brianzilm
Either that, or you have zero clue how this all works.
for the least they could possibly do
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/11/24/the-single-chart-that-shows-that-grand-juries-indict-99-99-percent-of-the-time/?utm_term=.b9b119ae4bc4
for the least they could possibly do