...as most probably remember, the obama admin at the very end of its term had seized some russian diplomatic property and expelled some 30 diplomats. the alleged reason for the drastic measure was the russian meddling in the us elections and spying. ruusia NEVER retaliated. this is highly unusual given the international diplomatic practice.
putting aside the long and well documented american record of spying and regime changes all over the world, i find it fascinating to observe and study how both the trump and vlad govts deal with the thorny issue they did not create :idea:
on the one hand, trump is under huge pressure at home due to this idiotic russia-gate hysterics. so he cant look soft on those he was accused created him...on the other, russia keeps saying officially (almost daily) that they are ready to retaliate in a symmetric manner. their threats are louder and louder, but, strangely, they have done nothing for already 7 month why :Question:
on the surface, the answer seems in their tactic not to irritate any further the already on the edge raging congress ready to pass a new set of anti russia sanctions. that may be so, but why then they keep yelling of a retaliation never actually delivering one ? as any student of history knows, any words not backed up by actions only incentify the object of the threats.
i think something else is going on. in that regard, yesterday's meeting btwn the russian and american assistants to foreign ministers is telling. while the russians issued 2 contradictory statements (an official - more threats and a private -'we almost struck a deal'), the state department said NOTHING. as if the meeting never took place.
sounds strange, isn't it ? not, if the assumption is they indeed reached some deal. Then the WH silence is understandable (keep the critics guessing) and the russian bluster aimed at the same audience and having the same purpose.
what's exactly in the deal is hard to say, but i'm pretty sure the diplomatic property will be returned and the diplomats will be quietly exchanged/replaced rather than bombastically 'expelled'.
i do think tillerson is much to be credited if my hunch is right... he may be not as honorable as the 'honorable mr kerry', but he's an order of magnitude smarter than the ketchup prince...
putting aside the long and well documented american record of spying and regime changes all over the world, i find it fascinating to observe and study how both the trump and vlad govts deal with the thorny issue they did not create :idea:
on the one hand, trump is under huge pressure at home due to this idiotic russia-gate hysterics. so he cant look soft on those he was accused created him...on the other, russia keeps saying officially (almost daily) that they are ready to retaliate in a symmetric manner. their threats are louder and louder, but, strangely, they have done nothing for already 7 month why :Question:
on the surface, the answer seems in their tactic not to irritate any further the already on the edge raging congress ready to pass a new set of anti russia sanctions. that may be so, but why then they keep yelling of a retaliation never actually delivering one ? as any student of history knows, any words not backed up by actions only incentify the object of the threats.
i think something else is going on. in that regard, yesterday's meeting btwn the russian and american assistants to foreign ministers is telling. while the russians issued 2 contradictory statements (an official - more threats and a private -'we almost struck a deal'), the state department said NOTHING. as if the meeting never took place.
sounds strange, isn't it ? not, if the assumption is they indeed reached some deal. Then the WH silence is understandable (keep the critics guessing) and the russian bluster aimed at the same audience and having the same purpose.
what's exactly in the deal is hard to say, but i'm pretty sure the diplomatic property will be returned and the diplomats will be quietly exchanged/replaced rather than bombastically 'expelled'.
i do think tillerson is much to be credited if my hunch is right... he may be not as honorable as the 'honorable mr kerry', but he's an order of magnitude smarter than the ketchup prince...