Diplomacy

29 December 2016

Statement from The Obama:
********quote*****
[ blah - blah - blah ]
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.
*****endquote*****
[boldface added - DD]
Ref: The White House


29 December 2016

Tweet from the Russian Embassy, UK:
********quote*****

*****endquite*****
Ref: twitter.com


30 December 2016

Statement from President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin:
********quote*****
We regard the recent unfriendly steps taken by the outgoing US administration as provocative and aimed at further weakening the Russia-US relationship. This runs contrary to the fundamental interests of both the Russian and American people. Considering the global security responsibilities of Russia and the United States, this is also damaging to international relations as a whole.
As it proceeds from international practice, Russia has reasons to respond in kind. Although we have the right to retaliate, we will not resort to irresponsible ‘kitchen’ diplomacy but will plan our further steps to restore Russian-US relations based on the policies of the Trump Administration.
The diplomats who are returning to Russia will spend the New Year’s holidays with their families and friends. We will not create any problems for US diplomats. We will not expel anyone. We will not prevent their families and children from using their traditional leisure sites during the New Year’s holidays. Moreover, I invite all children of US diplomats accredited in Russia to the New Year and Christmas children’s parties in the Kremlin.
It is regrettable that the Obama Administration is ending its term in this manner. Nevertheless, I offer my New Year greetings to President Obama and his family.
My season’s greetings also to President-elect Donald Trump and the American people.
I wish all of you happiness and prosperity.
*****endquote*****
[boldface added - DD]
Ref: The Kremlin

Only 21 more days of tolerating little Obama left.

21 more days and then the draining of the swamp begins in earnest, with the biggest piece of excrement being the first to go.

Yes, the countdown has begun.....one can only wonder how much more damage this fool can do before exiting stage left.

What will he do with Guantanamo?
What will he do with Bergdahl?
How many pardons can one guy issue?
How many more environmental issues can he screw up?

His parting is like the 12 days of Christmas, except his gifts are a real pain in the butt.

I keep telling myself......It's the hap, happiest time in 8 years. Just gotta get through the last three weeks.

The Three Stooges strike again.

As usual billy has nothing of value to say

I remember a very short time ago when our resident conservatives complained about how "weak" the current administration was given their tepid response to Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Holy cow! were they upset. If only we had a president with some balls who could stick it to them!

This is how our righties responded when FOX News told them Russia was the enemy.....
LVA Thread on Ukraine

How far we've come. All it took was a Republican nominee whose mouth is glued to Putin's dick to change that perspective 180 degrees. Now Obama is being too mean to poor-old-Vladimir Putin....and it hurts DonDiego's feelings too. Can't we just get along with Donnie's new best friend and financier? No worries - that appears to be the precise plan with our new Exxon sponsored Secretary of State.

PJ, you get more pathetic with each new posting.

He had 8 years to do something. Instead he & shrillery suck up to the guy. Remember her reset button? How abou his things will be easier if I am reflected comment? He had 18 months to handle the hacking issue and 8 years to screw Israel but he waits until the last month to do it.

Instead on his way out the door he drops an intl problem on Trump.

Wow! How time flies. That referenced thread is approaching 3 years old, hardly a "very short time ago".
As a perceived "resident conservative" DonDiego reviewed his posts from the referenced thread from "way back when".

He observes his major points were i. that The Obama and Secretary Kerry were, in fact, sorry-leaders simultaneously feckless and misguided and ii. that the result would be a successful takeover of Crimea by Mr. Putin. He stands by those analyses.

However, DonDiego was not then-or-now "upset" by the Obama Administration, just perennially disappointed.

And poor old DonDiego never suggested that "a president with some balls [should] stick it to them." Quite the contrary, DonDiego counseled restraint and suggested warfare with the Russkies, especially warfare in the region of Eastern Europe, should not be undertaken.

DonDiego recommends the doubtful reader review the referenced thread to confirm poor old DonDiego's point-of-view.


For the record, DonDiego views Russia more as a "competitor" than an "enemy", regardless of what FOX News tells him. And DonDiego applauds competition.

For the record poor old DonDiego's feelings are not hurt by anything The Obama has done/does/will do, . . . that is not to say he hasn't been repeatedly disappointed.

For the record, DonDiego has persevered under the threat of Total Nuclear War since the mid-50's, when it all started. In fact, poor old DonDiego actually participated in "duck-and-cover" exercises by crawling under his desk; he wondered if the nearly-one-story-high windows in his classroom would withstand the nuclear blast over Philadelphia, some 60 miles away.
So DonDiego would really feel let-down if he were killed in a nuclear war at his advanced age; he'd also like for his toddler granddaughter to grow up and enjoy a happy life.

[If one is interested in why President Putin got involved with military matters in neighboring Ukraine, . . . eventually resulting in the annexation of Crimea, . . . DonDiego suggests one research the "Maidan Revolution" in Ukraine and who, i.e. what countries, may have been involved in removing President Viktor Yanukovych from his Presidency through supporting the "revolution". Or not.]

You tell 'em Shemp.