US retaliates against Russia ordering closure of consulate and annexes

[Zippyjuan]

Retaliation for the diplomatic cuts Russia made in retaliation for Obama's diplomatic cuts. The "Cold War" is back.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/31/politics/us-russia-retaliation-orders-closure-consulate/index.html


The US announced Thursday it will shutter the Russian consulate in San Francisco, as well as annexes in Washington and New York, in response to mandated staff cuts at the US mission in Russia.

The move comes one day before Moscow's deadline for US personnel to leave their positions and will take effect Saturday.

"The United States has fully implemented the decision by the Government of the Russian Federation to reduce the size of our mission in Russia," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement announcing the decision. "We believe this action was unwarranted and detrimental to the overall relationship between our countries."

"In the spirit of parity invoked by the Russians," she continued, "we are requiring the Russian government to close its Consulate General in San Francisco, a chancery annex in Washington, DC, and a consular annex in New York City."

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov "regrets" the US decision, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson phoned Lavrov to inform him of the order, according to a statement from the ministry.
Russia will study the order and respond to Washington, according to the statement.

The move is the latest in a series of escalating diplomatic penalties between the United States and Russia that began in the aftermath of last year's US presidential election.

In July, the Russian Foreign Ministry ordered the United States cut its diplomatic staff in Russia by nearly half and announced it would seize two US diplomatic properties in response to expanded sanctions passed by Congress.

In late 2016, former President Barack Obama ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats, and the seizure of two Russian government compounds in response to alleged Russian meddling in the US presidential election. At the time, the Kremlin announced it would not retaliate immediately, but rather, consider further action "based on the policies of the Trump administration."

[goldenequity]

Retaliation for the diplomatic cuts Russia made in retaliation for Obama's diplomatic cuts. The "Cold War" is back.

The reaction from the Russian side was adequate.
Trump is putting more oil on the fire.
He had PLENTY of time to reinstate the Obama damage done on the false accusations
of 'interference' in 2016 election.
This ALL on Trump.

[Zippyjuan]

The reaction from the Russian side was adequate.
Trump is putting more oil on the fire.
He had PLENTY of time to reinstate the Obama damage done on the false accusations
of 'interference' in 2016 election.
This ALL on Trump.

Agree.

[goldenequity]

TASS
Buildings of closed Russian diplomatic missions in US to remain Russia’s property
http://tass.com/world/963099

[goldenequity]

US security services to search Russian consulate in San Francisco on Saturday – Moscow
https://www.rt.com/news/401770-searches-russian-consulate-sf/

=========

US Closure of Consulates 'Ignores International Law,' Presents 'Direct Threat' to Diplomats - Russian Foreign Ministry
https://sputniknews.com/news/201709011057009478-russian-foreign-ministry-diplomats-security/

"The demands of the US authorities create a direct threat to the security of Russian citizens,"
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Friday
as US special services plan to search the Russian consulate in San Francisco
and even scour the residences of consulate workers on September 2.

"Alongside yet another raid on expensive objects of Russian state property,
which [the US] has blocked and are now persistently offering to put up on sale,
this time the demands of the US authorities pose a direct threat to security of Russian citizens."

FBI agents are poised to conduct the search, Zakharova said,
noting that the searches directly compromise the workers' diplomatic immunity.

Moscow adamantly opposes the US State Department's decision
to close down three Russian diplomatic compounds in the US, she added.


Russian personnel were given just 12 hours notice that their homes would be searched,
even though families with children live there.

The US decision to shutter the properties "even exceeds" former President Barack Obama's
expulsion of Russian diplomatic officials and seize Russian properties in New York and Maryland in 2016,
the spokeswoman said.


"We express strong protest in relation to the actions of Washington, which ignore international law," Zakhrova stated,
adding "In accordance with diplomatic practices, we reserve the right to respond. That is not our choice. It was imposed on us."

=========

A Disrespect for the international law and diplomatic practices

Diplomatic compounds are considered sovereign territories of countries which create them by international law.
For example, why is Assange refuged on the embassy in the UK.

As well
diplomatic personnel enjoy immunity until the host country, which they work within, strips them of it.

If US security forces enter the diplomatic compounds then it is an invasion of Russian territory.

This is the precedent that Trump now gives to the world.


http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr55/goldenequity/zzzembassy.jpg

http://www.diffen.com/difference/Consulate_vs_Embassy
========


It wasn't even this bad in the cold war.
Disgusting and MEANT TO PROVOKE. :mad:
butthurt neocons.

[goldenequity]

last footage of San Francisco Consulate (2 hrs ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUbpOgoiMA8


Russian Trade Rep. Head Office in DC after closure order

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2xsEZgj3B0





903711500996681734

[Swordsmyth]

Firefighters Scramble After Smoke Pours From Russian Consulate Chimney In San Francisco
With evicted Russian diplomats scrambling to collect their baggage and vacate the San Francisco consulate in hours ahead of the September 2 deadline, the AP reports (http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/smoke-russian-consulate-san-francisco)that "acrid, black smoke" was seen pouring from a chimney at the Russian consulate on Friday.
http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user5/imageroot/2017/08/12/SF%20Rus%201_0.jpg (http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user5/imageroot/2017/08/12/SF%20Rus%201.jpg)
However, instead of sabotage, it appears the Russians were engaged in some last minute creative document "redaction."
Firefighters who arrived at the scene were turned away by consulate officials who emerged from inside the building. An Associated Press reporter heard people who came from inside the building tell firefighters that there was no problem and that consulate staff were burning "unidentified items in a fireplace."

More at: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-09-01/firefighters-scramble-after-smoke-pours-russian-consulate-chimney-san-francisco

[Raginfridus]

Oldest Trick: start a fire in their consulate, you've got yourself a federal investigation. FBI were probably on scene, before a dispatcher got the call. All papers and electronics become evidence.

[goldenequity]

They were choosing a pope.

[Raginfridus]

Are the conclave of Cardinals dressing like Russians, and colluding with Native Americans to influence papal elections?

[nikcers]

The reaction from the Russian side was adequate.
Trump is putting more oil on the fire.
He had PLENTY of time to reinstate the Obama damage done on the false accusations
of 'interference' in 2016 election.
This ALL on Trump.

If this is all on Trump why is everyone believing the narrative that the administration is doing the best it can with the foreign policy the previous administration gave them. This is basically giving the MSM the benefit of the doubt to start any wars they want.

This is why they wanted Trump, no political accountability especially from his dumbass supporters, and then even if there is political backlash they will just run controlled opposition, essentially we are getting a Ron Paul on steroids..

I have seen some pro Obama people cozy up to Trump to this regard. It seems something non partisan kicks into overdrive and people get patriotic when you blame the US government for anything if people don't think your criticisms are valid, and since Trump gets criticized unfairly people buy into the big lie.

[goldenequity]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5oR6qPNYlI






https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBlkWxXv3G8







https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWwq9ps5FZg

[goldenequity]

Can't blame him..... who wants to hear the wafflehouse witch rant & rave.:rolleyes:

Russia's Putin won't attend UN General Assembly
http://tass.com/politics/963298

https://phototass4.cdnvideo.ru/width/744_b12f2926/tass/m2/en/uploads/i/20170902/1176405.jpg

MOSCOW, September 2. /TASS/. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin does not plan this year participating
in the session of the UN General Assembly due in September, the president’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov told TASS on Saturday.

"No, this is not in the president’s plans," he said.

The press secretary chose not to comment on what impact
the initiatives of U.S. President Donald Trump would have
on the eve of this session’s summit of world leaders.


=========

Moscow summons deputy chief of US mission to hand in note of protest over trade mission search plan
https://www.rt.com/news/401822-russia-us-mission-summoned/

[juleswin]

Watch crosstalk on RT on Monday morning and I swaer to god these idiots would still be blaming the deep state for this. And the woke people on this site would still hold out hope that Trump i not working for the deep state.

[goldenequity]

Moscow Will Not Meet Searches in Russian Trade Mission in US Without Response
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201709021057034341-russian-trade-mission-searches-response/



Enrico Ivanov@Russ_Warrior 14 min.
Rumors: Kremlin considering to break diplomatic ties and expelling #US amb. as retaliation to illegal invasion of #Russian consulate in SF.

[goldenequity]

Putin Says Russia May Order Another 155 US Diplomatic Staff Home
http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/putin-says-russia-may-order-another-155-us-diplomatic-staff-home/ri20830?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

The Russian government daily Rossiyskaya Gazeta is citing Putin as having said that
Moscow imposed a limit of 455 US diplomatic staff in Russia, because
that is the combined number of staff of the Russian diplomatic missions to the United States,
and
the United Nations, on US soil.

Thus the Russian and American missions to Washington and Moscow
are actually still not at parity.
The former actually has only 300 staff.
Putin continues to say Russia therefore reserves the right to order another reduction in US staff,
but wants to see how situation develops first.

Putin also took a swipe at US elites explaining that
it is "difficult to have a dialogue with people who confuse Austria with Australia".

[Swordsmyth]

So let me explain what is happening here how the Russians interpreted the latest US thuggery concerning the Russian Consulate in San Francisco and the Russian diplomatic annexes in Washington and New York.
First, the Russians fully expected the Americans to retaliate after the Russian expulsion of US diplomatic personnel in Russia. That, by itself, is not the problem. The Russians understand that Trump is a cornered and weak President, that he has to show how “tough” he is. Sure, they smile, but they think that this is ‘fair game’. The Russians also know that, as a country, the USA cannot accept the biggest reduction in US diplomatic personnel in history without reacting. Again, they don’t necessarily like it, but they think that this is ‘fair game’.
You know what really triggered the Russians off? The fact that the Americans gave them only 2 days to vacate the premises they would seize and that they organized some kind of bizarre search operation. Let me immediately explain that this is not a case of ruffled feathers by the Russians, not at all. But here is how they would think about it:

“Why would they give us only 2 days? Do they really think that we cannot clear the premises from anything sensitive in 60 minutes if needed? Or are they actually trying to inconvenience our personnel? If so, do they really think that we are going to break out in hysterics? Do the Americans really think that they will find something? What? Papers proving that Trump is our agent? Maybe a hidden nuclear device? Or the computers we used to hack in every server in the USA?”
To a Russian, these questions can only have one answer: of course not. So what is going on here? And then there is the only possible explanation left:

“We beat them is Syria, we are beat them in the Ukraine, they lost Afghanistan, they lost Iraq, their Navy apparently does not know how to use a radar, their soldiers are terrified to fight somebody capable of resistance, they failed to impress not only China, but even the North Koreans who are openly laughing at them. Hezbollah laughs at them. Even Venezuela refuses to be scared! The Iranians openly threaten them with consequences if they back out of the deal they signed. Even Pakistan is openly expressing its disgust with the USA. Ditto for Turkey. Heck – the Americans are losing on all fronts and the very best they can do is try to feel good about illegally harassing our diplomatic personnel! Pathetic, lame, losers!”
And they are 100% correct.
The latest US thuggery against Russian diplomats is as stupid as it is senseless. I think that US diplomats of the era of James Baker must be absolutely mortified to see the kind of idiocy their successors are now engaging in.
This is also the end of Rex Tillerson. The poor man now has only two options left: resign (that would be the honorable thing to do) or stay and become another castrated eunuch unable to even deal with the likes of Nikki Haley, nevermind the North Koreans!
A “spokesperson” for the White House declared that Trump personally ordered the latest thuggery. Okay, that means one of two thing: either Trump is so weak that he cannot even fire a lying spokesperson or that he has now fallen so low as to order the “thug life” behavior of the State Department. Either way, it is a disgrace.

More at: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-09-05/saker-warns-make-no-mistake-latest-us-thuggery-sign-weakness-not-strength

[goldenequity]

“That the Americans reduced the number of our diplomatic facilities – this is their right,”
Putin told a news conference in the Chinese city of Xiamen, where he was attending a summit of BRICs nations.

“The only thing is that it was done in such a clearly boorish manner.
That does not reflect well on our American partners.
But it’s difficult to conduct a dialogue with people who confuse Austria and Australia.
Nothing can be done about it. Probably such is the level of political culture of a certain part of the U.S. establishment.”

“As for our buildings and facilities, this is an unprecedented thing,” Putin said.
“This is a clear violation of Russia’s property rights. Therefore, for a start, I will order the Foreign Ministry to go to court
– and let’s see just how efficient the much-praised U.S. judiciary is.”

[goldenequity]

TASS
http://tass.com/politics/964515
Moscow has nothing to do with Facebook ads during US presidential campaign — Kremlin

The Kremlin spokesman stresses Moscow has nothing to do with Facebook ads
allegedly purchased by Russians to influence the election campaign

VLADIVOSTOK, September 7. /TASS/. The Kremlin has nothing to do with Facebook ads
allegedly purchased by Russians to influence the election campaign in the United States,
presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

"We have never heard of this, we know nothing about this and we have nothing to do with these affairs," Peskov said.

He added that Moscow should not be linked to "these Facebook stories."

A number of western media reported earlier that accounts which allegedly originated in Russia
were purchasing Facebook ads from June 2015 till May 2017.

========

Boston.com
Facebook: Accounts from Russia bought ads during US campaign

Washington Post
Russian firm tied to pro-Kremlin propaganda advertised on Facebook during election

The Moscow Times
Facebook Blocks 470 Fake Accounts Linked to Russian 'Troll Factory'

Haaretz
Facebook Reveals Russia Spent $100000 on Fake Politically Charged Accounts

HuffPost
Facebook Reportedly Turns Over Election Ad Data To Special Counsel Mueller

ABC News
Facebook says it sold $100000 in ads to fake Russian accounts during presidential election

Yahoo News
Facebook says fake accounts linked to Russia bought thousands of ads during US election

CNN
Schiff: Russian Facebook ad buy confirms disinformation finding

Raw Story
Maddow: Jared Kushner may have helped Russian operatives with targeted political ads on Facebook

New York Times
Fake Russian Facebook Accounts Bought $100000 in Political Ads

Sputnik International
Facebook Accuses Russia of Social Media 'Information Operations' During Election

Financial Times
Facebook reveals Russian spending on US election ads

FOX News Radio
Facebook Says Investigation Shows $100k Worth of Ads Sold to Russia During Election

[Swordsmyth]

$100000 is enough to "steal" an election?