What a move...

[dreamville-bg.livejournal.com]

Well, it seems Russia will not only refrain from retaliating to the US expelling some of its diplomats in response for the alleged Russian meddling in the US election - but Putin has also disregarded his foreign minister's recommendation to reciprocate, and will keep all US diplomats in place, and even invite their kids to the traditional New Year's festivities in the Kremlin:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/russia-us-35-diplomats-expelled-9536358

This is a very calculated move by Putin. Despite the fact that he is a dictator, it's also doubtless that Putin is an astute leader who can assess the situation very quickly - unlike newly elected leader Trump who seems incompetent on virtually any issue. Putin wants to show himself as the good guy here, and I think Trump will no doubt take this bait rather easily.

The problem with this sort of diplomatic "sanctions" is that there is no concrete proof of Russia participating in election meddling at a government level (although we all know they did). In the meantime, we have to keep in mind that any country (especially powerful ones) at any given time is always actively trying to hack any information they can get from another country. These hacking activities have been there for decades and will stay as long as we have the digital world. And as soon as a new medium of information transfer is invented, that one is also going to be employed for espionage.

In a nutshell, Putin has scored another point against Obama here, making him look petty at the end of his term. Of course, Putin is in the stronger position here, because he knows Obama's days in office are numbered, and he's losing the last remnants of his influence pretty fast. In other words, he's beating a dead horse. All in all, America has been trolled yet again.

Comments

[airiefairie.livejournal.com]

Well played by Putin, but I will say this again, as I have said it all along. Anyone who underestimates Trump and expects him to act like a naive child, is in for a surprise. If Putin considers him a mere potential puppet, he is just going to be the next one in the ever growing list of people who have been shocked by the outcome.

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

I think it is less that he will be a naive child, and more that he will not be able to rein in his spoiled brattishness, and lazy lack of application to the task. Intelligence briefings anyone? Of course if Trump gets all of his intelligence from uncle Vlad, that changes things yet again.

ok, ack!

[pigshitpoet.livejournal.com]

i find it impossible to explain this in less than 5300 characters. for the rest of it, message me. using blame to deflect responsibility.

so suffice it to say,

the world would like peace.
p e a c e

there is no way to peace. peace is the way.

americans are truly in denial of their own shadow puppets. we hate our puppets equally.

blah

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

Some analysts are suggesting it is a good move by Obama as it drives a wedge between Trump and the GOP in Congress, and allows the GOP room enough to manoeuvre to possibly impeach the Donald under one of the many pretexts extant ATM and replace him with Pence, who is at least a politician who knows his arse from his elbow. The GOP may want to hold off until the Donald has alienated his "extreme" supporters by not enacting overtly racist policies.

Of course, the Donald can outmanoeuvre the GOP by being what the extreme right want him to be. This does not bode well. At all. Oh gods, I hope I'm wrong.