U.S. Senate slaps new sanctions on Russia; Putin vows retaliation

[webfact]

U.S. Senate slaps new sanctions on Russia; Putin vows retaliation

By Patricia Zengerle and Denis Pinchuk

 

FILE PHOTO - U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri (not pictured) in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, U.S., REUTERS/Carlos Barria

 

WASHINGTON/SAVONLINNA, Finland (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate voted nearly unanimously on Thursday to slap new sanctions on Russia despite President Donald Trump's objections to the legislation, which has angered Russian President Vladimir Putin who threatened to retaliate.

 

The Senate backed the measure, which also imposes sanctions on Iran and North Korea, by a margin of 98-2 with strong support from Trump's fellow Republicans as well as Democrats. The bill will now be sent to the White House for Trump to sign into law or veto.

 

The bill is the first major foreign policy legislation approved by Congress under Trump, who has struggled to advance his domestic agenda despite Republicans controlling the Senate and House of Representatives.

 

If Trump chooses to veto it, the bill is expected to garner enough support in both chambers to override his veto and pass it into law.

 

The bill threatens to further derail U.S.-Russian relations, which deteriorated under former President Barack Obama. Trump had hoped to improve ties but his administration has been clouded by investigations of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election to help Trump. The president denies any collusion between his campaign and Moscow.

 

The sanctions measure has already passed the House of Representatives by a 419-3.

 

Republicans and Democrats have pushed for more sanctions partly as a response to conclusions by U.S. intelligence agencies that the Kremlin interfered in the election.

 

Speaking just before the Senate passed the bill, Republican Senator John McCain, a leading congressional voice calling for a firm line against Russia said: "The United States of America needs to send a strong message to Vladimir Putin and any other aggressor that we will not tolerate attacks on our democracy."

 

Putin, who has repeatedly denied meddling in the campaign said Moscow would only decide on how to retaliate once it had seen the final text of the proposed law.

 

The bill would affect a range of Russian industries and might further hurt the Russian economy, already weakened by 2014 sanctions imposed after the Ukraine crisis.

 

Besides angering Moscow, the proposed legislation has upset the European Union, which has said the new sanctions might affect its energy security and prompt it to act, too.

 

Earlier on Thursday, a senior White House aide said Trump could veto the pending legislation in order to push for a tougher deal, an idea that drew skepticism in Congress because his administration had spent weeks lobbying for a weaker bill.

 

Trump's concerns include a provision letting Congress stop any effort to ease existing sanctions on Russia. But White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci suggested Trump in fact wanted stronger sanctions.

 

"He may sign the sanctions exactly the way they are or he may veto the sanctions and negotiate an even tougher deal against the Russians," Scaramucci told CNN.

 

Earlier on Thursday, Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters:

 

"I would guess that he (Trump) will sign it."

 

WHAT WILL TRUMP DO?

 

Earlier on Thursday before the Senate vote, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the Trump administration continues to support strong sanctions against Russia, North Korea and Iran, adding "we're going to wait and see what that final legislation looks like and make a decision at that point."

 

Trump can impose new sanctions at any time through an executive order.

 

"This bill doesn’t preclude him from issuing tougher sanctions. That doesn’t make any sense," said Edward Fishman, a former State Department official during the Obama administration who worked on U.S. sanctions policy.

 

Once Trump receives the bill, if he does not sign it, he has 10 days, excluding Sundays, before he must issue a veto and prevent the bill from becoming law automatically.

 

If he opts for a veto, the bill can become law anyway if two-thirds of both the House and Senate vote for an override.

 

Putin said on a visit to Finland on Thursday that Russia was "exercising restraint and patience, but at some moment we'll have to retaliate. It's impossible to endlessly tolerate this boorishness towards our country."

 

Putin, at a joint news conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, also spoke about Obama's order last December to seize Russian diplomatic property in the United States and to expel 35 Russian diplomats.

 

"This goes beyond all reasonable bounds," Putin said. "And now these sanctions - they are also absolutely unlawful from the point of view of international law."

 

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle in Washington and Denis Pinchuk in Savonlinna, Finland; additional reporting by Susan Heavey, Eric Walsh, Richard Cowan, Valerie Volcovici, Roberta Rampton, Arshad Mohammed, Yeganeh Torbati, David Alexander and Doina Chiacu in Washington; Writing by Yara Bayoumy; Editing by James Dalgleish and Grant McCool)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-07-28

 

[craigt3365]

Right.  Let's see.  Putin hacks US election computers, get's slapped for it, then threatens to retaliate for getting slapped?  Too funny.

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

If Trump chooses to veto it, the bill is expected to garner enough support in both chambers to override his veto and pass it into law.

good example of checks and balances

[rijb]

Sounds like the honeymoon is over for Putin and Trump. 

[craigt3365]

6 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

good example of checks and balances

Should have the same thing for Executive Orders! LOL

[YetAnother]

2 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

Should have the same thing for Executive Orders! LOL

and presidential pardons

[Rancid]

After all the Russians spend 1/10th on defense that the US does. Guess the US better increase the military budget then...to counter the Russians evil ploy. If a movie Dr Evil would play Putin.

 

If it wasn't all so sad it would be amusing, even Goebbels would even roll his eyes at the gullibility.

[craigt3365]

2 minutes ago, Rancid said:

After all the Russians spend 1/10th on defense that the US does. Guess the US better increase the military budget then...to counter the Russians evil ploy. If a movie Dr Evil would play Putin.

 

If it wasn't all so sad it would be amusing, even Goebbels would even roll his eyes at the gullibility.

You are aware of the massive increases in military spending going on in Russia?  Including their nuclear weapons?  And the countries they've invaded recently?

 

Yes, some do seem gullible. LOL

[Grouse]

So what are the sanctions? Is everything always about the Orange?

[schlog]

McCain is symbol for the sick, old and scared U.S..

Time is running and sure not in favor for this shareholder value state.

America first till it's over!

[schlog]

5 minutes ago, Grouse said:

So what are the sanctions? Is everything always about the Orange?

Check point 7 and 10 of the sanctions list and you will see....U.S.gas...U.S. first....U.S.shareholder value

[hawker9000]

26 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

You are aware of the massive increases in military spending going on in Russia?  Including their nuclear weapons?  And the countries they've invaded recently?

 

Yes, some do seem gullible. LOL

AND the spending going on by China, N. Korea, Iran; support by some countries for Hamas, Hezbollah, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram, Taliban, ISIS, other terrorist groups.   Somebody says "oh, look at the big bad USA, THEY spend 10x more than Russia on defense!" and we're all supposed to be stunned into shock & awe by that one-tenth of the truth...    Wingnut misinformation at its finest.

 

 

 

[craigt3365]

25 minutes ago, schlog said:

McCain is symbol for the sick, old and scared U.S..

Time is running and sure not in favor for this shareholder value state.

America first till it's over!

Don't disrespect McCain.  He doesn't deserve that.  He's a true hero.  And the US is hardly scared. LOL

[Grouse]

34 minutes ago, schlog said:

Check point 7 and 10 of the sanctions list and you will see....U.S.gas...U.S. first....U.S.shareholder value

Where can one see the sanctions list? That's my point!

[craigt3365]

7 minutes ago, Grouse said:

Where can one see the sanctions list? That's my point!

Pretty boring reading!

http://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20170724/HR3364.pdf

[stevenl]

1 hour ago, hawker9000 said:

AND the spending going on by China, N. Korea, Iran; support by some countries for Hamas, Hezbollah, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram, Taliban, ISIS, other terrorist groups.   Somebody says "oh, look at the big bad USA, THEY spend 10x more than Russia on defense!" and we're all supposed to be stunned into shock & awe by that one-tenth of the truth...    Wingnut misinformation at its finest.

 

 

 

I would say your post is wingnut misinformation at its finest, mentioning Iran, ISIS and others in the same sentence.

[schlog]

52 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

Don't disrespect McCain.  He doesn't deserve that.  He's a true hero.  And the US is hardly scared. LOL

Is it a sign of strenght to whine about the bad russians like a small girl?

 

Sorry but McCain did more bad to disrespect him then respect him. If he is more then a old war hero he would stepped down 5 years ago.

[craigt3365]

26 minutes ago, stevenl said:

I would say your post is wingnut misinformation at its finest, mentioning Iran, ISIS and others in the same sentence.

But Iran is known to sponsor terrorists.  Don't think that is wingnut info?????

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_and_state-sponsored_terrorism

Quote

 

However, allegedly Al-Qaeda and Iran formed an alliance during the 1990s in which Hezbollah trained al Qaeda operatives.

 

In February 2014, the US Treasury Department stated that Iran was helping al Qaeda transfer fighters into Syria, with key smuggler Olimzhon Adkhamovich Sadikov providing "visas and passports to numerous foreign fighters".^[69]

 

Sponsoring at least 30 terrorist attacks between 2011 and 2013 "in places as far flung as Thailand, New Delhi, Lagos, and Nairobi", including a 2011 plot to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the US and bomb the Israeli and Saudi embassies in Washington, D.C.^[37]

 

 

[craigt3365]

10 minutes ago, schlog said:

Is it a sign of strenght to whine about the bad russians like a small girl?

 

Sorry but McCain did more bad to disrespect him then respect him. If he is more then a old war hero he would stepped down 5 years ago.

I don't think the Russians under sanctions think the US is whining.  More like, they are whining it's not fair.

 

And yes, McCain is more than an old war hero.  He deserves respect.

 

 

[stevenl]

34 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

But Iran is known to sponsor terrorists.  Don't think that is wingnut info?????

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_and_state-sponsored_terrorism

 

And so is the US, we just call it differently.

 

You're leaving out a big part of a Wikipedia quote because it does not suit you.

Quote

Al-Qaeda leaders regard Shia Muslims as heretics and have attacked their mosques and gatherings. In Iraq it considers Shi'i civilians to be legitimate targets for acts of violence. The group has been designated as terrorist organization by Iran and many other countries, and Iran has a hostile relationship with the group.

On top of that, the US obsession with Iran is clouding their judgment IMO.

[mlmcleod]

I suggest that Putin to retaliate by forbidding US citizens from visiting the Crimea!  After all, it is now a Russian paradise and should not be shared by those western agitators!

[stevenl]

41 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

I don't think the Russians under sanctions think the US is whining.  More like, they are whining it's not fair.

 

And yes, McCain is more than an old war hero.  He deserves respect.

 

 

And yes, he deserves respect, but should have stepped down at least 5 years ago, probably even earlier.

And to prove that point he will vote in favour of the 'skinny repeal' of the ACA.

[craigt3365]

9 minutes ago, stevenl said:

And so is the US, we just call it differently.

 

You're leaving out a big part of a Wikipedia quote because it does not suit you.

On top of that, the US obsession with Iran is clouding their judgment IMO.

Well then, I guess every country could be called a terrorist country.  Your country also. 

 

I didn't leave part out because it suits me.  Fair use limits us to 3 sentences.  So, you have to pick and choose.  Got it?

 

As for Iran, you are aware of the terrorist groups they support?  Hard to defend that country.

[craigt3365]

10 minutes ago, stevenl said:

And yes, he deserves respect, but should have stepped down at least 5 years ago, probably even earlier.

I think senators and house reps should have term limits.  And be forced to retire at a certain age.  But not disparaged because they are working for their country.  As you know, he doesn't need the money. LOL

[craigt3365]

19 hours ago, mlmcleod said:

I suggest that Putin to retaliate by forbidding US citizens from visiting the Crimea!  After all, it is now a Russian paradise and should not be shared by those western agitators!

Hardly a place US citizens would be interested in visiting.  Their loss, not US travelers. LOL

 

Western agitators?  So Russia is not an agitator by invading and illegally annexing Crimea?  Really?  Too funny.

[stevenl]

4 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

Well then, I guess every country could be called a terrorist country.  Your country also. 

 

I didn't leave part out because it suits me.  Fair use limits us to 3 sentences.  So, you have to pick and choose.  Got it?

 

As for Iran, you are aware of the terrorist groups they support?  Hard to defend that country.

"Well then, I guess every country could be called a terrorist country.  Your country also. "

Cop out, look at the activities of the US overseas in the more or less recent past. No other country can match that, except for the Soviets during the cold war.

 

"I didn't leave part out because it suits me.  Fair use limits us to 3 sentences.  So, you have to pick and choose.  Got it?"

Yes, I know about fair use policy, but your choice gave a complete false impression of the Wikipedia article you were quoting from.

 

"As for Iran, you are aware of the terrorist groups they support?  Hard to defend that country."

Not hard at all to defend/understand Iran.

 

 

[stevenl]

6 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

Hardly a place US citizens would be interested in visiting.  Their loss, not US travelers. LOL

 

Western agitators?  So Russia is not an agitator by invading and illegally annexing Crimea?  Really?  Too funny.

Looks like you missed the sarcasm in that post.

[heybruce]

3 hours ago, Rancid said:

After all the Russians spend 1/10th on defense that the US does. Guess the US better increase the military budget then...to counter the Russians evil ploy. If a movie Dr Evil would play Putin.

 

If it wasn't all so sad it would be amusing, even Goebbels would even roll his eyes at the gullibility.

I don't know if you have a point, but I'll assume you do.

 

Yes, the US spends much more on the military than any other country.  Being a first world country where we don't simply enslave soldiers and use them as cannon fodder makes the military more expensive.  However Russia has enough of a military to threaten its neighbors and invade some of them.  That's why the original sanctions were put in place.

 

Russia also compensates for its much weaker military with asymmetrical warfare, using the internet to destabilize opponents.  That is why the senate passed the new set of sanctions, to let Russia know that asymmetrical warfare also carries a cost.

 

Clear?

[craigt3365]

52 minutes ago, stevenl said:

"Well then, I guess every country could be called a terrorist country.  Your country also. "

Cop out, look at the activities of the US overseas in the more or less recent past. No other country can match that, except for the Soviets during the cold war.

 

"I didn't leave part out because it suits me.  Fair use limits us to 3 sentences.  So, you have to pick and choose.  Got it?"

Yes, I know about fair use policy, but your choice gave a complete false impression of the Wikipedia article you were quoting from.

 

"As for Iran, you are aware of the terrorist groups they support?  Hard to defend that country."

Not hard at all to defend/understand Iran.

 

 

So the US has invaded foreign countries, taken their territory, and killed their citizens recently?  Iraq 2 was a mess, and a horrible thing.  But the US has done nothing like Russia has recently.  Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, Syria.  Luckily, most of the world is in agreement with this.

 

Interesting that you defend Iran's government.  Hmmm....

 

[schlog]

24 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

So the US has invaded foreign countries, taken their territory, and killed their citizens recently?  Iraq 2 was a mess, and a horrible thing.  But the US has done nothing like Russia has recently.  Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, Syria.  Luckily, most of the world is in agreement with this.

 

Interesting that you defend Iran's government.  Hmmm....

 

U must be kidding or working for the Clinton Foundation.