Putin faces midnight deadline to explain nerve attack on former spy to UK

Tightly restrict travel conditions of Russians to GB; more importantly, demand that Russians who have purchased houses above a certain cost threshhold prove that the money was acquired illegally; if not, confiscate them. This'll annoy the oligarchs.

Earlier, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the United States stood by Britain, calling it America's "closest ally," but she stopped short of blaming Russia for the attack.

Because Putin's Russia is another close ally.

I'm sure the British are pretty aware just where the White House true sympathies lie, these days.

So many juggling acts to maintain. Wouldn't fancy it, myself.

@Laguna... Do you mean legally?

Haaa, read recently about some new laws Britain has on the books the prevent money laundering (one major reason for the house purchases). Treat oligarchs like drug dealers - legally.

Fully agreeing... Just your comment says

prove that the money was acquired illegally; 

It would create a bit of a stir, that's for sure.

Haaa, read recently about some new laws Britain has on the books the prevent money laundering

I read that too. Your idea is a very good one, but past experience tells me the British government tend to be very lax about enforcing laws regarding dodgy cash in and out of the UK.

President Vladimir Putin isn't even going to blink an eyelid or lose any sleep over it. Nothing happened last time, nothing will happen this time.

I'm sure the British are pretty aware just where the White House true sympathies lie, these days.

Any proof of that statement? I read something completely different. Under Trump the US launched military strikes on Syria, sent military aid to Ukraine, tightened sanctions on Russia, strengthened US and NATO forces in Eastern Europe and designated Russia as a strategic rival of the Unites States. And, that Russian officials are quietly missing the days when Obama was in office. To me that doesn’t sound like the US is cozying up to Russia.

Any proof of that statement?

Trump's reluctance to point the finger at Russia, his obfuscation on Russian meddling and his spokesperson's refusal to lay the blame for the attack on Russia. Oh sure, there's superficial moves to make it look like there's concern but overall it appears that the lure of Russian relations is more important than British ones.

Doesn't bother me, personally if Britain slips the leash. They've been under the USA's spell far too long, whether it's Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama etc.

And, that Russian officials are quietly missing the days when Obama was in office.

My turn - any proof of that statement?

Any proof of that statement?

Here you go:

Under Trump the US launched military strikes on Syria

After first informing the Russian government.

tightened sanctions on Russia

Not true. Sanctions were passed nearly unanimously and Trump refused to sign them, claiming the current sanctions were already working.

sent military aid to Ukraine

More like selling $47 worth of equipment. He also softened his stance towards Russia, "Crimea is an integral part of Russia."

Russia as a strategic rival of the Unites States. 

Again incorrect. He labeled China a competitor however.

Let's not forget Trump has yet to comment on the attempted murder. Nor has he ever criticized Putin, so I sincerely doubt,

that Russian officials are quietly missing the days when Obama was in office

Unlike Trump, Obama actually had the backbone to push back against Russia.

America, Britain and the EU already have sanctions against Russia and that didn't stop the chemical agent attack on British soil. Trump increase the American sanctions.

So will the British government demand or request that England withdraws from the football World Cup this summer which would be a major disappointment probably more for the players than the fans who may be grateful not having to watch another humiliating defeat. Prince William who is president of the FA has already stated he won't be visiting the World Cup even before the terror attack.

Prince William who is president of the FA has already stated he won't be visiting the World Cup even before the terror attack.

Not a fan of any monarchy, but fair play to the fella. If more people speak up about their reservations concerning Russia - we may see some different results on the global stage...

So will the British government demand or request that England withdraws from the football World Cup this summer which would be a major disappointment probably more for the players than the fans who may be grateful not having to watch another humiliating defeat.

That’s about it as far as I can see. Cut off their nose to spite their face is as much as they can really do.

Can you imagine the reaction among the other teams? Something like “Oh, right”.

Yeah Obama told Putin to his face to “cut it out”. Putin was so scared by that, he.....continued doing what he was doing before that traumatic encounter.

So why does Trump need to comment on this? His sec of state made a statement that should be sufficient as it doesn’t involve the USA at all.

back to the bad old days..

Putin would have to be incredibly stupid to do such a thing.

Must be another false flag.

Yes, he must be sweating and nervously preparing a credible response for the Brits..........

;))

Beware of claims of "false flag" operations.

A terrror attack, most likely orchestrated by Putin's Russia, has occurred on British soil.

Imagine an Islamic terror atttack on the UK. There would be immediate response. But no, this is apparently nothing to be concerned about. A laughing matter for one or two people.

Telling.

Yeah Obama told Putin to his face to “cut it out”. Putin was so scared by that, he.....continued doing what he was doing before that traumatic encounter

And all Trump's done is sing Putin's praises.

BlacklabelToday

Yeah Obama told Putin to his face to “cut it out”. Putin was so scared by that, he.....continued doing what he was doing before that traumatic encounter.

So why does Trump need to comment on this? His sec of state made a statement that should be sufficient as it doesn’t involve the USA at all.

trump tweets about celebrity nightly news broadcasts, yet stays silent when it comes to russia attacking an ally. yeah, makes perfect sense. go continue believing up is down and down is up.

March 3rd 2017: Terrorist attack in London. 4 dead, 40 injured.

What did Trump do? Attack London mayor Sadiq Khan via twitter.

June 3rd. 2017: Terrorist attack in London. 7 killed, dozens injured.

What did Trump do? Attack London mayor Sadiq Khan via twitter.

March 4th 2018: Nerve gas attack in Salisbury. 3 critical, hundreds more potential victims.

What has Trump done? Nothing.

It's difficult to view those as the responses of an ally...

Both the CIA and Mossad have conducted assassinations in the UK without concern, so why so much noise now? Are we shore this was not orchestrated by the CIA?

Are we shore this was not orchestrated by the CIA?

Pretty shore, the British government seems to think so. Putin is beached.

Putin attacks Skripal, seven years after this ex-spy start to live in England, with Russian made military nerve agent. Sounds legit.

Your rating is falling, economy is in crisis, it's time for outside enemy, May

rlperez@hotmail.com.au

Both the CIA and Mossad have conducted assassinations in the UK without concern, so why so much noise now? Are we shore this was not orchestrated by the CIA?

Why would the CIA want to attack and kill the ex Russian spy and his daughter when he provided America and Britain with the names of Russian agents in Britain. He was very important to them to be swapped for a high level spy exchange which included Anna Chapman.

Which assassinations did both the CIA and Mossad commit on British soil?

Putin would have to be incredibly stupid to do such a thing.

Not necessarily. It’s more of a ‘and what are you going to do about it?’ approach.

He knows the answer is nothing much.

Nor stupidity in my book.

Pretty shore, the British government seems to think so. Putin is beached.

But not stranded. They'll wave it all away, our friends in the Kremlin.

Anyway, what would Mossad or the CIA have to gain by making this out to be Russian work? Sands fishy, to me...

Are we shore this was not orchestrated by the CIA?

We can never be shore of coarse, but what would the CIA have to gain from murdering a Russian defector who the FBI helped to get released from a Russian prison? He was probably still an MI6 / CIA asset.

America whining about meddling is rather rich given it's illustrious track record in South America and Africa to name but a few. One good turn deserves another no?

America whining about meddling is rather rich given it's illustrious track record in South America and Africa to name but a few. One good turn deserves another no?

How is America's record relevant to the attempted assassination of a British citizen by Russia? Irrelevant.

US President Donald Trump sacks Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, replacing him with CIA chief Mike Pompeo.

Tillerson spoke out against Putin and Russia. Isn't he currently in Africa?

Anddd,,, Tillerson is out after condemning Russia.

May is doing everything she can to boycott the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Anddd,,, Tillerson is out after condemning Russia.

Cue oompa loompas as another one bites the dust.

Putin must be dying to send a congratulatory call to the Trump asset.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/russia-spy-attack-rex-tillerson-poisoning-clearly-from-russia-sergei-skripal-latest-a8252816.html

Not related in the slightest. Oooooh no.

Cue oompa loompas as another one bites the dust.

Truly absurd. "Every administration has turnover"..." He can fire whoever he wants, it doesn't matter why."

Keep sports out of politics, it's nothing more than a home goal.

Tillerson spoke out against Putin and Russia. Isn't he currently in Africa?

I believe this is more about Tillersons public skepticism over talks with North Korea, rather than Russia. His Russian comments were made two days after he knew he was being fired. Calling your boss a Moron was probably not a good idea if you like your job.

Looks like Tillerson fell foul of Trump’s blasphemy laws.

Anddd,,, Tillerson is out after condemning Russia.

Trump just cannot keep anyone. Hilarious that he used Twitter to announce this news. Dude's way out there.

Yeah Obama told Putin to his face to “cut it out”.

And put sanctions on Russia.

Trump has done literally nothing.

The right seems to think appeasement is the way to go with Russia, which is weird considering how much they wined about appeasement (when it wasn't even happening) during the Obama era. Suddenly, they decide they are ok with being weak, allowing their country to be attacked without response, and appeasement, all because it's Trump and Russia.

US President Donald Trump sacks Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, replacing him with CIA chief Mike Pompeo.

That's great news! Tillerson was kind of out of step anyway with the State department constantly and it shouldn't come as a surprise, rumors were swirling about him possibly leaving in October, so it was kind of expected. The man was all over the place. Pompeo would be a great choice.

Tillerson spoke out against Putin and Russia. Isn't he currently in Africa?

He's back in the States.

I believe this is more about Tillersons public skepticism over talks with North Korea, rather than Russia. 

Totally. That's why Trump waited until he criticized Russia to fire him. Makes sense.

The man was all over the place. 

Kind of like Trump? ;)

Kind of like Trump? ;)

I was thinking more like, Waters, Pelosi, Spliff, Schumer......

Both the CIA and Mossad have conducted assassinations in the UK without concern, so why so much noise now?

Ahh, there were previous assassinations, so they should let this one ride. That makes sense (if you're a moron).

Ahh, there were previous assassinations, so they should let this one ride. That makes sense (if you're a moron).

Or if you're a conservative. To be fair though, moron and conservative are generally interchangeable.

Was he the one who called Trump a moron?

Maybe Trump forgets he's now in the White House and not on the TV "The Apprentice" shouting "You're fired!"

Trump has sacked a number of high level appointments. Rex Tillerson lasted just a little more than one year.

Tillerson intended to stay on as secretary state, is "unaware of the reason" for his dismissal, per Under Secretary of State Steve Goldstein.

Donald J. Trump Twitter

‏"Mike Pompeo, Director of the CIA, will become our new Secretary of State. He will do a fantastic job! Thank you to Rex Tillerson for his service! Gina Haspel will become the new Director of the CIA, and the first woman so chosen. Congratulations to all!"

The down and outs!

James Comey. Sally Yates. General Michael Flynn. Preet Bharara. Walter Shaub. Michael Dubke, Reince Priebus. Sean Spicer. Michael Short. Anthony Scaramucci. Steve Bannon. Sebastian Gorka. Tom Price. Omarosa Manigault. Andrew McCabe. Rob Porter. David Sorenson. Hope Hicks. Gary Cohn.

ROFL you don’t need to worry about it.

I do, if his poison and dubious loyalties cross over and pollute Japan.

Russians to the left of me, clowns to the right... stuck in the middle of all this madness.

Tillerson was a wrong 'un but at least he had the temerity to contradict his master. Pompeo is bad, bad news.

If he's whispering in Trump's ear, we are all in trouble. Regardless of whether you're a Putin fan, a Repub or Dem or innocent bystander.

(off to dig bunker now, ttfn)

So the rumors you criticized in October and cited as evidence that this wasn't a surprise were thevsame rumors, dawg?

Pretty much, but not acting on them since doing so would have been counterproductive.

Yeah, homie, you. 

Naw, not me.

Clearly not, homeslice. Clearly not. ROFL. No wonder repubs are losing seats left right and center. Why wasn't Clinton on the embassy roof in Benghazi manning a 50?

You mean, the seats that the Dems already occupied? Lol

"I asked Putin and he said he didn't do it" - President David Dennison

The next on Trump's "ya fired" list will be H. R. McMaster.

How did Putin become worth more than $20 billion?

How did Putin become worth more than $20 billion?

Don’t believe anything until you see the tax returns.

Don’t believe anything until you see the tax returns.

or the Panama Papers.

The UK has got little or no teeth w.r.t. Russia, and indeed has a lot more to loose by Challenging it, especially post-BreXit.

Perhaps it should question how it let the materials into the Country in order to make the Nerve agent, in the first place.

Russian President Vladimir Putin faces a midnight deadline to explain to Britain how a nerve agent developed by the Soviet Union was used to strike down a former Russian double agent who passed secrets to British intelligence.

There's the explanation right there in the first paragraph. No need to set a deadline that makes people worried over what eventually will lead to nothing anyways.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States had "full confidence" in Britain's assessment that Russia was likely responsible. U.S. President Donald Trump has not yet publicly commented on the attack.

Annnnnd he's been fired.

Well at least Rex stood behind Britain in calling out Putin's mafia state for their recent terrorist attack on UK soil. That's probably why the Orange charlatan finally fired him. It's going to really pee the British off as Trump gives his master Putin another free pass. How much damage can one idiot do?

Seems odd he was fired since he pushed for diplomacy with North Korea. Now that talks might happen and Trump is calling it a good thing, he's fired.

Was it really because he criticized Russia re: the poisoning? If so, it will send a message to Trump's people to look the other way on Russia.

Must have missed the genius in his thinking.

Genius is simply a matter of perspective to a stupid person, a moderately smart person will seem like a genius. To a super genius, a genius looks like an average person.

I have no doubt Trump is a genius relative to most of his people.

You and I can see Trump for being the moron he is though.

It’s all a matter of intellectual perspective.

Putin says "Hang on, we have an excuse coming from the White House".

Putin is an idiot, clever, but still an idiot.

He managed to throw the most powerful country in the world into disarray with a few million dollars and some social media interference.

Say what you want about Putin, but he's a hell of a lot smarter than America.