It looks like the Obama administration is trying to feed the false narrative that Russia “hacked” the presidential election by taking diplomatic action.
This move has international and political implications which are unprecedented.
Reuters reports:
U.S. expels 35 Russian diplomats, closes two compounds: official
The United States expelled 35 Russian diplomats and closed two Russian compounds in New York and Maryland in response to a campaign of harassment against American diplomats in Moscow, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday.
The move against the diplomats from the Russian embassy in Washington and consulate in San Francisco is part of a series of actions announced on Thursday to punish Russia for a campaign of intimidation of American diplomats in Moscow and interference in the U.S. election.
The Obama administration was also announcing on Thursday a series of retaliatory measures against Russia for hacking into U.S. political institutions and individuals and leaking information to help President-elect Donald Trump and other Republican candidates, two U.S. officials said.
Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, has called for better relations with Russia. It was not clear if he will be able to immediately overturn the measures announced on Thursday.
There are no coincidences in Obama’s world.
This is a nakedly political move. It’s likely just another attempt to discredit Trump’s victory.
And Obama is messing with foreign policy to do it.
Unreal.
UPDATE: Lots of people are suggesting the 35 diplomats who were expelled are spies but this only raises more questions. Why were Russian spies allowed to remain in the U.S. until now? Would these spies have been expelled if Hillary had won the election?