Washington – The U.S. State Department is calling Russia’s decision to cut hundreds from its diplomatic staff in Russia “a regrettable and uncalled for act.”
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On Friday, Russian’s Foreign Ministry ordered a reduction by Sept. 1 in the number of U.S. diplomatic personnel in Russia. The order came as a response to new sanctions approved by the U.S. Congress and sent to U.S. President Donald Trump to be signed into law.
On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the U.S. would have to cut its embassy and consulate staff in Russia by 755. He did not explain how that figure was determined.
Putin said more than 1,000 people are currently employed at the Moscow embassy and three U.S. consulates in Russia. They include both Americans and Russians hired to work in the diplomatic offices.
“You see, Dad, the fight started when he hit me back…”
These Russians are doing everything right and have been playing a very classy game. By rights, they could have acted tit-for-tat exactly reciprocal to what the USA did to their diplomats. The principle is even called that: reciprocity. But they didn’t. They complained that the USA gave the Russian diplomats only 72 hours to leave; They took the high road and gave the USA diplomats a full month notice, after six months of warnings. They complained that the expulsions disrupted their childrens’ school year; they took the high road and waited until Summer. They complained that they were being expelled during their version of their xmas holiday; no US holidays until labor day. It’s comic how they are making fun of the USA. By acting like adults, they’ve succeeded in emphasizing how petty and childish and inept and pointless the USA’s behavior has been. Trump makes it so easy. Moan And Groan. Again.
How many Russians do we kick out? Leave them with a skeleton crew!
Russia, classy? With their bloody history and communism?? I don’t think so…