Several in Congress, particularly Democrats, are expressing outrage today because President Trump has not imposed a whole bunch of new sanctions against Russia, despite having legal pretext for doing so. They insist this is proof he’s “soft” of Russia.
The “Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act” (CAATSA), allows a whole litany of new sanctions against Russia, though the State Department says they believe the act works well enough as a deterrent, and no sanctions are needed.
CAATSA has some reporting requirements, which center on naming “oligarchs” the US believes are close to Putin, and the possibility of the US government imposing measures on Russia’s sovereign debt.
But what it was really meant to do was give the president cover to impose a whole bunch of new sanctions, nominally over the 2016 elections. Still, CAATSA did not require the president to impose such sanctions, so there appears to be little they can do about him not having done so.
Looks like the Dems want Trump 2020.
Looks like it’s the Dems who want WWIII and a nuclear exchange with Russia.
The legislation which enacted the sanctions contains provisions which specifically confers discretion to the President to act to enforce the sanctions or delay action to enforce them. He chose not to do so.
Why is that so hard to understand and why have so many ignored this in their writings and postings?
Ah, Russia-gate… That dead horse is only there to obscure Israel-gate. Those venal Congress critters who continue to beat on it can expect an envelope full of cash in the morning. Thanks, Bibi.
A US judge has rendered a significant ruling in the Dutch MH17 plane downing by a BUK missile. This was not a criminal but a civil case. The judge has ruled that the Ukrainian Igor Girkin was responsible for the downing of that airplane. Relatives of the victims get a total of 20 million dollar which Girkin cannot possibly pay. Source: “De Volkskrant” of January 31, 2018. The article does not reveal in which court the case was heard and who the judge was.
The pettiness and stupidity of these “representatives of the people” know no bounds. Do something to improve your own country, please.
It is really a true an utter shame that NO rational people exist in the Congress, Senate, or Whitehouse. They are all bought and paid for by nefarious lobby’s ( AIPAC ) or the weapons manufacturers. One must come to the conclusion that these swines despise the American people, The Constitution, and leaving other sovereign nations like Russia alone. I am sure Putin is well aware that he has never had a partner for peace, and that to be well armed is a must.
“several in congress, particularly democrats” Do we have numbers? I seem to recall the republicans being anti-Russia also. When the sanctions were voted on there was a huge majority that were in favor. They both suck.
No surprise, Cardin, senator from aipac, leading the charge. Of course, he is running again, waiting for the piles of aipac cash. The stench keeps getting stronger with no end in sight. Giraldi nails it with his recent articles here and on Unz Review.