SPUTNIKNEWS – August 11, 2017: United States President Donald Trump said “I want to thank” Russian President Vladimir Putin for kicking hundreds of US embassy employees out of Moscow as Washington is “trying to cut down its payroll.”
“I greatly appreciate the fact that we’ve been able to cut our payroll of the United States. … We’re going to save a lot of money … there’s no real reason for them to go back,” the president said Thursday at a meeting with journalists at his golf complex in New Jersey.
“I’m very thankful that he let go of a large number of people because now we have a smaller payroll,” Trump added. (BATTLEFORWORLD: Trump is hinting that the US budget is not as lofty as before and so things would have to be scaled back where necessary.)
Earlier, State Secretary Rex Tillerson said that the US government would respond to the expulsion of American diplomats by the end of the month. Washington has yet to decide what responsive measures it will take, according to Tillerson.
In an interview with Radio Sputnik, political analyst Dmitry Zhuravlev, director of the Institute of Regional Problems in Moscow, shared his thoughts on how Washington could respond to the expulsion of American diplomats from Moscow.
According to the expert, the US will definitely deliver a response because it is required by both diplomatic tradition and the current disposition of the US establishment.
“If the State Department doesn’t respond there will be a lot of criticism against Tillerson from the US establishment. They may once again accuse him of being a ‘Russian agent.’ So, he will have to respond. Possibly, there will be more cuts of diplomatic personnel and more consulates may be shut down. But such measures are rather a demonstrative ritual,” Zhuravlev suggested. Link: Read Complete Article
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What’s Behind Uproar Over Trump’s Thanks to Putin for Diplomatic Mission Cuts
SPUTNIKNEWS – August 12, 2017: United States President Donald Trump’s remark expressing gratitude for Russia President Vladimir Putin’s decision to cut the number of US diplomatic staff in Russia was sarcastic, media reports.
On Thursday, Trump expressed gratitude for Putin’s decision to reducing the number of US diplomats in Russia by 775, saying the decision would help the US government save money.
“I want to thank him [Putin] because we’re trying to cut down our payroll, and as far as I’m concerned I’m very thankful that he let go of a large number of people because now we have a smaller payroll,” Trump told journalists on Thursday at his golf club in New Jersey.
Mikhail Sinelnikov-Orishak, a political analyst and specialist in American studies, noted that McFaul’s openness concerning the US diplomatic mission was surprising.
“It’s not like we don’t know that American diplomats gather information, among other duties. But this was never emphasized. Embassies are believed to work to promote and develop mutual understanding and confidence, to improve bilateral ties. This is the priority goal of a diplomatic mission. But what McFaul said about gathering information was unexpected,” the expert told Radio Sputnik.
“So, Mr. Trump, how many more diplomats should we expel that the US budget finally sighs with relief. Please, tell us the exact figure,” he added ironically. Link: Read Complete Article
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