4 ms·

So 35 Russian diplomats have been given 72 hours to leave the country, and 2 of their properties will be closed - one in DC and the other in San Francisco. Wel

by finid 10y ago

So 35 Russian diplomats have been given 72 hours to leave the country, and 2 of their properties will be closed - one in DC and the other in San Francisco. Well, if history is any guide, expect Russia to return the favor. Question is, how long will they wait before announcing that 35 American diplomats have 72 hours to leave Russia?

chokolad 10y ago
> Question is, how long will they wait before announcing that 35 American diplomats have 72 hours to leave Russia? I've read somewhere that it will happen on Dec 30.
- chokolad 10y ago
  Can anyone explain why this reasonably benign statement was downvoted ?
golergka 10y ago
Why would americans bother with such big diplomatic presence in Russia to begin with?
- cmdrfred 10y ago
  They are the 2nd most powerful military in the world by some accounts and have enough nuclear weapons to destroy the planet, I think that justifies 35 full time employees. Do you have something better for them to do? http://www.businessinsider.com/11-most-powerful-militaries-in-the-world-2014-4 http://www.businessinsider.com/11-most-powerful-militaries-i...
  - golergka 10y ago
    Oh please. So far Russian military have proved to be marginally better than Georgia and on par with Ukraine. Speaking as someone with a lot of friends and acquaintances working in Russian military industry, it's much more talented in building potemkin villages and giving an impression of power than doing anything real. Everything, from tech to mentality of the military is rotten and just painted over.
    - dogma1138 10y ago
      Do you really think that Russia has engaged even 1% of its force projection in Ukraine? There aren't 2000 Russian tanks parked outside of Kiev if Russia would go to an all out war with Ukraine there won't be much left after 2 days. There are reportedly less than 5000 Russian troops in the conflict they mostly provide limited logistical support. Look at how many troops the US needed to invade Afghanistan and Iraq. Don't underestimate Russia's military they have limited force projection but in their immediate vicinity they aren't to be taken lightly.
    - finid 10y ago
      Oh please. So far Russian military have proved to be marginally better than Georgia and on par with Ukraine. "Marginally better than Georgia"? Is that why the recent Russian skirmish with that country was over in a flash? And Ukraine! Ukraine!! Obama once called Russia a regional power. After a few weeks of Russia blasting the daylights out of the terrorists we're using in Syria, he changed his mind. But don't bother to change your mind.
- rakoo 10y ago
  Because the basis for any conflict resolution is dialogue ?
  - golergka 10y ago
    It's the side who stands to lose from the conflict which usually tries to solve it. US is losing almost nothing from it strained relationship with Russia — why should it bother with it?
    - matt4077 10y ago
      I'd argue both sides stand to lose more or less everything 500 time over, if I believe the union of concerned scientists.
    - rakoo 10y ago
      The US can't be the police of the world for all eternity and act on its own in any conflict that arises. Acting unilaterally is only going to bring more and more problems; I hope you're not suggesting that the US should just oust Russian troops from wherever they are if it doesn't please the US.
    - jhanschoo 10y ago
      It's naive to think that a strained relationship means that the US has nothing to gain from continued diplomatic contact. A country has many dimensions, and there are always multiple dimensions of cooperation to pursue. And even if there are no grounds on cooperation, such a situation does not obviate the benefit of good communication. Be it businesses in competition or states with rivalries, such relationships can be modeled by a game of competitive strategy. You still want the diplomatic contact to make things clear to your rival when you have committed to something, and also know when your rival has committed to something. And on many issues, a less noisy channel (good diplomatic communication) actually benefits the more powerful entity.
- finid 10y ago
  Because many are spies, just as many of the 35 Russian diplomats are.
giarc 10y ago
Small correction regarding facilities. >In addition, the State Department announced the closing of two “recreational facilities” — one in New York, another in Maryland
finid 10y ago
Well, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman has given tomorrow as the day when Russia will make an official statement and announce countermeasures. There is no doubt that this adequate and mirror response will make the US side feel very uncomfortable as well Wait and see...

by finid 10y ago

chokolad 10y ago

> Question is, how long will they wait before announcing that 35 American diplomats have 72 hours to leave Russia? I've read somewhere that it will happen on Dec 30.

chokolad 10y ago
Can anyone explain why this reasonably benign statement was downvoted ?

golergka 10y ago

Why would americans bother with such big diplomatic presence in Russia to begin with?

cmdrfred 10y ago
They are the 2nd most powerful military in the world by some accounts and have enough nuclear weapons to destroy the planet, I think that justifies 35 full time employees. Do you have something better for them to do? http://www.businessinsider.com/11-most-powerful-militaries-in-the-world-2014-4 http://www.businessinsider.com/11-most-powerful-militaries-i...
- golergka 10y ago
  Oh please. So far Russian military have proved to be marginally better than Georgia and on par with Ukraine. Speaking as someone with a lot of friends and acquaintances working in Russian military industry, it's much more talented in building potemkin villages and giving an impression of power than doing anything real. Everything, from tech to mentality of the military is rotten and just painted over.
  - dogma1138 10y ago
    Do you really think that Russia has engaged even 1% of its force projection in Ukraine? There aren't 2000 Russian tanks parked outside of Kiev if Russia would go to an all out war with Ukraine there won't be much left after 2 days. There are reportedly less than 5000 Russian troops in the conflict they mostly provide limited logistical support. Look at how many troops the US needed to invade Afghanistan and Iraq. Don't underestimate Russia's military they have limited force projection but in their immediate vicinity they aren't to be taken lightly.
  - finid 10y ago
    Oh please. So far Russian military have proved to be marginally better than Georgia and on par with Ukraine. "Marginally better than Georgia"? Is that why the recent Russian skirmish with that country was over in a flash? And Ukraine! Ukraine!! Obama once called Russia a regional power. After a few weeks of Russia blasting the daylights out of the terrorists we're using in Syria, he changed his mind. But don't bother to change your mind.
rakoo 10y ago
Because the basis for any conflict resolution is dialogue ?
- golergka 10y ago
  It's the side who stands to lose from the conflict which usually tries to solve it. US is losing almost nothing from it strained relationship with Russia — why should it bother with it?
  - matt4077 10y ago
    I'd argue both sides stand to lose more or less everything 500 time over, if I believe the union of concerned scientists.
  - rakoo 10y ago
    The US can't be the police of the world for all eternity and act on its own in any conflict that arises. Acting unilaterally is only going to bring more and more problems; I hope you're not suggesting that the US should just oust Russian troops from wherever they are if it doesn't please the US.
  - jhanschoo 10y ago
    It's naive to think that a strained relationship means that the US has nothing to gain from continued diplomatic contact. A country has many dimensions, and there are always multiple dimensions of cooperation to pursue. And even if there are no grounds on cooperation, such a situation does not obviate the benefit of good communication. Be it businesses in competition or states with rivalries, such relationships can be modeled by a game of competitive strategy. You still want the diplomatic contact to make things clear to your rival when you have committed to something, and also know when your rival has committed to something. And on many issues, a less noisy channel (good diplomatic communication) actually benefits the more powerful entity.
finid 10y ago
Because many are spies, just as many of the 35 Russian diplomats are.

giarc 10y ago

Small correction regarding facilities. >In addition, the State Department announced the closing of two “recreational facilities” — one in New York, another in Maryland

finid 10y ago

Well, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman has given tomorrow as the day when Russia will make an official statement and announce countermeasures. There is no doubt that this adequate and mirror response will make the US side feel very uncomfortable as well Wait and see...