I feel like CNBC did it particularly well [1]. > "Our understanding is that this is not the start of sanctions easing," said Ian Bremmer, a widely respected po

I feel like CNBC did it particularly well [1]. > "Our understanding is that this is not the start of sanctions easing," said Ian Bremmer, a widely respected political scientist and president of consulting firm Eurasia Group. > "It's a rule change clearing up a problem with the sanctions regime that prevented U.S. exporters of non-sanctioned electronic devices from complying with both U.S. and Russian law. The problem was identified by the Obama administration, and this appears to be the response to address it." > Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a Russia hawk who has called for more sanctions on Moscow, told NBC News that Thursday's move looks like "largely a technical fix." The sanctions brought against Russia for the proxy war in Ukraine and secondarily the sanctions for information war between the two countries specifically target particular people (individual officials enumerated by the Department of Treasury, under so called "smart sanctions") and particular sectors of the Russian economy (military moderization and acquisition sectors as well as parts of Russia's Defense Industrial Base). The restrictions eased on software transfers were not a lifting of sanctions in any meaningful way. Unfortunately the way these headlines are being written is causing a public panic. [1] http://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/02/us-treasury-eases-some-sanctions-against-russian-intelligence-service.html http://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/02/us-treasury-eases-some-sancti...