Dear President Trump and US Congressional Republicans, the following actions by UK’s female Prime Minister Theresa May is how a truly tough leader stands up to the likes of Russia’s President Putin. What she doesn’t do is excuse away the Russian Leader’s nefarious activities conducted within the sovereign territory of the UK. Why aren’t republicans remotely act accordingly?
Could it be because too many republicans are covering for the fact the the US President Donald Trump has been acting like a Russian Asset in the White House to where there was a US House Intelligence Committee where its republicans authored a report absolving the president from any involvement in Russia’s major attack on the 2016 US presidential election infrastructure, after 14 months of a sham investigation? This Committee was headed by the Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) who did everything possible without success to discredit the FBI and its probe led by the Special Counsel Robert Mueller III into the Trump-Russia inquiry.
Here is the response by the democrats who sit on this US House Intelligence Committee: GOOGLE: http://www.scribd.com/document/373776654/House-Intel-Committee-Trump-Russia-Investigation-Report or read it here: Document: House Intelligence Committee Minority Russia … – Lawfare
Here is the rest of the story…
On March 14, 2018, Andrew Sparrow is reporting on UK’s response to Russia’s recent use of chemical agents to kill peoples within UK’s territory, “UK expels 23 Russian diplomats over spy poisoning- Politics live.” )”Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen, including Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn at PMQs and May’s Commons statement announcing retaliation against Russia after the Russian spy attack”)
Excerpts:
High-level contacts with Russia to be cancelled, May says
(UK’s PM Theresa) May is now turning to diplomatic relations.
- May says high-level contacts with Russia will be cancelled. The invitation to Sergei Lavrov, the foreign minister, to visit the UK has been withdrawn. And ministers and dignitaries will not be attending the World Cup.
May says other measures may be taken which will not be publicised.
She says the UK wanted a better relationship with Russia.
It is “tragic” that President Putin has acted like this, she says.
She says the UK does not stand alone. She has spoken to allies who are backing the UK.
It is pushing for a debate at the UN, she says.
She says the government is also trying to ensure the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons can verify what the UK claims.
May says 23 Russian diplomats will be expelled
May says on Monday (3/12/18) she told MPs about how Sergie Skripal and his daughter were poisoned by Novichok, a Russian nerve agent.
She says it was right to offer Russia the chance to respond.
But they responded with “complete disdain”. They offered no explanation, including no explanation as to why they have an undeclared chemical weapons programme in defiance of international law.
May says the government has concluded that the Russian government was responsible. It was an unlawful use of state force.
- May says Russia was responsible for attempted murder. It was an “unlawful use of state force.
May’s statement about Russia
Theresa May starts her Russia statement by paying tribute to the emergency services and the work they have done in Salisbury.
And she praises the “fortitude” of the people of Salisbury.
May’s statement on Russia – Key quotes in full
Here is a very lightly abridged version of Theresa May’s statement, with headlines inserted to make it easier to read.
On Russia’s response to what she said on Monday
Mr Speaker, it was right to offer Russia the opportunity to provide an explanation. But their response has demonstrated complete disdain for the gravity of these events.
They have provided no credible explanation that could suggest they lost control of their nerve agent.
No explanation as to how this agent came to be used in the United Kingdom; no explanation as to why Russia has an undeclared chemical weapons programme in contravention of international law.
Instead they have treated the use of a military grade nerve agent in Europe with sarcasm, contempt and defiance.
So Mr Speaker, there is no alternative conclusion other than that the Russian State was culpable for the attempted murder of Mr Skripal and his daughter – and for threatening the lives of other British citizens in Salisbury, including Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey.
This represents an unlawful use of force by the Russian State against the United Kingdom.
And as I set out on Monday it has taken place against the backdrop of a well-established pattern of Russian State aggression across Europe and beyond.
It must therefore be met with a full and robust response – beyond the actions we have already taken since the murder of Mr Litvinenko and to counter this pattern of Russian aggression elsewhere.
On what the national security council decided
This morning I chaired a further meeting of the National Security Council, where we agreed
……immediate actions to dismantle the Russian espionage network in the UK
……urgent work to develop new powers to tackle all forms of hostile state activity and to ensure that those seeking to carry out such activity cannot enter the UK
……and additional steps to suspend all planned high-level contacts between the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation.
On the expulsion of Russian diplomats
Mr Speaker, the House will recall that following the murder of Mr Litvinenko, the UK expelled four diplomats.
Under the Vienna Convention, the United Kingdom will now expel 23 Russian diplomats who have been identified as undeclared intelligence officers.
They have just one week to leave.
This will be the single biggest expulsion for over thirty years and it reflects the fact that this is not the first time that the Russian State has acted against our country.
Through these expulsions we will fundamentally degrade Russian intelligence capability in the UK for years to come. And if they seek to rebuild it, we will prevent them from doing so.
On new anti-Russian legislation
Second, we will urgently develop proposals for new legislative powers to harden our defences against all forms of Hostile State Activity.
This will include the addition of a targeted power to detain those suspected of Hostile State Activity at the UK border. This power is currently only permitted in relation to those suspected of terrorism.
And I have asked the Home Secretary to consider whether there is a need for new counter-espionage powers to clamp down on the full spectrum of hostile activities of foreign agents in our country.
Mr Speaker, as I set out on Monday we will also table a Government amendment to the Sanctions Bill to strengthen our powers to impose sanctions in response to the violation of human rights.
In doing so, we will play our part in an international effort to punish those responsible for the sorts of abuses suffered by Sergey Magnitsky.
And I hope – as with all the measures I am setting out today – that this will command cross-party support.
On new travel controls and asset freezes
Mr Speaker, we will also make full use of existing powers to enhance our efforts to monitor and track the intentions of those travelling to the UK who could be engaged in activity that threatens the security of the UK and of our allies.
So we will increase checks on private flights, customs and freight.We will freeze Russian State assets wherever we have the evidence that they may be used to threaten the life or property of UK nationals or residents.
And led by the National Crime Agency, we will continue to bring all the capabilities of UK law enforcement to bear against serious criminals and corrupt elites. There is no place for these people – or their money – in our country.
On diplomatic relations
As I said on Monday, we have had a very simple approach to Russia: Engage but beware.
And I continue to believe it is not in our national interest to break off all dialogue between the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation.
But in the aftermath of this appalling act against our country, this relationship cannot be the same.
So we will suspend all planned high level bi-lateral contacts between the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation.T
This includes revoking the invitation to Foreign Minister Lavrov to pay a reciprocal visit to the United Kingdom……and confirming there will be no attendance by Ministers – or indeed Members of the Royal Family – at this Summer’s World Cup in Russia
On secret measures being taken against Russia
Finally, Mr Speaker, we will deploy a range of tools from across the full breadth of our National Security apparatus in order to counter the threats of Hostile State Activity.
While I have set out some of those measures today, Members on all sides will understand that there are some that cannot be shared publicly for reasons of National Security.
And, of course, there are other measures we stand ready to deploy at any time, should we face further Russian provocation.
On the UK and the Russian people
We have no disagreement with the people of Russia who have been responsible for so many great achievements throughout their history.
Many of us looked at a post-Soviet Russia with hope. We wanted a better relationship and it is tragic that President Putin has chosen to act in this way.
But we will not tolerate the threat to life of British people and others on British soil from the Russian Government. Nor will we tolerate such a flagrant breach of Russia’s international obligations.
On international support for the UK
In the last twenty-four hours I have spoken to President Trump, Chancellor Merkel and President Macron.
We have agreed to co-operate closely in responding to this barbaric act and to co-ordinate our efforts to stand up for the rules based international order which Russia seeks to undermine.
I will also speak to other allies and partners in the coming days.
And I welcome the strong expressions of support from NATO and from partners across the European Union and beyond.
Later today in New York, the UN Security Council will hold open consultations where we will be pushing for a robust international response.
We have also notified the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons about Russia’s use of this nerve agent. And we are working with the police to enable the OPCW to independently verify our analysis.
Peroration
Mr Speaker, this was not just an act of attempted murder in Salisbury – nor just an act against UK.
It is an affront to the prohibition on the use of chemical weapons.
And it is an affront to the rules based system on which we and our international partners depend.
We will work with our allies and partners to confront such actions wherever they threaten our security, at home and abroad.
How PM May responded to those who want to kow-tow to Russia
May criticises Corbyn for his decision not to condemn the Russian state
May is responding to Corbyn.
She says she is glad there is consensus in the Commons.
But that consensus does not extend to Corbyn, she says. She says he could have taken the opportunity to condemn the Russian state, but did not.
- May criticises Corbyn for his decision not to condemn the Russian state.
Gronda Morin 
Mr. Tillerson even accused Russia directly for the poisoning, for which he was promptly fired. I believe PM May can afford to confront Russia and Putin b/c she has no vested interest in that country. On the contrary, Trump probably has extensive financial ties, so he really can’t afford to rock the boat. That’s why I consider him an unwitting Russian asset, b/c he has to protect his interest first, before family, before country, and certainly before allies. Sadly, the UK is on her own, there won’t be a hint of condemnation or retaliation.
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Gronda, this speaks volumes. All we hear in the US are crickets with our “Silent Don.” Keith
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Dear Keith,
The president is being boxed in but he gave himself some wiggle room. He said the US would act if there was proof.
We already know that this could be an insurmountable obstacle.
Hugs, Gronda
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Speaking of proof, apparently The Silent Don did something rare and admitted at a fundraising dinner speech that he made up that we have a trade deficit with Canada in speaking with Trudeau. Trudeau, who actually prepared for the meeting, said that is not true. It was later confirmed we had a trade surplus with Canada. Yes, knowing facts matter. Keith
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