US sanctions Russia over hacking, expels 35 officials

[wakjak]

Quote

The Obama administration on Thursday announced an array of retaliatory measures against Russia in response to a hacking campaign geared at interfering in the U.S. presidential election. 

 

The measures include a slate of economic sanctions, diplomatic censure, and public “naming and shaming.” The president also hinted at possible covert cyber measures but did not provide details. 

 

The president also announced that the State Department will expel 35 Russian intelligence operatives and shutter two Russian compounds, in Maryland and New York, used by Russia for intelligence purposes. 

 

The sanctions target two of Russia’s main intelligence organizations — the GRU and the FSB — four individual GRU officers and three companies who provided support to the GRU. 

 

To levy the sanctions, Obama broadened a 2015 executive order giving the president the authority to punish foreign actors who carry out cyberattacks against the U.S.

 

The order allows the Treasury Department to freeze the assets of individuals or entities who used digital means to damage U.S. critical infrastructure or engage in economic espionage.

 

The changes expanded the order to allow Treasury to sanction individuals and entities “responsible for tampering, altering, or causing the misappropriation of information with the purpose or effect of interfering with or undermining election processes or institutions.”

 

Further, Obama announced that the Department of Homeland Security and FBI would declassify “technical information on Russian civilian and military intelligence service cyber activity” to help networks defend against “Russia’s global campaign of malicious cyber activities.” That report was released Thursday afternoon.

 

The president also signaled that the U.S. will undertake some covert action against Russia. 

 

“These actions are not the sum total of our response to Russia’s aggressive activities,” Obama said in a statement. “We will continue to take a variety of actions at a time and place of our choosing, some of which will not be publicized.”
 

A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said the country will likely take retaliatory measures against the United States. 

"You realize, of course, reciprocal steps will be made and the U.S. embassy in Moscow and, quite possibly, the consulates will be cut down to size as well," Vladimir Dzhabarov, the deputy chairman of the foreign policy committee in the Russian Duma, told Tass News News Agency. 

Obama has been under pressure to respond to Russia over the intelligence community’s assessment that the Kremlin was behind the theft and release of emails from the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta and other Democratic political organizations. 

 

The two intelligence agencies targeted by the sanctions, the FSB and the GRU, are believed to have carried out the attacks. 

 

The Federal Security Service, or FSB, is the main successor to the KGB — once headed by Putin.

http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/312119-us-announces-sanctions-on-russia

 

So much for "do nothing" Obama eh? Wow. Good on Obama for this one.

[ctebah]

So just a symbolic action without any proof, still....

 

I had respect for Obama in his first term but the last two years the guy has lost it.  

 

Meanwhile, Turkey and Russia broker a truce in Syria.  The US has become the laughing stock of the world.  

[dead.cell]

Lame duck is scrambling at this point.

[Depicus]

I'm sure they'll be back on the first flight come 20th January.

[DocM]

It'll be interesting to see what the covert part is. An annoying reverse hack, take out their backbones, destroy/disable strategic systems? If overdone this could escalate into a real mess.

[DocM]

Here's the FBI - DHS report on Scribd

 

https://www.scribd.com/document/335307016/FBI-Russian-Hacking-Report

[Depicus]

6 hours ago, DocM said:

Here's the FBI - DHS report on Scribd

 

https://www.scribd.com/document/335307016/FBI-Russian-Hacking-Report

While it does point the finger there doesn't seem to be much on how they came to that conclusion. While I'm sure the revelations from the Hilary campaign were their own fault, don't say stupid things in emails, Trump may find that while he may have been the recipient this time nobody can rely on hackers, wherever they came from and worked for, always playing nice with them.

[DocM]

2 hours ago, Depicus said:

While it does point the finger there doesn't seem to be much on how they came to that conclusion. 

US data tracking programs like PRISM, MUSCULAR (tracks Google & Yahoo) and others, and they do not like discussing them. They can backtrack a hacker to the building, as they did when Chinese People's Liberation Army types broke into Lockheed and other contractors. Reach: worldwide.

 

To expand this the US just built the ginormous Utah Data Center at Camp Williams near Bluffdale, Utah (aka  Bumblehive) to intercept, store and analyze comms traffic, calling it "Total Data Awareness."

 

Storage capacity: classified

Edited December 30, 2016 by DocM

[blank]

Really seems like Obama is trying to mess everything up before he leaves office. Messing with Israel, Russia, etc.

 

Luckily, Trump will UNDO everything Obama touched on day one.

 

Stay strong world, only 21 more days.

[+Mirumir Subscriber¹]

The truth will come out sooner or later.

 

In the meantime, entertain yourself with these:

 

Quote

‘Mad as hell’: State of Georgia accuses DHS of hacking into their system

 

The state of Georgia’s secretary of state has said he is “mad as hell” following an attempted hack on the state’s network by a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) IP address. The official has written a strongly worded letter to the DHS, demanding answers.

 

The unsuccessful hacking attempt took place on November 15 from an IP address associated with the DHS, according to a letter written by Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson.

 

 

 

 

[Depicus]

2 hours ago, DocM said:

US data tracking programs like PRISM, MUSCULAR (tracks Google & Yahoo) and others.......

And you don't think China or Israel or Europe don't have counter measures. There'd be nothing to stop a few North Koreans hiring a building in Russia and hacking the USA or even a large oil company who wants to drill in the Arctic Circle.....

 

While I suspect they may be right we'll never be 100% sure.

[+Mirumir Subscriber¹]

 

Quote

Putin: Russia will not expel anyone in response to US sanctions

 

“We reserve the right to retaliate, but we will not sink to the level of this irresponsible ‘kitchen’ diplomacy. We will take further moves on restoring Russian-American relations based on the policies that the administration of President-elect Donald Trump adopts,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a statement published by the Kremlin website.

 

Quote

Nigel Farage commends Putin’s ‘mature’ response to US diplomatic expulsions

 

 

 

 

[FloatingFatMan]

Not surprised. Obama is just throwing his weight around in his last 3 weeks.  Trump will almost certainly cancel the expulsion as soon as he's in office.

 

[Dot Matrix]

Trump is a pawn of Putin, and doesn't even realize it.

[DocM]

I wouldn't assume that, and given the toxic relationship between Obama and Putin a reset may not be a bad thing.

 

Being kind, Obama's behavior in this transition has been like a petulant child.

 

The hack was supposedly known since 2013, so rather than act at a time before the election he throws a hissy fit only after 1) his annointed succssor has lost and 2)  during a transition, which is when the vast majority of presidents try to make no big moves in deference to the incoming president. Bush II certainly did it for Obama, coordinating policies etc.

 

Moreover, he's massively increasing regulations and executive orders, which the incoming president will have to waste time evaluating and very often cancelling.

 

Someone needs a flipping pacifier.

Edited December 30, 2016 by DocM

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

this administration is doing everything they can with their time left to advance their new cold war with Russia. it's pretty pathetic. "Fake News"? what a joke. now this "everything is russia's fault" thing. remember when North Korea was the problem child?

 

and now for the disclaimer of this fake, nonsensical hacking report:

 

"this report is provided “as is” for informational purposes only. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) does not provide any warranties of any kind regarding any information contained within."

 

lol who believes this stuff?

[+Mirumir Subscriber¹]

43 minutes ago, Dot Matrix said:

Trump is a pawn of Putin, and doesn't even realize it.

How did you realize it?

[Xilo]

18 hours ago, ctebah said:

So just a symbolic action without any proof, still....

 

I had respect for Obama in his first term but the last two years the guy has lost it.  

 

Meanwhile, Turkey and Russia broker a truce in Syria.  The US has become the laughing stock of the world.  

Don't worry. Your new president will Make America Great Again™.

[DocM]

19 hours ago, ctebah said:

>

I had respect for Obama in his first term but the last two years the guy has lost it.  

>

 

He lost it long before that, but people were giving him a benefit of the doubt he didn't deserve.  I didn't vote for him but pretty much held fire until seeing the flow chart of Obamacare (doomed at birth), and the 2011 budget deficit reduction act fiasco (Obama vs both parties in Congress, with a compromise bill in place) did it. His way or the highway, and it's caused a lot of trouble.

[+Raze Subscriber²]

And another thread turning into an Obama hatefest.  Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. And even when he's gone you'll continue to blame him.  Trump is no savior, he just needs to at least try and live up to his make America great again claims.  I hope he succeeds. 

 

These sanctions and other actions are worthless, too little, too late unfortunately.  Time to just quietly and gracefully fade away, President Obama.  Thanks for your service.

 

 

 

FYI - I did not drink the Obama kool-aid nor did I vote for him second term, first yes. 

[PGHammer]

2 hours ago, FloatingFatMan said:

Not surprised. Obama is just throwing his weight around in his last 3 weeks.  Trump will almost certainly cancel the expulsion as soon as he's in office.

 

I called it "Presidential Pique" in the original thread on this subject - basically a hissy fit.  For all the talk of Trump being unbalanced during the election campaign, he isn't the one with the hissy fits on the foreign - or even domestic - policy stage.

[DocM]

3 hours ago, Raze said:

And another thread turning into an Obama hatefest.  Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. 

One of his big problems was he "did" when he shouldn't have, the nightmare that is Obamacare, and "didn't" when he should have, like leave a stabilization force in northern iraq as almost every general up and down the ranks suggested. Not having such a force let IS grow & run wild. Then he fired almost 200 of them, appointing generals who'd be yes-men. Then he'd throw trash at everyone else when the blowback came, and make threats he wasn't inclined to act on.  

 

What's not to like? 

[+Raze Subscriber²]

3 hours ago, DocM said:

One of his big problems was he "did" when he shouldn't have, the nightmare that is Obamacare, and "didn't" when he should have, like leave a stabilization force in northern iraq as almost every general up and down the ranks suggested. Not having such a force let IS grow & run wild. Then he fired almost 200 of them, appointing generals who'd be yes-men. Then he'd throw trash at everyone else when the blowback came, and make threats he wasn't inclined to act on.  

 

What's not to like? 

Oh please, your bias is well known.  Get real.  When you start hitting the conservatives and Trump with the same critical eye, maybe your words will carry weight.  Your knowledge of politics/politicians is exceptional, but severely impaired by the sheer unreasonable bias you exhibit.

[PGHammer]

38 minutes ago, Raze said:

Oh please, your bias is well known.  Get real.  When you start hitting the conservatives and Trump with the same critical eye, maybe your words will carry weight.  Your knowledge of politics/politicians is exceptional, but severely impaired by the sheer unreasonable bias you exhibit.

Raze - his (President Obama's, that is) hatred of Bebe Netanyahu came out when Bebe was last in the United States - and in front of Congress; worse, he holds grudges like his retiring Senatorial BFF, Harry Reid.  It is VERY bad form for a President - of any party - to have a personal grudge against another world leader.  (It's even worse when the other world leader leads an ally.  So I'm NOT referring JUST to the Netanyahu situation - but the one with Putin as well.)

 

I will indeed wager that part of the grudge against Putin has to do with the Uranium One deal; however, the blame THERE should land ENTIRELY on his Secretary of State at the time - Hillary.  He's whacking Putin because he won't - or can't for whatever reason - whack Hillary - which begs the question - why CAN'T he (at least politically) whack Hillary?

[+Raze Subscriber²]

2 minutes ago, PGHammer said:

Raze - his (President Obama's, that is) hatred of Bebe Netanyahu came out when Bebe was last in the United States - and in front of Congress; worse, he holds grudges like his retiring Senatorial BFF, Harry Reid.  It is VERY bad form for a President - of any party - to have a personal grudge against another world leader.  (It's even worse when the other world leader leads an ally.  So I'm NOT referring JUST to the Netanyahu situation - but the one with Putin as well.)

 

I will indeed wager that part of the grudge against Putin has to do with the Uranium One deal; however, the blame THERE should land ENTIRELY on his Secretary of State at the time - Hillary.  He's whacking Putin because he won't - or can't for whatever reason - whack Hillary - which begs the question - why CAN'T he (at least politically) whack Hillary?

Seriously, you think you know exactly what he thinks and feels?  Wow.   Simply put, how incredibly....oh nevermind.