Posted on 06/29/2010 11:28:50 PM PDT by saundby
... "The choice of timing was particularly refined," Lavrov said sarcastically, referring to the fact that the arrests occurred after Obama met with Medvedev on Thursday for a visit widely seen as the latest step in the "reset" of relations between the former Cold War rivals.
A source in Obama's administration said the president was not happy about the timing of the arrests, but investigators feared that some of their suspects might flee, The New York Times reported.
The arrests might have been spurred by an FBI sting operation on Saturday in which one of the, Anna Chapman, was given a fake passport by FBI operatives posing as Russian agents to pass on to someone else. Chapman instead turned the passport over to New York police, her lawyer said in court Monday. The police visit, if leaked to the media, could have potentially blown the entire FBI operation.
The Foreign Ministry confirmed that several suspects were Russian citizens, and NTV television identified two of them as Chapman and Mikhail Semenko.
The suspects, who are not accused of espionage, have been charged with conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government without notifying U.S. authorities, a crime punishable by up to five years in prison. Nine of the suspects also have been charged with money laundering, which carries a conviction of up to 20 years.
An 11th suspect was detained in Cyprus on Tuesday but released on bail.
"In total, 11 defendants, including the 10 arrested, are charged in two separate criminal complaints with conspiring to act as unlawful agents of the Russian Federation within the United States," the Justice Department said in a statement.
...
The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it did not understand what motivated the U.S. Justice Department to publicly speak in the spirit of "spy passions dating back to the times of the Cold War." It said the "unfounded" arrests pursued "unseemly goals" that contradicted the "reset" in U.S.-Russian ties proclaimed by the Obama administration.
Putin took a low-key approach to the arrests.
"Back at your home, the police went out of control [and] are throwing people in jail," Putin told former U.S. President Bill Clinton during a meeting in Moscow. "But that's the kind of job they have. I hope that all the positive gains that have been achieved in our relationship will not be damaged by the recent event."
In Washington, the State Department said Tuesday that the spy case would not derail "reset" efforts. "We feel that we have made significant progress in the 18 months that we have been pursuing this different relationship with Russia. We think we have something to show for it," Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon told reporters.
But Gennady Gudkov, a former KGB counterintelligence official who serves as deputy head of the State Duma's Security Committee, said the spy allegations threaten to upset the "reset" by tarnishing Russia's image in the eyes of the American people and could have been masterminded by opponents hoping to discredit Obama.
"Now millions of Americans will think that Russia was only pretending to be a partner of the United States but is in fact still going after U.S. secrets like during the Cold War," he told The Moscow Times. ...
More hilarity in the full article.
Someone should have given these guys some advice....it is not hard to “discredit” our idiotPOTUS......just ask him how competent his lame administration is in relation to “Have you plugged that [damned] hole yet, Daddy?”....=.=
All this to discredit Obama?
What a wasted effort!
Especially if you are paying attention.
Spy Affair Called Attempt to Discredit ObamaLOL! What idiots. He's discredited everything and anyone he's ever associated himself with.
Discrediting is the only thing e can do on his own with little to no effort.
Interesting. The white house said Obama knew the arrests were coming while he was meeting with Medvedev. "Anna Chapman" somehow knew the fake passport was a trap and while taking the bait didn't swallow it and turned it in to the cops. Wonder who tipped her off?
In addition to Medvedev being in the US, it turns out Bill Clinton is in Moscow with Putin at this time.
The Ruskies always do come up with the best Dem talking points....
I think this shows that the Russians chose the defense that would appeal to the most people (obamabots); those who automatically assume every negative occurrence was ‘timed’ or ‘planned’ to make Zero look bad.
If they want to discredit him just find his birth certificate.
Obama discredits himself, he doesn’t need help.
Obama discredits himself, he doesn’t need help.
sad state of affairs
re: “Anna Chapman”
oooh, she’s the hottie in the group from what I’ve seen of online photos..... mmmmm, she could be “the spy who loved me” -— imprison the others but release Anna to me for “house arrest”/probation, and I’ll make sure she stays out of trouble.....
The main person espousing this theory would be the narcissist himself.
Odd how the feds never seem to find any Chinese spies, when there are probably thousands of them. Perhaps they are so far into the pockets and souls of our “leaders” that makes the difference.
The only problem with my theory. ZERO don't need no help looking bad. He is lower than JIMMAH and sinking. . . . .
Obama has already been discredited.
...an attempt to Discredit Obama discredit.
She’s a hottie for sure.
In addition to Medvedev being in the US, it turns out Bill Clinton is in Moscow with Putin at this time.
This entire story just keeps getting more and more strange by the day. I did think the same thing about the timings of the meetings. Either the entire RAT party is working with the Russians or they have not idea what is going on. Either way, America loses.
One of these days this house that obama is building is going to crumble to the ground. I think that the right needs to shift its primary focus on the media. If we bring them down we bring down the corrupt left. Total discrediting is what needs to happen.
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