Posted on 12/12/2014 8:26:24 PM PST by wetphoenix
Washington (AFP) - American lawmakers defied President Barack Obama and approved fresh economic sanctions against Russia, prompting swift criticism from Moscow Friday over toughening the US response to a Kremlin-backed separatist insurgency in Ukraine.
The legislation also authorizes -- but does not legally require -- Obama to provide lethal and non-lethal military aid to Ukraine, including anti-tank weapons, ammunition and "tactical troop-operated surveillance drones."
The sanctions bill was passed unanimously Thursday in the Senate and House of Representatives. Because of a technical issue it returns to the Senate, where aides say there likely will be unanimous consent for final passage as early as Friday.
Asked whether the president would sign it, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said "we are looking at it right now."
Washington backs Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, but Obama has yet to approve the bulk of an arms request by Kiev.
The bill's coauthor Senator Bob Corker criticized the delay as a "hesitant US response to Russia's continued invasion of Ukraine."
Final passage of the sanctions would heap political pressure on the president.
But on Thursday Obama signalled he was against unilaterally putting the economic squeeze on Moscow, saying it would be "counterproductive" for Washington to "get out ahead of Europe further" on sanctions.
"The notion that we can simply ratchet up sanctions further and further and further, and then ultimately Putin changes his mind, I think is a miscalculation," Obama said.
Washington coordinated with the European Union to impose tough sanctions on Russia in September. While they have bitten into the Russian economy, Putin dismissed the punitive measures and said the West was using Ukraine as an international pawn.
In November, the Pentagon delivered the first of 20 anti-mortar radar systems to Ukraine.
The current legislation authorizes $350 million worth of weapons, defense equipment
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
What could go wrong?
The whole world could turn against us?
Emperor Obama will never approve
Why would the world turn against us?
Huh? Who?
I don’t see why the U.S. should fund the conflict. We have enough debt and can’t pay for what we’ve already spent. Surely this is a spot where we can save our money.
Kerry and Lavrov to meet in Rome on Monday.
Should be interesting since Lukashevich’s warning 3 weeks ago, and talk last week of reissuing the “Authorization to use Force” in the Russian parliament.
“Russia issued a warning to the United States after it was suggested by one official that arms should be sent to Ukrainian forces fighting pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, according to reports.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said the move would be construed as sending a “very serious signal.” Pro-Russian rebels have been fighting government forces since April.
Lukashevich issued a warning against “a major change in policy of the U.S. administration in regard to the conflict” in eastern Ukraine, reported the Moscow Times.
“That would be a direct violation of agreements reached, including agreements reached with the participation of the United States,” he told the publication.
Because Russkies have their soldiers, tanks, anti-aircraft and drones parked all over Eastern Ukraine and have setup Nukes in Crimea after they annexed it, and they are already talking about "rebellions" of this sort breaking out in NATO countries next.
Long live Malden! Death to National Bolsheviks!
Russia and China ally as trading partners to bypass sanctions; the Chinese and Russians get so cozy that they end up building a sincere military alliance. Russia and China wonder if whether or not the US could be boycotted economically as retaliation.
I was hoping they would provide funding to give all prior service weapons and armor. Aren’t we more important than insurgents?
Russia has an economy not too far above some South American countries. Let them team up with the Chicoms, who are also building gigantic ghost cities just to make their numbers look good.
Carl?
You anticipate China putting economic sanctions on the U.S. to support Russia invading Ukraine and threatening NATO/America?
According to the guys over at ZeroHedge, it is impossible for the US to get rid of its debt now. We have passed the point of no return. I guess the big spenders in DC figure they might as well keep on doing what they do best - print and spend.
Maybe all countries with their hands out to Uncle Sam should just go directly to the Chinese.
China needs their exports and only less than 3% of these go to Russia. Russia has smaller purchasing power than Italy. Meanwhile the USA is the single biggest buyer of Chinese goods. Russia is nothing to the Chinese.
Well let some EU country worry about it since they are the ones looking to benefit financially. I don’t see why we should be involved.
Is the United States not part of NATO? What are you talking about? Are you replying to my post?
From article’’lawmakers defied President Barack Obama ‘’
about time they defied putlers protege.....
We have 30 billion of Ukraine’s gold. So we could at
least help them up to that figure, with that kind of help
and allow our volunteers who want to help UKR to get
there fast, they’d burn russias huylos good.....
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