*wow* -- Career State Dept officials stopped secret plan by Trump WH to lift sanctions on Russia

[kpete]

Link to tweet

.........

In the early weeks of the Trump administration, former Obama administration officials and State Department staffers fought an intense, behind-the-scenes battle to head off efforts by incoming officials to normalize relations with Russia, according to multiple sources familiar with the events.

Unknown to the public at the time, top Trump administration officials, almost as soon as they took office, tasked State Department staffers with developing proposals for the lifting of economic sanctions, the return of diplomatic compounds and other steps to relieve tensions with Moscow.

These efforts to relax or remove punitive measures imposed by President Obama in retaliation for Russia’s intervention in Ukraine and meddling in the 2016 election alarmed some State Department officials, who immediately began lobbying congressional leaders to quickly pass legislation to block the move, the sources said.

“There was serious consideration by the White House to unilaterally rescind the sanctions,” said Dan Fried, a veteran State Department official who served as chief U.S. coordinator for sanctions policy until he retired in late February. He said in the first few weeks of the administration, he received several “panicky” calls from U.S. government officials who told him they had been directed to develop a sanctions-lifting package and imploring him, “Please, my God, can’t you stop this?”



the rest:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-administrations-secret-efforts-ease-russia-sanctions-fell-short-231301145.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw

[leftynyc]

1. I heard rumblings about this story

last night (although I thought it was being reported in the Wash Post). I thought it was unbelievably damning.

[wishstar]

2. Dan Fried was on Rachel Maddow show last night

This story hasn't gotten much coverage yet due to Climate accord getting most attention, but I expect it to be publicized more in next few days since the author Isikoff is a well respected reporter and journalist and commentator on cable TV. He was the one who asked Flynn during RNC convention if he had received any payments from Russia and Flynn blatantly lied to him.

[annabanana]

3. I love our government bureaucrats!

"Deep State" my ass. Just ordinary patriotic Americans doing their jobs.

[L. Coyote]

4. Heroes who sacrificed their careers. Tillerson fired all high level Department of State staff, not?

This is why the French election was so consequential. Putin needs on EU member to bail on sanctions.

I hope there is an inquiry into the firings at State and how they were related to #TrumpRussia.

[GusBob]

5. Quid to the pro to the quo. We got your collusion right here, comrade

[wishstar]

6. The rapid rescinding of sanctions only benefited Russia, totally unilateral, no US benefit

That is what was so shocking to State Dept officials since Trump WH plan to immediately remove all sanctions was not conditional on Russia changing or promising to change their aggressive behavior.

[Scurrilous]

7. K&R