FILE – In this May 25, 2017, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump, right, speaks to British Prime Minister Theresa May during in a working dinner meeting at the NATO headquarters during a NATO summit of heads of state and government in Brussels. Trump initially responded to May’s criticism of his retweeting of inflammatory anti-Muslim videos from a fringe British political group by directing his message to the wrong Theresa May on Twitter Nov. 29, 2017 . (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, Pool, File)
Last week, I posted on an apparent assassination attempt on a Russian traitor (no other way of describing him) now living in Britain. Sergei Skripal was a senior KGB officer who was turned by MI-6. He was caught and imprisoned and eventually exchanged for a bevy of Russian illegals rounded up by the FBI.
He and his daughter were found unconscious on a park bench by a police officer. They have since been diagnosed as victims of a nerve agent attack. The police officer who found them and some other people have also been treated as suspected collateral casualties.
Yesterday, British Prime Minister Theresa May demanded an explanation from the Russian government. Apparently, British labs have traced the manufacturing process to Russia and, given Putin’s statements about getting Skripal, it seems more likely than not that this was a bit of attempted “wet work” in the best tradition of SMERSH.
I’d like to take a second here to point out that this was an attack on British soil. It was an attack on a guy under British protection. So this was an affair in which the Brits have to take the lead and wherein we play a supporting role. But, right on cue, the usual suspects were claiming that Trump was not supporting May (she hadn’t asked for support or made a positive allegation of complicity against Russia, or declared what she wanted done). There is some utterly insane stuff going around today that Tillerson was fired because he was “stronger” on Russia than Trump.
https://twitter.com/amandacarpenter/status/973540831817879552
This is a shame because Amanda is a very smart person, but this makes it seem like she’s become totally unglued by Trump.
You do realize that Tillerson was fired a day after he criticized Russia, right?https://t.co/LDcQpOJ3EE
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) March 13, 2018
Milano, of course, is a dumb as a bag of clawhammers.
Rex Tillerson was fired, because he attacked Russia. Yesterday he blamed them for the gas attack in the UK. Trump refused to even name Russia, because he’s probably being blackmailed by Putin. Trump hasn’t even implemented sanctions, he’s still colluding. #TrumpColluded
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) March 13, 2018
Did I mention clawhammers? By the bagful?
And no Never Trump diatribe is ever complete without a Bill Kristol contribution:
I guess you could say Trump chose Putin over Tillerson.
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) March 13, 2018
Today, President Trump had a phone call with Prime Minister May:
Readout of President Donald J. Trump’s Call with Prime Minister Theresa May of the United Kingdom
President Donald J. Trump spoke today with Prime Minister Theresa May of the United Kingdom. They discussed the United Kingdom’s investigation into the chemical weapon attack on a private citizen and his daughter on British soil. President Trump stated the United States stands in solidarity with its closest ally and is ready to provide any assistance the United Kingdom requests for its investigation. President Trump agreed with Prime Minister May that the Government of the Russian Federation must provide unambiguous answers regarding how this chemical weapon, developed in Russia, came to be used in the United Kingdom. The two leaders agreed on the need for consequences for those who use these heinous weapons in flagrant violation of international norms.
This seems like the kind of statement that is called for.
The ball is now in Britain’s court. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov basically told May to f*** off:
VIDEO: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insists that Moscow is not to blame for the poisoning of a Russian former double agent in Britain and said they are ready to cooperate with London pic.twitter.com/42BYFune2d
— AFP news agency (@AFP) March 13, 2018
Seeing as how over 20 of Putin’s opponents have been assassinated in Britain, I suspect May will do nothing. Because that is why the Russians did this to begin with. And we should follow her lead because this is her problem.
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