Russia Warns Of ‘Precise And Painful’ Response To Any Future US Sanctions

Russia is continuing to warn the West of further attacks against Russia. Whether it be in the form of missiles or sanctions, the former Soviet Union doesn’t seem like they wish to play “war games” any longer.

The United States this month added several Russian firms and officials to a sanctions blacklist in response to what it said were the Kremlin’s “malign activities.” Moscow says those sanctions are unlawful and has warned that it will retaliate in a “painful” manner.

“No one should be under any illusions,” said Valentina Matvienko, who is closely aligned with the Kremlin, was quoted as saying by the Interfax News Agency. Matvienko, the speaker of the Russian upper house of parliament, said on Wednesday that Moscow’s response to any United States sanctions will be targeted and painful, Russian news agencies reported.

“Russia’s response to the sanctions, our so-called counter-sanctions, will be precise, painful, and without question sensitive for exactly those countries that imposed them [the sanctions] on Russia,” she was quoted as saying, according to Reuters.   “Sanctions are a double-edged sword and those who impose them should understand that sanctions against countries, especially those like Russia, will carry with them risks of serious consequences for those who impose them,” Matvienko added.

Lawmakers in the lower house of the Russian parliament have drawn up legislation that would give the government powers to ban or restrict imports of U.S. goods and services ranging from medicines to software and rocket engines. However, the Kremlin has not yet said if it backs such measures.

U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned the joint U.S., French, and British military operation last weekend that struck several sites in Syria to punish the Russian-backed government of President Bashar Assad for an apparent chemical attack that killed civilians. Trump said the strike was “absolute precision.”

A senior U.S. administration official said on Monday  Trump has delayed imposing additional sanctions on Russia and is unlikely to approve them unless Moscow carries out a new cyber attack or some other provocation that would warrant sanctions.

WW3 Tensions Rise: Russia WILL Strike Back If US Attacks Syria

The Russians will respond with an attack if the United States decides to take action in Syria, according to Fox News’ Senior Security Analyst. He also said Washington should” refrain from confrontation” with Russia if there’s any hope of avoiding a third world war.

Walid Phares made the comments recently on Fox News after the alleged chemical attack in Douma, Syria. The Russians are still claiming there is no evidence of the attack and any retaliation would be over false information and “fake news.”

More troubling is that also on Monday, Russia’s Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzia said that the Americans would have to deal with “serious consequences” should they attack Syria.

“We have repeatedly warned the American side about highly negative consequences that may follow if they apply weapons against the legitimate Syrian government, and especially if the use of these weapons – God forbid, affects our military men, who legally stay in Syria,” the Russian Ambassador to the UN said at a meeting of the UN Security Council. –SHTFPlan

Phares told Fox News: “Well look, the Russians are today stronger in Syria than they were a year ago and certainly six years ago. “So they are trying to say to us and our partners that there will be a response maybe directly by the Russians or as they do usually, task the Iranians to do it.”

His comments come after US President Donald Trump threatened imminent military action against Syria and Russia over the “atrocious” alleged poison gas attack that supposedly killed at least 60 civilians. But there still isn’t much evidence to support that theory. There’s “words” of those who aren’t all that reliable. (White Helmets and the US mainstream media.)

The most recent attack, which screams ‘false flag’ like no other, comes as no surprise to many observers. Russia was sounding the alarm last month that US instructors were actively training militants for a “chemical provocation” that would be used as a pretext for carrying out an attack on the Syrian government (Syrian doctors, meanwhile, said they had not received victims with signs of chemical poisoning from Douma, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said no evidence has been found of a chemical weapons attack). –RT

But that won’t stop the US from using weapons in Syria, and Trump has already put the war-torn nation on notice via his Twitter account.

Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and “smart!” You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2018

The tweet appears to be an unofficial announcement of the “major decisions“ which Trump said Washington would be making soon regarding the alleged chemical attack in Syria. It also comes just after Russia vowed to shoot down any US missiles aimed at Syria. “If there is an American strike, then we… will shoot down the missiles and target the positions from where they were launched,” Alexander Zasypkin, the Russian envoy to Beirut, said on Wednesday. “In the past few days, we have seen an escalation towards a significant crisis.”

We appear to be on the precipice of a major conflict in Syria. Oddly enough, most assumed North Korea would start the third world war. If Trump bombs Syria, it would be the US. Tensions are high and prospects for avoiding a horrific conflict look awfully low right now.

WW3 Tensions Rise: Russian WILL Strike Back If US Attacks Syria

The Russians will respond with an attack if the United States decides to take action in Syria, according to Fox News’ Senior Security Analyst.  He also said Washington should” refrain from confrontation” with Russia if there’s any hope of avoiding a third world war.

Walid Phares made the comments recently on Fox News after the alleged chemical attack in Douma, Syria. The Russians are still claiming there is no evidence of the attack and any retaliation would be over false information and “fake news.”

More troubling is that also on Monday, Russia’s Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzia said that the Americans would have to deal with “serious consequences” should they attack Syria.

“We have repeatedly warned the American side about highly negative consequences that may follow if they apply weapons against the legitimate Syrian government, and especially if the use of these weapons – God forbid, affects our military men, who legally stay in Syria,” the Russian Ambassador to the UN said at a meeting of the UN Security Council. –SHTFPlan

Phares told Fox News: “Well look, the Russians are today stronger in Syria than they were a year ago and certainly six years ago. “So they are trying to say to us and our partners that there will be a response maybe directly by the Russians or as they do usually, task the Iranians to do it.”

 

His comments come after US President Donald Trump threatened imminent military action against Syria and Russia over the “atrocious” alleged poison gas attack that supposedly killed at least 60 civilians. But there still isn’t much evidence to support that theory. There’s “words” of those who aren’t all that reliable. (White Helmets and the US mainstream media.)

The most recent attack, which screams ‘false flag’ like no other, comes as no surprise to many observers. Russia was sounding the alarm last month that US instructors were actively training militants for a “chemical provocation” that would be used as a pretext for carrying out an attack on the Syrian government (Syrian doctors, meanwhile, said they had not received victims with signs of chemical poisoning from Douma, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said no evidence has been found of a chemical weapons attack). –RT

But that won’t stop the US from using weapons in Syria, and Trump has already put the war-torn nation on notice via his Twitter account.

Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and “smart!” You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2018

The tweet appears to be an unofficial announcement of the “major decisions“ which Trump said Washington would be making soon regarding the alleged chemical attack in Syria. It also comes just after Russia vowed to shoot down any US missiles aimed at Syria. “If there is an American strike, then we… will shoot down the missiles and target the positions from where they were launched,” Alexander Zasypkin, the Russian envoy to Beirut, said on Wednesday. “In the past few days, we have seen an escalation towards a significant crisis.”

We appear to be on the precipice of a major conflict in Syria.  Oddly enough, most assumed North Korea would start the third world war.  If Trump bombs Syria, it would be the US. Tensions are high and prospects for avoiding a horrific conflict look awfully low right now.

Russia And UK Tensions Increase: Russia To Expel British Diplomats

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says it is “unacceptable” for the United Kingdom to accuse Russia of the nerve agent attack, and Russia has countered the British rhetoric quickly. In a response to the UK’s expulsion of Russian diplomats over the nerve agent poisoning of a Russian double agent and ex-spy, Moscow will expel British diplomats.

Russia says it will soon expel British diplomats in response to Theresa May’s announcement that 23 “undeclared intelligence officers” posing as Russian diplomats would be ejected from the UK. Ramping up tensions not seen since the Cold War, the UK and Russia are exchanging rhetoric at unprecedented levels.

Lavrov said Russia would first inform the British government first about any retaliatory actions before revealing them to the wider public.

Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, were found unconscious on March 4th in the center of Salisbury and remain critically ill in hospital. May says tests showed a Soviet-era nerve agent known as Novichok was used in the attack, and that Russia was, therefore “highly likely” to be responsible. But not everyone agrees with May’s assessment.  The Irish Times doesn’t feel there’s any way Vladimir Putin could be responsible for the attack.

Theresa May’s first scenario, that the Kremlin was directly involved, seems unlikely. Skripal was in the UK as part of an official spy-swap deal with Russia. The only suggestion of suspicious activities on Skripal’s part has been a report in the Daily Telegraph that he was close to an unnamed person in the organization run by Christopher Steele, who produced the dossier claiming Russia had compromising material on Donald Trump. –The Irish Times

In comments on Thursday morning, the UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson expanded on May’s statement, saying the evidence of Russian guilt was “overwhelming” because only Moscow had access to the poison and also a motive for harming Skripal. But there are holes in that official narrative as well:

Russia immediately needed western financial help to stop Novichok and other chemical and biological agents being exported illegally by criminal elements. Western help arrived eventually but was it too late.

There was money to be made in those days when inflation had reached 2,500 per cent in a single year. Those who became extremely rich by selling natural resources, military equipment or anything they could get their hands on became known as the Russian oligarchs, but not all the oligarchs were Russian. The main production plant for Novichok was in Uzbekistan.

For President Vladimir Putin to have launched such a vicious attack would have been counterproductive as it would jeopardise any spy swaps in the future. –The Irish Times

Ratcheting up the rhetoric further, Johnson told the BBC, “There is something in the kind of smug, sarcastic response that we’re heard from the Russians that to me betokens their fundamental guilt. They want to simultaneously deny it and yet at the same time to glory in it.” Johnson also said the attack was a way for Putin to send a message to anyone considering becoming a Russian defector.

Russia has repeatedly said that the UK is refusing to provide a sample of the nerve agent used in Salisbury, initially saying it would not respond to May’s ultimatum until this condition was met. Johnson said the UK would send a sample of the nerve agent to the Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons for an independent assessment

As the rhetoric continues to ramp up and the world stands at the precipice of a third world war over political blame games, it’s important to remember that if these elitists start a war, they won’t be the ones suffering the repercussions.  That will be for the rest of us to endure.

British Official: Russian Spy Attack Is ‘State-Sponsored Attempted Murder’

The nerve agent attack on the former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter looks like “state-sponsored attempted murder,” according to the chairman of the U.K.’s Foreign Affairs Committee.  British media claims that Moscow is behind the attempt to use a nerve agent in the United Kingdom to try to kill a former Russian spy.

Tom Tugendhat told BBC Radio 4 on Monday that he expected Russia to be blamed for the March 4 attack on the ex-spy and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, England. Tugendhat said it was a “bit early to be absolutely certain of that” but added that the Russian government was “certainly behaving aggressively towards people in the U.K.”

“We’re expecting the prime minister to make an announcement soon and, frankly, I would be surprised if she did not point the finger at the Kremlin,” Tugendhat told the BBC.Trace amounts of the substance used to poison Skripal and his daughter were found on and around a table where the pair ate at the Italian restaurant Zizzi, the BBC has learned. The table, along with other items, has been removed and destroyed. Scientists have advised police it could take weeks for the premises to reopen.

Nerve agents are organic chemicals belonging to the group of organo-phosphorus compounds.  They are stable and easily dispersed, highly toxic, and have rapid effects both when absorbed through the skin and via respiration. Nerve agents can be manufactured by means of fairly simple chemical techniques. The raw materials are inexpensive and generally readily available. All nerve agents in pure state are colorless liquids. Their volatility varies widely. Of the nerve agents, Tabun and Sarin are perhaps the most well-known.

According to CNBC, the advice to wash possessions applies to anyone in either venue between 13:30 GMT on Sunday 4 March and closure on Monday. Prof Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer for England, said the risk of harm to fellow diners was “low.”  Dame Sally said after “rigorous scientific analysis” there was some concern that prolonged exposure over weeks and months could cause health problems but it was “not a subject for panic.” She also said, “I am confident none of these customers or staff will have suffered harm.”

The British, for all intents and purposes, are blaming Russian for trying to kill their own ex-spy in England. The former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter, Yulia, 33, remain hospitalized in “very serious condition” after being poisoned last week in Salisbury. The father and daughter, believed by authorities to have been deliberately targeted, were found slumped on a bench near a shopping center on Sunday afternoon.

Major Investment Bank Predicts: ‘China And Russia Engineer A Collapse Of Bitcoin’

A major investment bank has predicted Bitcoin’s crash and pinpointed it to next year after it soars to over $60,000.  Russia and China work together to “engineer the crash,” of Bitcoin the bank has predicted.

According to Saxo Bank, Bitcoin will continue to rise during most of 2018 until it peaks at around $60,000. At that point, Moscow and Beijing will facilitate a crash of the cryptocurrency as they harshly crackdown on it. Saxo Bank predicts that more money will be gambled in digital currencies until more than £750billion ($1trillion) is invested worldwide.

The forecast assumes a Russian crackdown taking the form of the Kremlin mining of the cryptocurrency itself and “shifting the focus away from Bitcoin in an effort to keep more Russian capital onshore.” Meanwhile, in China, Saxo Bank predicts a state-sanctioned virtual currency will be launched which requires less computing power – and less power – to mine.  Eventually, due to the “heavy hand of state intervention,” interest in cryptocurrencies decreases and “completely sidelines the Bitcoin and crypto phenomenon from a price speculation angle,” according to the bank’s prediction.

The prediction also finishes with Bitcoin’s end price at just $1000.  Veteran investor Eric Schiffer has also shared his warning about the cryptocurrency. He thinks Bitcoin could become the biggest financial danger of the 21st century, branding it a “financial bubble bigger than the tulip craze.” He said: “I think bitcoin is a ‘tower of death’. It is going to result in the imminent death of your investment – a thermonuclear death.”

However, other experts, such as Jordan Hiscott, chief trader at Ayondo Markets, do not agree with Saxo Bank’s assessment and prediction.  Hiscott does not see a crash on the horizon for Bitcoin.  But he has also warned people to think twice before investing their hard-earned cash in cryptocurrencies.  “For good investment options find trusted companies that would do that for you or look for a commodity with actual underlying value,” said Hiscott.

Bribery Plot Uncovered By FBI Before Obama Administration Approved Moscow Nuclear Deal

Barack Obama’s bribery plot with the Russian government has been uncovered by the FBI.  Right before this bribery occurred, Obama approved a very controversial nuclear deal with Moscow that will turn the “Russian meddling” narrative on its head.

 According to government documents and interviews, before the Obama administration approved a controversial deal in 2010 giving Moscow control of a large swath of American uranium, the FBI had gathered substantial evidence that Russian nuclear industry officials were engaged in bribery, kickbacks, extortion, and money laundering designed to grow Vladimir Putin’s atomic energy business inside the United States.

Federal agents used a confidential U.S. witness working inside the Russian nuclear industry to gather extensive financial records, make secret recordings and intercept emails as early as 2009 that showed Moscow had compromised an American uranium trucking firm with bribes and kickbacks in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, FBI and court documents show.

They also obtained an eyewitness account — backed by documents — indicating Russian nuclear officials had routed millions of dollars to the U.S. designed to benefit former President Bill Clinton’s charitable foundation during the time Secretary of State Hillary Clinton served on a government body that provided a favorable decision to Moscow, sources told The Hill.

This massive racketeering scheme was conducted “with the consent of higher level officials” in Russia who “shared the proceeds” from the kickbacks, one agent declared in an affidavit years later.

Rather than bring immediate charges in 2010, however, the Department of Justice (DOJ) continued investigating the matter for nearly four more years, essentially leaving the American public and Congress in the dark about Russian nuclear corruption on U.S. soil during a period when the Obama administration made two major decisions benefitting Putin’s commercial nuclear ambitions.

The first decision occurred in October 2010, when the State Department and government agencies on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States unanimously approved the partial sale of Canadian mining company Uranium One to the Russian nuclear giant Rosatom, giving Moscow control of more than 20 percent of America’s uranium supply. –The Hill

This scandal was hidden from the American public until Donald Trump threw it in Hillary Clinton’s face during the presidential campaign last year.  But because Hillary Clinton was neck deep in this scandal, the mainstream media tried desperately to cover it up and bury it alive, largely succeeding.

Former Representative Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), who chaired the House Intelligence Committee during the time the FBI probe was being conducted, told The Hill that he had never been told anything about the Russian nuclear corruption case even though many fellow lawmakers had serious concerns about the Obama administration’s approval of the Uranium One deal. “Not providing information on a corruption scheme before the Russian uranium deal was approved by U.S. regulators and engage appropriate congressional committees has served to undermine U.S. national security interests by the very people charged with protecting them,” he said. “The Russian efforts to manipulate our American political enterprise is breathtaking.”

All this happened on Barack Obama’s watch though, and it didn’t seem to be a problem as the media refused to cover this story.  What’s even more astounding, are the connections with the current “Russian hacking” narrative that the media refuses to stop covering even though there is not one shred of evidence that Russia meddled with the election or changed the outcome.

The probe into Vadim Mikerin, the main Russian overseeing Putin’s nuclear expansion inside the United States, began in 2009 when Robert Mueller, now the special counsel in charge of the Trump case of “Russian election meddling”, was still FBI director. And it ended in late 2015 under the direction of then-FBI Director James Comey, who Trump fired earlier this year.

Mikerin was a director of Rosatom’s Tenex in Moscow since the early 2000s, where he oversaw Rosatom’s nuclear collaboration with the United States under the Megatons to Megawatts program and it’s commercial uranium sales to other countries. In 2010, Mikerin was dispatched to the U.S. on a work visa approved by the Obama administration to open Rosatom’s new American arm called Tenam.

As part of the scheme, Mikerin, with the consent of higher level officials at TENEX and Rosatom (both Russian state-owned entities) would offer no-bid contracts to US businesses in exchange for kickbacks in the form of money payments made to some offshore banks accounts,” Agent David Garden testified.

“Mikerin apparently then shared the proceeds with other co-conspirators associated with TENEX in Russia and elsewhere,” the agent added.

The investigation was ultimately supervised by then-U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein, an Obama appointee who now serves as President Trump’s deputy attorney general, and then-Assistant FBI Director Andrew McCabe, now the deputy FBI director under Trump, Justice Department documents show. –The Hill

Evidenceless media propaganda attempts continue as they try to convince the public that Russia wanted Donald Trump to succeed over Hillary Clinton.  But based on this scandal alone, why would Russians even consider Trump as an ally when Hillary and Obama were colluding with them for financial gain early on during Obama’s first term?

We now know who is really guilty of “colluding with the Russians.”

Kalashnikov Unveils New Anti-Drone Weapon

While most western countries are reverting back to medieval technology to combat the use of drones, legendary Russian arms manufacturer Kalashnikov, makers of the AK series, has developed an advanced anti-drone gun. Drones are now becoming more widely available, therefore, anti-drone technology is becoming a major field in the defense industry.

Of course, Kalashnikov is leading the pack in anti-drone warfare. Built on the MP-514K rifle system, the fully modular device comes equipped with interchangeable jamming units, which disrupt GPS, GLONASS, WiFi, and other electronic and radio signals, rendering drones inoperable. Due to its ability to block phone signals, the device also can be used to prevent remote detonation of improvised explosives.

Meet the REX-1.

For the first time in Russia, Kalashnikov Concern, the largest arms manufacturer in the country, showed off its electromagnetic anti-drone rifles at the Army-2017 expo in the Moscow Region. Prototypes of the REX-1 are also undergoing tests in some subunits of the Russian National Guard.

The gun has some fascinating features which makes it extremely effective. It is able to “fire” continuously for four hours. It can then be recharged for four hours using an ordinary 220-volt socket, or it can be connected to an additional battery for uninterrupted use. And, according to Nikita Khamitov, head of the special projects department at Zala Aero Group – the company that developed the new weapon and is part of Kalashnikov Concern, it’s possible to change each component in a matter of seconds, just like changing the magazine on an assault rifle.

“This radiomagnetic ‘gun’ suppresses the command and control channels of the world’s most commonly encountered drones. It’s also installed with a number of interchangeable electromagnetic and infrared units that suppress GSM, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo [the last three are various types of satellite navigation systems – RBTH], and other channels,” said Khamitov. -RBTH

Drones generally have two default modes in case communication is lost with the operator.  They will either return to the start point or automatically land. “In the latter case the drone will disappear from enemy radars, and you effectively have a new toy in your hands,” Khamitov added. “A particular feature of the device is the possibility of not just neutralizing unmanned aerial vehicles but also explosive devices triggered by remote control – via a phone call or text message, as one sees in films. The gun shuts out all external signals and gives the combat engineer group time to arrive on the spot and completely eliminate the threat,” Khamitov said.

And it’s possible you could end up getting your hands on a REX-1 too.  Well, the civilian version, anyway.  According to Khamitov, a version of the gun could definitely be designed for the civilian market. Or course, not all its functions would be made available. For instance, in the civilian version, the GPS neutralizing device would not be included.

The price of the weapon will be determined when the subunits of the Federal National Guard Troops Service decide the number they want to procure. “Looking at the market, I think the civilian version of our system could cost around $5,000,” Khamitov said.

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Author: Mac Slavo
Views: Read by 293 people
Date: September 6th, 2017
Website: www.SHTFplan.com

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Moscow Retaliates Against New US Sanctions

[image: REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin]Russia’s move was modest, having no effect on bilateral relations.

Washington was ordered to reduce embassy and consular staff in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok to 455 people by September 1 – equaling the number of Russian diplomats and staff in America.

Its southern Moscow warehouses and Serebryany Bor property were frozen, access by US personnel suspended as of August 1.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin approved the moves. A Russian Foreign Ministry statement said “(i)n the case of new unilateral actions of the US authorities to reduce the number of our diplomats in the US, it will be followed by a tit-for-tat response.”

“We reserve the right on other mutual measures, which can affect US interests.”

“The United States insistently implements rough anti-Russian sanctions one after another under the absolutely far-fetched pretext of Russian meddling in their internal affairs,” flagrantly breaching international law.

“The US makes decisions on illegal sanctions against the Russian Federation, seizes Russian diplomatic property, which is formalized in legally binding bilateral documents, Russian diplomats are expelled from the country.”

“This clearly violates the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and generally accepted diplomatic practice.”

Despite outrageous US actions against Russia, the Kremlin “acted responsibly, showing restraint and has not responded to obvious provocations.”

“However, recent events indicate that Russophobia and the policy aimed at open confrontation with our country have reigned supreme in some circles in the US.”

Washington unacceptably acts aggressively toward Russia. “(U)nder the guise of its ‘exceptionalism,’ (it) arrogantly ignores other countries’ stances and interests.”

We’ve “been doing (our) utmost to normalize bilateral relations, develop ties and cooperation with the US on the most important issues on the international agenda, including, above all, fighting terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, drug trafficking, illegal migration, cyber crime and so on.”

“Moscow continues to proceed from the assumption that global problems could be effectively solved through joint efforts only. We are confident that this approach is shared by most people on the planet.”

Indeed!

US ambassador to Russia John Teft expressed strong disappointment over the Kremlim’s order to reduce Trump administration personnel in the country, along with freezing American property.

Perhaps he should reflect on how outrageously his country treats others – no matter which wing of its one-party state is in charge.

A Final Comment

Russian academic Nikolai Platoshkin suggested a harsher Kremlin response to new US sanctions if they’re enacted.

Congress excluded bilateral cooperation on space-related activities. The Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act does not apply to Russian cooperation with NASA.

Platoshkin suggested “cut(ting) them off from space. May they take a horse,” he said.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov explained nothing is being ruled out “to bring overweening Russophobes to their senses…”

Bill Clinton Paid $500,000 for Moscow Speech

[image: Rodrigo Varela/Getty Image/AFP]Bill and Hillary amassed enormous wealth from highly paid speeches, lucrative book deals, and other sources – cashing in big on their prominence.

They became super-rich from selling influence, their net worth estimated at up to $200 million, mostly stashed in tax havens.

Clinton, Inc. best describes them, their lust for power and greed undiminished. Only in banana republics, despotic monarchies and America do corrupt families rule.

In speeches to Wall Street firms alone, including Goldman Sachs, Hillary earned fees as high as half a million dollars or more at times, always at least six-figure remuneration – her hosts expecting to cash in from political favors serving their interests.

The Clinton Foundation is a money-laundering racket masquerading as a charitable NGO – no accountability for RICO-level criminality expected.

Anyone paying the Clintons, and others like them, enormous fees for speeches and public appearances expects plenty in return and gets it – the way dirty politics in America works.

Former presidents and other high-level US officials have monetary value in and after leaving office, their party and other connections remaining.

Last week, White House deputy press secretary Sarah Sanders, said “(i)f you want to talk about having relationships with Russia, I’d look no further than the Clintons.”

“Bill Clinton was paid half a million dollars to give a speech to a Russian bank, personally thanked by President Putin.”

In 2010, Russian bank Renaissance Capital paid the former president that enormous sum for a Moscow speech. Nice work if you can get it.

At the time, as secretary of state, Hillary opposed imposition of sanctions on Moscow. She suppressed media reports about husband Bill’s highly-paid speech.

According to WikiLeaks, Hillary for America rapid response communications team member Jesse Lehrich said (in May 2015) “(w)ith the help of the research team, we killed a Bloomberg story trying to link HRC’s opposition to the Magnitsky bill to a $500,000 speech that WJC gave in Moscow.”

Sergei Magnitsky was a Russian attorney. In 2009, he died in police custody. His death drew international media attention.
He specialized in civil law, doing anti-corruption work.

He uncovered evidence of tax fraud, implicating police, judiciary figures, tax officials, bankers, and Russia’s mafia – accusing them of stealing around $230 million dollars in 2007 through fraudulent tax refunds.

On issues relating to courts, taxes, fines, and civil law, he was called the “go to guy” in Moscow.
In November 2008, he was arrested, imprisoned, and treated abusively.

For 11 months, he was denied family visits. Serious health problems developed. Inadequate treatment followed.

On November 16, 2009, he died for reasons officially attributed to a “rupture to the abdominal membrane” and subsequent heart attack.

Initially his death was blamed on medical neglect. Later claims suggested murder. The 2012 Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act imposed visa bans, asset freezes, and other sanctions on Russian nationals accused of committing human rights abuses.

Putin called the measure an unfriendly act towards Russia. The nation’s Foreign Ministry called it “shortsighted and dangerous,” a “cynical” attempt to sour bilateral relations.

The Russian bank paying Bill Clinton for his Moscow speech was allegedly connected to what led to the Magnitsky Act, a huge embarrassment for Bill and Hillary to be publicly revealed.

Especially given spurious media accusations surrounding Trump Jr.’s meeting with Russian attorney Natalia Veselnitskaya and US citizen/lobbyist Rinat Akhmetshin, long ago serving in a counter-intelligence capacity in Soviet Russia’s military – both unconnected to the Kremlin.

America operates by the do what we say, not what we do principle. The hypocritical double standard is deplorable.

The Clinton crime family goes unpunished. Russia is irresponsibly blamed for things it had nothing to do with – gratuitous bashing for its sovereign independence and opposition to US imperial aggression.