Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Washington Post
May 9, 2008
Pg. 10
By Associated Press
The United States and Russia have expelled five diplomats and military attaches from each other's countries in moves reminiscent of the tit-for-tat exchanges of the Cold War, U.S. officials said yesterday.
The most recent expulsions, ordered by Russia on April 28, were of two American military attaches at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. They were preceded by the expulsion of a Russian diplomat from Washington on April 22, the expulsion of a U.S. diplomat from Moscow on April 14 and the expulsion of a New York-based Russian diplomat on Nov. 6.
The State Department said that Russia's most recent action was "not justified" but that it would comply with the order. Spokesman Sean McCormack said the United States was treating them as separate incidents and that Washington considered the matter closed.
"We're not making any particular connection between the expulsion of these two individuals and any previous steps that we might have taken," McCormack said. "As far as we're concerned, we don't intend to take any further actions."
On Capitol Hill, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried said at a congressional hearing that he did not believe the expulsions signaled any deterioration in relations with Russia. "We look at these incidents as something which happens from time to time in U.S-Russian relations," he said. "It is not in our view the sign of some larger diplomatic struggle. It is not a sign of some downturn."
Neither McCormack nor Fried would discuss the reasons for the expulsions. The Russian Foreign Ministry declined to comment.
During the Cold War, the United States and the former Soviet Union routinely expelled diplomats, often over spying allegations.
News of the expulsions came at a time of uncertainty in U.S.-Russia relations, with President Dmitry Medvedev taking office and his former boss, Vladimir Putin, becoming prime minister.
May 9, 2008
Pg. 10
By Associated Press
The United States and Russia have expelled five diplomats and military attaches from each other's countries in moves reminiscent of the tit-for-tat exchanges of the Cold War, U.S. officials said yesterday.
The most recent expulsions, ordered by Russia on April 28, were of two American military attaches at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. They were preceded by the expulsion of a Russian diplomat from Washington on April 22, the expulsion of a U.S. diplomat from Moscow on April 14 and the expulsion of a New York-based Russian diplomat on Nov. 6.
The State Department said that Russia's most recent action was "not justified" but that it would comply with the order. Spokesman Sean McCormack said the United States was treating them as separate incidents and that Washington considered the matter closed.
"We're not making any particular connection between the expulsion of these two individuals and any previous steps that we might have taken," McCormack said. "As far as we're concerned, we don't intend to take any further actions."
On Capitol Hill, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried said at a congressional hearing that he did not believe the expulsions signaled any deterioration in relations with Russia. "We look at these incidents as something which happens from time to time in U.S-Russian relations," he said. "It is not in our view the sign of some larger diplomatic struggle. It is not a sign of some downturn."
Neither McCormack nor Fried would discuss the reasons for the expulsions. The Russian Foreign Ministry declined to comment.
During the Cold War, the United States and the former Soviet Union routinely expelled diplomats, often over spying allegations.
News of the expulsions came at a time of uncertainty in U.S.-Russia relations, with President Dmitry Medvedev taking office and his former boss, Vladimir Putin, becoming prime minister.