The Biden Administration declassified an intelligence finding on Tuesday that Russia’s F.S.B., one of its leading intelligence agencies, orchestrated the poisoning of Aleksei A. Navalny, and announced its first sanctions against the Russian government for the attack and the imprisonment of the opposition politician.
The sanctions closely mirrored a series of actions that European nations and Britain took last October and expanded on Monday. Senior administration officials said it was part of an effort to show unity in the new administration’s first confrontations with the government of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.
But none of the sanctions were specifically directed at Mr. Putin, or the country’s intelligence chiefs or the oligarchs that support the Russian leader.
The actions were notable, though, because they are the first Mr. Biden has taken in five weeks since he became president. While most past presidents have come into office declaring they would seek a reset of relations with Russia, Mr. Biden has done the opposite — warning that Mr. Putin is driving his country back into an era of authoritarianism, and promising to push back on violations of human rights and efforts to destabilize Europe.
“If everyone fought for their own convictions there would be no war.” ― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
Olivier Knox
@OKnox
Wow. If they do, watch for Erdogan reaction. cc
@jaketapper
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Kathimerini English Edition
@ekathimerini
· 7h We’ll recognize Armenian Genocie,’ White House tells Kathimerinihttp://dlvr.it/Rw198N
Give'em Hell Biden!
“If everyone fought for their own convictions there would be no war.” ― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
Iran has made threats against Fort McNair, an Army post in the U.S. capital, and against the Army’s vice chief of staff, two senior U.S. intelligence officials said.
They said communications intercepted by the National Security Agency in January showed that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard discussed mounting “USS Cole-style attacks” against the Army post, referring to the October 2000 suicide attack in which a small boat pulled up alongside the Navy destroyer in the Yemeni port of Aden and exploded, killing 17 sailors.
The threats are one reason the Army has been pushing for more security around Fort McNair, which sits alongside Washington’s bustling newly developed Waterfront District.
City leaders have been fighting the Army’s plan to add a buffer zone of about 250 feet to 500 feet (75 meters to 150 meters) from the shore of the Washington Channel, which would limit access to as much as half the width of the busy waterway running parallel to the Potomac River.
Fort McNair is rather exposed.
“If everyone fought for their own convictions there would be no war.” ― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
Biden reverses course on refugee cap after faith groups express outrage
WASHINGTON (RNS) — President Joe Biden’s administration has reversed a decision to keep in place a historically low cap on refugee admissions left by Donald Trump, saying it will raise the ceiling next month after faith-based groups initially decried the move as an “abandonment of our ideals.”
Biden signed a memorandum Friday (April 16) aimed at speeding up refugee admissions this year — but that memorandum does not increase the so-called refugee ceiling, something the president has pledged to do when speaking to religious audiences.
Although the memorandum leaves open the possibility of raising that number should the United States resettle the maximum 15,000 refugees this year, news that the ceiling will at least temporarily remain at that historic low was met with disappointment by many religious communities, including the faith-based groups that partner with the federal government to resettle refugees.
By Friday afternoon, The Associated Press and CNN reported the Biden administration has reversed course, announcing plans to lift the Trump-era refugee cap next month in the wake of widespread pushback from allies.
The White House confirmed to Religion News Service on Friday that officials intend to revisit the refugee ceiling sometime in the coming days, saying in a statement, “We expect the President to set a final, increased refugee cap for the remainder of this fiscal year by May 15.”
Matthew Soerens, U.S. director of church mobilization and advocacy for evangelical Christian refugee resettlement agency World Relief, called raising the refugee ceiling “an essential first step” to rebuilding the U.S. refugee resettlement program after cuts made by the Trump administration.
Classes starting, but international students failing to get U.S. visas
By Doyinsola Oladipo
WASHINGTON, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Kofi Owusu occasionally waits outside the U.S. embassy in Accra to ask fellow students what they have done to secure a timely visa appointment.
Classes for his master's program at Villanova University in Pennsylvania are scheduled to start Monday, but his in-person interview appointment for a first-time U.S. student visa is still nine months away. It's the second time the political science student from Ghana won't make it to the United States in time for school.
"I think they should just open up the system," said Owusu, adding "they are operating on a rather limited schedule so I think they can broaden it and give students priority."
Visa processing is delayed as U.S. embassies and consulates operate at reduced capacity around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving some students abroad unable to make it for the start of the academic year.
The wait and the hassle threaten both the country's standing as a preferred choice for international students and their economic contribution of around $40 billion annually to many universities and local economies.
Very good 60 Minutes interview with US Secretary of State, A. Blinken. Worth watching if you want a cool, responsible articulation of foreign policy in the current environment.
Biden apparently got Mexico to pay for border surveillance/border control technology. I guess that happened back in June or July last year, oops, I didn't even know about that.
"It actually doesn't take much to be considered a difficult woman. That's why there are so many of us."
I would love for S to create a Department House band called 'The Ambassadors of Funk'. And I say this as an enthusiastic employee of the Department, with love and all respect.
All kidding aside, however, music diplomacy is a real thing getting its due now.
But the sunshine aye shall light the sky,
As round and round we run;
And the truth shall ever come uppermost,
And justice shall be done.
- Charles Mackay, "Eternal Justice"
I would love for S to create a Department House band called 'The Ambassadors of Funk'. And I say this as an enthusiastic employee of the Department, with love and all respect.
All kidding aside, however, music diplomacy is a real thing getting its due now.
I would love for S to create a Department House band called 'The Ambassadors of Funk'. And I say this as an enthusiastic employee of the Department, with love and all respect.
All kidding aside, however, music diplomacy is a real thing getting its due now.
But the sunshine aye shall light the sky,
As round and round we run;
And the truth shall ever come uppermost,
And justice shall be done.
- Charles Mackay, "Eternal Justice"
Give'em Hell Biden!
Philly Boondoggle
