Sanders Refuses to Say 'Russia When Quizzed on U.K. Poisoning

[tyroneweaver]

Noooooooooooo This administration doesn't have a Russian problem.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders pointedly avoided saying the word “Russia” on Monday when very specifically questioned about that country’s culpability in the poisoning last week of a former Russian spy with a deadly nerve agent.

British officials have determined that Sergei Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter, Yulia, were poisoned with a nerve agent developed in Russia. British Prime Minister Theresa May announced Monday that it was “highly likely” that Russia was responsible for the attack. “We must now stand ready to take extensive measures,” May said.

But when asked ― three times ― at a White House press briefing about Russia’s link to the poisoning or any possible repercussions for the country from the U.S., Sanders carefully did not say “Russia” — or otherwise address who may have been responsible for the attack. She characterized it as an “indiscriminate” attack, although British authorities have concluded that Skripal was clearly targeted.

“We’ve been monitoring the incident closely, take it very seriously,” Sanders said. “The use of a highly lethal nerve agent against U.K. citizens on U.K. soil is an outrage. The attack was reckless, indiscriminate and irresponsible. We offer the fullest condemnation.”


“So you’re not saying that Russia was behind this?” a reporter asked.

“Right now, we are standing with our U.K. ally,” Sanders said again. “I think they’re still working through even some of the details of that.”

Pressed a third time, an annoyed Sanders answered, “Like I just said, we stand with our ally and we certainly fully support them and are ready if we can be of any assistance.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry has dismissed the U.K.’s accusations about Skripal’s poisoning as a “circus show.”

Former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko was fatally poisoned in London in 2006 with radioactive polonium-210, which it’s believed he drank in a cup of tea. A British investigation concluded that his assassination was likely approved by Russian President Vladimir Putin himself.

The White House’s extreme reluctance to criticize Russia — ever — has raised increasing concerns, particularly as special counsel Robert Mueller investigates possible collusion by Donald Trump’s campaign in the Kremlin’s interference in the 2016 presidential election. Early this month, Putin boasted of his nation’s nuclear capabilities to strike anywhere in the world. A simulated video presented by Putin appeared to depict next-generation nuclear missiles striking Florida. Yet Trump has yet to respond and chose instead to attack actor Alec Baldwin on Twitter the following day.

Former CIA director John Brennan said at the time that he was rattled by Trump’s apparent lack of concern about the video.

“When I hear what Vladimir Putin was saying about the nuclear capabilities he has [and] then the president of the United States is tweeting about Alec Baldwin ... I mean, where is your sense of priorities?” Brennan said on MSNBC. “I think a lot of Americans are looking at what’s happening with a sense of: This is surreal.”


Sarah Sanders Simply Refuses To Say 'Russia' When Quizzed On UK Poisoning | HuffPost

want me to post all the hillary russian connections and all ill get is the funny face

 

[K9Buck]

I love it when the press screws with Huck Sanders

Come on Sarah......you can say it

Trump mentioned Russia just before he flew to California today.

LOL

He will deny it by the time he lands

By the way, who did the Russians assassinate?

 

[bendog]

Noooooooooooo This administration doesn't have a Russian problem.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders pointedly avoided saying the word “Russia” on Monday when very specifically questioned about that country’s culpability in the poisoning last week of a former Russian spy with a deadly nerve agent.

British officials have determined that Sergei Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter, Yulia, were poisoned with a nerve agent developed in Russia. British Prime Minister Theresa May announced Monday that it was “highly likely” that Russia was responsible for the attack. “We must now stand ready to take extensive measures,” May said.

But when asked ― three times ― at a White House press briefing about Russia’s link to the poisoning or any possible repercussions for the country from the U.S., Sanders carefully did not say “Russia” — or otherwise address who may have been responsible for the attack. She characterized it as an “indiscriminate” attack, although British authorities have concluded that Skripal was clearly targeted.

“We’ve been monitoring the incident closely, take it very seriously,” Sanders said. “The use of a highly lethal nerve agent against U.K. citizens on U.K. soil is an outrage. The attack was reckless, indiscriminate and irresponsible. We offer the fullest condemnation.”


“So you’re not saying that Russia was behind this?” a reporter asked.

“Right now, we are standing with our U.K. ally,” Sanders said again. “I think they’re still working through even some of the details of that.”

Pressed a third time, an annoyed Sanders answered, “Like I just said, we stand with our ally and we certainly fully support them and are ready if we can be of any assistance.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry has dismissed the U.K.’s accusations about Skripal’s poisoning as a “circus show.”

Former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko was fatally poisoned in London in 2006 with radioactive polonium-210, which it’s believed he drank in a cup of tea. A British investigation concluded that his assassination was likely approved by Russian President Vladimir Putin himself.

The White House’s extreme reluctance to criticize Russia — ever — has raised increasing concerns, particularly as special counsel Robert Mueller investigates possible collusion by Donald Trump’s campaign in the Kremlin’s interference in the 2016 presidential election. Early this month, Putin boasted of his nation’s nuclear capabilities to strike anywhere in the world. A simulated video presented by Putin appeared to depict next-generation nuclear missiles striking Florida. Yet Trump has yet to respond and chose instead to attack actor Alec Baldwin on Twitter the following day.

Former CIA director John Brennan said at the time that he was rattled by Trump’s apparent lack of concern about the video.

“When I hear what Vladimir Putin was saying about the nuclear capabilities he has [and] then the president of the United States is tweeting about Alec Baldwin ... I mean, where is your sense of priorities?” Brennan said on MSNBC. “I think a lot of Americans are looking at what’s happening with a sense of: This is surreal.”


Sarah Sanders Simply Refuses To Say 'Russia' When Quizzed On UK Poisoning | HuffPost

She also would not say that Russia was not behind it.

She's very clear.

 

[RDD_1210]

Of course she wont mention Russia. She knows her boss will fire her if she doesn't carry the predetermined message that she was instructed to.

 

[JoeMoma]

Of course she wont mention Russia. She knows her boss will fire her if she doesn't carry the predetermined message that she was instructed to.

I thank carrying the predetermined message (of the president/administration) is part of the job description of press secretary regardless of who the president.

 

[RDD_1210]

Of course she wont mention Russia. She knows her boss will fire her if she doesn't carry the predetermined message that she was instructed to.

I thank carrying the predetermined message (of the president/administration) is part of the job description of press secretary regardless of who the president.

Of course it is. And pretending like Russia isn't a major problem for us is that message.

 

[JoeMoma]

Of course she wont mention Russia. She knows her boss will fire her if she doesn't carry the predetermined message that she was instructed to.

I thank carrying the predetermined message (of the president/administration) is part of the job description of press secretary regardless of who the president.

Of course it is. And pretending like Russia isn't a major problem for us is that message.

Kind of like what Obama told Mitt Romney during their debates.

 

[bendog]

Of course she wont mention Russia. She knows her boss will fire her if she doesn't carry the predetermined message that she was instructed to.

I thank carrying the predetermined message (of the president/administration) is part of the job description of press secretary regardless of who the president.

Of course it is. And pretending like Russia isn't a major problem for us is that message.

And it's shit like this that causes me to actually wonder if there isn't something to the Trump-Putin connection. May was the first leader to give Trump a thumbs up. And she's gotten nothing beyond his retweeting loathsome bigoted crap the UK doesn't want retweeted.

And now..... there's only on acceptable response for Trump. We stand with our staunchest ally in condemning this act of attempted murder and international aggression by Russia, and we will stand with them in an appropriate response in due time.

Trump's come along, but not without having to fire Tillerson for kicking him. LOL

 

[bendog]

Of course she wont mention Russia. She knows her boss will fire her if she doesn't carry the predetermined message that she was instructed to.

I thank carrying the predetermined message (of the president/administration) is part of the job description of press secretary regardless of who the president.

Of course it is. And pretending like Russia isn't a major problem for us is that message.

Kind of like what Obama told Mitt Romney during their debates.

I'd vote for Romney over Trump, how about you?

 

[David Dennisson]

We are standing by our ally, my friend Putin. Through thick and thin. No matter what. I really really really want a Trump Tower in Moscow.

Sarah is a good soldier, isn't she? She's terrific, folks. She would throw herself on a radioactive poison grenade for me. The best underling one could hope for.

 

[xyz]

We are standing by our ally, my friend Putin. Through thick and thin. No matter what. I really really really want a Trump Tower in Moscow.

Sarah is a good soldier, isn't she? She's terrific, folks. She would throw herself on a radioactive poison grenade for me. The best underling one could hope for.

 

[JoeMoma]

Of course she wont mention Russia. She knows her boss will fire her if she doesn't carry the predetermined message that she was instructed to.

I thank carrying the predetermined message (of the president/administration) is part of the job description of press secretary regardless of who the president.

Of course it is. And pretending like Russia isn't a major problem for us is that message.

Kind of like what Obama told Mitt Romney during their debates.

I'd vote for Romney over Trump, how about you?

I voted for Romney but not Trump. I sure as hell didn't vote for HRC.

 

[RDD_1210]

Of course she wont mention Russia. She knows her boss will fire her if she doesn't carry the predetermined message that she was instructed to.

I thank carrying the predetermined message (of the president/administration) is part of the job description of press secretary regardless of who the president.

Of course it is. And pretending like Russia isn't a major problem for us is that message.

Kind of like what Obama told Mitt Romney during their debates.

Whatever you say big guy.

 

[JoeMoma]

Of course she wont mention Russia. She knows her boss will fire her if she doesn't carry the predetermined message that she was instructed to.

I thank carrying the predetermined message (of the president/administration) is part of the job description of press secretary regardless of who the president.

Of course it is. And pretending like Russia isn't a major problem for us is that message.

Kind of like what Obama told Mitt Romney during their debates.

Whatever you say big guy.

What Obama said big guy,