US SHUTTERS RUSSIA'S SAN FRANCISCO CONSULATE IN RETALIATION

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Aug 31, 12:31 PM EDT
BY JOSH LEDERMAN
ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United States is retaliating against Russia by forcing closure of its consulate in San Francisco and scaling back its diplomatic presence in Washington and New York.

The State Department says move is in response to the Kremlin forcing a cut in U.S. diplomatic staff in Moscow. Spokesman Heather Nauert says the move brings the U.S. and Russia into "parity," with each having three consulates in the other country.

Moscow forced the cut in American diplomatic staff earlier this year in retaliation for U.S. sanctions. Washington had to reduce its diplomatic staff by 755 people.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had said the U.S. would respond by September.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_UNITED_STATES_RUSSIA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-08-31-12-31-57

[asiliveandbreathe]

1. Now - let's get the Russian out of our government...start in the WH - eom

[HAB911]

2. Russia doesn't need these diplomatic offices.

They have one in Trump Tower and another at the Trump Hotel in DC.

Link to tweet

[ancianita]

4. Good point that clarifies the purpose of these "diplomatic" offices.

[FLPanhandle]

3. I'm guessing this was done over Trumps objections

Or he was strong-armed into agreeing with this action.

[Raster]

5. Vlad queuing the pee pee tape in...

...five, four, three, two, one.