TRUMP CONFRONTS THE RUSSKIES – AT 12:33 P.M. ET:  The president is apparently about to take serious action against Moscow.  We hope he doesn't change his mind.  From Bloomberg: 

President Donald Trump is preparing to expel dozens of Russian diplomats from the U.S. in response to the nerve-agent poisoning of a former Russian spy in the U.K., two people familiar with the matter said Saturday.

Trump agreed with the recommendation of advisers and the expulsions are likely to be announced on Monday, the people said, though they cautioned that Trump’s decision may not be final. Trump is prepared to act but wants to be sure European allies will take similar steps against Russia before doing so, aides said.

The advisers reached recommendations for a U.S. response to the U.K. attack at a National Security Council meeting on Wednesday and honed the proposals on Friday. Trump discussed the issue Friday with U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Defense Secretary James Mattis, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, outgoing National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster and others, two people said.

COMMENT:   Trump is right in insisting that European allies join us.  Britain, of course, is fully on board.  The others, especially Germany, may be a question mark.  We'll wait until Monday to see, but if Germany and others don't join us, then Trump must read the riot act to them.

This is a politically sensitive issue because, if Trump declines to take action against Moscow, for whatever reason, the cry of "soft on Putin" will undoubtedly be heard...from the very people who truly were soft on Putin when Obama was in office.

March 24,  2018