MILITARY/RUSSIA/SANCTIONS/SYRIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “The White House says a decision on new economic sanctions against Russia will be made soon — not committing to an announcement Monday [4-16-2018] that U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley had said to expect… Haley had said Sunday [4-15-18] that new sanctions were coming against Russia for enabling the government of Syrian leader Bashar Assad to continue using chemical weapons. She said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin ‘will be announcing those on Monday [4-16-18], if he hasn’t already.’ She said Russia has blocked six attempts by the U.N. Security Council to make it easier to investigate the use of chemical weapons…Trump tweeted ‘Mission Accomplished’ on Saturday [4-14-18] after U.S., French and British warplanes and ships launched more than 100 missiles nearly unopposed by Syrian air defenses. While he declared success, the Pentagon said the pummeling of three chemical-related facilities left enough others intact to enable the Assad government to use banned weapons against civilians if it chooses.”
-Hope Yen and Robert Burns, “White House weighing more Russia sanctions,” The Associated Press, April 16, 2018