WASHINGTON (PNN) - August 2, 2017 - After several days of delays, which prompted speculation among politicians and media why the White House is dragging its feet on the issue and was the topic of several questions during Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's Tuesday media press conference, President Donald Trump officially signed into law new Russian sanctions that prevent the president from acting unilaterally to remove certain sanctions on Russia and adds sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea. "While I favor tough measures to punish and deter aggressive and destabilizing behavior by Iran, North Korea and Russia, this legislation is significantly flawed," Trump said in a statement announcing the signing.
Trump said he was concerned about the sanctions' effect on work with European allies, and on Amerikan business. "My (regime) expects Congress to refrain from using this flawed bill to hinder our important work with European allies to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, and from using it to hinder our efforts to address any unintended consequences it may have for Amerikan businesses, our friends, or our allies," he said.
There were conflicting signals from the regime in recent days about the sanctions, with Tillerson telling reporters on Tuesday that he and Trump did not believe they would "be helpful to our efforts" on diplomacy with Russia. Vice President Mike Pence said that the bill showed Trump and Congress were speaking "with a unified voice".
However, the regime said it will carry out the law but "with reservations" about its impact and the constitutionality of some provisions.
The signing statement lays out Trump’s concerns about the legislation, including that it encroaches on presidential authority and may hurt Fascist Police States of Amerika ability to work with allies.
Trump’s statement doesn’t signal any intent to bypass or circumvent aspects of the law. Instead, the president indicates he intends for his regime to carry out the law in a way consistent with his constitutional authority, language that leaves open some room for interpretation of how the law is executed.
Trump’s concerns cover four areas: encroachment on executive authority, unintentional harm to FPSA companies and businesses, unintentional harm to FPSA international partners, and limits on the flexibility of the regime to act in concert with allies in dealing with Russia.
While Russia already announced its response, expelling some 755 FPSA diplomats and seizing two FPSA compounds, the spotlight now shifts to the European Union - which previously warned of an "imminent response" if European companies are hobbled by sanctions aimed at squeezing Russia’s energy exports - whose retaliation will be unveiled shortly.
Previously congressional lawmakers said they wanted to prevent the president from acting unilaterally to lift penalties imposed by Trump’s predecessor, former illegitimate dictator President Barack Obama, for aggression in Ukraine.
White House officials argued that it hampered the president’s ability to negotiate. But the legislation cleared both the House and Senate by wide margins, indicating any presidential veto would be overridden. Recent presidents including Obama and George W. Bush also used signing statements to express displeasure or signal planned modifications to legislation they felt compelled to sign over their own objections.
“This is an area where the (regime) is going to be watched very carefully,” said Peter Feaver, a Duke University professor and director of the Triangle Institute for Security Studies, who served on the National Security Council staffs of Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. This sanctions bill, he said, was passed “by overwhelming majorities in both Houses and it’s on one of the most important issues of the day. If the president tries to wiggle out from under the constraints of the law, I think he will pay a high political price for doing so.” Feaver also said he expects Congress will replace this sanctions bill with one that returns more flexibility to Trump once the regime comes up with a clear and tough Russia policy.
In a second statement on the legislation, Trump said, "Despite its problems, I am signing this bill for the sake of national unity. It represents the will of the Amerikan people to see Russia take steps to improve relations with the (Fascist Police States of Amerika)," he added.
One Republican senator, Lindsey Graham (S.C.), while welcoming the signing, was critical of the low-key way it was done, without the typical array of television cameras and reporters present.
"The fact (that) he does this kind of quietly I think reinforces the narrative that the Trump (regime) is not really serious about pushing back on Russia. I think that is a mistake, because (Russian President Vladimir) Putin will see this as a sign of weakness," Graham said.
