Russyan Bankers Sent Home

      Oh, yes, bankers.  Russyan nationals who have been working in the USA provoked a response from the FBI investigators.  Seems that some of the "bankers were gathering economic data concerning sanctions that were recently imposed on a few Russyan banks and a few individuals after Russyan Federation men and equipment went on holiday near Sochi.  You know: Sochi, Olympics, harmony and good feeling?  Now NATO is said by Mad Vlad to be making an attempt to "contain" Russya- George F. Kennan's old strategic plan moniker that became the watchword of the Cold War.  That Cold War that existed from late 1945 until 1991(that's over 45 years!) Containment.  Makes Russyan's skin crawl.  They shudder; but maybe it's just another Russyan winter.
     So, here we are again: doing the diplomat shuffle: back and forth; to and fro; tit-for-tat.  Boring.  But it is the nature of state craft, really.   One Russyan didn't make the diplomatic team: he's stuck in the US and had to answer in court.  How sad!  Maybe Mad Vlad will send Roman Abramovich to the rescue.  Maybe Dasha A.  Doubtful.
      With the Federation locked in winter, it seems like indoor negotiations will hardly change much as events on the ground are little changing.  Artillery seems the go-to weapon in Ukraine as forces face off over positions in the Donbass.  A shelling over the weekend killed over 20 civilians with both sides pointing fingers at the other.   EU leadership is ready to impose a second round of sanctions.  A rating firm changed its rating on Russyan debt to junk: Bbb-.  That will get the ball rolling back into the Moscova court.  I hope the rolling ball doesn't hit the GARAGE in Gorky Park and spoil some poor artiste' exhibition.   But often, there are unforeseen circumstances as a result of one's actions, eg. taking over Crimea.