A five-page State Department “fact sheet” posted Sept. 13, accompanying Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s media briefing yesterday, details the allegations against RT and its parent company Rossiya Segodnya, as well as the sanctions levied against them. “According to new information, much of which originates from employees of Russian state-funded RT (formerly ‘Russia Today’), we now know that RT moved beyond being simply a media outlet and has been an entity with cyber capabilities. It is also engaged in information operations, covert influence, and military procurement.” it claims at the outset. “These operations are targeting countries around the world, including in Europe, Africa, and North and South America.”
The fact sheet is titled, “Alerting the World to RT’s Global Covert Activities.” It identifies five parties—three organizations and two persons, designated as engaging in activities to be punished. Under the subheading, “Sanctions Implications,” the penalties are described: “All transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC [Office of Foreign Asset Control] or exempt. These prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person and the receipts of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.”
This is a blank check for the Feds to do anything to anyone, as they choose, and think they can get away with, politically.
