Page 2 - ARUBA TODAY

A2 UP FRONT
Friday 16 March 2018

US gets tougher on Russia; new sanctions, accusations

By JOSH LEDERMAN the individuals may have could help inoculate the on Russia until they decide like North Korea, then we
MATTHEW LEE in U.S. jurisdictions and bar president from persistent to change their behavior," should."
Associated Press Americans from doing busi- claims he's afraid or unwill- said White House spokes- U.S. national security of-
WASHINGTON (AP) — In ficials said the FBI, Depart-
its toughest challenge to ment of Homeland Security
Russia to date, the Trump and intelligence agencies
administration accused determined Russian intel-
Moscow on Thursday of ligence and others were
an elaborate plot to pen- behind a broad range of
etrate America's electric cyberattacks starting a
grid, factories, water supply year ago. Russian hack-
and even air travel through ers infiltrated the networks
cyber hacking. The U.S. that run the basic services
also hit targeted Russians an Americans rely on each
with sanctions for alleged day: nuclear, water and
election meddling for the manufacturing facilities like
first time since President factories.
Donald Trump took office. The officials said the hack-
The list of Russians being ers chose their targets
punished includes all 13 in- methodically, obtained
dicted last month by spe- access to computer sys-
cial counsel Robert Mueller, tems, conducted “net-
a tacit acknowledgement work reconnaissance” and
by the administration that then attempted to cover
at least some of Mueller's their tracks by deleting
Russia-related probe has White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders speaks during the daily briefing at the evidence of the intrusions.
White House in Washington, Thursday, March 15, 2018. Sanders answered questions about Russia,
merit. tariffs and other topics. The U.S. government has
Trump has repeatedly (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) helped the industries expel
sought to discredit Mueller's the Russians from all sys-
investigation into Russian tems known to have been
interference in the presi- ness with them. ing to stand up to Russian woman Sarah Huckabee penetrated, but additional
dential election, but the The named Russians — 19 President Vladimir Putin or Sanders. At the same time, breaches could be discov-
sanctions appeared to rely in all — are unlikely to have to fight back against efforts she left open the possibility ered, said the officials, who
on the special counsel's le- any assets in the United to undermine America's of better U.S.-Russia coop- briefed reporters on condi-
gal conclusions in deciding States that would be cov- democracy and domestic eration, arguing that "if we tion of anonymity to discuss
who should be named. The ered, making the move affairs. can work together to com- sensitive national security
sanctions freeze any assets largely symbolic. But it "We're going to be tough bat world threats on things information.q
Navy jet crashes off Key West, killing 2 crew members

By LOLITA C. BALDOR Florida, is still under investi- eral months," said White. around 4:30 p.m. when it squadron took the day off
WASHINGTON (AP) — The gation. But she was asked "Capabilities erode. And crashed into shallow water from training Thursday in or-
Pentagon acknowledged if there was a link between things are delayed." about a mile (1.5 kilome- der to grieve. Other squad-
Thursday that budget the crash and persistent Marine Lt. Gen. Kenneth ters) east of the runway. rons in Carrier Air Wing Eight
shortfalls have eroded mili- military complaints about McKenzie, director of the Both the pilot and weap- were briefed on the mishap
tary capabilities, including reductions in flying hours Joint Staff, said military ons-system officer ejected and then resumed normal
training and flight hours, and other training cut- readiness is a key priority, and were pulled out of the training operations.
but stopped short of blam- backs because Congress but it's not clear how it af- water. U.S. Naval Air Forces Barbie Wilson, who lives
ing those cutbacks for the hasn't approved the 2018 fected the aircraft or the said late Wednesday that near Naval Air Station Key
crash of a U.S. Navy fighter budget. "It's important that deaths of the crew. He both had died. Their names West, said she saw the
jet that killed both crew we not necessarily draw added, however, that "pi- are being withheld until 24 crash from her pickup while
members. a direct correlation, but it lots are going to be flying hours after families were running an errand.
Dana White, Pentagon is important that we have more and training is going notified, as is usual in cases "It looked like it was going
spokeswoman, said the stable funding. That has to pick up." of military deaths. to land on the runway and
cause of the F/A-18 Super been our message to the The Super Hornet was on Navy Cdr. Dave Hecht, then the whole plane went
Hornet crash Wednesday Congress and to the Ameri- approach to land at the spokesman for Naval Air sideways," she said in a
off the coast of Key West, can people for the last sev- naval air station in Key West Force Atlantic, said the phone interview.q