WORLD BRIEFLY Wednesday, January 31, 2018 Putin: Russia list is driven by Trump foes MOSCOW (AP) — Mixing irony with scorn, President Vladimir Putin on Thursday described a new list including Russian officials and tycoons under a U.S. sanctions law as a hostile and “stupid” move spearheaded by President Donald Trump’s political foes, but he said the Kremlin will refrain from retaliation for now. Putin’s reluctance to criticize Trump shows that he still hopes for normalizing ties with Washington. At the same time, the U.S. move could help the Russian leader in his re-election bid in March. Some observers warn that the blanket list of 210 names, which reads like a who’s who in Russian officialdom and business elite, could further fuel anti-Western feelings in Russia and bolster support for Putin. Putin immediately struck that chord, pointing that those blacklisted by the U.S. control companies employing millions of Russians. He cast the U.S. move as a blow to ordinary people. “All of us, all 146 million, have been put on some kind of list,” he said at a meeting with activists of his campaign. “Certainly, this is an unfriendly move, which further exacerbates the already strained Russia-US relations and hurts international relations as a whole.” The list, ordered by Congress in response to alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, had spooked rich Russians who fear it could make them informally blacklisted in the global financial system. East Oregonian Gag order on Afghan data was a mistake WASHINGTON (AP) — In an abrupt reversal, the U.S. military on Tuesday said it made a mistake when it ordered an independent federal auditor to stop providing the public with information about U.S. war efforts in Afghanistan that help to measure how the 16-year-old war is going. Just hours after the report was publicly released, the U.S.-led NATO coalition in Afghanistan issued a statement blaming “human Page 7A error” for the order, and provided a few segments of the data that has been restricted. The newly released information revealed that 44 percent of Afghanistan is contested or under the control of insurgents. Other previously available information on the size, attrition and performance of the Afghan forces continue to be unavailable. President Donald Trump has announced a new Afghanistan strategy aimed at breaking a battlefield stalemate by accelerating Afghan-led operations against the Taliban. We’ve Moved! Our new office is located at 1055 S. Hwy 395, Ste te 111 Cornerstone e t e Plaza l Anderson Geographics 477 E. Main St., Hermiston Christianson Realty Group 702 E. Main St., Hermiston Double M Ranch, Inc. Echo, OR Hermiston Dental Group 550 SW 11th St., Hermiston Hermiston Irrigation HERMISTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TRAVEL CLUB 366 E. Hurlburt Ave., Hermiston PRESENTS ’ Home Horn’s Improvements Flooring Store 2055 N. 1st St., Hermiston Sign Men 803 SW Court Ave., Pendleton Join us for an information meeting on this exciting trip to Croatia! Smith Security, LLC March ch 8th th 4:00 pm p Hermiston e t Chamber, h e 1055 S. Hwy 395 Ste.111 te 860 W. Elm Ave., Hermiston Complete Collection Service GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY! 750 W Elm Ave. Hermiston, Oregon Licensed • Bonded No Collection • No Fee At UEC we aim higher than just being your electric service provider. We strive to meet the needs of our growing communities while offering products and services that help our members save money, conserve energy and natural resources. 541-567-6414 Tim Mabry President www.umatillaelectric.com HOME • COMMERCIAL 24 HOUR EMERGENCY Mid Columbia Producers, Inc. 345 N. 1st Place, Hermiston, OR 97838 541-28 9-5015 • www.mcpcoop.com 461 E. Main Hermiston, OR 97838 (541) 289-9107 www.creditsinc.com • Temporary Staffing Services • Recruiting • Human Resource Management • Risk Management • Payroll Administration • Worker’s Comp Insurance 541-567-3781 • 1-800-238-1223 905 Diagonal • Hermiston 1055 S. Hwy 395, Ste 333 • Hermiston, OR (541) 567-9670 • Fax (541) 567-4427 www.osokleen.com 251NE Eldridge Drive, Boardman, OR (541) 481-2666 • Fax (541) 481-2239 WWW.BARRETTBUSINESS.COM KEEP IT LOCAL! CAROLLEEN LOVELL Certified Public Accountant, LLC Since 1985 541.567.8073 53 W Beebe Ave, Hermiston, OR 541-567-6562 182 E. Main • Hermiston 541-567-1780 Complete Collection Service Licensed • Bonded No Collection • No Fee www.carolleenlovell.com 635 SE 4th St. • PO Box 747 Hermiston, OR 97838 Tim Mabry President 461 E. Main Hermiston, OR 97838 (541)289-9107 www.creditsinc.com Call to add your business to Keep it Local: • Jeanne Jewett at 541-564-4531 • Audra Workman at 541-564-4538 AFFORDABLE FAMILY EYEWEAR Hermiston’s Best Value in all Eyewear 541-567-3790 • 541-567-3791 fax 1045 N. 1st • Hermiston, OR ~MARCIA LAMBERT~ www.affordablefamilyeyewear.com ELMER’S IRRIGATION, INC. “Proudly serving & investing in the future of our communities” Hwy 395 • Hermiston 541-567-5572