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As the #RussianBounty story continues to develop, we asked several of our experts @TheWilsonCenter for their take: if true, why would Russia do this, what responses from the US & Russia may we expect, & what are the long-term impacts? Here is a thread w/ a few takeaways

"While the news of alleged Russian bounty payments to the Taliban to kill Americans is disturbing and escalatory, it should not be surprising [...] The latest reports of bounties paid to the Taliban mark an escalatory step for Russia. But it is also not one-sided." @GreshJp

"If true, Russian security services offering bounties for killing American soldiers underscores the lengths the Russian government is willing to go in its attempt to offset and undermine the United States’ interests abroad." @jeffaedmonds @CNA_org

"If credible information is uncovered about the specific unit involved and mode of operation [...] then targeted sanctions against linked individuals and financial institutions should certainly be considered." @katiestallard @AsiaProgram @KissingerInst

"Theoretically, this episode could jeopardize a fledgling Afghan peace process [...] The bounty allegations would appear, at the very least, to violate the spirit of the peace process at the very moment when it is on the cusp of taking off." @MichaelKugelman @AsiaProgram