US: Expulsion of Venezuelan Not "Tit for Tat?"

I missed the United States' decision to expel a Venezuelan Embassy Chief of Staff (who usually run things) last week. This for the admitted childish reason that we had to react because WE got caught spying on them, and they kicked out the guilty party, a (lowly) spying Naval Attache. Despite the clear case of spying and blatant inequality of response, the US maintains it did not spy and that "we don't like to get in to tit for tat games."

The naked depravity is on full display with the nice cut-off and non-answer displayed by State Deprt. spokesman Mr. McCormack, from the 2/6 and 2/3 State Dept. Press briefiing:

(2/6) QUESTION: On Venezuela. On Friday you recognize that the expulsion of the Venezuelan diplomatic was a reaction for John Correa. And you even said there was no tit for tat with Venezuela. But at the same time --

MR. MCCORMACK: I said we don't want to -- we don't like to get into tit-for-tat games, but we felt compelled to respond to Venezuela's action.

(2/3)QUESTION: How was this particular diplomat chosen in terms of -- is this a comparable -- duties or position that she does that this gentleman in Caracas was --

MR. MCCORMACK: Well, this one was chosen from among the Venezuelan Embassy staff. I would just note only that Mr. -- Commander Correa was a U.S. -- was a Naval attaché. And she, I understand, performs the function of chief of staff to the ambassador, so they're two different jobs.

QUESTION: So again, why her?

MR. MCCORMACK: She was chosen -- we believe that she is the appropriate person. Look, we don't like to get into tit-for-tat games like this with the Venezuelan Government but they initiated this and we were forced to respond.

QUESTION: You said she's chief of staff to the ambassador?

MR. MCCORMACK: I believe that's her function at the embassy.

QUESTION: So you say we were forced to respond?

MR. MCCORMACK: We were forced to respond, yeah.

QUESTION: Why is that?

MR. MCCORMACK: Because the Venezuelan Government declared Commander Correa persona non grata and we felt compelled to respond.

QUESTION: But there are not charges against her are there? Are there charges against her?

MR. MCCORMACK: No. She was declared persona non grata. I'm not aware of any charges against her.

QUESTION: You're not alleging any inappropriate activities in her performance and her duties?

MR. MCCORMACK: I am simply saying that we have declared her persona non grata, Charlie.