In Washington, State Department spokesman Tom Casey said any decision that limited ABC's operations in Russia would be regrettable.
"I think we believe that ABC as well as all other members of the media should have the opportunity for freedom of expression and have the right to report as they see fit," Casey said.
Were this a case where ABC was being denied its credentials because they criticized Vladimir Putin I'd certainly agree, but this situation is a bit more complicated than that. This isn't about what a news organization did and did not broadcast, its about ABC using information it had collected about the whereabouts of a notorious and wanted terrorists to interview that terrorist for ratings instead of bringing him to justice. Had ABC handed the information it had over to Russian authorities the man responsible for the Beslan massacre could be behind bars (or in a body bag) right now.
Instead he's still roaming the earth free and no-doubt hatching new plans to terrorize the "infidels" after spreading a little bit more of his propaganda through media land thanks to ABC giving him some air time.
That's the reality of this situation, and if the Russians want to relieve ABC of their credentials because of it I'm certainly not going to criticize the decision. ABC did a terribly shallow and morbid thing. Now they're paying for it.
Honestly, I'd still like to hear the President weigh in on the side of the Russians on this one.