Ukraine, Crimea, Syria, Israel, Iran, Turkey, Putin, China, and World War III [Archive] - Page 6

Sophocles

18th August 2016, 07:59

Hezbollah Leader reveals HOW the US created Daesh (ISIS) (August 14, 2016)

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Subtitles from YT:

And I call upon the people of the region, political leaders, parties, and all those who care about the region, to closely keep an eye on the statements that are being made in the United States of America. Now some will say why is Sayyed talking about America -no, we`re talking about this region.
Following the statements relating to the responsibility of the American administration in establishing, creating, and supporting Daesh (ISIS).

Let`s begin here with a few words.

Today online on websites, you can find the confessions of the US ministers, generals, and security officials -some of these officials were in past administrations and some are still in the current one. They confess that we -meaning the Americans- created Daesh, we made Daesh.
Now some might say «how»? I will comment on this.

Okay, why did they create Daesh? Rather, let`s ask how they did it first. How?

The Americans had infiltrated the Al-Qaeda organisation in Iraq, that`s if they didn`t have complete control of it. Otherwise, thay had infiltrated it strongly.
They had a group locked up in prison, one of which was Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was in a US prison in Iraq. He was then freed. He went and very soon became the Emir (leader) of the Al-Qaeda organisation in Iraq. Then the organisation was called the Islamic State of Iraq.

Abu Mohammad al-Julani, the leader of the Nusra (Front), was with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, meaning a member of the Islamic State of Iraq. When they were sent to Syria, they were still together, and that is why I always say that Daesh and the Nusra Front are one and the same. They differed over the leadership. Yet the sponsorship of the project was one and the same.

The Americans came, they got some states, one of which was Saudi Arabia, and told these states to mobilise their media, sheikhs, channels, wealth, weapons, ammunition, for the sake of this project. They also sought the help of other regional states to provide facilitations, and they cooporated with the West.

For this reason they were able to gather tens of thousands of fighters.

There is one German research centre that says 360,000 came to Syria and Iraq. Perhaps they didn`t all come at once or were present at the same time, maybe they were coming in and out. Anyhow, let`s say tens of thousands were brought to Iraq and Syria.

Let`s speak in very simple terms: can anyone imagine that the same America which pursues every single dollar, and who closely monitors banks in Lebanon regarding whom they open up accounts for, and for whom they don`t open accounts, whether they open accounts for a hospital or a charity organisation, or whether the account is for a cousin of so and so who is an official in Hezbollah, and the same America which pursues and closely monitors every single rifle, missile, and the parts of anti-armours and anti-air missile systems, that thousands of tonnes passed into Iraq and Syria -and Americans admit this- without the knowledge and administration of the Americans? Definitely not.

Funding, administration, arming -of course, there was no need for America to get involved with instigation of people, there are those who have high-level experience in instigation -and abundant amounts of funds, using these resources they produced this wide-scale Takfiri (Wahhabi) horde, which was called the Al-Qarda organisation, and which was then called the Islamic State of Iraq, then it was called the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (i.e. Daesh), from whom the Nusra Front split thereafter.
Many groups and factions joined them thereafter, carrying the same ideology.

Hezbollah Leader reveals WHY the US created Daesh (ISIS) (August 14, 2016)
(I couldn`t embed this video but it is from the same speech)

Subtitles from YT:

Okay why did you do this O` Americans?

In all honesty they say, in all honesty, and this is available for all to refer to, just as I referred to Israeli qoutes a while ago to prove my point, I will use American quotes now. Let the people hear, and see clearly, let them analyse, understand, and make decisions correctly.

The Americans did this to strike the resistance axis, and in particular, Hezbollah. This is not because Hezbollah is more important than Syria, not because Hezbollah is more important than Iran. Rather, because Hezbollah was somehow considered the spearhead of the axis, which is actually present in the battlefield because it is a resistance movement that has room to maneuver, room that might not exist for states in the resistance front. Therefore, the spearhead of this resistance axis, the one on the frontlines that is fighting, the one which fought in the July War (2006), is Hezbollah.

Okay, we need to bring someone that can defeat and destroy Hezbollah, and destroy the resistance front. Such talk began to feature in the media in recent months. There is no need for us to analyse anymore, just as we analysed the July War after it occured.

Now the Israelis have revealed everything and the Americans are beginning to reveal everything. All the goals of the July War. Now the Americans are doing the same thing regarding this issue. For this reason, because this issue has a high level of credibility in America today in the presidential elections and the mud-slinging between Trump on the one hand and Clinton and Obama on the other, the most important weapon, used by the Republican Party candidate Trump against the Democrats -what is it? Because now the American people, and American public opinion and Western public opinion are all against Daesh (ISIS) due to its crimes, and they cannot hide that anymore.

Trump is now telling them the one who created Daesh (ISIS) -O` Americans and Europeans -by the way Trump doesn`t care here about the Syrians or Iraqis or Libyans or Yemenis or Egyptians or Palestinians, he doesn`t care about all of these people being killed, and the Afghanis and Pakistanis and Indians, he only cares about the Americans and Europeans- Trump is saying that ISIS were created by Obama and Clinton!

This is not simple talk, this is an American candidate and he is speaking on behalf of the American Republican Party, which has its own information apparatus and documentation.

Anyhow, they don`t even need to put forward evidence, they have admitted it already, their words are present online on various websites.

So they are the ones who created ISIS. More broadly speaking, they are the ones who brought about these Takfiri groups, whose overarching names are now ISIS and the Nusra Front. They brought them from all around the world after the failure of the «New Middle East Project».

Here listen to me carefully: after the failure of the «New Middle East Project» and after the steadfastness of the resistance in Lebanon, and after the steadfastness of the resistance in Palestine and the steadfastness of Syria and after the steadfastness of Iran and after the defeat of America in Iraq and its withdrawal in 2011 and after the beginnings of the rise of the popular Arabs revolutions that ousted regimes that are part of the system led by America and allied to Israel, after all this the Americans found themselves in a new situation. There is a huge resistance axis. Imagine that things continued moving like it was in the beginning.

Israel in 2011, at the Herzliya Conference said: «We are in the worst strategic environment since the establishment of the entity of Israel». Because they evaluated what happened in the previous years.
So now how can they face this huge, great, historical, Pan Arab-Islamic development in the region? Can Israel start a war? But we have just mentioned that one of the outcomes was that Israel failed. It is no longer an effective tool for such a great confrontation anymore.

With Hezbollah and the resistance in Gaza it failed, is it going to launch a battle on a regional-scale? No! Shall thay send the US army? Well this army was in Iraq and is now in Afghanistan. It will not be able to change the equation. In that case what? A proxy war! And this is what the United States of America is a master in, and it is what it did previously in Afghanistan. They came back to their old friends.

Come O` Saudi Arabia and other states, and gather them for us from all around the world, and let us go fight through them. Let us og fight through them the regime in Syria and destroy the Syrian army. Let`s fight (through them) in Iraq, (a state) which refused to submit to our conditions and let us shake up the situation in Iraq and destroy what was built, and (destroy) that which left the sphere of our control and obedience. And we shall send them to og destroy Hezbollah in Lebanon and control Lebanon and make all the Lebanese kneel to America and Israel, and kneel to America`s collaborators in Lebanon, let them all kneel to them.

And regarding Palestine, we will put an end to Palestine. And with regards to the whole Arab situation, rather than people caring about carrying out reforms in this country or that they will begin to care about safety and peace.

How to get rid of ISIS and the Al-Qaeda and the Nusra Front and the Takfiris, and the explosions that target restaurants, mosques, churches, schools, markets, so that they consent to any ruler, regime, and power and that will cause them to forget anything to do with freedoms, reforms, democracy, life, dignity and all these slogans that were raised by Arab nations in the region let alone the cause of Palestine.

They brought this horde of terrorists to produce this destructive chaos in our region, and the Americans came and used them. O` our brothers, O` our sisters, O` people! The Americans brought them, gathered them, funded them, armed them -of course not with their funds, rather from Arab reserves- and the Americans opened up the borders for them and facilitated the way for them and trained them, and fought for them.

However, now they have begun to reach a point whereby in some areas, this card has lost its value, just like what happened after Afghanistan. This card has lost its value.

Cidersomerset

18th August 2016, 19:30

'Unfortunate': US State Dept on Russian use of Iran base to fly anti-ISIS missions

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Published on 17 Aug 2016
There are increased hopes for greater international cooperation over Syria. It follows
Iran allowing Russia to use one of its airbases to conduct anti-ISIS strikes, China now
saying it'll offer military help to the Syrian government. RT's Gayane Chichakyan got
reaction from the US State Department.

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War Clouds Gathering Over Crimea

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Streamed live on 11 Aug 2016
Russia claims to have stopped a sabotage operation by Ukraine's intelligence service.
Ukraine denies the charge and has beefed up military on its border with Crimea.
Is another war brewing? Is the US pushing for it?

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War With China Unthinkable? Think Again!

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Streamed live on 10 Aug 2016
According to a recent study by the Pentagon-linked RAND Corporation, there are several
scenarios where a US/China war may break out. Are China's actions in the South China
Sea pushing a war scenario? What about US intervention in the region?

Sophocles

19th August 2016, 00:29

Sputnik International interviews the Saker (http://thesaker.is/sputnik-international-interviews-the-saker/)

The Saker / Sputnik International
August 18, 2016

This is the full text of the interview Sputnik International made with the Saker:

Sputnik: Following the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Recep Erdogan Startfor suggested that Ankara could make concessions to Moscow and Iran on Syria. Is a Russo-Turko-Iranian alliance possible? Is it possible that Turkey will soften its tough stance on the Syrian government and Bashar al-Assad?

The Saker: It is extremely hard to predict what Erdogan will do next due to his personality and to the objectively difficult situation Turkey is in. While I fully agree that it is likely Turkey will have to make concessions to Russia and Iran, this is primarily due to the fact that Erdogan has now soured his relationship with the traditional patrons of Turkey: the NATO/US/EU. I suspect that Erdogan will be far more willing to make promises than to actually deliver on them. The Russians are acutely aware of that and there is exactly *zero* real trust towards Erdogan in the Kremlin. On one hand, most Russian analysts see Erdogan as a smart man, but also as a treacherous megalomaniac who absolutely cannot be trusted. But on the other hand, Turkey is a large and powerful country, strategically located, and a key neighbor of Russia. Thus Russia simply has to try to establish the best relationship possible with whomever is in power in Turkey, even if that means dealing with a distasteful character like Erdogan.

In sharp contrast to Turkey, the Iranians are trustworthy even if their interests are not always the same as Russia’s, and that is how it should be. I would characterize the relationship between Russia and Iran as a strategic partnership of two different but equal parties who collaborate with each other but who retain their own, sovereign, agenda. This is not a formal alliance but, in a way, this is even better as it is something much more flexible and viable in the long term. This is also similar to the kind of strategic partnership Russia has with China, even though the one with China is far deeper and really should be called a “strategic symbiosis”.

What might, God willing, emerge from the current situation in an objective community of interests in which Turkey will come to realize that collaborating in the long term with Russia and Iran is far more beneficial to Turkey than to try to play the “Russian card” against the AngloZionist Empire (or play the “Empire card” against Russia). Eventually, Turkey will have to chose between two mutually exclusive civilizational models: one in which the USA is the World Hegemon who gets to impose one single socio-economic model and one in which free sovereign countries work together towards a truly diverse and multi-polar world. Alas, I don’t think that Erdogan is willing,or even capable, of making such a choice, at least not in the foreseeable future.

Finally, while very little was revealed about the discussions between the Russians and the Turks on Syria, I notice that in his interview with the Russian TV just before traveling to Russia Erdogan again repeated his accusations that Assad was guilty for hundreds of thousands of Syrian deaths and that he must go. Will Erdogan eventually change his tune? Maybe. But right now he still sounds like a broken record.

Sputnik: Why did Erdogan decide to team up with Russia in Syria and can Moscow trust Erdogan?

The Saker: There is some pretty good indirect evidence that Russia did save Erdogan by warning him of the imminence of the coup. Erdogan denies that, of course, but his constant use of the words “my friend Vladimir” and his equally constant expressions of gratitude for the support Putin gave to the lawfully elected President indicates to me that there is more to be grateful for than just early expressions of support. Likewise, there is a lot of pretty good indirect evidence that the USA at the very least knew and did not oppose the coup attempt or even actively supported it. Thus, when Erdogan became aware of this dynamic he really had no option than to go to turn to the Russians.

Moscow can absolutely not trust Erdogan and I am confident that Moscow never will. The man is clearly a delusional megalomaniac and his neo-Ottoman Islamist ideology is toxic and dangerous for the entire region. What Moscow needs to do is to work towards a weakened but stable Turkey which would not present a threat to the region: a Turkey purged from any imperial delusions.

Sputnik: How will Tehran’s decision to share its facilities with Russia affect the Russian aerial operation against Daesh? What lies behind Moscow’s decision to use Iran’s “Hamedan” airbase to attack terrorists? Why is the West fuming over the Russo-Iranian move?

The Saker: Tehran’s decision to allow Russia to use the Hamedan airbase will greatly facilitate the operations of the Russian Aerospace Forces against Daesh. First, using Hamedan, as opposed to using airfields in southern Russia, will greatly reduce the flight time to targets in Syria, allow the Russian aircraft to use a more fuel consuming mission profiles and to carry heavier weapon loads. No less important is the fact that using Hamedan will greatly complicate the US/NATO efforts to warn their “good terrorist” allies about an incoming Russian airstrikes: it will be harder for the US to detect Russian aircraft and when they do, they will have less time to warn their proxies on the ground. Furthermore, Hamedan is located in a very safe and well protected part of Iran which would be far safer to operate from than Khmeimim in Syria (which is located 1000km from Russia but only 50km from the Turkish border). I would say that Hamedan is an *ideal* location to operate from for the Russian Aerospace Forces.

The main reason for the Russian decision to use Hamedan is not only a technical one. The fact that the Iranians have now publicly made this base available to Russia indicates a deepening of the strategic collaboration between these two countries and a stronger Russian commitment to the defense of Syria against the foreign invaders, something which Tehran had been wanting the Russians to do for a long while. The Iranians have always been dubious, to say the least, about the Russian peace plans and now that the Russians are gradually coming to admit that Daesh did use this time to regroup, rearm and reorganize, the Russian move to Hamedan indicates that the Kremlin is serious about hitting Daesh as hard as need be to protect Syria from the Takfiri invasion.

The West is clearly unhappy about the boost in Russian capabilities the move to Hamedan represents. But the West is truly horrified at the deepening of the strategic partnership between Russia and Iran. At a time when the AngloZionist Empire is greatly weakened and generally clueless, the partnership between Iran and Russia has an immense potential, something which greatly angers and frightens the Neocons. This development also clearly seals Iran’s status as the most powerful country in the Middle-East, something which horrifies the Israelis and, even more so, the Saudis. For Iran to get the Russians to commit the way they now have is a major political success.

Sputnik: The US House of Representatives Joint Task Force released their initial findings on systematic distortion and altering analytic products to paint US efforts to fight Daesh in a more positive light by CENTCOM. Furthermore, despite that the complaint was first voiced in 2015, “neither CENTCOM, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, nor the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) took any demonstrable steps to improve the analytic climate within CENTCOM.” Joint Task Force also reported that it “did not receive access to all the materials it requested.” What lies behind the distortion of information about US’ operation in Syria? Is it somehow connected with the US’ “phony” aerial campaign in Syria which left Daesh’s positions intact during the “war on terror”? What political forces in the US are interested in hiding the truth about what the Pentagon/CIA are really doing in Syria?

The Saker: The US operations in Syria are really no different from what the US did in Afghanistan over 30 years ago. The US has been using various types of Takfiri crazies in many wars (Chechnia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, etc.) as what I call “foot soldiers for the Empire”. The only thing that changes is the label these forces operate under: whether “freedom fighters” or “moderate opposition”, they are still in reality only al-Qaeda or ISIS, and at the end of the day they are all one and the same: Takfiri crazies, managed by western special forces, paid for by Wahabi (Saudi) money and engaged against all those who refuse to bow to the Empire. Political reasons have forced the US to engage in a pretend war against Daesh just because it does not look very good when the 911 false flag is blamed on al-Qaeda while at the same time the USA are using all their power to prop-up, organize, protect and manage the very same al-Qaeda. Furthermore, there are some pretty clear signs that there is more than one US foreign policy now: there is a White House foreign policy, there is a Republicans in Congress foreign policy, there is a Pentagon foreign policy and, of course, there is a CIA foreign policy. And these various actors rarely pursue the same goals. This kind of “executive chaos” is a surefire sign that the top of the Executive Branch has been tremendously weakened and that various actors are now taking major political decisions in their own hands.

In contrast, Russia now has over 30 years of fighting against the Takfiri rot and she still is, along with Iran and Hezbollah, the main defense against Wahabi terrorism worldwide.

Source (http://thesaker.is/sputnik-international-interviews-the-saker/)

Sophocles

19th August 2016, 10:30

Turkey Could Provide Incirlik Airbase for Russian Anti-Terror Campaign - Senator (http://sputniknews.com/military/20160816/1044330202/turkey-russia-incirlik.html)

Sputniknews
16.08.2016

Turkey could provide its Incirlik airbase for the Russian Aerospace Forces jets in the anti-terrorist campaign in Syria, member of Russia’s upper house of parliament Igor Morozov said Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – He clarified that the decision could be taken based on similar agreements made with Syria on the use of the Hmeymim facility and the latest use of the Hamadan airfield in western Iran to carry out airstrikes against terrorist groups in Syria.

Senator Viktor Ozerov, member of Russia's Federation Council Defense and Security Committee, did not rule out that Ankara could offer the use of its air base after Erdogan’s reconciliatory visit to St. Petersburg last week, where he affirmed support for Russia’s anti-terrorist mission in Syria.

"It is not guaranteed that Russia needs Incrilik, but such a decision can be regarded as Turkey's real readiness to cooperate with Russia in the fight against terrorism in Syria, and not just pay lip service," Ozerov stressed.

Incirlik has been in use by the US Air Force in its coalition’s efforts againstDaesh terrorist group since the summer of 2015.

Source (http://sputniknews.com/military/20160816/1044330202/turkey-russia-incirlik.html)

And according to the German deutsche-wirtschafts-nachrichten.de (http://deutsche-wirtschafts-nachrichten.de/) the Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Cavusoglu says this is possible (http://deutsche-wirtschafts-nachrichten.de/2016/08/17/tuerkei-will-nato-stuetzpunkt-fuer-russland-oeffnen/) (in German):

Die Türkei erwägt, Russland die Nutzung des Nato-Stützpunkts Incirlik für Anti-ISIS-Operationen zu erlauben. Schließlich bekämpfe auch - wie alle anderen - Russland den Terrorismus, so der türkische Außenminister. Russische Jets fliegen bereits Einsätze aus dem Iran.

Source (http://deutsche-wirtschafts-nachrichten.de/2016/08/17/tuerkei-will-nato-stuetzpunkt-fuer-russland-oeffnen/)

Iraq also...

Russia to use Iraqi airspace for anti-Daesh strikes (http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/08/16/480348/iraq-russia-iran-airspace-abadi)

Presstv.ir
Tue Aug 16

Baghdad says Russia has been permitted to conditionally use Iraqi airspace for anti-Daesh airstrikes in Syria.

“I allowed the bombers to fly over because we received clear information about them. They make precise strikes, avoid casualties among civilians. So, we will consider all the requests concerning security of civilians in Syria.” -Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi-

Full article (http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/08/16/480348/iraq-russia-iran-airspace-abadi)

And now this...

Rushed evacuation of US nukes from Incirlik (http://www.debka.com/article/25613/Rushed-evacuation-of-US-nukes-from-Incirlik)

DEBKAfile Exclusive Report August 18, 2016, 4:43 PM (IDT)

http://www.debka.com/dynmedia/photos/2016/08/18/src/US_PLANES_INCIRLICK_8.16.png

In an earthshaking Middle East development, the United States has begun secretly evacuating the tactical nuclear weapons it had stockpiled at the southern Turkish air base of Incirlik and is transporting them to US bases in Romania. The Obama administration has thus taken another step towards folding its tents in the Middle East.

In contrast, Moscow is rapidly expanding its air force footprint in the region with a new base in Iran following its facility in Syria. Advanced bombers and fighters are stepping up operations in both countries, while Russian warships carrying Kalibr cruise missiles gather in the Mediterranean and Caspian Seas.

Debkafile’s military and intelligence sources report that Washington decided to remove the nuclear arsenal to safety after talks between American and Turkish talks on release 1,500 US airmen serving at the base from the siege clamped down a month ago broke down. The airmen were running the US air campaign against ISIS in in Syria just 112km away.

The talks ground to a halt over Turkish insistence on assuming control of the nuclear arsenal and America’s rejection of this demand. The 50-70 B61 tactical gravity nuclear bombs were stored in underground bunkers close to the US bombers’ air strips. Although this was not fully admitted by Washington, the US air and ground crews were held intermittently in lockdown since the President Tayyip Erdogan suppressed a military coup against him a month ago.

The deteriorations of relations between Ankara and Washington contrasted strongly with the Turkish-Russian rapprochement, which Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin sealed in St. Petersburg on Aug.8. Since then, there have been calls for the Russian Air Force to be allowed to displace the US warplanes at Incirlik. This process has now begun.

Source (http://www.debka.com/article/25613/Rushed-evacuation-of-US-nukes-from-Incirlik)

Cidersomerset

19th August 2016, 14:18

And now this...
Rushed evacuation of US nukes from Incirlik
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report August 18, 2016, 4:43 PM (IDT)

This has be escalating over the past few days...

Erdogan ‘taking active steps to alienate both US and Europe’ – fmr US diplomat

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Published on 18 Aug 2016

As NATO continues to show an unwillingness to cooperate with Turkey, the country
is moving closer to establishing military ties with Russia. What does this mean for the
United States? To discuss this, former US diplomat Jim Jatras joins RT America’s Ashlee
Banks and says Turkish President Erdogan is “taking active steps to alienate both the
US and Europe” by implying the US was behind an attempted coup in the country and
by talking about reinstituting the death penalty. Jatras also explains that the “toughest
nut” between a Turkey-Russia alliance is Turkey’s insistence that President Assad must
be replaced in Syria.

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Ankara considers military ties with Russia as NATO shies away – Turkish FM

K-iMxydYIsY

Published on 18 Aug 2016
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has lashed out at NATO, saying the
alliance is not fully cooperating with Ankara. In an interview with Sputnik, he hinted
that Turkey would consider military cooperation with Russia.

Sophocles

20th August 2016, 14:56

Even though Norway is a small country it doesn`t mean that this "Nation of Peace" and the giver of the Nobel Prize (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Prize) cannot contribute big time to the conflicts of the world (remember Israel got it`s heavy water from Norway (http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Film-shows-how-Israel-got-heavy-water-from-Norway)):

Norway increased the sale of equipment to war players in Yemen (http://norwaytoday.info/news/norway-increased-sale-equipment-war-players-yemen/)

Posted By: Solrun F. Faull 20. June 2016
norwaytoday.info (http://norwaytoday.info/)

In one year, Norway has increased its sales of civilian and military equipment to countries participating in the Saudi-led coalition in the civil war in Yemen.

The military export report for 2015 shows that sales to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait has increased from 56 million Nok in 2014 to 139 million last year, writes the newspaper Dagbladet.

Full article (http://norwaytoday.info/news/norway-increased-sale-equipment-war-players-yemen/)

-------------

Norway is among the world leaders when it comes to arms exports per capita. This gives Norway a great moral responsibility. When Norwegian politicians and bureaucrats say that we have the strictest regulations for arms exports, it´s a truth with major modifications. Both regulations and practices have major weaknesses that Norway cannot vouch for. Today’s export weakens Norway's efforts for peace, human rights and security in the world. Source (http://www.forumfor.no/en/theme/v%C3%A5penhandel/om)

Norway’s sneaky arms exports to Israel (http://www.ipsnews.net/2008/06/norway-talking-peace-exporting-weapons/)

NORWAY: Talking Peace, Exporting Weapons (http://www.ipsnews.net/2008/06/norway-talking-peace-exporting-weapons/)

Nowhere Safe for Yemen's Children -The deadly impact of explosive weapons in Yemen (http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/sites/default/files/docs/Nowhere_Safe_for_Yemens_Children.pdf)

MorningFox

20th August 2016, 17:11

http://i.imgur.com/oHZVaSg.jpg

Hervé

20th August 2016, 18:38

Turkey and Iran Reach Agreement on Conditions for Syria Peace (http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article45311.htm)

By Gareth Porter August 19, 2013 [sic] "Information Clearing House (http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/)" -

https://www.sott.net/image/s16/321719/large/CSlX3CkWoAA_m0L.jpg

In a stunning diplomatic surprise, Turkey and Iran have announced a preliminary agreement on fundamental principles for a settlement of the Syrian conflict.

The dramatic turn in the diplomacy of the Syria War was revealed in Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim’s regular weekly speech to the ruling AKP Party in the parliament and confirmed by a senior Iranian foreign ministry official Tuesday.

Both Yildirim’s speech and the Iranian corroboration were reported Tuesday by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed and Al-Hayat, Arabic-language newspapers published in London, but the potentially pivotal development has been unreported thus far in Western news media.

The common approach to a Syria settlement outlined by Turkey and Iran represent what appears to be the first significant diplomatic break in a five-year international conflict on Syria that has been immune from any real peace negotiations up to now. International conferences on Syria under UN auspices have generated no real moves toward compromise.

The new negotiations between Iran and Turkey are the result of a major policy shift by the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan toward diplomatic cooperation with Russia and Iran on Syria and away from alignment with the United States and its Gulf allies Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Turkey has been coordinating military assistance to the armed opposition to the Assad government – including jihadists and other hardline extremists – with Saudi Arabia and Qatar since early in the war. However, Erdogan began searching in May for an alternative policy more in line with Turkey’s primary strategic interest in Syria: containing the threat of Kurdish demands for a separate state.

The announced agreement on broad principles for ending the Syrian crisis is only the beginning of a process of negotiations on the details of a settlement, as Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Jaberi Ansari made clear. “This agreement on the general lines will contribute to creating an environment suitable to solving the Syrian crisis,” Ansari said, according to Al Hayat.

It is also possible that Turkey may be planning to use the threat of allying with Russia and Iran on Syria to force the United States to reduce its own reliance on Kurdish forces in Northern Syria – the main issue dividing US and Turkish policies toward the conflict. But Yildirim had already hinted last month – before the failed military coup in Turkey and the launching of a new offensive by al-Qaeda’s al-Nusra Front around and in Aleppo – at Turkey’s intention to revise its policy toward Syria in order to prevent Kurdish forces in Syria from establishing their own mini-state.

Yildirim said in his speech Tuesday that the solution to the Syrian crisis would require “two basic conditions: first to preserve the territorial unity of Syria and second, establishing a system of government in which all ethnicities and religions are represented.”

In the context of the territorial unity issue, Yildirim raised the specter of an international drift toward the partitioning of Syria. “Someone would come and say, I will give the West of Syria to one,” he said, “and the south to another and the north to the Kurds.”

“This is not possible,” said Yildirim, meaning that Turkey would not stand for it.

The Turkish prime minister’s reference to the threat of partition in general and Kurdish inheritance of much of northern Syria in particular was clearly aimed at the Obama administration’s de facto military alliance with the YPG militia units (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Protection_Units) of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Union_Party_(Syria)) (PYD) in the war against Daesh. That policy has encouraged the Kurds to continue to extend their territorial control westward along the Turkish border.

Turkey is especially upset that the YPG units have already moved west of the Euphrates River, which was Turkey’s publicly announced “red line,” and don’t intend to stop. Turkey has been demanding that the United States keep its promise that the Kurds will retreat to east of the Euphrates, but the YPG has said it intends to link Manbij – the city west of the Euphrates that it has just helped recover from Daesh – with Afrin and then gain control of al-Bab city on the border, thus uniting two previously separate Kurdish zones of control.

Turkey fears that a consolidation of Kurdish power over such a large territory on the Turkish border will embolden the militant Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurdistan_Workers%27_Party) in Turkey to demand its own state. “A Kurdish state in the Middle East,” Yildirim declared, “will not bring a solution.”

On the second condition for a settlement, Yildirim said there is a “possibility to establish a Syrian administration in which all of Syria’s religious communities and ethnicities can be represented….” After that was accomplished, he said, “there will be no obstacle to reaching a solution.”

Al-Hayat quoted Ansari as saying that a third principle discussed but not agreed on was that “the Syrian people will decide their own fate.” That was apparently a coded reference to the fate of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. Turkey has publicly insisted in the past that Assad must step down before a settlement can be reached.

Yildirim’s language on the second principle and Ansari’s further clarification suggest that Turkey is dangling before Iran and Russia the possibility that Assad could remain in the government if Turkey is satisfied with a set of reforms to assure that all ethnic and religious communities in Syria have adequate political representation. Despite speculation by pundits that Iran would not mind having Syria carved up into a set of enclaves under foreign protection, Tehran has responded with unconditional endorsement of the Turkish demand.

The principles that have been announced indicate that Turkey will insist on Russia and Iran using their weight in Syria to pressure the Kurds to retreat from their territorial gains in the northwest. Turkey, in return, would have to halt all support for the armed opposition, starting with its favorite Syrian military client Ahrar al Sham and that group’s close political-military ally, the newly renamed Jabhat Fateh al-Sham – the al-Qaeda affiliate formerly called Jabhat al-Nusra.

Russia was instrumental in initiating the new diplomatic approach with Turkey. On August 8, just before Erdogan met with President Putin in St. Petersburg, Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister for Middle East and Africa, met with Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmet Yildiz for four hours, Iran’s Ansari told Al-Hayat.

After that summit, Bogdanov briefed Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on the Russian-Turkish discussions related to Syria. That led to Zarif’s crucial visit to Ankara last Friday – including a meeting with Erdogan – which Ansari said was necessary to the formulation of the framework that was agreed to by Turkey.

The two countries will try to keep the diplomatic momentum toward an agreement this coming week, when Turkey’s Yildiz will travel to Tehran for more negotiations on the framework, according to Al-Hayat. Although it is still partial and tentative, the framework appears to offer far more hope for peace than any cooperation between Russia and an Obama administration without any consistent strategy.

Gareth Porter, an investigative historian and journalist specializing in US national security policy, received the UK-based Gellhorn Prize for journalism for 2011 for articles on the U.S. war in Afghanistan. His new book is Manufactured Crisis: the Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare. He can be contacted at porter.gareth50@gmail.com (porter.gareth50@gmail.com)

Click for Spanish (http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?from=&to=es&a=http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/), German (http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?from=&to=de&a=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.informationclearinghouse.info%2F), Dutch (http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?from=&to=nl&a=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.informationclearinghouse.info%2F), Danish (http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?from=&to=da&a=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.informationclearinghouse.info%2F), French (http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?from=en&to=fr&a=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.informationclearinghouse.info%2F), translation
- Note- Translation may take a moment to load.

Ewan

20th August 2016, 19:20

Interesting, however those links don't work Hervé and, hopefully, the date of the article is wrong. :)

Edit: Oh man, you've gone and done it and left me looking simple-minded. :D

Remove post if possible.

MorningFox

20th August 2016, 19:31

The below image contains a picture of a beheaded child, descretion advised. I just think it's too important not to post, if true. Very difficult to know what to believe in this age of propaganda war.

https://i.sli.mg/cDhano.jpg

Ewan

20th August 2016, 19:53

Have we got a source for that Morning Fox, it is believable but rather useless for sharing without a source check. Thank you. :)

ThePythonicCow

20th August 2016, 20:25

Have we got a source for that Morning Fox, it is believable but rather useless for sharing without a source check. Thank you. :)

Agreed.

For what it's worth, a Google search for the words "aleppo al-zenki beheaded child wounded boy orange seat ambulance" will bring up some related articles.

Baby Steps

20th August 2016, 20:58

No first use is not the doctrine of a peacemaker or de-escalator

It is the promise of one who seeks to achieve his aims through massive superiority in conventional weapons, and to attempt to portray his adversary as the nasty one, when in reality the adversary lacks the resources to resist the conventional attack.

There is a parallel with World War Two. All the major belligerents entered the war with massive stocks of chemical weapons (poison gas). Why did Russia withhold when facing its existential crisis in winter 1941? Because they understood what the response would be.
Allegedly Russia did threaten to use gas during the Kursk battle in 1943, after the nazis tested a small nuke on the front.

Russia's posture should now include first use option, particularly if it's borders are violated. Personally I would suggest a screen of Chinese and Indian troops, that might give the warmongers pause for thought

MorningFox

20th August 2016, 21:02

Have we got a source for that Morning Fox, it is believable but rather useless for sharing without a source check. Thank you. :)

I have not.

Sophocles

20th August 2016, 21:10

Russian cruise missiles target Syria (http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-aleppo-idUSKCN10U1EE)

Reuters
Sat Aug 20, 2016 10:26am EDT

Russian warships in the Mediterranean Sea fired cruise missiles at targets near Aleppo on Friday, a further sign of Moscow's broadening military effort in Syria days after it began to fly bombing missions from an airbase in Iran.

Russian air power had helped Syrian President Bashar al-Assad make steady advances against rebels seeking to oust him since Moscow's intervention a year ago, but a recent insurgent advance in Aleppo has checked that momentum.

In northeastern Syria, warplanes from a U.S.-led coalition flew patrols on Thursday to protect local ground forces they back against Syrian government airstrikes that are targeting the Kurdish city of Hasaka, the Pentagon said.

"The Syrian regime would be well advised not to interfere with coalition forces or our partners," Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said.

Russia's three cruise missile launches were its first against targets in Syria from the Mediterranean, with previous ones made from its Caspian Sea fleet. On Tuesday Russian bombers began flying missions in Syria from Hamedan air base in Iran.

Russia's Defense Ministry said the strikes targeted the Islamist militant group Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, known as the Nusra Front until it broke formal ties with al Qaeda last month before playing a big role in the sudden rebel advances in Aleppo.

The upsurge in fighting and airstrikes in and around the city, split between government-held west and rebel-held eastern sectors, has prompted growing international concern, galvanized by pictures on Thursday of a dazed, bloodied child.

The plight of civilians in Aleppo has been aggravated in besieged areas by dire shortages of basic goods, leading the World Food Programme to warn of a "nightmarish" situation.

In Daraya, a suburb of Damascus, rebels and a war monitor said the Syrian army's helicopters had dropped incendiary barrel bombs early on Friday, putting the opposition-held town's only hospital out of action.

On Thursday Russia, Assad's most powerful military ally, said it supported a proposal for a weekly 48-hour pause in fighting in Aleppo to allow aid to reach the besieged areas and that it was ready to start the first one next week.

On Friday, the main umbrella group for the Syrian opposition also cautiously welcomed the idea provided the U.N. monitored the truce and enforced compliance. During a previous humanitarian pause this year, both sides complained the other had broken the truce as fighting escalated again.

http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160819&t=2&i=1150339468&w=&fh=&fw=&ll=780&pl=468&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC7I0ZE
A still image, taken from video footage and released by Russia's Defence Ministry on August 19, 2016, shows a rocket
being launched from a Russian corvette in the Mediterranean Seaat Jabhat Fateh al-Sham militant targets in Syria,
according to the ministry. Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation/Handout via Reuters

Full article (http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-aleppo-idUSKCN10U1EE)

Cidersomerset

20th August 2016, 22:24

Just looking thru the headlines civilians suffer from both sides in war
especially brutal civil wars in urban battlefields .....

Have we got a source for that Morning Fox, it is believable but rather
useless for sharing without a source check. Thank you

The beheading article is shown on the RT vid below...

War-torn Childhood: Heartbreaking images of children suffering that didn't go viral

0_D4ecexM3g

Published on 20 Aug 2016
The stories and images of children suffering in the midst of brutal wars often
become highly symbolic. But not all get the same attention - despite being
equally harrowing. Gayane Chichakyan reports on the people whose plights remain unheard.

================================================
================================================

LQ35yYo0s4Q

================================================
================================================

v1r2c-AYsMc

Published on 20 Aug 2016
The UN is investigating claims that chlorine gas was dropped on rebel held areas
of the Syrian city of Aleppo last week. Quentin Sommerville reports on the plight
of just one of the victims of the attack, two-year-old Samia.

===============================================
===============================================

Syria: airstrikes killed 422 civilians in August "the culprit is the Assad regime and Russia"

KHOTQFF6OHY

Published on 19 Aug 2016

Cidersomerset

20th August 2016, 22:38

Turkey’s NATO Exit & the New Turkey-Russia Alliance: A Turning Point in the Global Power Structure

5cvyrYyLpbk

Published on 19 Aug 2016
Newsbud Roundtable presents Sibel Edmonds, James Corbett and Spiro Skouras. In this in-depth discussion
Sibel and James peel back the layers and dive deep into the current events surrounding Turkey, Russia, the
United States and NATO. We elaborate and provide analysis of the escalation of U.S.-Turkey relations, the
new Turkey-Russia alliance, and Turkey’s bold move to exit NATO. Our discussion includes the Balkans and
Russia wild card, Syria, the Kurdish question, and much more.

====================================================
====================================================

Turkey and Iran Reach Agreement on Conditions for Syria Peace
Thursday, 18 August 2016 00:00
By Gareth Porter, Truthout | News Analysis

http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/37291-turkey-and-iran-reach-agreement-on-conditions-for-syria-peace

Cidersomerset

20th August 2016, 22:55

Apologise if this has already posted back along.....

http://alwaght.com/en/... I think they are based in Tehran , Iran ?

This article is from back in March way before the coup....Was this what the US &
allies were worried about ? Among the web and intrigue of the political game of
thrones .Turkey was at odds with the US / Saudi view of splitting Syria into smaller
states , instead wanting to keep it as a sovereign state, especially not wanting any
prospect of a Kurdish state , other countries are involved.

Moscow, Tehran, Ankara may lead Syria to Peace

Thursday 10 March 2016

http://alwaght.com/upload/logo/2016310_10/201631012126899.jpg

Alwaght- The simultaneous visits of the Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Mikhail Bogdanov, the Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy to the Middle East, to Tehran have been seen as highly significant. Focusing on the Syrian crisis, the political institutes have suggested that these two visits indicate that Tehran is in process to establish a regional balance of power which would go in favor of Syria. Such a role could only be taken by Iran, they add. A couple of points need to be considered concerning the issue.

1. Having in mind that in the past Iran and Turkey have been at loggerheads over the crisis in Syria, Davutoglu’s visit to Tehran shows that the viewpoints of the two countries are getting close on this important case. Upon returning from his Iran trip, Turkey’s PM has told the journalists that Ankara was making efforts to put an end to the “brotherly war” in Syria, adding that his country was against any plan which would come out with split of Syria. Though not certain, the evidences suggest that the Turkish government now has willingness to play a constructive role in the Syrian crisis. Turkey’s opposition to partition of Syria and the Turkish PM’s remarks which recognize Damascus’ government as legitimate reflect the fact that Ankara is forsaking a strongly held stance on Syria which has drawn abundant criticism to the government inside Turkey.

2. The Turkish PM’s visit to Tehran was considered a blow to the plans which have been proposed in the recent days by some of the Security Council’s powers, therefore, it must be said that while many of the analysts have said that amid the US-Russia closeness Turkey has been pushed to the sidelines, Davutoglu’s visit to the Iranian capital shows that Ankara would not stay actionless in the face of the conditions which undermine its national interests. Davutoglu has made it clear that Turkey had agreed with Iran over the most significant segments of the Syrian crisis’ case, including rejection of split of Syria. Such an agreement would be importantly influential in finding a settlement to Syria’s conflict and improving the Turkish security conditions at home.

Turkey’s reaching an accord with Iran would, willy-nilly, mean standing against a possibly secret Russian-American deal for partitioning Syria. Furthermore, it would mean that once again the regional game would beat a transregional game concerning the Syrian case. The Iranian officials in the recent days have reiterated that the crisis solution in Syria was political and it was to be found by the Syrian parties. They showed that Iran would not risk forgetting to support its ally under the influence of the transregional political games.

3. Davutoglu’s Tehran visit was a clear signal that Turkey has detached itself from the positions of Saudi Arabia which is a key ally of Ankara in the Syrian crisis. The Saudi officials have emphasized use of force to topple the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Even the news spread that the Saudi fighter jets have violated the Syrian airspace and bombed some places there. Despite the fact that soon after returning from Tehran the Turkish PM has said that Turkey still supported Saudi positions on Syria, everyone knows that the Turkish top official had signed an accord in Tehran which insisted that the current Syrian government would stay in power. Earlier, when Turkey’s Davutoglu has travelled to Riyadh, the media reports suggested that Ankara had yielded too many of Saudi Arabian demands on Syria. Moreover, a Turkish official has said that Saudi Arabia had sent fighter jets to Incirlik air base in Turkey but later it turned out that no Saudi fighter jets had been deployed to the Turkish air base, as no Saudi military forces had been sent to Turkey. But, on the other hand, Turkey has reached an agreement with Iran and this could open a window for prospects of wide-ranging Turkish-Iranian cooperation. Referring to a group of 160 businessmen accompanying the Turkish PM in his Iran visit, some circles in Turkey have noted that the Turkish ties with Iran were improving very quickly as the two sides have set to develop their trade transactions to make them touch $30 billion. The Islamic Republic’s reception of the Turkish political and commercial delegation shows that Tehran is also interested to mend and boost ties with Ankara.

4. But Iran has made it clear that it does not want to choose between the two options: Russia and Turkey. Actually, there is no reason for that. Iran is willing to engage actively in relations with both of its large neighbors Turkey and Russia as it seeks to see the two neighbors having better relations with one another. In fact, it is in Iran’s best interests that Moscow and Ankara settle their problems and get close to each other. Meanwhile, Tehran has several times shown that it values ties with Moocow, therefore, during the recent years, especially the past two years, different Iranian delegations have paid visits to Russia as in return Tehran has received the Russia President Vladimir Putin and may other Russian top officials. Meanwhile, Iran’s critics have maintained that in a time that some divides have appeared between Russia and Iran over the timing, the covered areas and the terms of ceasefire in Syria, Iran, through accepting Davutoglu, wants to notify the Russians that it was sensitive over Moscow-Washington agreement and it could not turn a blind eye to its negative repercussions on Syria. But the fact is that Russia and Iran are not divided over the qualitative terms of Syria’s truce and this could not push Iran to take revenge on Russia. At the same time, some Russian officials’ remarks show that Moscow knows the strategic value of the accords with Tehran and it does not want to damage the high-level good will between the two sides. Putin’s amendment of an earlier comment concerning federalization of Syria as well as his saying that once again that Russia was against any foreign intervention on the fate of the Syrian president in any political solution in the future are indicative of the fact that Russia is still stands firmly on the previously reached agreement with Iran. During Bogdanov’s visit to Tehran, the Iranian officials have maintained that it was impossible to talk about any settlement model before end of the clashes in Syria, adding that it was a Syrian domestic issue and it could be decided upon only when the conditions were stable in the country.

5. The Americans have proposed what they called a Plan B, aiming at putting the Syrian government in a tight corner on the one hand and dig a void between Russia and Iran on the other hand. This could harm both the Iranian and Russian powers at the same time. The US-proposed Plan B is actually a scheme for splitting Syria and re-drawing the country’s current borders. The plan eyes breaking Syria into small countries one having Damascus as its center, one in south, one in northwest and also one in the east. But the smart remarks of Ahmet Davutoglu, who said that they have borne the pains of Sykes-Picot Agreement for 100 years and so they could not make way for emergence of new Sykes-Picot, have shown that what some political circles had said about the US’ Plan B was actually true.

Unfortunately, exactly when Washington has publicized its Plan B, Moscow has talked about its proposal for federalization of Syria as the only way out of the country’s security crisis. But a federal system of governing could be discussed only if there is a chance of dialogue and agreement between the influential groups. How is it possible to talk about transformation of Syria’s political system while two Syrian provinces are still held by ISIS terror group and four others are captured by al-Nusra Front and other cities are still experiencing destabilizing factors? When in response to the US’ Plan B Russia has proposed its federalization plan, some of the region’s people and governments have thought that Iran along with the relevant governments and movements have approved of Moscow’s plan, but all of the speculations turned wrong. In reaction, some Russian officials have stepped in, saying that federal system in Syria was a controversial issue and needed proper time for discussion. This Moscow’s position was considered as remedial.

6. Without doubt, Syria is in need of truce but it should not aim at giving a fresh breath to forces which over four years damaged Syria’s security. The snap and uncoordinated ceasefire which has taken effect in Aleppo’s southern and western regions last Saturday was more in favor of the armed groups than in favor of Syria’s government. Now there are concerns that the terrorists could use the ceasefire opportunity to once again infiltrate the areas which have been liberated under the Syrian army’s Operation Nasr 2. At the same time the truce could disrupt cleansing the newly recaptured areas because it is not yet specified which armed groups are included and which groups are excluded. Furthermore, without previous preparations and intelligence gathering it is practically impossible to decide which forces are adhering to the deal and which sides are not.

7. The Turkish PM’s visit to Tehran would prepare the regional atmospheres in favor of stability. Additionally, the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said that a common position with Iran was needed to put an end to the sectarian tensions. This Turkish position, following a Russian-Iranian military agreement, is one more step towards settling Syria’s case, albeit it was the success of the Operation Nasr 2 that has pushed the countries to re-calculate with new developments ahead of them.

http://alwaght.com/en/News/46107/Moscow,-Tehran,-Ankara-may-lead-Syria-to-Peace

http://alwaght.com/en/

Sophocles

21st August 2016, 18:53

George Soros and Ukraine:

From the document Breakfast with US Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt (http://45eq7vmb9bj1ratu11zv1p19.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Ukraine-Working-Group-2014-gs-ukraine-visitmarch-2014notes.pdf) (Monday 3/31/2014 08:00-09:00)

Ambassador: The short term issue that needs to be addressed will be the problem in getting the
message out from the government through professional PR tools, especially given Putin’s own
professional smear campaigns.

GS: Agreement on the strategic communications issue—providing professional PR assistance to
Ukrainian government would be very useful. Gave an overview of the Crisis Media Center set up by IRF and the need for Yatseniuk to do more interviews with them that address directly with journalists and the public the current criticisms of his decision making.

GS: Obama has been too soft on Putin, and there is a need to impost potent smart sanctions. He noted the need for a division of labor between the US and the EU with the US playing the bad cop role. The USG should impose sanctions on Russia for 90 days or until the Russian government recognizes the results of the presidential elections. He noted that he is most concerned about transitional justice and lustration.

And in this A short and medium-term comprehensive strategy for the new Ukraine (http://cyber-berkut.org/docs/Soros_Ukraine_March_non-paper%20_2015_v14.pdf) he refers to himself as George Soros A self-appointed advocate of the new Ukraine March 12, 2015

Source (http://steigan.no/2016/08/21/george-soros-opptradte-som-viseregent-av-ukraina/) (in Norwegian)

Sophocles

22nd August 2016, 11:03

Hezbollah Leader Directs a Message to ISIS & Al-Qaeda (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQsYHAcY30Y) (14/08/2016)

(The Saker (http://thesaker.is/hezbollah-leader-directs-a-message-to-isis-al-qaeda-english-subtitles/))

Today, Daesh is in Mosul and Raqqa. Daesh today is an electorical vote in the US presidential elections. Barack Obama insists on the battle of Mosul and Raqqa. Whether he makes it in time or not, I don`t know.

However, what`s the purpose (of these battles)? Is it to rescue the Iraqis and Syrians from Daesh? No! It is rather for the US presidential elections. He wants the Democratic Party to govern.
Okay, even the Nusra Front. Until prior the battle of Aleppo, a Russian-US agreement was being put together. This is in the media and newspapers. I am not revealing any secrets. There were efforts towards a Russian-US agreement to crush Daesh and the Nusra Front.

Why? Now someone may say there is a contradiction here. Not at all! They brought them along, exploited them, fought through them, and used them up, and now has come the time to finish them off.

I said exactly this 5 years ago, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_1206317393&feature=iv&src_vid=EQsYHAcY30Y&v=FuQXAgubqwg) but would like to remind you of this, when I said to the fighters of the al-Qaeda organisation and the Islamic State in Iraq (it was not called Daesh yet):

I said to them: O` you who consider yourselves fighters and mujahedin, and claim that you want to establish an Islamic government and an Islamic state! O` you people, the US and Saudi Arabia and the states in the region brought you along, armed you, facilitated your movement, fought through you, and supported you to achieve their goals and afterwards, they will extinguish you.

This was five years ago. This does not need anyone who foretells the future, it does not require a fortune teller. This is derived from experiences, facts, and the true nature of the foe and friend.

And today I tell them -you will feel surprised that on the tenth anniversary (of the 2006 war) that I wish to dress Daesh and the Nusra Front and all these groups which are still fighting in Syria and Iraq, and in Yemen, Libya and Sinai. I tell them, and that`s if they can still hear any sound, and if there is still a place in their minds that has some intelligence, if there is still a little potential for contemplation:

O` you people! You are exploited for 5 years with the aim of destroying the Resistance Axis, and to destroy the nations of the region, and to destroy the hopes of this region, so that weak regimes will be built on its ruins, regimes that submit and collaborate with the Americans an Israelis.

If you really still have anything to do with Islam, or any love whatsoever for the Prophet Muhammad, and any relation whatsoever to the Quran, then stop this fighting that serves the interests of America in the region. Stop this fighting. Drop your weapons.

Now (whether) we talk about settlements and reconciliations -yes, there might be some exaggeration in this talk… I call on those who are still bearing arms -and we feel sorry for them- all those who call themselves self-sacrificing martyrs are in fact committing suicide. You are committing suicide and killing your own brethren for whose sake? For what goal?

Whether in Aleppo, Mosul, in Deir Zour, Deraa, and any place in Syria and Iraq. You go and blow yourselves up in Baghdad and Damascus and in Yemeni cities. Whose project are you serving? For whose sake? In whose interests?

O` people just sit and contemplate for a second -just think a bit. You will discover that you have been used, and that it is now time for some of you -namely Daesh- to be eliminated, and the elimination of others will come in due time when they do not need them anymore.

This is what we call for today amid all the battles taking place now in the region. The scholars, the wise, rational people, the knowledgeable, and all the people who care for this nation and can say a word, make a call, or exert an effort. Every effort possible must be exerted in order to bury alive this ongoing ordeal in the nation and region.

If these groups do not stop fighting in the interests of the Americans and their Israeli friends, then ultimately we will have no other option. We will have no other option.

Day after day, the correctness of the decision to head to Syria and other places to fight is becoming clearer, because this one battle, which Daesh is waging, here, here, and here. Daesh which is fighting in all these countries, was created and funded by America, and it facilitated its activities.

Even now, when the US wants to strike (Daesh), it does so in a limited manner, because it is not absolutely finished yet with employing it for its interests.

We do not have any other option other than remaining in the battlefields, in Aleppo and in other places, and in every place where it is obligatory for us to be, we will be. We were, and we will always be where we must be, regardless of all the current intimidations.

Still, the main call today remains the call for awareness, reconsideration, contemplation, and reaching the truth of the courses underway right now in our region. For the sake of Palestine, the Palestinian cause, the captives of Palestine, who are fighting on with empty stomachs such as Bilal Kayed (http://samidoun.net/2016/08/bilal-kayed-threatened-with-forced-treatment-on-56th-day-of-hunger-strike/) and his dear brethren, for the sake of the displaced and the besieged, for the sake of those against whom conspiracies are underway, for the sake of Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Yemen, Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, and all the peoples, societies, and states of the region. We are making a call for awareness, reconsideration, and reason.

What they are calling us towards is not reason. They are calling on us to withdraw from this battle. Some people in Lebanon tell us that it is required that you withdraw from Syria. They call on us to withdraw from the battle. For what reason are we to do so? For Daesh and Nusra to gain victory!

If we quit, the Syrian Army quits, the Iraqi Army quits, the (Iraqi) Popular Gathering quits, the Yemeni Army quits, and the Yemeni revolutionary committees quit, and Daesh gains victory here and there and everywhere.

What would be the fate of our peoples, governments, and the region then?

Cidersomerset

23rd August 2016, 10:18

Who says the EU is not a through back to the Third Reich....

Spain was also under a Fascist Dictator Gen.Franco ....
https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://img.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/files/2016/06/9_AxisGermany.jpg&w=480http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/1663882/442510045/stock-vector-brexit-european-union-map-outline-political-map-with-european-union-member-states-and-british-442510045.jpg

===================================================

EU's big three leaders: Europe 'must work closer on defence' after Brexit

By David on 23 August 2016 GMT

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/download-3-2.png

MAIL ON LINE...

Has Brexit taught them NOTHING? Europe's big three leaders pledge MORE
integration - despite backlash from voters
Angela Merkel, Francois Hollande and Matteo Renzi met to discuss Brexit
Hollande admitted the EU faces the risk of ‘fragmentation and division’
Merkel said EU was born from the ‘darkest moments’ of European history
Renzi respected the UK vote but wanted 'to write a page for the future'

By John Stevens Europe Correspondent For The Daily Mail

Published: 23:32, 22 August 2016 | Updated: 07:51, 23 August 2016

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3753781/Has-Brexit-taught-Europe-s-big-three-leaders-pledge-integration-despite-popular-backlash.html#ixzz4I9HDZzlG
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

====================================================

German Government Urges Citizens To Stockpile Food, Water 'In Case Of Attack Or Catastrophe'

By David on 23 August 2016 GMT

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-08-21/german-government-urges-citizens-stockpile-food-water-first-time-cold-war-ended

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National borders are 'the worst invention ever', says EC chief Jean-Claude Juncker

By David on 23 August 2016 GMT

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Untitled-25.jpg

National borders are “the worst invention ever”, European Commission president
Jean-Claude Juncker has claimed.

Mr Juncker’s remark comes as nations across Europe have looked to tighten their
borders in response to the growing migrant crisis which has threatened to
overwhelm some countries.

http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/page/express_logo.png

‘Borders are the worst invention’ Deluded Juncker says MORE EU is antidote to nationalism

EUROPEANS should be putting the Union first and stop calling for political
independence in their home country, the president of the EU Commission has insisted.

By Zoie O'Brien
PUBLISHED: 08:50, Mon, Aug 22, 2016 | UPDATED: 11:54, Mon, Aug 22, 2016

Read more: National borders are ‘the worst invention ever’, says EC chief Jean-Claude

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/702556/EU-president-Juncker-Borders-worst-invention

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Brexit: Worst Case Scenario For EU; Armageddon Promise Now Exposed As Pack Of Lies

By David on 23 August 2016 GMT

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-08-21/brexit-worst-case-scenario-eu-armageddon-promise-now-exposed-pack-lies

Sophocles

23rd August 2016, 10:20

In the wake of Biden’s visit: Serbia at the geopolitical crossroad (http://thesaker.is/in-the-wake-of-bidens-visit-serbia-at-the-geopolitical-crossroad/)

The Saker
August 22, 2016
by Stephen Karganovic

US Vice President Joseph Biden just completed a “three day visit to Serbia.” The phrase in parentheses is the spin Serbia’s puppet government in Belgrade puts on it. He actually spent only a couple of hours in Belgrade, just enough to deliver instructions. From there he flew off to Prishtina to spend the bulk of his time on Serbian territory in the NATO occupied province of Kosovo with his real friends, who were put in charge as a result of the 1999 aggression against Yugoslavia.

It is assumed that Biden’s visit will be the last to the Balkans by a senior Obama Administration official, so it may be of more than passing policy significance. What kind of message did Biden bring to Serbia and the occupied province of Kosovo?

There is no reliable way of answering that question other than by observing carefully Serbian government’s moves in the visit’s wake, which should give us the necessary clues. Official statements make it clear that the overall purpose of the visit was to strong-arm the Serbian government into accelerating its alignment with NATO and EU, which are practically synonymous. Explicit (and rather ominous) reference was made to Serbia’s standardization of arms and equipment with NATO. Another important “unfinished business” item was to put the final touches on Serbia’s abandonment of NATO-occupied Kosovo. Next month, for no discernible reason other than an otherwise empty, symbolic gesture of Western-mandated “regional cooperation,” the Serbian cabinet will hold a joint session with not only its counterparts from Albania, but also with officials of break-away Kosovo, who will attend as a government entity even though Kosovo is legally a part of Serbia. Needless to say, the agenda of “regional cooperation” and strict adherence to Biden’s injunctions must prevail, and the separatists will not be arrested by the Serbian authorities for treason at this meeting.

An important additional feature of Biden’s ultimatums, according to well-informed sources, is explicit policy coordination with the Western power block on an increasing number of levels, including adopting sanctions against Russia. It does not matter that at this late stage of the game it is clear that sanctions imposed by economic powers far mightier than Serbia have been a fiasco and that Serbia’s participation with the Western sanctions wolf pack will have no tangible economic impact whatsoever on Russia. But being forced into taking such a disloyal decision will symbolically confirm Serbia’s submission, and that is the point of it.

One of the details noted by some observers is the American side’s admission that US legal advisors helped the Serbian government make reforms to its criminal law code, police institutions and whistleblower protection measures. Even those who have long suspected that American influence in Serbia was strong may be dismayed by this revelation that Washington was directly “helping” Belgrade even to write its laws.

But that is only the tip of the iceberg. Western emissaries, including their local Serbian NGO hirelings, are in charge not just of writing laws but are stealthily reshaping Serbia’s other strategic institutions as well. For instance, Western “advisors” are rewriting Serbian schoolbooks from the low grades on up. Western officials are ensconced in all major Serbian government ministries, purportedly to offer advice on better performance. That at least was the public rationale behind the “delivery unit” scam that was perpetrated by the unindicted 1999 Kosovo war criminal Tony Blair, when slightly over a year ago his agency was hired to impart its management wisdom to Serbia’s government. But in reality they are there in a supervisory and intelligence capacity, of course. A likely forthcoming step is for the Serbian government to use its current parliamentary majority to remove the constitutional provision which mandates that Kosovo is an inalienable part of Serbia. That is a key feature of the Kosovo “normalization of relations” plan ordered by Biden. The otherwise pointless joint cabinet meeting, including Kosovo “ministers” in a setting that implies separate statehood, is an incremental step in that direction and one of the fruits of Biden’s visit.

Some argue that, as a counterweight, there are the planned Russian-Serbian military drills next month near the Croatian border. From this and other evidence of similar nature it is suggested that the Serbian government is engaged in an intricate “balancing act” between the two blocks, and even deserves some praise for its diplomatic adroitness.

It is theoretically possible that such sanguine observers are privy to some strategic information which the rest of us do not have, but a safer bet would be that they are deluding themselves with regard to Serbia’s “balancing act.” The Serbian government is as entirely in the pocket of its Western puppet-masters as the Serbian people are committed to the closest possible alliance with Russia and the Eurasian block. The regime is using the politically inconsequential President Nikolic as a Russia-friendly façade, just as it is using PR stunts such as joint exercises with Russian forces, as a tool to deflect attention from its steady slide into the Atlanticist political and military camp arrayed against Russia.

It is becoming increasingly clear to even the most torpid observers that Serbia’s governing clique is being ferociously pressed to accept a geopolitical choice that is patently immoral, opposed to their country’s values and traditions, and contrary to the national interest. The time has once again come for “Serbia is to find its soul.” That was Winston Churchill’s memorable remark, made in a different context but in an eerily similar situation, following the 1941 popular coup in Belgrade which deposed a craven regime that in its time made a disastrously wrong geopolitical choice by signing a short-lived pact with the Axis. The way for Serbia to find its soul today is to urgently start working to restore its natural alliances and to forswear the execrable political choices that are being made for it by the country’s corrupt elite.

Source (http://thesaker.is/in-the-wake-of-bidens-visit-serbia-at-the-geopolitical-crossroad/)

PS!

This video posted in the comment section:

Joe Biden: "Whites will be a Minority in US by 2017 - and that's a good Thing"

kAGhyFHnuv8

...reminds me of (Count of Coudenhove) Kalergi`s Pan Europe (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?86721-Kalergi-s-Pan-Europa&p=1030312&highlight=kalergi#post1030312).

Cidersomerset

23rd August 2016, 10:29

Joe Biden: "Whites will be a Minority in US by 2017 - and that's a good Thing"

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/2f/29/00/2f29005b29ed5825f7bd2ef4c633e57a.jpg

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Yemen Offers Russia Use Of Its Airports And Ports In 'Fight Against Terrorism'

By David on 23 August 2016 GMT

‘While Obama was golfing in the midst of another Louisiana natural disaster, and is
set to end his vacation so he can do what is truly important, support Hillary Clinton
in the presidential race, Putin has been busy making new friends: first he did the
seemingly impossible, having rekindled relations with Turkey to the point where
Ankara itself is warning it may quit NATO to seek “military cooperation” with
Russia, followed quickly by strengthening relations with Iran so that Moscow can
now use an Iranian airbase to strike ISIS, much to the angry dismay of the US and
the United Nations, the latest stunning pivot toward Russia comes from yet another
civil war-torn nation, Yemen, whose former president, Abdullah Saleh, said its
newly-formed governing council could work with Russia to “fight terrorism” by
allowing Moscow use of the war-torn country’s military bases.’

Read more: Yemen Offers Russia Use Of Its Airports And Ports In ‘Fight Against Terrorism’

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-08-21/yemen-offers-russia-use-its-airports-and-ports-fight-against-terrorism

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Japan to upgrade 200 F-15 jets, doubling missile payload amid East China Sea tensions

By David on 23 August 2016 GMT War and Terror

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/57baa66dc36188c9708b4571.jpg

RT NEWS.....

Japan to upgrade 200 F-15 jets, doubling missile payload amid E. China Sea tensions
Published time: 22 Aug, 2016 07:24
Edited time: 22 Aug, 2016 13:15

‘Japan’s Defense Ministry wants its 200 F-15 fighter jets to carry twice as many air-
to-air missiles as they do now, in a bid to prepare for a possible confrontation with
Chinese Air Force around disputed East China Sea islands.

The Defense Ministry is likely to request more budgetary allocations to upgrade
capabilities of its US-built F-15 fighter jets operated by Japan’s Air Self-Defense
Force (ASDF), Nikkei Asian Review reported on Sunday.

These upgrades would double the number of air-to-air missiles carried by ASDF
F-15s, from eight to 16 per each aircraft. In addition, damaged wings and other
parts of the fighter jets will be repaired to extend their lifespan.’

Read more: Japan to upgrade 200 F-15 jets, doubling missile payload amid East
China Sea tensions

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‘Red line’: China warned Japan against joining US freedom of navigation stunts

By David on 23 August 2016 GMT War and Terror

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/57ba7da6c4618807538b458f-1.jpg

‘Beijing warned Tokyo of a harsh response if it ever crossed a “red line” in deciding
to sail with US warships near disputed waters surrounding China’s artificially
reclaimed islands under the pretext of the Freedom of Navigation principle,
Japanese media reported.

The warning to Japan reportedly came just ahead of the Hague international
arbitration court’s ruling over the disputed South China Sea islands which Beijing
continues to claim, despite a verdict which stripped China of the disputed territory.’

Read more: ‘Red line’: China warned Japan against joining US freedom of navigation stunts

https://www.rt.com/news/356695-china-warns-japan-red-line/

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Veterans rage at war trauma scheme they say aims to deny them compensation

By David on 23 August 2016 GMT War and Terror

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/get-attachment-2-2.jpg

Veterans rage at war trauma scheme they say aims to deny them compensation
Published time: 22 Aug, 2016 15:22

‘British military veterans are incensed at a government mental injury compensation
scheme they say is trying to deny them proper benefits.It comes as new analysis
shows record levels of claims are being made to the Armed Forces Compensation
Scheme for mental trauma.One veteran told the Independent newspaper that he
predicted a “tidal wave” of mental injuries among those who had served in Iraq and
Afghanistan.’

Read more: Veterans rage at war trauma scheme they say aims to deny them compensation

https://www.rt.com/uk/356744-military-ptsd-payouts-record/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

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ACTIVIST POST....

NSA World’s Most Dangerous Cyber Threat, Not Russia and China

TOPICS:ChinaKurt NimmoNSARussiaSurveillance.
.
August 22, 2016

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/server.jpg

http://www.activistpost.com/2016/08/nsa-worlds-dangerous-cyber-threat-not-russia-china.html

Cidersomerset

23rd August 2016, 11:25

Turkey: "bombing IS group and Kurdish YPG fighting them at the same time is a total contradiction"

xPCQ5BTI4po

Published on 23 Aug 2016

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http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.20.4/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png

Turkey shells both IS and Kurdish positions in Syria

12 minutes ago

Turkey has bombarded so-called Islamic State (IS) targets across the border
in northern Syria ahead of an expected ground attack on an IS-held town.
Some 1,500 Turkish-backed Syrian rebels have also gathered in the Turkish
city of Gaziantep, poised for an offensive to drive IS out of Jarablus.

Turkey has also shelled Syrian Kurdish forces nearby, apparently to deter
them from taking Jarablus themselves.

Gaziantep was hit by a suicide bombing on Saturday which killed 54 people.

The BBC's Mark Lowen in Gaziantep says the attack on a wedding in the city,
blamed on IS, may have been spurred by reports of the imminent Syrian
rebel offensive.

Read more....

http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/F896/production/_90883636_syriajarablusmanbijgazienteproads0816624.png

◾Why Turkey hits both IS and the Syrian Kurds

http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.20.4/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png

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‘There was nothing I could do’: New instances of rape by soldiers documented in Central Africa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPje8MkdnU8

Published on 23 Aug 2016
New allegations have emerged of sex abuses by French peacekeepers in the Central
African Republic.That's after Sputnik news agency travelled to the country to gather
testimonies from witnesses on the ground.France sent more than a thousand troops
to its former colony in 2013, in a bid to quell an uprising by Muslim rebels.

Baby Steps

23rd August 2016, 11:26

An opinion piece

I am someone who looks at the USA and the west with a similar level of suspicion as I do Russia. I also probably view rt more than most and recognise its quality as well as its bias. Watching rt is dangerous however, because it demonstrates the many missing facts that do not appear in the controlled western media. These may be slanted but they are also facts. There has been little success by those attempting to fact check rt and uncover falsehoods. So am I a Russophile? perhaps more than most. we must guard against thinking we are in a similar situation to previously when dealing with Russia. the international situation is dramatically different to what it was in the cold war.

The Russians are justifiably fearful at the moment. It appears that people like Condoleeza Rice, supposedly a Russia specialist, who presumably are well aware of Russian paranoia deriving from the actions of Napoleon and Hitler yet seem oblivious to the current tide of events which would make anybody fearful.

Russia has witnessed the 911 debacle and rt is the only large agency I know to have officially stated that it was some kind of inside job. That truth is scary, but more so is the incredible stupidity and suggestibility of the us public who still trust the government conspiracy theory albeit by only a small majority. I know, incredible isn’t it? Scarier still is how this event triggered a sequence of insane illegal acts of aggression that, apart from resulting in millions of deaths, have destabilised the situation in the Middle east, Russia’s back yard. Scarier still is that the illegal destruction of Iraq appears to have been motivated by resource greed. If I were Russian I would be keenly aware of the undue influence that the corporate world exert on western governments, and I would fear the possibility of the corporate world attempting to get their mits on Russia’s resources. The Iraq debacle demonstrates that the public in the west will tolerate such atrocity and not punish the criminals. scary indeed.

Now on to Europe. Consider that the USA military budget is approximately half of the planets arms spending. Consider that NATO has reneged on every pledge not to encroach towards Russia’s borders. Consider that the USA has unilaterally withdrawn from anti ballistic missile treaties and is installing abm facilities near Russia. Consider that currently troops and equipment are pouring from America and others towards Russia’s borders. Consider that Europe’s and America’s gdp combined is substantially more than ten times the size of Russia’s. you can see, if you view the situation from an un-blinkered and well informed perspective it is obvious that western actions since the end of the cold war will inevitably stoke up the old Russian paranoia, and with some justification.

Considering Russia’s western borders it is simply common sense that the powers that be ought to understand Russia’s desire for buffer states between itself and NATO. These states should not align with NATO, but can maintain their own defences. Sweden is such a state. Ukraine is such a state.

One fact glaringly missing from western coverage of the Ukraine situation is that an illegal coup took place against a legal democratic government. a coup that was sponsored, bank rolled and brokered by the USA. Research this, and research the activities, views and associates of Victoria Nuland. research the fact , confirmed from numerous sources, that the Maidan protesters were paid $500 per week, in order to encourage them to stay there and not go back to work. Research the film footage of truck loads of cash arriving in USA diplomatic planes.

Now if there is a global policemen , the USA, which desires global peace and prosperity, they would be very sensitive to a wobbly regime on a fearful Russia’s border. I would expect diplomatic efforts to ensure the re-establishment of a democratic government with a clear mandate asap, so that this entity could guage accurately the majority public view on the idea of aligning economically towards Europe. if it emerged that this is what the public wished, which was never established but may be the case, I as the global police man diplomat would attempt to reassure the paranoid bear by encouraging NATO to set up treaties guaranteeing no offer of NATO membership nor any military involvement within Ukraine.

This of course has not happened, instead we see NATO doing all they can to antagonise Russia on its own border. I made the parrallel to you of a USA hostile coup being provoked in, say Mexico by Russia. How would the USA react? Don’t forget such a thing did happen, in Cuba, and Kennedy took the world to the brink of destruction to prevent missiles being based there. Please may I know why the idea of parallels between these situations is ridiculous.

Does all this excuse Russian behaviour in Ukraine? No, but it explains it, and I would suggest that any semi educated intelligence analyst would have been able to predict what happened, and warn against the west manipulating Ukraine. I get exasperated when people accuse Russia of illegal invasions and aggression. Have such people forgotten illegal USA aggression in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria? Does that not count is some way? This is Orwellian double think. I am not capable of the intellectual and moral double standards required to accept one countries illegality and in the same breath condemn another’s. nor are the Russian public, although so many in the west are capable of such self delusion.

Scarier yet , we now have the augmentation of anti-Russian feeling in Ukraine. although I understand these feelings and I know a bit about how many Ukranians viewed Hitler as a liberator, and were prepared to fight under him, and I appreciate that Stalin’s tyranny accounts for this, uncorking this latent historical hatred does not serve the cause of peace. Of course Russia shares the blame for this un corking. Please note that the people who are violating the Minsk agreement are the Kiev government.

A de-escalation strategy is not hard to imagine. Ceasefire, withdrawal of USA and other mercenaries & military advisors. Pledge to keep NATO out of Ukraine. Ukraine wide elections. Accept the loss of Crimea. Lift sanctions. Resume the healthy and hopeful economic integration of Russia into Europe’s sphere. Pull back all the NATO aggression. Do everything to re-assure the Russians of our peaceful intentions. Russia is a great and powerful nation that is currently suffering due to the oil price. It is clear beyond dispute (unless one is nuts) that the Europeans have a vested interest in peace and stability in Russia. If one accepts that obvious truth, then why are we doing everything possible to destabilise them? We of course do not wish to see state collapse, Fascism, or warlordism to emerge in Nuclear Armed Russia. We need to recognise that Russia is desperate to prevent war and instability in Ukraine, it is clearly not in their interests. It is in the interests of corporate forces who wish to exploit the Land, markets and fracking opportunities in both Ukraine and Russia. Whether these corporate interests should be accommodated at all is a matter for the Ukranian & Russian people!

TIME TO CLOSE DOWN NATO AND STOP TERRIFYING RUSSIA...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nefTxIOw9-w

Cidersomerset

23rd August 2016, 11:57

I tend to post BBC and RT articles for balance and the many others are somewhere
else on the media spectrum from far right to far left outlets and everything in
between including the alternate news and blogs on the web that has been valuable
over the past two decades.

I am not against NATO as a concept , the alternate is other groupings such as the
E U taking its place in more regional areas. The problem was the fall of its natural
counter balance with the fall of the USSR and the policy coup in the US by the Neo
-cons that took over after 1990 and has been carrying out US/Saudi/Israeli policy
on the whole. Which has been covered by many but is still not being addressed in
the western mainstream outlets seriously.

We are again at a delicate geo -political stage for all sorts of reasons covered in
this thread and elsewhere , and if you are a history buff like me you know every
thing seems to come in cycles the next generation never really learns from the
previous , and war , famine , disease has been with us since records began and
before if you follow Joseph Farrell's and other concepts of cosmic wars ,which vid I
watched earlier posted by Star Tzar. Which leads to NAZI and other fascist cabals
running the world today.

Then you go off into the realm of inter dimensional ' essence' vampires, cabals , ET
interference and the other possibly related topics we discuss. Obviously this is
fact and fantasy, speculation , myth , legends etc all rolled up in the search for
truth and what is really going on.

Whatever level we look at the world the people running world are not the ones we elect....

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Edit...

I find synchronicity or dot connecting in many of the vids I watch. This
could be my non - physical drawing them to me ? or that many researchers
are coming to similar conclusions ? But both interviews are good if you want
something to listened to..... from ancient Greece ,Solon quoting the gods , ancient
bloodlines all you need to control humanity is war , law and wisdom. The Gods feed
off the energy of perpetual wars & more...

The second guest James Gorgon Graham is interesting as well...( first Judy Wood).

posted by mojo
rKl0Xa5woNk

Richard welcomes an entrepreneur and futurist who is the founder of
Multidimesional Creatives. They will discuss new information that can create a
better future. He genuinely offers a vast amount of knowledge on how humanity
can start to design new systems in Education, Government and Banking to replace
the outdated ones that are no longer serving us.

GUEST: JAMES GORDON GRAHAM is a natural entrepreneur who is drawn to
making improvements in many fields. His connection to technology, new inventions
and discoveries such as Engineering CADCAM, The Internet or future faster than
light technologies such as Anti-gravity or Free energy shows he is instinctively a
Futurist, an Entrepreneur and Speaker who uses his new com' ‘Multidimensional
Creatives’ to get his knowledge out through digital information products, Internet
TV and Documentary Movies.

At a very pragmatic level he loves helping people and companies get their creative
potential into world markets. Our Multidimensional Creatives Film & TV studios have
produced CEO2CEOtv, Hidden Science, Unleashing Creativity and the online
course ‘Hidden Knowledge of the Elite’.

He predicts that scientifically knowing about the Multidimensions will ultimately
result in engineering new technologies like Anti Gravity, Free Energy Devices and
more.Our current major project is working on a major Hollywood style movie series
that uses Multidimensional Intelligence themes in business, technology and science.

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Qv709baepTM

There are daily articles on the headline page about Israel/Palestine everyday........

Israel plans to expand new settler units in West Bank

By David on 23 August 2016 GMT

PRESS TV...

‘The Israeli regime authorities have granted preliminary permission for the planning
of new illegal settler units in the occupied West Bank in defiance of international
calls to end such unauthorized activities in the Palestinian territories.COGAT, an
Israeli military body, confirmed on Monday that permission had been given for
planning new units for settlers in the occupied West Bank city of al-Khalil (Hebron).

Hagit Ofran of Israeli anti-settlement Peace Now group said that the land was taken
from the Palestinian-run municipality for military use and will be converted to
residential application.’

Read more: Israel plans to expand new settler units in West Bank

http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/08/22/481183/Israel-alKhalil-COGAT-Hagit-Ofran-Peace-Now

DbDraad

23rd August 2016, 17:50

This thread is pure GOLD. Thanks Bill and all other contributors!

Cidersomerset

24th August 2016, 10:06

U.S. Renews Calls For Attack On Syria Air Force, U.K. Calls For Safe Zones
and Military Action

By David on 24 August 2016 GMT

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/f4-turkey_syria-war-1024x546.jpg

‘As tension between the West and Russia over the Syrian crisis heats up yet
again, a combination effort on the part of elements within the United States
and the UK are pushing for direct military confrontation with the Syrian military
as well as the Russians. Indeed, after a period of time suggesting a major
improvement on the ground, it appears that there is now the possibility of
renewed vigor on the part of the imperialist Western powers in their goal to
destroy Syria, even at the cost of igniting World War 3.

After having violated international law and Syria’s national sovereignty by not
only funding and supporting proxy soldiers for the purpose of destroying the
secular government of Bashar al-Assad but also by deploying aircraft and
troops in the country despite not being invited in by the legitimate government,
the U.S. is now warning Russia and Syria against targeting terrorists and
Western proxy fighters within Syria’s own territory.’

Read more: U.S. Renews Calls For Attack On Syria Air Force, U.K. Calls For Safe Zones and Military Action

http://www.activistpost.com/2016/08/u-s-renews-calls-for-attack-on-syria-air-force-u-k-calls-for-safe-zones-military-action.html

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( Edit ...after watching this , a lot sounded familiar and halfway thru I
realised I had posted this earlier , but worth a 2nd listen imo )

The New Turkey-Russia Alliance: A Turning Point in
the Global Power Structure, Turkey’s NATO Exit

By David on 24 August 2016 GMT

nPAYxTLQ9lg

Published on 22 Aug 2016
Newsbud Roundtable presents Sibel Edmonds, James Corbett and Spiro Skouras.
In this in-depth discussion Sibel and James peel back the layers and dive deep
into the current events surrounding Turkey, Russia, the United States and NATO.
We elaborate and provide analysis of the escalation of U.S.-Turkey relations, the
new Turkey-Russia alliance, and Turkey’s bold move to exit NATO. Our discussion
includes the Balkans and Russia wild card, Syria, the Kurdish question, and much more.

====================================================

Syria: Turkish tanks enter country to fight IS group for the 1st time since beginning
of civil war

yvpI5Pf0Jmw

Published on 24 Aug 2016

====================================================

Israeli warplanes strike target in Syria’s Golan Heights

By David on 24 August 2016 GMT

http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/08/22/481246/israel-golan-syria-airstrike

Sophocles

24th August 2016, 19:33

EXCLUSIVE: Syrian Envoy to UN Discloses French Ties to Chemical Attacks (http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160824/1044608959/syrian-envoy-france-chemical-attack.html)

Sputniknews.com
21:54 24.08.2016

Representative of the Syrian Republic to the UN, Bashar al-Jaafery, spoke to Sputnik in an exclusive interview regarding the deadly chemical attacks that took place in Syria back in 2013 and the involvement of France in these attacks.

“The case with chemical weapons was initially fabricated to exert pressure on the Syrian government. After the first chemical gas attack on Khan al-Asal in Aleppo, I went to the Secretary-General (UN approx.) to request assistance to the Syrian government in investigation for answering if there actually was a chemical attack and who was behind it?” Jaafrey told Sputnik.

The Secretary-General said that he must consult with the UN Security Council countries first.

“Three hours later after consultation with the countries of the UN Security Council, he came back to me and said, ‘Tell your government that I will assist and sent a delegation of experts who will be engaged in investigating the chemical attack in Khan al-Asal.’”

However, according to Jaafrey, the Secretary-General added that he will not be able to assist in determining the party behind the attack.

“From that moment, it became clear that the UN Security Council members are interested in keeping the party behind the attacks unnamed due to certain political circumstances,” Jaafrey said.

He further said that the issue of chemical attack has not yet been closed. After the investigation request, it took 4 months and 11 days for Dr. Ake Selstrum and his team to arrive to Khan al-Asal.

“On the same day, when Selstrum was in Damascus and was preparing to go to Khan al-Asal in Aleppo (http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160824/1044605549/turkey-jarablus-kurds-syria.html), a second chemical attack took place in the eastern Huta in Damascus, after which a political campaign (against Syria) began,” according to the representative.

The purpose of the Huta attack was to distract from Khan al-Asal, to create obstacles to keep Selstrum from traveling there, as well as to focus everyone’s attention on Damascus. The plan was a success, as Dr. Selstrum has not yet visited Khan al-Asal, according to Jaafrey.

“According to the French sources and according to the book ‘Road to Damascus’ the famous French journalists Georges Malbruno and Christian Shesno have documented evidence to prove the involvement of the former French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, in the Eastern Guta tragedy near Damascus,” Jaafrey told Sputnik.

“At the moment, we have sent hundreds of letters to the UN Security Council, the Commission of Inquiry under 1540 and to the mission of fact-finding and joint investigation. All of them were created after the incident in Khan al-Asal in the Eastern Guta and near Damascus. In our letters there was transparent information,” the representative said.

However, the UN Security Council member states either ignored the data, or accused it of being unreliable. They did not pass the data to the media, nor did they mention it in their statements. “This was due to the fact that the party behind these chemical attacks (http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160315/1036352327/daesh-chemical-weapons-attack.html) has the support of these countries,” Jaafrey said.

The representative further said, “Do I have to prove that there are terrorists who arrived on board Libyan aircraft from Libya to Istanbul with two liters of sarin, after which they arrived at the Syrian border in Gaziantep, and then tested sarin on rabbits at the Turkish base in Gaziantep?”

“Later on, these terrorists posted a video proclaiming, ‘Today we have tested it on rabbits and tomorrow we will test it as a weapon on the Syrian Army,’” Jaafrey said.

He further said that this information did not come from “planet Mars and we provided this evidence.”

“How can the transport of arms across the Turkish border into Syria be justified under the pretext that this is humanitarian aid? This case was raised in Turkey, after which Erdogan imprisoned 18 officers of the customs service and dismissed four judges, because they revealed information about these trucks with ‘humanitarian aid’,” the representative told Sputnik.

He further spoke about how the Turkish people are well aware of this because there have been demonstrations on the matter. Today terrorism has clearly spread to Turkey.

“It is impossible to defeat Daesh in Syria without first defeating it in Turkey (http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160411/1037842634/ankara-backs-aleppo-chemical-attacks.html). How can Turkey say that it is fighting Daesh in Jarabulus if Turkey itself allowed the establishment of Daesh and helped in the development of it by providing thousands of Toyota cars and other branded cars with built-in weapons? It further provided funds from the Persian Gulf to purchase weapons from Ukraine, Croatia, Bulgaria, etc,” Jaafrey said.

He noted that Turkey’s actions speak for themselves and that if they actually want to help they must coordinate their efforts with Syria and form a real coalition to help fight the terrorists.

“There is no doubt that there is Russian-Iranian pressure on Ankara to change its policy toward Syria. Turkey says one thing and does another. We hear good speeches every day but no real action can be seen. If there were any new actions consistent with their statements, they would not have started the operation in Jarabulus,” Jaafrey pointed out.

The representative noted that there is no change in the political tone of Turkey.

“The US uses Turkey, the armed wing of the PKK, al-Nusra Front and others. This is known. The most ordinary diplomat in the UN already understands what is happening in Syria and Iraq. The fight against terrorism can only happen through the creation of a fair international coalition in coordination with the Syrian authorities.”

He further said that it is wrong for anyone who pleases to fight terrorism to send in their planes into Syria and say, “I will support this but will not support this and that too without any consent of the Syrian government. We live in the 21st century, not in the woods. People have forgotten that there is international law,” concluded Jaafrey.

Source (http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160824/1044608959/syrian-envoy-france-chemical-attack.html)

Cidersomerset

24th August 2016, 19:56

IS conflict: Turkey-backed Syrian rebels 'take Jarablus'
1 hour ago

http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/BCE7/production/_90895384_mediaitem90895383.jpg
Smoke billows after an air strike on Jarablus

Syrian rebels, backed by the Turkish military and US air cover, say they
have taken the town of Jarablus from jihadists of so-called Islamic State.
The assault began at dawn when Turkish warplanes, tanks and special
forces personnel crossed the nearby border.Rebel commanders said
most of the IS militants subsequently retreated.

Turkey says its intervention is targeting both IS fighters and a Syrian
Kurdish-led alliance that is attempting to advance on Jarablus.

Read more.....

http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/138EE/production/_90901108_034934570-1.jpg
Mr Biden (right) was given a tour of damage to the Turkish parliament during the coup

http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/BAAC/production/_90888774_syria_turkey_kurds_v6_624map.png

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37171995

=============================================

Turkish MP: Erdogan always favoured ISIS over the Kurds

w2r8OEn4-oQ

24 Aug....
=============================================
=============================================

Biden in Turkey: NATO allies at odds over Syria Kurds, exiled cleric (part 1)

GzsTqghaZ0w

Biden in Turkey: NATO allies at odds over Syria Kurds, exiled cleric (part 2)

t4JOABDCBXI

Published on 24 Aug 2016

Sophocles

24th August 2016, 20:05

YTpjDTA3smQ

Sophocles

25th August 2016, 07:52

Turkey crosses into Syria: Unipolar Conspiracy or Multipolar Coordination? (http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/08/turkey-crosses-into-syria-unipolar.html)

August 24, 2016 -
- Andrew Korybko, Katehon (http://katehon.com/article/turkey-crosses-syria-unipolar-conspiracy-or-multipolar-coordination) -
Fort-russ.com

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0YpbjOsyZkM/V74OoL_YxmI/AAAAAAAAD9w/7qa2frdTICYveYR_yYUVR-lzKC9DypUAQCK4B/s640/syriacivilwarmap_17.jpg

It’s very fashionable nowadays for people to criticize the Kremlin for incompetency, and its recent history of controversial decisions coupled with the suspected liberal fifth-and-six-column infiltration of key national institutions gives plenty of ground for this, but sometimes people jump the gun, such as when accusing Russia of being ‘duped’ by Turkey. It’s interesting that no such criticisms are publicly leveled against Iran despite Tehran bending over backwards to Ankara during and after the failed pro-US coup attempt against Erdogan, but double standards are the norm when people engage in diatribes, and it’s always been the case that Russia has caught much more flak than anyone else whenever multipolar commentators critique their own camp.

This is the precisely the case with the news that Turkish forces have crossed into Syria, with the most common knee-jerk reaction being that President Putin was manipulated by Erdogan as part of some large-scale Machiavellian plot, though of course, without making any mention that this charge could more rightly be directed against the Ayatollah. Anyhow, the prevailing narrative among multipolar supporters appears to be one of grief and despair, with Facebookers pulling their hair out over how stupid Russia apparently was to trust Turkey and work on helping it pivot towards Eurasia. As popular and trendy as it may be for people to jump on the bandwagon and start railing against Russia, and for as ‘healthy’ as it is for people to let off some steam and vocally vent their frustrations every once in a while, there’s actually countervailing evidence that Turkey’s operation isn’t a unipolar conspiracy but evidence of high-level multipolar coordination.

To explain, as of the moment of writing (11.30am MSK), neither Moscow, Tehran, nor even Damascus has issued any statement condemning Turkey’s military intervention, and the website of the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) is noticeably silent about this development. All of this is very strange if one accepts the assumption that Turkey’s moves constitute an ‘invasion’ of Syria, since while the Kremlin critics might invent all sorts of explanations for why Moscow isn’t saying anything, less people can attribute a semi-plausible reason to why Tehran and Damascus aren’t publicly rabid with fury right now. Though it’s true that Turkey is even coordinating part of its operation with the assistance of US air support, there’s actually a novel, contextual touch to that which needs to be further elaborated on.

The recent clashes between the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and the Kurdish YPG militia in Hasakah have been halted for the time being as a result of Russian mediation, but even when they were ongoing, many observers agreed that it’s not to anyone’s interests besides the US’ to see the SAA begin a full-on law and order operation against the Kurds, as this would dramatically impede post-conflict resolution efforts in retaining the Syrian Arab Republic’s territorial sovereignty and unitary nature. However, no such diplomatic sensitivities are present when it comes to Turkey’s capability to do this, since it’s globally known just how ferociously opposed Ankara is to the creation of a Kurdish “federalized” (internally partitioned) statelet all along its southern frontier. Hand in hand with this, most people are aware that the US is desperately trying to curry favor with Turkey and prevent its withdrawal from the unipolar fold, ergo American eagerness to publicly assist its Mideast partner in its latest operation.

To put it more simply, Russia and the SAA – for reasons of political sensitivity and long-term strategy – do not want to attack the YPG and proactively stop it from occupying all of northern Syria, whereas Turkey has no such reservations in doing this and is more than eager to do the ‘heavy lifting’, especially if it could con the US Air Force into helping it target actual terrorists on the ground during this time. The American intent in all of this is to prove that it’s a ‘loyal ally’ of Turkey and to contribute to the attempted reconciliation that Washington is trying to carry out with Ankara, though in this case, it’s being exploited as the ultimate ‘useful idiot’ in helping the Multipolar Community in its quest to destroy the second ‘geopolitical Israel’ of “Kurdistan”. Having said all of this, naysayers will still point to the fact that Turkey is not to be trusted and that the presence of any foreign troops or the ordering of any military attacks on Syrian soil without Damascus’ permission is a violation of its sovereignty and a breach of international law, which is certainly true in this case if President Assad didn’t coordinate any of this with his Turkish counterpart.

However ‘inconvenient’ it may be for the most gung-ho (usually foreign-based) supporters of Syria to admit, Damascus and Ankara have been engaged in secret talks for months now in the Algerian capital of Algiers, as has been repeatedly confirmed by many multiple media sources ever since this spring. Moreover, Turkey just dispatched one of its deputy intelligence chiefs to Damascus a few days ago to meet with his high-level Syrian counterparts, so this might explain the reason why Russia and Iran aren’t condemning Turkey’s incursion into Syria, nor why the Syrian officials aren’t loudly protesting against it either. More and more, the evidence is pointing to Turkey’s operation being part of a larger move that was coordinated in advance with Syria, Russia, and Iran. Nevertheless, for domestic political reasons within both Syria and Turkey, neither side is expected to admit to having coordinated any of this, and it’s likely that bellicose rhetoric might be belched from Ankara just as much as it’s predictable that Damascus will rightfully speak about the protection of its sovereignty.

What’s most important, though, isn’t to listen so much to Turkey and Syria, but to watch and observe what Russia and Iran say and do, since these are the two countries most capable of defending Syria from any legitimate aggression against its territory and which have been firmly standing behind it for years now, albeit to differing qualitative extents though with complementary synergy (i.e. Russia’s anti-terrorist air operation and Iran’s special forces ground one). This isn’t in any way to ‘excuse’, ‘apologize for’, or ‘explain away’ the US’ opportunistic and illegal inadvertent contribution to this coordinated multipolar campaign, but to accurately document how and why it decided to involve itself in this superficially Turkish-led venture, namely because it was cleverly misled by Erdogan into thinking that this is a precondition for the normalization of relations between both sides.

Russia lacks the political will to cleanse the Wahhabi terrorists and Kurdish separatists from northern Syrian itself, and for as much as one may support or condemn this, it’s a statement of fact that must be taken into account when analyzing and forecasting events. With this obvious constraint being a major factor influencing the state of affairs in Syria, it’s reasonable then that Syria, Russia, and Iran wouldn’t vocally object too much to Turkey tricking the US into doing this instead out of the pursuit of its own self-interests vis-à-vis the attempted normalization with Ankara. The major qualifying variable that must be mentioned at this point is that serious Russian and Iranian condemnation of Turkey’s ongoing operation would signal that something either went wrong with their multilaterally coordinated plan, or that Turkey was just a backstabbing pro-American Trojan Horse this entire time and the skepticism surrounding Moscow and Tehran’s dedicated efforts to coax Ankara into a multipolar pivot was fully vindicated as the correct analysis all along.

In closing, the author would like to refer the reader to his article from over a month ago about how “Regional War Looms As “Kurdistan” Crosses The Euphrates”, in which it was forecast that Russia would assemble a multipolar “Lead From Behind” coalition in pushing back against the US’ attempts to carve the second ‘geopolitical Israel’ of “Kurdistan” out of northern Syria, with it specifically being written that “it can be reasonably assumed that there’s an invisible Russian hand gently coordinating their broad regional activities” in stopping this. With Turkey crossing into Syria to preempt the YPG from unifying all of its occupied territory in northern Syria and breathing sustainable geopolitical life into the US’ latest divide-and-rule project in the Mideast, and keeping in mind the fast-paced diplomacy between Russia, Iran, and Turkey and the months-long ongoing secret negotiations between Ankara and Damascus, all empirical evidence suggests that this latest development in the War on Syria is less a unipolar conspiracy and more a multipolar coordinated plan to bring an end to this conflict and preempt the internal partitioning of Syria.

Source (http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/08/turkey-crosses-into-syria-unipolar.html)

Carmody

25th August 2016, 15:47

It looks like this will soon be the norm at airports across the world, regarding abandoned vehicles. at least I suspect it will.

z3JoCZ6AC48

People seem to have not figured out what is probably the obvious.

That the players of these games like bombs. Specifically car bombs.

To get rid of a potentially abandoned car at an airport...is a good thing. And, as quickly as possible.

That sort of thing tends to seal off that avenue of the car bomb at the given airport.

As you can see, I expect to see more this sort of device, across the world, in the given hotspots.

Embassies, financial districts, government office groupings, and so on. After all, a car bomb can't work (to the larger extent) if the car is not there to explode.

The next thing I expect to see, is a metal shield for the driver's area. Just a heavy plate, with some minimal sharp arching, should do the trick (blast wave re-direction). Some bombs might be set to go off if disturbed. However, that increases the complexity and potential for early activation or failure to activate. The best is a simple timed device.

Whatever the case, it ups the ante in bomb prevention, at the same time it keeps the airport clear of cars in non-parking areas. And can cut down on airport attack potential for Turkey, where this device is in operation. Turkey is one of the world's great hotspots of the given times, so it is little wonder that such device and such thinking should emerge there.

Sophocles

25th August 2016, 15:55

Turkey Launches Anti-Daesh Operation 'Right After' Major Kurdish Victories (http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160825/1044637390/turkey-jarablus-syrian-kurds.html)

Sputniknews.com
17:55 25.08.2016

Turkish leadership has stated that its military operation in northern Syria is designed to push Daesh out of Jarablus, but the offensive was launched "right after" Kurdish forces secured major victories in the region, Idris Baluken of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) told Sputnik, adding that this points to Ankara's true goals.

"The name of the offensive, Operation Euphrates Shield, indicated that these activities are aimed against the Kurds, the people of Rojava," also known as Western Kurdistan, he said.

The Turkish politician pointed to the timing of the campaign that was launched early on Wednesday. It came after the Syrian Democratic Forces, mostly made up of Kurdish fighters, pushed the militants out of a strategically important city.

"Firstly, they liberated Manbij. Then they cut communications between Jarablus and Raqqa," the de facto capital of Daesh's caliphate, he said. "Right after that Ankara made a decision to launch a military operation in Jarablus. Why was Turkey OK with Daesh's [presence in the region] for years? Ankara's true intentions are obvious."

The politician insisted that the Free Syrian Army that is taking part in Operation Euphrates Shield shares the same ideology as Daesh (http://sputniknews.com/tags/organization_Daesh/), adding that the FSA is mostly comprised of al-Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham fighters. Russia and many other countries consider these groups to be terrorist organizations.

Idris Baluken further said that Turkey (http://sputniknews.com/tags/geo_Turkey/) has de facto become a party to the Syrian war. He added that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the AKP "deliberately" dragged the country into "the toughest war" in the Middle East.

Turkish leadership did not secure an approval from the parliament before making the decision to launch the operation. "No discussions were held on the issue since the parliament is in recess," he added. "The ruling party used this moment to deploy troops to Syria (http://sputniknews.com/tags/geo_Syria/)."

The politician also said that Turkey's operation will undermine Kurdish efforts aimed at achieving autonomy and self-determination in northern Syria.

Source (http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160825/1044637390/turkey-jarablus-syrian-kurds.html)

Sophocles

26th August 2016, 06:18

Dangerous Crossroads: U.S. Invades Syria, And Warns Russia… (http://www.globalresearch.ca/dangerous-crossroads-u-s-invades-syria-and-warns-russia/5542083)

By Eric Zuesse (http://www.globalresearch.ca/author/eric-zuesse)
Global Research, August 23, 2016

http://www.globalresearch.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/U.S.-Russia-Syria.jpg

On Monday, August 22nd, the United States government — which demands the overthrow of the internationally-recognized-as-legal government of Syria — officially announced that America’s military forces in Syria will continue to occupy Syrian land, no matter what the Syrian government says, and will shoot down any Syrian planes that fly over U.S. forces there.

As reported on Monday by Al-Masdar News (https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/pentagon-us-ready-syrian-russian-jets/):

The Pentagon has announced that the USA is ready to down Syrian and Russian planes that they claim threaten American advisers who by international law are illegally operating in northern Syria.

On Friday, Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis claimed that US jets attempted to intercept Syrian planes to protect the American advisers operating illegally with Kurdish forces in Syria after Syrian government jets bombed areas of Hasakah when Kurdish police began an aggression against the National Defense Force.

On Monday, another Pentagon spokesman, Peter Cook, said,

“We would continue to advise the Syrian regime to steer clear of those areas.”

“We are going to defend our people on the ground, and do what we need to defend them,” Cook told reporters.

This means that the U.S. government will not allow the Syrian government to expel or otherwise eliminate U.S. forces in Syria. The Syrian government never invited U.S. forces into Syria, but the U.S. now officially dares the Syrian government to assert its sovereignty over the areas where America’s troops are located.

Al-Masdar continued:

When pushed further about Russia, Cook made it clear that the US would make the same aggression against Russian jets who are operating legally with the Syrian government’s approval and coordination.

“If they threaten US forces, we always have the right to defend our forces,” Cook said.

This means that the U.S. not only is at war against the legitimate government of Syria, but that the U.S. government will also be at war against Russia if Russian forces (which the Syrian government did invite into Syria) defends Syrian forces from attacks in Syria by U.S. forces — forces that are illegally there.

These U.S. forces number only 300, of whom 250 were sent to Syria on April 24th (http://www.wsj.com/article_email/u-s-to-send-250-additional-military-personnel-to-syria-1461531600-lMyQjAxMTE2MTI5NTcyMTUyWj) to serve as advisors to other illegal military forces in Syria.

The vast majority of the illegal military forces in Syria are jihadists who had been hired by the Saudi government and the Qatari government, and supplied with U.S. weapons, to overthrow the Syrian government. Most of the other illegal forces in Syria are Kurdish forces, supported by the U.S. government to break Syria apart so as to create a separate Kurdish state in the majority-Kurdish far north-eastern tip of Syria.

The primary U.S. goal in Syria is to overthrow the Syrian government, which is led by the Baath Party, Syria’s secular Party. Many Arabs insist upon Sharia, or Islamic law, but Syria’s Arabs are an exception; the Baath Party is and has always been supported by the majority of the Syrian people, including by most of Syria’s Arabs. Most Syrians are strongly opposed to Sharia law. Syria is the most secular nation in the Middle East.

For example, when Western-sponsored polls were taken in Syria, after the start in 2011 of the importation of jihadists into Syria, those polls showed that 55% of Syrians want Bashar al-Assad (the current leader of the Baath Party) to remain as Syria’s President (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jan/17/syrians-support-assad-western-propaganda), and “82% agree ‘IS [Islamic State] is US and foreign made group (http://www.globalresearch.ca/polls-show-syrians-overwhelmingly-blame-u-s-for-isis/5476717)’.” Furthermore, only “22% agree ‘IS is a positive influence’,” and that 22% was the lowest level of support shown by Syrians for any of the presented statements, except for, “21% agree ‘Prefer life now than under Assad’” — meaning that Syrians believe that things were better before the U.S.-sponsored jihadists entered Syria to overthrow Assad.

Clearly, when ”82% agree ‘IS is US and foreign made group’,” very few people in Syria support the 300 U.S. forces there. Not only is the U.S. an invader, but it (and especially the forces that the U.S. supports in Syria — most especially the jihadists, who are the vast majority of these forces) made life far worse (and far shorter) for virtually all Syrians.

Furthermore, that same poll found: “70% agree ‘Oppose division of country’.” Consequently, the Kurdish separatists are likewise opposed by the vast majority of Syrians.

The Syrian government, from now on, is in the uncomfortable position of having invaders on its territory, and of being warned that one of them — the U.S. — will be fully at war against Syria if Syria tries to expel them.

Russia too is now under warning from the United States, that, if Russia, an ally of Syria, takes any action to expel or kill any of the U.S. invaders in Syria, then the U.S. will also be at war against Russia.

The U.S. government is now also daring the Russian government. Perhaps the U.S. strategy here is to force Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, either to back down, and abandon its Syrian ally, or else to launch a nuclear strike against the United States. If Putin backs down, that would greatly diminish his support from the Russian people, which is above 80% in all polls, including Western-sponsored ones. Perhaps this is the strategy of U.S. President Barack Obama, to drive Vladimir Putin out of office — something that might occur if the U.S. drives Bashar al-Assad out of office.

As Seymour Hersh reported, on 7 January 2016 (http://www.lrb.co.uk/v38/n01/seymour-m-hersh/military-to-military),

“the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, then [in the summer of 2013] led by General Martin Dempsey, forecast that the fall of the Assad regime would lead to chaos and, potentially, to Syria’s takeover by jihadi extremists, much as was then happening in Libya,”

and so Dempsey quit, and Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, director of the DIA between 2012 and 2014, was fired over the matter.

“The DIA’s reporting, he [Flynn] said, ‘got enormous pushback’ from the Obama administration. ‘I felt that they did not want to hear the truth.’”

Flynn is now a foreign-affairs advisor to the Republican Presidential candidate, Donald Trump, who is being criticized by the Democratic Presidential candidate, for being soft on Russia and insufficiently devoted to the U.S. goal of overthrowing Assad.

[I]Investigative historian Eric Zuesse is the author, most recently, of They’re Not Even Close: The Democratic vs. Republican Economic Records, 1910-2010 (https://www.amazon.com/Theyre-Not-Even-Close-Democratic/dp/1880026090/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1339027537&sr=8-9), and of CHRIST’S VENTRILOQUISTS: The Event that Created Christianity (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007Q1H4EG).

Source (http://www.globalresearch.ca/dangerous-crossroads-u-s-invades-syria-and-warns-russia/5542083)

Sophocles

26th August 2016, 06:46

DPR Claims Kiev Deploying Heavy Weaponry Near Contact Line in Donbass - DPR (http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160818/1044398575/donetsk-ukraine-donbass.html) (August 18)

The Ukrainian authorities are deploying heavy weaponry, including howitzers, mortars and tanks, near the line of contact in eastern Ukraine, the deputy defense minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic's (DPR), Eduard Basurin, said Thursday.

DONETSK (Sputnik) — He added that at least three tanks and about 400 servicemen had been observed in the settlements of Novohryhorivka and Donskoye respectively.

Full article at sputniknews.com (http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160818/1044398575/donetsk-ukraine-donbass.html)

Ukraine Leader Hardens Rhetoric Amid Crimea Spat With Russia (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-08-18/separatist-shelling-kills-most-ukrainian-soldiers-in-a-year) (August 18)

“The probability of escalation of the conflict remains very significant,” Poroshenko said in a televised speech. “We don’t rule out a full-scale Russian invasion.”

Full article at Bloomberg.com (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-08-18/separatist-shelling-kills-most-ukrainian-soldiers-in-a-year)

Pentagon downplays talk of Russian troop buildup near Ukraine (https://www.yahoo.com/news/pentagon-downplays-talk-russian-troop-buildup-near-ukraine-205342241.html) (August 19)

Washington (AFP) - The Pentagon on Friday moved to tamp down talk of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying extra troops along the border were associated with a regular military exercise...

"What we don't see (is) this unicorn a lot of people are chasing, this idea that there's some massive short-term build up or movement about to happen."

Full article at yahoo.com (https://www.yahoo.com/news/pentagon-downplays-talk-russian-troop-buildup-near-ukraine-205342241.html)

Statements of the Russian Ministry of Defense on a major readiness exercise (http://thesaker.is/statements-of-the-russian-ministry-of-defense-on-a-major-readiness-exercise/) (August 25)

Russian Defence Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu has declared the start of an unannounced combat readiness inspection of the Central, Southern and Western MD troops.

Upon the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces, the troops of the Southern MD, separate formations and units of the Western and Central Military Districts, the Northern Fleet, the Aerospace Forces, the Airborne Troops are put on full combat readiness. Intensive preparations for the Caucasus-2016 strategic exercise are held in the Southern MD.

Full article at The Saker (http://thesaker.is/statements-of-the-russian-ministry-of-defense-on-a-major-readiness-exercise/)

Ukrainian army readies to seize Donbass city tonight (http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/08/ukrainian-army-readies-to-seize-donbass.html) (August 25)

Russian Spring is publishing the following emergency statement by Deputy Commander of the Operational Command of the DPR Eduard Basurin.

The enemy has intensified its operations in the Avdeevka district.

According to obtained information, the UAF’s command is planning to capture Yasinovataya tonight and clear out our units.

This is confirmed by intelligence reports. At 20:00, several columns of personnel and armored vehicles moving in the direction of Avdeevka were recorded, and information has been received on the concentration of artillery units in the districts of Lastochkino, Verkhnetoretsk, Novobakhmutovka, Ocheretino, and Orlovka, in which, by a general count, there is no less than one howitzer division and two self-propelled howitzer batteries.

Anti-air defense means have recorded enemy UAV flights. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy’s sabotage and reconnaissance groups have attempted to enter the territory of the DPR in the above-mentioned direction.

We appeal to the OSCE and international human rights organizations to put pressure on the Ukrainian leadership and force it to comply with the obligations it took upon itself according to the Minsk Agreements. In turn, we reserve the right to adequately respond to any actions of the Ukrainian army and will not allow the enemy onto our land!

Source (Fort-Russ.com) (http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/08/ukrainian-army-readies-to-seize-donbass.html)

Flash

26th August 2016, 09:31

Are you kidding Carmody! I am sure the city of Montreal will find this kind of car picking up very good to get more money from tickets and for moving cars who are not moved as requested for snow removal. lolll

In fact, when I lived in Turkey, in 2,000 plus and minus, our car was being checked underneath for bombs before parking as soon as we would go in a higher end shopping center. Before getting into such shopping areas, we would be search and our bags checked and go through metal detectors. The Kurkish separation movement tension was and still is very high and use of explosive very frequent.

And 2-3 checks before entering the airport (this is why the last airport bombing was outside its doors near the entrance, not inside). The scary part is that this easily becomes the norm accepted by all.

And one becomes aware at all time of abnormal behaviors in crowds or of bags left anywhere. No kidding, I am still checking in public areas before the TSA was even in function.

Apart from that, Turkey at the time was very safe for women and for tourists (only petty thiefs like everywhere else).

It looks like this will soon be the norm at airports across the world, regarding abandoned vehicles. at least I suspect it will.

z3JoCZ6AC48

People seem to have not figured out what is probably the obvious.

That the players of these games like bombs. Specifically car bombs.

To get rid of a potentially abandoned car at an airport...is a good thing. And, as quickly as possible.

That sort of thing tends to seal off that avenue of the car bomb at the given airport.

As you can see, I expect to see more this sort of device, across the world, in the given hotspots.

Embassies, financial districts, government office groupings, and so on. After all, a car bomb can't work (to the larger extent) if the car is not there to explode.

The next thing I expect to see, is a metal shield for the driver's area. Just a heavy plate, with some minimal sharp arching, should do the trick (blast wave re-direction). Some bombs might be set to go off if disturbed. However, that increases the complexity and potential for early activation or failure to activate. The best is a simple timed device.

Whatever the case, it ups the ante in bomb prevention, at the same time it keeps the airport clear of cars in non-parking areas. And can cut down on airport attack potential for Turkey, where this device is in operation. Turkey is one of the world's great hotspots of the given times, so it is little wonder that such device and such thinking should emerge there.

Sophocles

26th August 2016, 16:09

Biden in Belgrade: A Bitter Trip Down NATO-Invasion Memory Lane (VIDEO) (http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/biden-belgrade-trip-down-nato-invasion-memory-lane/ri16112)

Russia-insider.com
August 26

Originally appeared (https://www.rt.com/op-edge/356588-biden-belgrade-nato-invasion/) at Russia Today

Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Serbia was intended to send a message that the US stood by its policies, essentially promoting Hillary Clinton’s campaign. All it managed to do, however, was dredge up the bitter memories of the 1999 NATO invasion.

Before jetting off to Belgrade on August 16, Biden gave a fiery speech in support of Hillary Clinton in his home town in Pennsylvania.

http://russia-insider.com/sites/insider/files/styles/s400/public/joe-biden-something-stupid.jpg?itok=53IHJy6v
He's famous for being a complete and utter moron
- the perfect guy to have as VP

Within minutes of landing, Biden committed his first faux pas by failing to bow to the Serbian flag – a gesture neither China’s Xi Jinping nor Russia’s Vladimir Putin found onerous during their visits. It was all downhill from there.

Biden’s praise of Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic for having a “positive vision for the future of Croatia” – referring to Serbia’s implacably hostile (https://www.rt.com/op-edge/311687-junkyard-dogs-storm-croatia/) neighbor to the West, a recent addition to the EU and NATO, and a US protégé in the Balkans Wars of the 1990s – was nervously laughed off as a slip-up. It might not have been; since he came to power in 2012, Vucic has de facto governed Serbia in the best interests of Croatia, or its overseas sponsor, to be exact.

Then, Vucic declared (https://www.rt.com/news/356197-biden-serbia-us-friend/) Biden “a friend of Serbia and my personal friend.” That comment beggars belief, given Biden’s public record as a vocal advocate of US military intervention against the Serbs in the 1990s, or his not-infrequent comparisons of Serbs to Nazis. The supine Serbian press didn’t question it, however. According to them, Biden merely came to say hello and didn’t make any demands or ultimatums. That would be a first, for a Western official.

pKl-_t5Uu9A

Yet after the VP departed, President Tomislav Nikolic said, apropos of nothing, that Serbia had no intention of imposing sanctions against Russia – suggesting the possibility that the subject may have come up during the visit.

The White House merely issued a fact sheet (https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/08/16/fact-sheet-us-serbia-relations-progress-through-partnership) about “progress through partnership” that was just flush with wonderful things the US has done for Serbia since 2001 or so – after Washington installed a compliant regime, that is. Their vision of “partnership” is Serbia doing what it’s told, obviously. Even if the $900 million or so in US aid or investments had actually helped Serbia, is still less than the damages wrought by the 1999 war (https://www.rt.com/op-edge/337034-kosovo-us-candidates-war/).

Americans may not remember that war very well, or at all, but the Serbs do. The unprovoked aggression, the vicious lies told to justify it before the world, the wanton destruction of civilian infrastructure and the subsequent occupation of Kosovo by NATO “peacekeepers” who basically delivered the Serbian heartland to the Albanian separatists – culminating in the 2008 declaration of independence – have all added up to make the general populace in Serbia disdain the US government, if not the American people in general.

The fact that Hillary Clinton, who has stores in Albanian-held Kosovo named after her and a monument (https://www.rt.com/usa/349065-hillary-clinton-monument-albania/) in Albania proper, called the Kosovo War a “personal matter” for her family explains why the nationalist opposition so vocally supports Donald Trump.

While in Belgrade, Biden expressed condolences to the families of “those whose lives were lost as the result of the NATO campaign.” The non-apology, with the responsibility-dodging passive voice and euphemisms, failed to impress. And then he was on to Kosovo, to open a stretch of highway the Albanians named after his late son Beau. It was another reminder of how Biden is personally intertwined with the 1990s legacy of the Clintons, conveniently forgotten during the Age of Bush and (very) selectively remembered during the Years of Hope and Change since.

Much has changed in the world, and even in Serbia, since Biden’s first vice-presidential visit to Belgrade in 2009. Back then, he was signaling that the policymakers who “midwifed” the Balkans tragedy of the 1990s were back in the White House and determined to “finish the job.” This time, the gaffe-prone (https://www.rt.com/news/356340-biden-japan-remark-nuclear/) vice-president was basically trying to show that Washington was still the absolute master of events, and that Serbia belonged firmly at (or under) its feet.

When all is said and done, Biden appeared to be attempting to assure himself and everyone around him that the train (of US hegemony) was fine, that Hillary Clinton will soon take over and keep things – that are going just splendidly! – just as they are, forever.

But if any of that were actually true, would he need to be trying so hard?

Source (http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/biden-belgrade-trip-down-nato-invasion-memory-lane/ri16112)

Sophocles

26th August 2016, 16:32

The Broken Chessboard: Brzezinski Gives Up on Empire (http://www.unz.com/mwhitney/the-broken-chessboard-brzezinski-gives-up-on-empire/)

Mike Whitney • August 25, 2016
unz.com

The main architect of Washington’s plan to rule the world has abandoned the scheme and called for the forging of ties with Russia and China. While Zbigniew Brzezinski’s article in The American Interest titled “Towards a Global Realignment” has largely been ignored by the media, it shows that powerful members of the policymaking establishment no longer believe that Washington will prevail in its quest to extent US hegemony across the Middle East and Asia. Brzezinski, who was the main proponent of this idea and who drew up the blueprint for imperial expansion in his 1997 book The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy and Its Geostrategic Imperatives (https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0465027261/counterpunchmaga), has done an about-face and called for a dramatic revising of the strategy. Here’s an excerpt from the article in the AI:

“As its era of global dominance ends, the United States needs to take the lead in realigning the global power architecture.

Five basic verities regarding the emerging redistribution of global political power and the violent political awakening in the Middle East are signaling the coming of a new global realignment.

The first of these verities is that the United States is still the world’s politically, economically, and militarily most powerful entity but, given complex geopolitical shifts in regional balances, it is no longer the globally imperial power.” (Toward a Global Realignment (http://www.the-american-interest.com/2016/04/17/toward-a-global-realignment/), Zbigniew Brzezinski, The American Interest)

Repeat: The US is “no longer the globally imperial power.” Compare this assessment to a statement Brzezinski made years earlier in Chessboard when he claimed the US was ” the world’s paramount power.”

“…The last decade of the twentieth century has witnessed a tectonic shift in world affairs. For the first time ever, a non-Eurasian power has emerged not only as a key arbiter of Eurasian power relations but also as the world’s paramount power. The defeat and collapse of the Soviet Union was the final step in the rapid ascendance of a Western Hemisphere power, the United States, as the sole and, indeed, the first truly global power.” (“The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy And Its Geostrategic Imperatives,” Zbigniew Brzezinski, Basic Books, 1997, p. xiii)

Here’s more from the article in the AI:

“The fact is that there has never been a truly “dominant” global power until the emergence of America on the world scene….. The decisive new global reality was the appearance on the world scene of America as simultaneously the richest and militarily the most powerful player. During the latter part of the 20th century no other power even came close. That era is now ending.” (AI)

But why is “that era is now ending”? What’s changed since 1997 when Brzezinski referred to the US as the “world’s paramount power”?

Brzezinski points to the rise of Russia and China, the weakness of Europe and the “violent political awakening among post-colonial Muslims” as the proximate causes of this sudden reversal. His comments on Islam are particularly instructive in that he provides a rational explanation for terrorism rather than the typical government boilerplate about “hating our freedoms.” To his credit, Brzezinski sees the outbreak of terror as the “welling up of historical grievances” (from “deeply felt sense of injustice”) not as the mindless violence of fanatical psychopaths.

Naturally, in a short 1,500-word article, Brzezniski can’t cover all the challenges (or threats) the US might face in the future. But it’s clear that what he’s most worried about is the strengthening of economic, political and military ties between Russia, China, Iran, Turkey and the other Central Asian states. This is his main area of concern, in fact, he even anticipated this problem in 1997 when he wrote Chessboard. Here’s what he said:

“Henceforth, the United States may have to determine how to cope with regional coalitions that seek to push America out of Eurasia, thereby threatening America’s status as a global power.” (p.55)

“…To put it in a terminology that harkens back to the more brutal age of ancient empires, the three grand imperatives of imperial geostrategy are to prevent collusion and maintain security dependence among the vassals, to keep tributaries pliant and protected, and to keep the barbarians from coming together.” (p.40)

“…prevent collusion…among the vassals.” That says it all, doesn’t it?

The Obama administration’s reckless foreign policy, particularly the toppling of governments in Libya and Ukraine, has greatly accelerated the rate at which these anti-American coalitions have formed. In other words, Washington’s enemies have emerged in response to Washington’s behavior. Obama can only blame himself.

Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin has responded to the growing threat of regional instability and the placing of NATO forces on Russia’s borders by strengthening alliances with countries on Russia’s perimeter and across the Middle East. At the same time, Putin and his colleagues in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, Iran, China and South Africa) countries have established an alternate banking system (BRICS Bank and AIIB) that will eventually challenge the dollar-dominated system that is the source of US global power. This is why Brzezinski has done a quick 180 and abandoned the plan for US hegemony; it is because he is concerned about the dangers of a non-dollar-based system arising among the developing and unaligned countries that would replace the western Central Bank oligopoly. If that happens, then the US will lose its stranglehold on the global economy and the extortionist system whereby fishwrap greenbacks are exchanged for valuable goods and services will come to an end.

Unfortunately, Brzezinski’s more cautious approach is not likely to be followed by presidential-favorite Hillary Clinton who is a firm believer in imperial expansion through force of arms. It was Clinton who first introduced “pivot” to the strategic lexicon in a speech she gave in 2010 titled “America’s Pacific Century”. Here’s an excerpt from the speech that appeared in Foreign Policy magazine:

“As the war in Iraq winds down and America begins to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan, the United States stands at a pivot point. Over the last 10 years, we have allocated immense resources to those two theaters. In the next 10 years, we need to be smart and systematic about where we invest time and energy, so that we put ourselves in the best position to sustain our leadership, secure our interests, and advance our values. One of the most important tasks of American statecraft over the next decade will therefore be to lock in a substantially increased investment — diplomatic, economic, strategic, and otherwise — in the Asia-Pacific region…

Harnessing Asia’s growth and dynamism is central to American economic and strategic interests and a key priority for President Obama. Open markets in Asia provide the United States with unprecedented opportunities for investment, trade, and access to cutting-edge technology…..American firms (need) to tap into the vast and growing consumer base of Asia…

The region already generates more than half of global output and nearly half of global trade. As we strive to meet President Obama’s goal of doubling exports by 2015, we are looking for opportunities to do even more business in Asia…and our investment opportunities in Asia’s dynamic markets.”

(“America’s Pacific Century”, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton”, Foreign Policy Magazine, 2011)

Compare Clinton’s speech to comments Brzezinski made in Chessboard 14 years earlier:

“For America, the chief geopolitical prize is Eurasia… (p.30)….. Eurasia is the globe’s largest continent and is geopolitically axial. A power that dominates Eurasia would control two of the world’s three most advanced and economically productive regions. ….About 75 per cent of the world’s people live in Eurasia, and most of the world’s physical wealth is there as well, both in its enterprises and underneath its soil. Eurasia accounts for 60 per cent of the world’s GNP and about three-fourths of the world’s known energy resources.” (p.31)

The strategic objectives are identical, the only difference is that Brzezinski has made a course correction based on changing circumstances and the growing resistance to US bullying, domination and sanctions. We have not yet reached the tipping point for US primacy, but that day is fast approaching and Brzezinski knows it.

In contrast, Clinton is still fully-committed to expanding US hegemony across Asia. She doesn’t understand the risks this poses for the country or the world. She’s going to persist with the interventions until the US war-making juggernaut is stopped dead-in-its-tracks which, judging by her hyperbolic rhetoric, will probably happen some time in her first term.

Brzezinski presents a rational but self-serving plan to climb-down, minimize future conflicts, avoid a nuclear conflagration and preserve the global order. (aka–The “dollar system”) But will bloodthirsty Hillary follow his advice?

Not a chance.

MIKE WHITNEY lives in Washington state. He is a contributor to Hopeless: Barack Obama and the Politics of Illusion (https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1849351104/counterpunchmaga) (AK Press). Hopeless is also available in a Kindle edition. He can be reached at fergiewhitney@msn.com.

(Reprinted from Counterpunch (http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/08/25/the-broken-chessboard-brzezinski-gives-up-on-empire/) by permission of author or representative)

Cidersomerset

27th August 2016, 11:07

The Syrian civil war has been a great distraction for Israel to annex more Palestinian
land and oppress the civilian population....Its all part of the neo - con US/Saudi/Isreali
and others agenda that has been playing out since 9/11....

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B-oYJPLW0AAGCzA.jpg

=========================================================

Israeli Think Tank: Don’t Destroy ISIS; It’s a 'Useful Tool' Against Iran, Hezbollah and Syria

By David on 27 August 2016 GMT

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/get-attachment-15-1.jpg

Tuesday, Aug 23, 2016 09:00 AM PDT

Israeli think tank: Don’t destroy ISIS; it’s a “useful tool” against Iran, Hezbollah, Syria

Head of a right-wing think tank says the existence of ISIS serves a "strategic purpose" in the
West's interests Ben Norton

According to a think tank that does contract work for NATO and the Israeli government, the West
should not destroy ISIS, the fascist Islamist extremist group that is committing genocide and
ethnically cleansing minority groups in Syria and Iraq.Why? The so-called Islamic State “can be a
useful tool in undermining” Iran, Hezbollah, Syria and Russia, argues the think tank’s director.
“The continuing existence of IS serves a strategic purpose,” wrote Efraim Inbar in “The Destruction
of Islamic State Is a Strategic Mistake,” a paper published on Aug. 2.

By cooperating with Russia to fight the genocidal extremist group, the United States is committing a
“strategic folly” that will “enhance the power of the Moscow-Tehran-Damascus axis,” Inbar argued,
implying that Russia, Iran and Syria are forming a strategic alliance to dominate the Middle East.

“The West should seek the further weakening of Islamic State, but not its destruction,” he added.
“A weak IS is, counterintuitively, preferable to a destroyed IS.”

Inbar, an influential Israeli scholar, is the director of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies,
a think tank that says its mission is to advance “a realist, conservative, and Zionist agenda in the
search for security and peace for Israel.”

http://www.salon.com/2016/08/23/israeli-think-tank-dont-destroy-isis-its-a-useful-tool-against-iran-hezbollah-syria/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

========================================================
========================================================

Palestinian Authority demands faster ICC probe into Israel war crimes

By David on 27 August 2016 GMT War and Terror

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/get-attachment-70.jpg

‘The Palestinian Authority has called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to accelerate
an investigation into the case of Israeli abuses and war crimes during the regime’s 50-day
military aggression against the besieged Gaza Strip in 2014.

“We had no expectations that Israel would do anything but justify its war crimes in the biggest
military campaign against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and renounce all responsibility, after an
investigation that its colonial regime carried out,” Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)
Secretary General and top negotiator Saeb Erekat said.

Erekat said the cases that were closed involved Israel’s bombardment of civilian areas, including
UN buildings and shelters, hospitals and other structures.’

Read more: Palestinian Authority demands faster ICC probe into Israel war crimes

http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/08/26/481713/Palestinian-Authority-demand-ICC-probe-Israel-crimes-abuses-Gaza-war

===========================================================

This from last year but still relevant....

wQdPig6HOZA

Published on 3 Jul 2015
The Isis Crisis, The Hidden Hand - David Icke

Who Are ISIS? or Who Are ISIL? or Who Are Islamic State? or Who Are IS?

The Creation of ISIS to ISIS in Paris, France

ISIS Explained
ISIL Explained
Islamic State Explained
IS Explained

To have David's Videocast sent to you in full every week, Click here http://www.davidicke.com/amember/signup

5th July 2015. The David Icke Videocast - The Isis Crisis - The Hidden Hand. Watch the full video at http://www.davidicke.com

Hervé

27th August 2016, 19:16

So... what's this all about?

Well, it all started when the Tavistock Institute asked Orson Wells to do a little acting of the other Wells guy on the radio in 1938...

Two days after the "Martian Invasion news broadcast," an editorial in the New York Times headed "Terror by Radio" inadvertently shed light on what Tavistock had in mind for the American people in the coming war now looming closer:

"What began as entertainment might readily have ended in disaster," the editorial said. Radio officials had a responsibility and "should think twice before mingling news techniques with fiction so terrifying."

What the "Times" had inadvertently stumbled onto was the wave of the future seen through the eyes of the theoreticians at Tavistock. Henceforth, "mingling news techniques with fiction so terrifying" that it would be taken as fact, was to be standard practice for the graduates of Tavistock. All news broadcast were to be adaptations of "news and fiction" in a skillful blend so as to make the one unrecognizable from the other.

In fact, Tavistock put their newly tested theory into practice a year later when the population of cities in Europe, London, Munich, Paris and Amsterdam were smitten with war jitters even as Neville Chamberlain was successfully avoiding war, using the same techniques that were employed in the October 1938 "War of the Worlds" radio broadcasts.

[…]

Profiles on how individuals and groups reacted to international tensions were formulated on the basis of skillfully blending fact with terrifying fiction in preparation for a campaign to launch "World citizens," (of a One World Government Socialist-Communist dictatorship) that began to be employed to weaken national boundaries, language and culture and to discredit pride of nation and sovereignty of nation-states, in preparation for the coming of the Socialist New World Order—One World Government, that President Woodrow Wilson said America would make safe for "democracy."

Excerpts from John Coleman's "The Tavistock Institute of Human Relations: Shaping the Moral, Spiritual, Cultural, Political and Economic Decline of the United States of America. (https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjH0rqL8N3OAhWKGR4KHWyfD-8QFggbMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pdfarchive.info%2Fpdf%2FC%2FCo%2FColeman_John_-_The_Tavistock_Institute_of_Human_Relations.pdf&usg=AFQjCNGSWYENKepjWQMfi4bv7QHQAeN2NQ&sig2=JIdWkcR5UZoUTyYkX0ztCg&bvm=bv.130731782,d.dmo) (PDF) "Horrendously simple... isn't it!!?

Couple that with this other part:

By the year 2000 there was hardly any aspect of life in America into which Tavistock's tentacles had not reached and that included every level of government from local to federal, industry, trade, education and the political institutions of the nation. Every mental and psychological aspect of the nation was analyzed, recorded, profiled and stored in computer memory banks.

What has come out of this is what Tavistock calls "a three-system response" and it is how population groups react to stress resulting from "contrived situations" that become crisis management exercises. What we have in the U.S. and Britain is a government, that creates a situation viewed by its citizens as a crisis, and government then manages that "crisis."

[…]

On the other hand, the American people may well be going through the one of the three phases of what Dr. Fred Emery, at one time the senior psychiatrist at Tavistock, once described as "social environmental turbulence." According to Emery: "Large populations groups manifest the following symptoms when subjected to conditions of violent social changes, stress and turbulence which can be divided into well-defined categories:

Superficiality is the condition that manifests itself when the threatened population group reacts by adopting shallow sloganeering, which they attempt to pass off as ideals." Very little "ego investment" takes place making the first phase a "maladaptive response" because, as Emery stated, "the cause of the crisis is not isolated and identified" and the crisis and tension is not abated, but continues for as long as the controller wants it to last.

The second phase of the crisis reaction (since the crisis is continuing), is "fragmentation", a condition in which panic strikes, "social cohesion" falls apart with the result that very small groups form and attempt to protect themselves from the crisis with little or no regard for the expense or cost to other fragmented, small groups. This phase Emery calls "passive maladaption," while still failing to identify the cause of the crisis.

The third phase is when the victims turn away from the source of the induced crisis and the resulting tension. They take "fantasy trips of internal migration, introspection and obsession with self." This is what Tavistock calls "disassociation and self realization." Emery goes on to
explain that "the passive maladaption responses are now coupled with "active maladaptive responses."

Emery states that over the past 50 years that experiments in applied social psychology and resultant "crisis management" have taken over all aspects of life in America and the results are stored in the computers in the major "think tanks" such as Stanford University. The scenarios are taken out, used and revised from time to time and, according to Tavistock, "the scenarios are in operation at the present time."

Translated this means that Tavistock has the majority of the American people profiled and brainwashed. If any part of the American public is ever able to identify the cause of the crises that have washed over this nation in the past seventy years, the social engineering structure built by Tavistock will come crashing down. But that has not yet happened. Tavistock continues to drown the American public in its sea of created public opinion.

Excerpts from John Coleman's "The Tavistock Institute of Human Relations: Shaping the Moral, Spiritual, Cultural, Political and Economic Decline of the United States of America. (https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjH0rqL8N3OAhWKGR4KHWyfD-8QFggbMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pdfarchive.info%2Fpdf%2FC%2FCo%2FColeman_John_-_The_Tavistock_Institute_of_Human_Relations.pdf&usg=AFQjCNGSWYENKepjWQMfi4bv7QHQAeN2NQ&sig2=JIdWkcR5UZoUTyYkX0ztCg&bvm=bv.130731782,d.dmo) (PDF) "... and we have a template description of what's happening at all scales, from the Avalon forum to the planet and, probably, the galaxy.

PS: Gives another dimension to Rahm's "not letting a good crisis go to waste"... right?

PPS: See this post (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?25102-For-an-idea-on-the-big-picture&p=1093103&viewfull=1#post1093103) (<---) as well.

Cidersomerset

28th August 2016, 11:36

‘Mutual mistrust reduced’: Lavrov & Kerry agree on concrete steps to ease Syrian conflict

By David on 28 August 2016 GMT

P8iQ6SdowxY

Published on 27 Aug 2016
Progress towards settling the Syrian crisis has been made, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei
Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry announced after wrapping up key talks.
According to the diplomats, experts from both countries will meet in Geneva in coming days
to clarify the details of what has been agreed.

==================================================
==================================================

Amnesty in Wartime: Assad pardons former Syrian militants (RT Documentary)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83hXWipOWG4

Published on 27 Aug 2016
In Syria, there are more than 100 militant groups fighting against the state army. Unusually,
President Bashar Assad has offered an amnesty to militants who surrender. Any who haven’t
completed mandatory military service are returned to the army. RT Doc gained access to a
unit comprised of amnestied soldiers. Some joined militant groups voluntarily while others say
they were held captive - whatever their circumstances, they all serve together.

===================================================
===================================================

US-NATO’s Objective is 'Regime Change' in Syria. France’s President Hollande Calls
for the 'Neutralization' of Bashar al Assad

By David on 28 August 2016 GMT War and Terror

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Untitled-33-1.jpg

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GLOBAL RESEARCH....

US-NATO’s Objective is “Regime Change” in Syria. France’s President Hollande Calls
for the “Neutralization” of Bashar al Assad

By Global Research News
Global Research, August 27, 2016

“Regime Change” in Syria is the ultimate objective, coupled with the US-Turkey-
NATO invasion and military occupation of Northern Syria. The end goal is the
installation of an Islamic State. Ultimately what is contemplated is the conquest of
the entire country and the surrender of the Damascus government.

French President Francois Hollande calls for the “neutralization” of Syria’s president
Assad as “a precondition for peace”: “We must reduce the terrorist influence
without maintaining Assad. The two are bound up together,”We must create a
political transition in Syria, it’s a necessity.He laid out three conditions for resolving
the crisis — the first of which was the “neutralization” of Assad.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/us-natos-objective-is-regime-change-in-syria-frances-president-hollande-calls-for-the-neutralization-of-bashar-al-assad/5542737

====================================================
====================================================

ACTIVIST POST.....

Asked if Saudi Arabia would send ground troops, al-Faisal said no way.’
TOPICS:Kurt NimmoSaudi ArabiaSyria.

August 27, 2016 ...By Kurt Nimmo

“You can’t simply deal with ISIS and not deal with Assad,” Prince Turki al-Faisal told
CBS News on Thursday.The former ambassador to the United States said “if the
need” for US ground troops arises in the effort to depose al-Assad he “hopes the
president will change his mind.”

Asked if Saudi Arabia would send ground troops, al-Faisal said no way.

yTeyRAx7eZ4

Published on 25 Sep 2014
Air Date: September 25th, 2014

Read more: Saudi Prince Demands US Ground Troops Remove Bashar Al-Assad

http://www.activistpost.com/2016/08/saudi-prince-demands-us-ground-troops-remove-bashar-al-assad.html

Hervé

28th August 2016, 13:30

Soros, Tavistock (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?69621-Ukraine-Crimea-Syria-Israel-Iran-Putin-and-World-War-III&p=1093388&viewfull=1#post1093388)'s "Good Boy"...

Russia Leaked Memos Show George Soros Plotted to Oust Putin, Destabilize Russia (http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160828/1044703488/soros-memo-oust-putin-russia.html)

Russia 01:25 28.08.2016
(updated 10:10 28.08.2016)

The Hungarian billionaire appeared to have a fascination with not just fostering but creating anti-Putin opposition forces inside of Russia in a bid to destabilize the country.

The recent DC Leaks document dump of over 2,500 documents from George Soros’ Open Society Foundations illustrates a disturbing trend by the billionaire of using his wealth and influence to sow chaos across the world in a bid to profit off of global suffering and impose neoliberal ideas on an international scale.

The leaks have already exposed Soros’ efforts to destabilize the European Union by promoting a policy of open borders and mass migration and fracturing Ukraine’s government by fomenting an illegal coup of a democratically elected government using neo-Nazi hardliners. Once dubbed the “puppet master” by the fanatical Glenn Beck, Soros has also been linked to both corruption in the United States and, according to some, positive social reform in his funding of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Yet the man who has brought regimes around the world to their knees has long wanted to bring Putin’s government crashing down, but has proven unsuccessful time and again. New memos from the DC Leaks file dump show that this failure to oust Putin wasn’t for lack of trying on the part of Soros.
In a November 2012 document titled “OSF [Open Society Foundation] Russia Strategic Planning Meeting Notes” a team of anti-Putin international experts sat down to discuss how to "identify joint priorities for OSF’s Russia activities in the coming year. How can we most effectively collaborate, considering the deteriorating political environment for our partners?"

Whereas that seems benign, the document minutes show that the meeting’s participants hoped that Medvedev’s years as president would provide "an opening" for the Open Society Foundations to influence and rattle the Russian government. A hope that disappeared when Putin returned to office.

"The Medvedev period allowed for a number of improvements and significant openings for NGOs… However, pressure has come back very quickly in the short time that Putin has been back in power."

The NGO operation became quickly distrusted in Russia following the botched "Maidan like" protests which were immediately dismantled before it could threaten the Russian government.
"The Russian protests deeply affected the life of NGO’s," read the minutes. The meeting explains that the government had attempted to encourage civil opposition by providing funds, "but by encouraging self-organization, they had opened up Pandora’s Box… the door was opened for self-mobilization."
The document proceeded to provide an extensive bullet point list of "what must be done" in order to destabilize Russia including working to flood the country with migrants and influencing the country’s media operations.

The memo was followed up with what was called "the Russia Project" which called for identifying and organizing opponents to Putin, advancing principles of globalism, and undermine Russia’s image in the lead up to the Sochi Winter Olympics.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160828/1044703488/soros-memo-oust-putin-russia.html

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160828/1044703488/soros-memo-oust-putin-russia.html

bluestflame

28th August 2016, 13:47

interesting , tavistock was also implicatred(unofficially) in the port arther operation in tasmania which i believe was originally intended to push for US gun control ( someone stuffed up the timetable on the ferry full of US tourists) which ended up only being australian gun control wonder if soros was a background planner in this ... he's funded a few groups here

http://www.menzieshouse.com.au/?p=3350

Sophocles

28th August 2016, 15:04

In any attempt to influence cultural patterns it cannot be emphasized too much that the problem of changing single persons or small groups which are uprooted and transplanted into a new cultural background is rather different from the problem of changing the culture of a compact group remaining on native soil. The technique which seems to offer itself as the natural means to reach such a compact group for the purpose of changing the cultural backgrounds is "propaganda" in its various forms, such as radio, newspaper, etc. (p. 37)

Resovling Social Conflicts (http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/bitstream/1/17809/1/IVRI%20B%20529.pdf) -Kurt (http://www.tavinstitute.org/projects/field-theory-rule/) Lewin (http://aanirfan.blogspot.no/2015/03/kurt-lewin-tavistock-isis.html)

Lewin is credited with much of the original Tavistock research into mass brainwashing applying the results of repeated trauma and torture (of individuals) in mind control to society at large.
Jim Keith (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mass-Control-Engineering-Human-Consciousness/dp/1931882215) about Kurt Lewin

Hervé

28th August 2016, 15:33

DCLeaks Website Down, Twitter Suspended After Releasing Soros Docs (http://dailycaller.com/2016/08/27/dcleaks-has-website-shut-down-twitter-suspended-after-releasing-soros-docs/)

By Peter Hasson (http://dailycaller.com/author/peterhasson/) Reporter, Associate Editor
(http://dailycaller.com/author/peterhasson/)
2:28 PM 08/27/2016

http://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/soros1-e1466868113949.jpg
Billionaire investor George Soros of Soros Fund Management attends the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos January 26, 2013. REUTERS/Pascal Lauener

DCLeaks, a website that releases information on powerful political figures, has had part of its website taken offline after releasing a cache of documents on billionaire donor George Soros. The @DCLeaks Twitter account has also been suspended from Twitter for reasons unknown.

The website had previously released 2,500 internal Open Society Foundation (OSF) documents (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?69621-Ukraine-Crimea-Syria-Israel-Iran-Putin-and-World-War-III&p=1093521&viewfull=1#post1093521) in order to “shed light on one of the most influential networks operating worldwide.” OSF is one of Soros’ networks of organizations.

The leaked documents had resulted in several (http://dailycaller.com/2016/08/15/leaked-soros-memo-refugee-crisis-new-normal-gives-new-opportunities-for-global-influence/) damaging reports (http://dailycaller.com/2016/08/17/leaked-board-documents-soros-organization-tried-to-buy-supreme-court-ruling-on-illegal-immigration/) about the organization (http://dailycaller.com/2016/08/14/memo-soros-group-funded-opposition-research-on-critics-of-radical-islam/). OSF had previously confirmed that the documents were legitimate. Before the website went offline, an OSF spokesperson had called the leaks “a symptom of an aggressive assault on civil society and human rights activists that is taking place globally” in a statement released to The Daily Caller.

By mid-Saturday afternoon, the DCLeaks page with the Soros documents was no longer online (http://soros.dcleaks.com/). The rest of the DCLeaks (http://dcleaks.com/) site was running smoothly — only the Soros pages appeared to be offline.

The @DCLeaks Twitter account (https://twitter.com/dcleaks) was suspended by Twitter around the same time with no explanation.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

KiwiElf

28th August 2016, 16:01

Hopefully, many people out there downloaded the leaked documents. "They" can try all they want... this isn't going away ;)

Cidersomerset

29th August 2016, 15:53

http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.20.4/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png

Syria war: US warns over Turkish-Kurdish violence
10 minutes ago

http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/50C3/production/_90957602_mediaitem90957601.jpg
Turkey says it will not tolerate Kurdish forces operating west of the Euphrates

The US says fighting between Turkey, pro-Turkish rebels and Kurdish-aligned forces
in northern Syria is "unacceptable" and must stop. Clashes in places where so-called
Islamic State (IS) was not present were a "source of deep concern", the US envoy to
the anti-IS coalition tweeted.Turkish forces have attacked what they say are Kurdish
"terrorists" since crossing the border last week.But the Kurdish YPG militia says Turkey
just wants to occupy Syrian territory.

Ankara says it aims to push both IS and Kurdish fighters away from its border.

Turkish forces and allied factions of the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) forced IS out of
the Syrian border city of Jarablus on Tuesday and have since pounded neighbouring
villages held by Kurdish-led, US-backed Syria Democratic Forces (SDF).The Turkish
military carried out 61 artillery strikes around Jarablus over the past 24 hours Reuters
news agency reported on Monday,

Turkey has insisted Kurdish militia, which it regards as terrorists, retreat east across the Euphrates river.
http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/040B/production/_90953010_syria_turkey_kurds_v6_624map.png

Read more....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37212256

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Biden's Turkish Tightrope Act: VP avoided touchy subjects in Ankara

TXOkHujfLC4

Published on 26 Aug 2016

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==================================================

No incursion into Kobani: Kurds warn Turkey

By David on 29 August 2016 GMT War and Terror

PRESS TV....

‘Kurds have staged a protest rally in the Syrian town of Kobani to warn Turkey
against a potential military incursion into the town.The protest took place as reports
that Turkish forces were preparing to enter Kobani were circulated by the People’s
Protection Units (YPG), an armed Kurdish group, among residents on Saturday.

“We will not allow them to enter, we will stay here if necessary for days and
months and… defend this land,” said one Kobani resident.’

Read more: No incursion into Kobani: Kurds warn Turkey

http://presstv.ir/Detail/2016/08/28/482024/Turkey-Syria-Kurds-Kobani

===================================================

Turkey vows to 'cleanse' border region of Islamic State

HzdPWOcqz3s

Published on 22 Aug 2016

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says Turkey's border with Syria must
be 'completely cleansed' from Islamic State militants. Rough Cut (no reporter
narration).

SelYXqemYYE

Published on 27 Aug 2016
Relief efforts are underway in the Syrian town of Jarablus, where a Turkish-backed
operation is aiming to remove Islamic State and keep Kurdish rebel groups from
establishing a major presence. Nathan Frandino reports.

====================================================

Turkey accuses Kurdish fighters of 'ethnic cleansing' in Syria

Mon Aug 29, 2016 1:54PM

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has accused the Syrian Kurdish fighters
of engaging in ethnic cleansing in northern Syria.

Cavusoglu told a news conference in the Turkish capital Ankara on Monday that
fighters of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and its affiliate Democratic
Union Party (PYD) were attempting to put their own people in areas that had been
released from Takfiri Daesh terrorists in the northern parts of Syria.

http://presstv.ir/Detail/2016/08/29/482237/Turkey-Mevlut-Cavusoglu--YPG-Kurds-Daesh

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50 Turkish tanks in Syrian city of Jarablus: Head of Kurdish group

By David on 30 August 2016 GMT

http://presstv.ir/Detail/2016/08/29/482201/Turkey-tanks-Syria-Jarablus-Elham-Ahmad

Cidersomerset

29th August 2016, 21:18

RT.....

Iran deploys S-300 missiles at Fordow nuclear facility - report

Published time: 29 Aug, 2016 10:26
Edited time: 29 Aug, 2016 17:34

https://img.rt.com/files/2016.08/original/57c41196c361884e538b45da.jpg

4Z9tMGz45x8

Published on 29 Aug 2016
Iran has deployed a Russian-made S-300 surface-to-air missile defense system a
at its Fordow uranium enrichment facility, the country’s state media have reported.

https://www.rt.com/news/357513-iran-s300-fordow-nuclear/

PressTV First footage Iran’s S 300 defense system

vZ2vzLWL9lI

Published on 28 Aug 2016

Iran releases footage of its S-300 missile defense system

Iran has for the first time released footage of transporting and deployment of the
Russian S-300 missile defense system.The video of the S300-PMU2 launchers along
with some of the system’s radars was broadcast by IRIB on Sunday.On August 20,
Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan announced that Iran will fully receive the
remaining consignment of the missile defense system in a month.

Russia undertook to deliver the systems — which are used to intercept tactical and
ballistic aircraft and projectiles — to Iran under a $800-million deal in 2007 but
refused to deliver on the commitment, citing UN sanctions against Iran.

Following Moscow’s refusal to deliver the systems, Iran filed a complaint against the
relevant Russian arms manufacturer with the International Court of Arbitration in Geneva.
In April 2015, President Vladimir Putin lifted the Russian self-imposed ban on the delivery
of the S-300 and subsequently Moscow signed a new contract to supply Iran with the
systems by the end of that year. Tehran recently dropped the case at the arbitration court.

====================================================

REUTERS....

World News | Mon Aug 29, 2016 6:23am EDT

Iran deploys Russian-made S-300 missiles at its Fordow nuclear site: TV

read more...
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-missiles-fordow-idUSKCN1140YD

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http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/9BE2/production/_84260993_iran_nuclear_624.gif
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11927720

Hervé

30th August 2016, 16:56

Looks like what's been exported around is coming back home:

Ex Mossad chief: Civil war, not Iran, is Israel's biggest threat (http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Ex-Mossad-chief-Israels-biggest-threat-is-potential-civil-war-not-Iran-466415)

Ariel Whitman The Jerusalem Post (http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Ex-Mossad-chief-Israels-biggest-threat-is-potential-civil-war-not-Iran-466415) Tue, 30 Aug 2016 16:30 UTC

https://www.sott.net/image/s17/341221/medium/ShowImage.jpg (https://www.sott.net/image/s17/341221/full/ShowImage.jpg)
© REUTERS - Mossad chief Tamir Pardo.

"If a society crosses a certain line in its division and hatred, then it is a real possibility to see a phenomenon like a civil war."

In his first public appearance since leaving office in June of this year, former Mossad Chief Tamir Pardo said the most pressing threat to Israel is not Iran, but rather it is the increased polarization within Israeli society.

"There is no outside existential threat to Israel, the only real existential threat is the internal division," Pardo said.

Speaking at the annual race to commemorate fallen Druse soldiers in the North, Pardo added that "internal division can lead us to civil war - we are already on a path towards that."

"If a society crosses a certain line in its division and hatred, then it is a real possibility to see a phenomenon like a civil war."

He said that society at large bears responsibility to prevent these divisions, not only the leadership.

Pardo also addressed the Palestinian issue, saying that without a diplomatic solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict "we will never be able to achieve normalization with our Arab neighbors."

The comments on the Palestinian issue came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly hailed improved diplomatic relations with Israel's moderate Arab neighbors.

Cidersomerset

30th August 2016, 17:08

US in balancing act as Turkish, Kurdish forces clash in Syria

0q7CsuhqN2A

Published on 30 Aug 2016
US-allied Kurdish militias clash with Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army
forces in Jarablus, Syria, putting the US at odds with both allies.

============================================
============================================

Pentagon: Turkey's fighting with Kurdish forces unacceptable

wnd8dxzTukM

Published on 29 Aug 2016
The Pentagon says clashes between the Turkish army and US-backed Kurdish
forces are unacceptable. Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook condemned the
fighting south of the Syrian town of Jarablus. He called on all sides to stand
down and take appropriate measures to de-conflict. He stressed that fighting
is taking place in areas where Daesh is no longer present. The Turkish army
and the militants supported by Ankara have clashed with Kurdish forces
several times in northern Syria over the past days

===========================================
===========================================

The Debate - Turkey Syria Incursion

s-W1KUNSHuA

Published on 29 Aug 2016
Broadcast date: 8/29/2016

On Wednesday Turkey launched Operation Euphrates Shield in northern Syria
by sending in tanks, planes and ground forces under the pretext of liberating
the town of Jarablus from Daesh terrorists. But it soon became apparent that
offensive was just as much as Syrian Kurdish forces, as against Daesh at least.
What has ensued since has been a sling of claims and counter claims. Turkey

accuses the Syrian Kurdish fighters of ethnic cleansing, while the country itself
stands accused of killing around 35 civilians in its latest offensive.

As Turkey vows to protect its borders against “terrorist organizations”, we ask
at what cost? And is regional security really the objective here? Stay tuned to
this edition of The Debate.

Guests:
- Journalist and Political Commentator, Omar Nashabe (BEIRUT).
- U.S. Foreign Policy and National Security Analyst, Lawrence J. Korb (ATLANTA).

Cidersomerset

30th August 2016, 17:32

While the focus has been in Syria for the past few years tension in Israel is growing
that's apart from the almost daily clashes in the occupied and Palestinian lands.....

The New 'Two-State Solution' That Would Colonize Palestine

By David on 30 August 2016 GMT

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Untitled-204.jpg

‘A powerful pro-Israel policy group with ties to the Obama administration and the
Israeli military intelligence establishment is promoting plans for a “two state solution”
that would subordinate Palestinians to Israeli military rule, supervised by a permanent
U.S. military presence.The plans have been put together by the Israel Policy Forum
(IPF), a New York-based advocacy group founded in 1993 at the behest of Prime
Minister Yitzhak Rabin, to promote the Oslo peace process. Shortly after taking office
in 2009, President Obama adopted the IPF’s Middle East “roadmap.”

Among the plan’s recommendations are the complete demilitarization of Palestine,
despite it being defined as a “sovereign” territory, a comprehensive border surveillance
infrastructure, and a permanent U.S. military operation to police the Jordan River.’

Read more: The New ‘Two-State Solution’ That Would Colonize Palestine

http://www.alternet.org/world/two-state-solution-colonize-palestine

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Israeli Media: Preparations for Construction of Third Temple to Begin

By David on 30 August 2016 GMT

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/get-attachment-83.jpg

Israeli Media: Preparations for Construction of 3rd Temple to Begin
August 15, 2016 11:38 PM

http://imemc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/3rdtemple-alray.jpg

‘Israeli institutions and organizations are preparing to build the so-called “Third Temple” in
place of Al-Aqsa Mosque, and are waiting for a political decision to start, Israeli channels reported.
Israeli TV reported, on the alleged anniversary of the temple’s destruction, that Israeli institutions
which seek to build the temple were met with wide political and popular support.It was noted that
these institutions were previously marginalized but, nowadays, enjoy a political presence.’

Read more: Israeli Media: Preparations for Construction of Third Temple to Begin

http://imemc.org/article/israeli-media-preparations-for-construction-of-alleged-3rd-temple-to-begin/

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Israel's Great Divide - Al Jazeera World

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv_0JUBk3fI

Published on 13 Jul 2016

Israel is a nation of immigrants, and first-generation Israelis comprise only 32 percent of the population.
Integration into Israeli society has been one of its main political goals and, under the leadership of
founding prime minister David Ben-Gurion, Israel was going to be "the great Jewish melting pot", but it
has come under severe strain almost since its inception in 1948.

"There's a gap in Israeli society," says Karen Amit, an Israeli of Moroccan origin.

"They support the arrival of immigrants in theory and love them but, in practice, the ordinary Israeli doesn't
open his arms to welcome them. Research about Israeli attitude towards immigrants from Ethiopia has shown
surprising results. On the one hand, they love them and have no problem with them. But when asked if they'd
accept an Ethiopian neighbour or their children being at school with Ethiopians, their reply was negative."

Jewish people living in Israel today are largely divided into three main groups: Ashkenazi, Sephardi and Mizrahi.

The Ashkenazim are from Germany, France and Eastern Europe. The term "Ashkenazi" comes from the Hebrew
word for Germany. Most American Jews today are Ashkenazim, descended from those who arrived from Europe
in the mid-1800s and early 1900s.

The Sephardim are from Spain, Portugal, North Africa and the Middle East. The term "Sephardi" comes from the
Hebrew word for Spain. Many Jews fled Spain after the end of Muslim rule there in 1492.

Sephardic Jews are often subdivided into Sephardim and Mizrahim, from North Africa and the Middle East.
The term "Mizrahi" comes from the Hebrew word for eastern.

Cidersomerset

30th August 2016, 20:55

http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.20.4/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png

Islamic State: Abu Muhammad al-Adnani 'killed in Aleppo'
6 minutes ago

One of the longest-serving and most prominent leaders of so-called Islamic
State (IS) has been killed in Syria, IS-affiliated media say.In a statement
distributed by the group's supporters, Amaq News Agency reported that
Abu Muhammad al-Adnani died in the province of Aleppo.He was "martyred
while surveying the operations to repel the military campaigns against Aleppo",
it said.Adnani was known for his calls for lone-wolf attacks in the West.
One of the group's founder members, he is also said to have masterminded
attacks in Europe and elsewhere.

read more
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37224570

Obmvtkn2tEk

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================================================

Water weapon in Syrian war: Terrorists cut Aleppo supply lines, residents
find ways to survive

kPpMI1JEKF8

Published on 30 Aug 2016
Terrorists have recently cut off water pipes going into West Aleppo. RT's Lizzie
Phelan looks at some of the heroic attempts to change the situation in the embattled city.

====================================================
====================================================
( Edit added later )

Russian airstrike killed senior ISIS leader al-Adnani in Aleppo – Moscow

DtxTbF8WjjY

Published on 31 Aug 2016

killing of a top figure in the terrorist group Islamic State, Abu Muhammed al-
Adnani, was the result of an airstrike conducted by a Russian Su-34 bomber,
Russia’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

Sophocles

31st August 2016, 11:41

Russian airstrike killed ISIS commander al-Adnani – Moscow (https://www.rt.com/news/357749-russia-kill-adnani-aleppo/)

RT.com
31 Aug, 2016 11:27

The killing of a top figure in the terrorist group Islamic State, Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, was the result of an airstrike conducted by a Russian Su-34 bomber, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

The death of al-Adnani in a bombing in the Syrian province of Aleppo was earlier confirmed by the terrorist organization itself.

In an airstrike conducted on Tuesday, the Su-34 targeted a group of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) fighters numbering about 40 people, the Russian Defense Ministry reported. Al-Adnani’s death was confirmed by several intelligence channels.

Source (https://www.rt.com/news/357749-russia-kill-adnani-aleppo/)

Sophocles

31st August 2016, 15:38

Top USA National Security Officials Admit Turkey Coup (http://journal-neo.org/2016/08/31/top-usa-national-security-officials-admit-turkey-coup/)

F. William Engdahl
31.08.2016
journal-neo.org

While the Obama Administration and the CIA officially cling to the fig leaf lie that US intelligence was innocent of any involvement in the failed July 15 coup d’ etat attempt by the CIA-run Fethullah Gülen organization in Turkey, the truth is coming out from senior US intelligence insiders themselves. It reflects a huge internal faction struggle within US leading circles in what by all accounts is shaping to be the most bizarre Presidential election year in American history.

http://journal-neo.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/rezkie_repliki_bzhezinskogo-300x210.jpg

The first admission that US intelligence had their hand in the anti-Erdogan coup, a coup launched just days after Erdogan announced a major strategic shift away from NATO and towards Russia, came from Zbigniew Brzezinski. Brzezinski is one of the most senior members of the US intelligence establishment, a former Obama Presidential adviser and former National Security Council architect of the Jimmy Carter 1979 Mujahideen Afghanistan terror operations against the Soviet forces in that country.

In a Twitter tweet from his own blog, Brzezinski wrote a precis of a new article he wrote for The American Interest magazine. He writes, “The US backing of the attempted coup against the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was a grave mistake that could deliver a major blow to the US reputation (http://www.awdnews.com/political/zbigniew-brzezinski-confirmed-us-backed-erdogan-opposition-to-commit-coup).” That’s definitely putting it mildly given what’s unfolding in Turkey since July 15.

Brzezinski went on to write, “Turkey was on the verge of reconsidering its foreign policy after failure in the Syria during the last five years, and the US miscalculation in supporting the coup and hosting its leader (Fethullah Gülen, now in CIA-arranged exile in Pennsylvania-w.e.) was so serious that it is no longer possible to put the blame on once-US-ally Turkey if it turns its back on US and rethink (sic) its policies.” He continues, “A potential Russia-Turkey-Iran coalition would create an opportunity to solve the Syrian crisis. If Erdogan had the smallest bit of wisdom, he should have come to the understanding that he could not make an independent credibility with the help of some ‘decayed’ Arab countries (http://www.awdnews.com/political/zbigniew-brzezinski-confirmed-us-backed-erdogan-opposition-to-commit-coup),” no doubt referring to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the prime financiers of the Syrian terror war against Assad since 2011.

Brzezinski, who together with Henry Kissinger was one of the foremost US foreign policy strategists of the postwar period, the founding Executive Director of David Rockefeller’s Trilateral Commission, and one who still today presumably retains Top Secret clearance access to US intelligence reports, was expressing his fury at the utter incompetence of US intelligence in managing the Turkey relationship. Notably, the person in the US State Department directly responsible for not only the disastrous US coup in February, 2014 in Ukraine, but also for Turkey, is the hapless neo-con perpetual warrior-ess, Victoria “**** the EU” Nuland, wife of neo-con Robert Kagan.

Brzezinski’s candid critique was followed up by an even more detailed expose of US intelligence ties to Fethullah Gülen, charged by the Turkish government with treason and backing the July 15 coup. In a guest article in the EU online mgazine EurActiv.com dated 17 August, 2016, Arthur H. Hughes confirms the intimate links between Gülen and the CIA, noting that “Gülen fled to the US with the assistance of the diplomat Morton Abramovitz, CIA agents Graham Fuller and George Fidas, and the above-mentioned Fr. Alexander Karloutsos (http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/opinion/will-ankara-take-aim-at-patriarch-bartholomew/).”

Gülen CIA friend Bartholomew I

Hughes’ article is a bombshell in many respects, and most definitely in his detailing of the intimate ties between the CIA, Gülen and the current Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, current Archbishop of Constantinople and Ecumenical Patriarch. Hughes described the above-mentioned Father Alexander Karloutsos:

“…one of the members of the American-Israeli lobby in the Constantinople Patriarchate is Father Alexander Karloutsos, Public Affairs Officer close to Archbishop Demetrios (of America-w.e.). Thanks to his ties with high-level officials and Greek-American billionaires, he is basically the only person who controls the money flows from the US to the Phanar (the Greek Orthodox part of Istanbul-w.e.), and that gives him wide possibilities of exerting pressure upon the Ecumenical Patriarchate. On the other hand, Karloutsos is also in good relations with former CIA Director George Tenet, and with the preacher Fethullah Gülen cooperating with the American intelligence (http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/opinion/will-ankara-take-aim-at-patriarch-bartholomew/).”

George Tenet, a close ally of the Clinton political machine is a Greek-American former head of CIA during the time of Bill Clinton and also George W. Bush. The Clintons are both on record praising Fethullah Gülen. It seems to be a cozy network of CIA-Gülen-Constantinople Patriarchate-Clintons, all financed with “money from Greek-American billionaires.”

Arthur H. Hughes is not a casual commentator on events in Turkey and the Middle East. He was US Ambassador to Yemen in the 1990’s during the Clinton Presidency, then Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs. He also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Near East and South Asia, and was Deputy Chief of Mission in Tel Aviv. His linking of Gülen to the CIA and to the Constantinople Patriarchate points to one of the least-public and most influential covert CIA-run networks in the world, the anti-Moscow Orthodox Patriarchate of Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople. Hughes suggests that if Erdogan and the Turkish government are serious about dealing with future coup threats, they should put the Constintanople Patriarchate under the magnifying glass.

As I’ve documented in my book, The Lost Hegemon: Whom the gods would destroy, Graham E. Fuller and George Fidas, both decades-long senior CIA officials managed to secure an extraordinary permanent residence in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, over the loud formal objections of the US State Department, in 1999, when Gülen was about to be charged by the Turkish authorities for inciting treason.

Most recently, Fuller felt compelled to write on his blog that, indeed he did help Gülen obtain a US green card, but that no, Gülen was not behind the failed July 15 coup. However Turkish reports place Fuller and another senior CIA ally, Henri J. Barkey, at a luxury hotel on one of the Princes’ Islands in the Sea of Marmara, some twenty minutes from Istanbul the night of the failed coup. In a subsequent appearance at a Washington think tank forum held by the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a neo-con address whose chairman is former CIA director, neo-con James Woolsey III, Barkey and his host tried to make a feeble joke about his presence in Istanbul the night of the coup and his ties to Gülen (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/events/after-the-failed-coup-prospects-for-turkish-stability/).

For once, Brzezinski is right.

The CIA-Gülen coup d’etat attempt to topple Erdogan after his turn towards rapprochement with Moscow was “a grave mistake.” The consequences, aside from a massive crackkdown on Gülen networks and media inside Turkey, include an open dialogue of Erdogan and the Turkish government of Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım with Russia and now with Iran, about a “solution” to the Syrian war that would include Bashar al-Assad as at least a transition figure.

The Erdogan pivot East since the failed CIA coup has forced the Pentagon to quietly remove its nuclear warheads from Turkey’s Incirlik airbase near the Syrian border to Romania (http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/us-moves-nuclear-weapons-from-turkey-to-romania/). At the same time, Turkey’s Prime Minister on August 20 stated to the media that Russia could possibly use Turkey’s Incirlik Airbase if necessary, something that certainly produced more acute gas pains in Langley, Foggy Bottom (the more than fitting name for the US State Department headquarters), and the Obama White House (http://sputniknews.com/military/20160820/1044471851/incirlik-base-russia.html).

July 15 may go down in history as one of the most decisive defeats of American global power projection, of the so-called New World Order of David Rockefeller and friends. If so, not a minute too soon for the prospect of a more peaceful world.

F. William Engdahl is strategic risk consultant and lecturer, he holds a degree in politics from Princeton University and is a best-selling author on oil and geopolitics, exclusively for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook (http://journal-neo.org/).”

Source (http://journal-neo.org/2016/08/31/top-usa-national-security-officials-admit-turkey-coup/)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.awdnews.com/images/1470919583ldjdjdjdj.jpg
Zbigniew Brzezinski admitted US backing of the coup against the TUrkish president Erdogan was a grave mistake that could deliver a major blow to the US reputation.

Source (http://www.awdnews.com/political/zbigniew-brzezinski-confirmed-us-backed-erdogan-opposition-to-commit-coup)

Cidersomerset

31st August 2016, 21:29

CrossTalk: Turkey's Flip-Flop

dbOoAjEuo4o

Published on 31 Aug 2016
With Turkey’s invasion of Syria, that county’s international proxy war became
even more complicated. It would seem there are as many agendas as there
are players involved. And, has Erdogan double-crossed Russia?

CrossTalking with Martin Jay, Mark Sleboda, and Joshua Landis.

===================================================
===================================================

Israeli soldiers routinely shoot heads of injured Palestinians, court told

By David on 31 August 2016 GMT

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/get-attachment-129-4.jpg

==================================================

THE ELECTRONIC INTEFADA

Israeli soldiers routinely shoot heads of injured Palestinians, court told

Maureen Clare Murphy Rights and Accountability 30 August 2016

‘Shooting at the heads of incapacitated alleged Palestinian attackers is a common
practice by Israeli occupation forces, a settler security chief told a military court
hearing on Sunday.Eliyahu Liebman testified as a witness for the defense in the
trial of Elor Azarya, an Israeli soldier indicted for manslaughter after he was caught
on video shooting the head of a wounded and incapacitated Palestinian lying in the
street, killing him.

Abd al-Fattah al-Sharif and Ramzi al-Qasrawi were fatally wounded after they
allegedly attempted to stab soldiers in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron in
late March. Multiple videos of the scene show al-Sharif and al-Qasrawi in the street,
badly injured. But video released thus far only shows the fatal shooting of al-Sharif.’

Explicit Vid on link below....

Read more: Israeli soldiers routinely shoot heads of injured Palestinians, court told

https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/maureen-clare-murphy/israeli-soldiers-routinely-shoot-heads-injured-palestinians-court-told?utm_source=EI+readers&utm_campaign=f34811a767-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e802a7602d-f34811a767-299185473

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Israel irked by UN criticism about illegal settlements

By David on 31 August 2016 GMT

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PRESS TV....

Israel irked by UN criticism about illegal settlements
Tue Aug 30, 2016 12:44PM

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The picture taken on July 29, 2016 shows a general view of Israeli construction
cranes and excavators at the building site of new settler units in the illegal
settlement of Gilo in East Jerusalem al

‘Israel has reacted angrily to recent UN criticism about illegal settlement activities
by the Tel Aviv regime in the occupied Palestinians territories, describing the
brickbats as ridiculous.In a statement released on Tuesday, David Keyes, the
spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, branded the
comments by UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay
Mladenov as “absurd,” claiming that they “made peace harder to achieve by
distorting history and international law.”

On Monday, Mladenov told the UN Security Council that the expansion of Israeli
settlements has surged in the two months since a key report called for a halt to
such unauthorized construction activities in the Palestinian lands.’

Read more: Israel irked by UN criticism about illegal settlements

http://presstv.ir/Detail/2016/08/30/482385/UN-Israel-Palestine-Nickolay-Mladenov

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Israel demolishes nine more Palestinian structures in West Bank

By David on 31 August 2016 GMT

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PRESS TV...

Tue Aug 30, 2016 4:59AM

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A Palestinian boy walks past a pile of rubble after Israeli military forces demolished
a building in the village of Sebastia, near the occupied West Bank city of Nablus,
August 9, 2016

read more....

http://presstv.ir/Detail/2016/08/30/482314/Israel-demolition-Palestinian-homes-structures-West-Bank-Dura-alKhalil-Maazi-Jaba

Cidersomerset

1st September 2016, 10:53

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_SzOYHV1vX0

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" Great movie Hill' "

" Geronimo , good name for the op. We murdered him as well didn't we " ?

" No he died of pneumonia in captivity , you're thinking of Crazy Horse Ba' "

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The Clinton Plan to Destroy Russia

By David on 1 September 2016 GMT

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Clinton Plan to Destroy Russia

Aug 31, 2016

‘Leaked emails are filling in the picture of a Bill-and-Hillary-Clinton plan to destroy
Russia — a plan which had originated with U.S. President George Herbert Walker
Bush in 1990, and which has been followed through both by his son George W. Bush,
and by both of the Clintons, but which has only recently started to become documented
by leaked publications of personal communications amongst the key operatives who
were the insiders running this operation behind the scenes, and who include Bill Clinton,
Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush, Victoria Nuland, Jeffrey Feltman, Saudi Prince Bandar
bin Sultan al-Saud, Saudi Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman al-Saud, and the Emir of Qatar.’

Read more: The Clinton Plan to Destroy Russia

http://rinf.com/alt-news/breaking-news/clinton-plan-destroy-russia/

Hervé

2nd September 2016, 01:16

Flores: Turkey's Syria Gambit is 4GW at its finest [Interview] (Flores: Turkey's Syria Gambit is 4GW at its finest September 1st, 2016 - Fort Russ News -- J. Arnoldski interviews J. Flores -Turkey's seizure of multiple villages from the so-called "Syrian Democratic Forces," i.e., US-backed Kurds has put into question the fate of Kurdish forces in and around Aleppo. What's more, discussion has opened as to whether or not Damascus and Ankara have reached a deal trading "Kurds and terrorists for Aleppo," thus heightening cooperation between the two countries in attaining strategic objectives which were diametrically opposed just several months ago. Analysts have been split in their assessments of Euphrates Shield operation and its implications for Turkish-Russian rapprochement and the dynamics on the ground in Syria. While some appraised Turkey's adventure, its involvement of "FSA" forces, and its supposed backing by the US coalition represented by Joe Biden as signs of post-coup Turkish treachery, others suggested that the campaign could not have begun, much less advanced so far, without coordination and at least tacit agreement with Damascus, Moscow, and Tehran. Arnoldski: The question begs itself; why is it that analysts cannot agree on the nature and scope of the Turkish incursion?Flores: We have to step outside of conventional thinking. It's too easy to forget how information works in warfare. Information is written consciously by people, it's interpreted by people. Information is created to be interpreted a certain way. There are events, facts. And then there's interpretation. Which facts you look at, and which facts you even have access to, these are separate questions. But the map is never the terrain. Whether your map features mountain ranges or bathroom stops, these are value judgments. Value judgments and reality are not the same thing. There is of course a lot of 'fog of war' stuff that we can attribute to the first day or so of the Turkish incursion, which is why I bit my lip and didn't want to give an opinion on the subject. I knew my opinion would be unpopular.But there are more complex reasons why its virtually impossible to give a definitive answer here. We know that in 4GW, the point is that the way we perceive the reality also creates the reality. And how we can misperceive things is part of the strategy. Public analysts may forget that analysis, public analysis, and also think tank analysis written only for officials, is part of the war. If there is a lot of confusion and disagreement over the nature of the Russian-Turkish rapprochement, if that's even happening at all, and how to interpret Syria in light of that - then good. Imagine how confused and confusing intelligence gathering is operating right now. You have not only analysts but various pillars in each of the societies or states that have made official and semi-official statements. Let's face it, they are all conflicting. So we enter into a sort of Rorschach blot and confirmation bias reality. Whatever your operating thesis was going into this event, that will determine precisely how you interpret the events. The facts have been intentionally set up and placed a certain way, precisely so that there's something for everyone's bias. This is intentional.Arnoldski: So how do US attempts to contain the situation in view of their own biased reality affect the overall arrangement? Was Biden's visit actually meant to play a part in obfuscating the turn of events? Flores: Yes and no. Everything is obfuscation. We have to begin on a footing of humility. We have to know that we do not know. Now imagine Biden's visit with Erodgan on the cusp of the Turkish invasion, incursion, however you want to term it. Of course Biden went in there with something to offer. There was this failed coup attempt. The Americans, Biden comes in, and there's some degree of plausible deniability.The US dissembles reality, they can play upon this perception they've promoted in media - it doesn't matter to what extent its true, perhaps it is, probably is, but here it doesn't matter - they've promoted this idea that the pentagon, the White House, and the CIA are at odds over a few things. Biden says, look, it was these other guys trying to stage the coup. He plays up this perception.But Biden received a cold reception at the airport. He was met by a relatively low level public official. Ankara's displeasure was clear. Or at least that's what they wanted to project. Everyone's putting everyone together. It's multiple realities running in tandem.Erdogan can tell Biden, hey we are going to make it look like we are really upset with you, so your reception will 'appear' cold. At the same time, in reality, others are expecting that Erdogan give Biden a cold reception - and that's what is produced. Everything is symbolic, and it means things to people looking for meanings. But in reality we are dealing with seasoned politicians, they are masters. Nothing means anything. Nothing is personal. ''You tried tokill me, but I'm still here. It doesn't bother me, let's make a deal." Arnoldski: Did Erdogan 'buy' what Biden was selling? Flores: Probably not. The only reason his plane didn't get shot down was Russian intel that they shared with him. Understanding how these things go down means understanding how deals work. You also have to understand human nature and what bull**** smells like. Sometimes you pretend you've made a deal, so that the other guy doesn't see you as a problem, so he doesn't go home trying to figure out the next way to get at you. So, you shake hands, 'yes we have a deal'. But was there a deal? I'd say that Biden probably left that day believing that Erdogan at least partly went for the US's explanation of the coup, and he knew that Turkey was going to make an incursion, and that it was going to be somewhat beneficial to the US. Erdogan would have been clear that the US wouldn't like everything about it, but you know in a way 'tough ****' because 'you guys tried to overthrow me', even if Biden is saying it was the other American guys and not Team Obama. At the same time, everyone is gaming each other, and setting up for the possible double-cross in the event that they think they are going to be double-crossed. So, they may just preemptively double-cross. So the whole situation is fluid. It's set up precisely so that everything can turn on a dime. Those are your own internal games. 'I have no way to confirm that'. So you just chalk that up to irrelevance. But at the same time, Erdogan was convincing enough to Biden that this would be in America's interest. It's a typical con game. ''Look'', said Erdogan, ''You're going to see Damascus flip **** about this. You want to see if they are happy about it? Ask them, see how they respond." So of course Damascus is on point for this script, and ready to flip **** about it.Of course Damascus can't just welcome an illegal incursion in their country. They can't 'invite' Turkey in like they did with Russia, because Turkey can't be seen as doing so to the US, Turkey wants to pursue a multi-vectored foreign policy and have as much plausible deniability as possible. And think about now how much public resources have gone since this war started, and how much momentum there is now, on this anti-Turkey and anti-Erdogan thing among Syrians and the pro-Syrian activist crowd internationally. It's tremendous. You can't just 'welcome' Turkey. And what happens if they go out of bounds, or flip the script and really do the US's dirty work? Then you as the Syrian state have lost all legitimacy. Assad can't just welcome Erdogan in. And Erdogan still has to maintain the official line about regime change, at least for now until the situation matures a bit. Otherwise he looks very weak to his constituency, and to the Islamists of the Muslim Brotherhood he supports and who back him. They helped do the dirty work in the streets to put down this coup. He can't just do them dirty, at least not so fast. Arnoldski: And the Kurds?Flores: Turkey has problems with the Kurds, but Syria has to denounce the incursions - these Kurds, even if they are up in arms, are still Syrian citizens. And moreover, Damascus may need to patch things up with them in the future. In fact they will. Damascus doesn't need to 'welcome' any attack on Kurds from the Turks. Syria's problems with Kurds are not the same as Turkey's. There's no reason for them to become the same issue. Maybe the Turks want to genocide the Kurds. Maybe they don't. But these are Kurds that any unitary Syrian state will have to live with, and will require support from. Not the present Kurdish leadership perhaps, but Kurdish people and new representatives. Well, welcoming in this incursion where now Turks may violently suppress Kurds as a general category, well that's not going to fly so well in the near term future history. So the Syrians have to officially oppose all of this.The Syrians always had to treat these Kurds with kid gloves. The Kurds have the least intel outside the region. They have no real friends. They have all bad information, they are in the dark. In geostrategic terms, they are retarded. The US has been playing them for stupid, getting them to fight against ISIS whom the US also arms through its proxies and allies. The game here was to have ISIS retreat and 'melt away' with Kurdish advances, in reality to weaken Damascus and fragment Syria. Will the Kurds ever understand how they were played? Only history will tell. But they won't listen to any Damascus later on, if Damascus welcomed the Turkish incursion. So of course Damascus's role in the script says they have to denounce the incursion. Whether the incursion was welcome or unwelcome, in either event, they would have to denounce it. In fact I'd be more prone to think it was unwelcome if they had publicly welcomed it. See how that works?Arnoldski: Are the Americans backing the Turks, the Kurds, or ISIS then right now?Flores: They think they're backing all of them, sure, right now, why not? The Turks objectively have the most agency and the most objective capacity to make their own policy. ISIS is entirely reliant on US and Israeli proxies in the region, and the Kurdish YPG wouldn't be where it is without the US. But the Americans want to have some control over this Turkey incursion. At least they need to appear to. That will also cause more confusion. So the Americans can call this a victory. They desperately need a victory right now. A lot is on the line here. But the Americans can run several confusing scripts too. The neocons can call it a victory. But the other pillars will be more sympathetic to Kurds. The Russians may have a deal with the Turks in Syria. They certainly have deals in the works, or at least both agree to pretend to, in energy markets. And this Syria war is all about the gas pipelines and Israel's conflict with Iran. Anyone who forgets this or thinks this is about 'Neo-Ottomanism' of Erdogan has not only lost the script, but never had it. After all, Erdogan's probably assured Biden that this will be partly in their interest. It will at least create new facts on the ground and shake things up. Sometimes new facts and a shake up is all you need to get through a strategic impasse. It's adding in that 'X' factor, a new variable that changes the equation. It may not be immediately apparent in which way the variables changed, but no matter what, it changes the game. So the Americans want to make sure the 'right' message about this is sent, and they offer support for the operation. ''Sure, great'', says Erdogan.So yes the Americans and the Turks had a deal. But what's in a deal?The more that the Americans appear to turn against the Kurds, and support most of Turkey's moves, the more that it makes the Russians scratch their heads. ''Have we been played?'' Of course not all Russians, but we are talking about various analytic circles and advisory councils. A thing to keep in mind is that all of the states involved are connected to basically market based economic models. This involves a lot of speculation. And 'democracy' is a lot like speculation also, its easy to lose support. Even if your plan is solid, the opponent can create the simulacrum that your plan isn't solid. Then you lose support. Then your plan is no longer solid. Then you lose investors. In that respect, analysis not only interprets the world, but under conditions of 4GW, analysis creates the world.Arnoldski: Do you have any idea what the actual plan is? Or who said what to whom? Looking at whether Turkey has the deal with Russia and Syria, or with the US, which of these contending views are right? Flores: Of course not, that's unrealistic. Right now, everyone is speculating. The analysts with integrity will always go back and say when they've learned something or revised their positions. But others, who are basically never right about anything, and have consistently been wrong about Russia's moves in the past, seem emotionally driven to conclude that Russia is always making blunders. So that's their confirmation bias. Or they are speaking to the confirmation bias of their targeted audience. The role of analysts isn't to be 'right'. Or 'wrong'. This is like some reality TV conception of analytic work. Analysts have different specialties and they approach the same question with different perspectives. Other analysts, generalists, have to sort through these opinions. Even 'wrong' opinions are very valuable, because we can trace these to certain lines of thought, or we can analyze 'why' they are wrong, which produces positive data. Analysts who get things 'wrong' are very valuable. And right and wrong, doesn't properly asses the work being done. A conclusion may be wrong, but the methodology is right. Would you rather have a broken clock that tells the right time twice a day, or a working clock that ticks every second perfectly, but is slow by a few hours and random minutes? Those are two different ways to be wrong. Methodology can be very good, but premise or conclusions wrong. So even apparently wrong analysis may have very sound logic, or it may introduce facts and methods of approaching the problem which are very useful. Also, in the public sphere, not talking private analytic work directly for unpublished documents at the governmental or quasi-governmental level, but in the public sphere, some analysts are actually doing intelligence type work. They are promoting wrong views to give an impression that such and such pillar within a society views something a certain way. It's obfuscation. It's part of the war itself. In reality, nobody knows what anybody said to each other behind closed doors. Even decades later when these guys write their autobiographies from the retirement home, they are going to tell the history in the way they want it remembered, or how they think people should remember it. So you can't even really interpret these events without a lens to see it through, but that lens is going to sway you. We aren't naturalists observing animals in the wild. We are people observing people who know they are being observed. They are sending signals to the observers precisely so that our interpretations of their actions and statements can be read a certain way. We don't approach this using Ockham's razor. The most elegant theory is least likely to be the correct one. Tremendous resources go into creating the most confusing and inelegant, anti-rational narrative possible - that's how you dissemble reality and confuse the opponent. The more twists and turns you can create without confusing yourself or your actual allies, the better. Arnoldski: How do the Syrians want to be read in all of this?They want to be read different ways by different people. There are lots of important Syrians, way up, that are just pissed as **** at Erdogan for this whole war. Lots of emotions are tied up in this, and rightfully so. Same goes for the world of analysts who tend on the emotional side, and are attached to their own views. That's why I always try to be detached, just lay out what's happening. There was always a lot of vilification of Erdogan in the anti-Imperialist milieu. You'll notice there aren't many if any moralizing adjectives when I describe geopolitical events. When I describe the liberal ideology, sure, yes -I can get polemical. But I have fun doing this. The Syrians can't be read as inviting the Turks, even if they are. That's for sure. For reasons I've laid out, if you want to even try to start to figure this tangled mess out - and you never will fully - at least understand that 'evidence' such as Syria's public statements about Turkey, is in fact evidence of nothing. Arnoldski: To clarify then, the entire personification of this controversy as one between Erdogan and Putin, or Erdogan and Assad is part of the problem?Flores: I've never described actions, whether Putin's or Erdogan's, as being rooted somehow in certain highly personalized proclivities. Instead, I look at the forces of geopolitical and geostrategic gravity operating on them. And sometimes these 'gravity wells' have been placed under them precisely to get them to act a certain way. Turkey has been acting along the rational actor model this whole time, since before the start of this. They wanted a Persian pipeline deal with Iran over ten years ago. Israel wanted to isolate Iran because Iran also came up just like Israel did when Iraq was dismantled the first time 15 years ago. Israel and the neo-cons were warning about Iran - not the Iran that was - but the Iran that is in the making, in part because of the dynamics of Iraq under US occupation and after. We are talking concrete things like political support from Shias suppressed by Sadam, water and oil rights, etc. So Turkey always wanted normal, even decent ties, with Iran. They wanted to build this pipeline. It's politically incorrect to connect more dots regarding Russia's line on this, so at this point even my own job says to shut up, so I will. But if people got wrapped up in thinking that Putin lacked resolve, or that Erdogan was 'deceitful', then they've basically violated some of the basic tenets of analysis in IR, and have moved into psychoanalysis and the 'great man' view of history. Yes, psychology of leaders plays a role. And in cases of an actually absolutist state, the psychology of the leader plays a bigger role. Even here though, an absolutist 'despot' can be rational and humble himself in light of smarter views from advisors. But there are also advisors working for all the states involved, and people whose job it is within an administration to play devil's advocate, disagree, and other things to avoid Abilene paradox and group think situations. This is public administration 101. Arnoldski: That being said, where is the real "deal" here? Once the 4GW intentions are sorted out, what deal and with who could this Turkish operation be revolving around? Flores: The situation is meant to be fluid, and this is Turkey's initiative, post coup-attempt. This is specifically designed for us NOT to understand it, and we won't really know until the dust has settled. Turkey's operation revolves around Turkey. I know this sounds circular, but it will make sense if I can explain. But first let me say that no one's strategic culture should be underestimated, not the Iranians, not the Americans, not the Russians, and not the Turks. No one's. I don't like forecasting, I prefer summarizing events that have happened. Rational actor model is normally always the best. Always respect the intelligence and rationality of people clearly quite intelligent and capable of coming to power in complex societies. They may have giant egos, but that alone will not get them far. In fact, an unchecked one will normally preclude them from getting past a certain level. The rational actor model is the most humble and least arrogant, and most in tune with reality. There's always some analyst somewhere out there who thinks he's smarter or a better planner than all of the hundreds or thousands of analysts of all the institutions, working on complex and interconnected policy questions, for that society's government and academic institutions. They believe they know better than people who are privy to inside and top-secret information. I can't explain it. It's tremendous hubris. I want no part of that, no backseat driving. I don't have the answers. The real inside baseball can only start to be unwrapped after the fact. But if pushed to give an opinion, I will give one. We do happen to have access to political channels inside of Turkey, and Russia, some important pillars in the process of being rehabilitated in Turkey connected to some Kemalists, as well as in Russia to some of Putin's advisers and supporters, working in the realm of information. Those who know of our other projects will understand this.I think Turkey wants to break away from its unilateral commitments to the US and NATO, and have a security policy which is more inline with its economic and developmental policy in the region. I think Turkey would like good relations with the US, pursuing a multilateral and multi-vectored foreign policy, and so also be able to engage in energy markets as a partner with Iran, to sell to Europe and the Balkans. They want good relations with Russia, in the area of developing energy and transport hubs, and of course they are the two powers which share the ever important Black Sea. Turkey requires agreement with Russia to resolve any number of issues in the Caucuses. These are not necessarily friendly agreements, but Turkey has an interest to at least be able to pursue its own foreign policy interests, whether with Russia or at odds with Russia, but at any rate on its own behalf as a sovereign state. I assess that since the US seems bent on increasing hostilities with Russia, it is strategically unacceptable for Turkey to have nuclear weapons placed on Turkish soil which only the US has the ability to activate. It makes no sense to be a walking target for a war that's not in your interest. Are there things that the US maybe could have done to make Turkey have a greater interest? Perhaps. Maybe these would do with the Black Sea and the Crimea, defense matters dealing with post-coup Ukraine. That that didn't pan well for the US.Turkey's proximity to Russia makes it like Poland, a first strike target, and Poland is in a similar situation, but lacks the objective conditions to have an independent foreign policy, in the way that Turkey does. Turkey is a regional hegemon in its own right and yet through unilateral policy, it has put itself in otherwise unnecessary peril. This has nothing to do with Erdogan the man. Erdogan inherited the present situation. I oppose the policies of that state when they should be opposed, and support them when they should be supported. Erdogan has come, and he will eventually leave - but Turkey's objective and special geostrategic and geopolitical position will remain. Arnoldski: So what is your assessment of Turkey's position in the Syrian war in general?In my humble opinion, Turkey was forced into this war not because 'Erdogan wants to do Washington's bidding'. Not because anyone wanted anything of that sort. Things just do not operate this way in reality. Keep in mind what I've said about bias. I've tried to give my biases here - rational actor model, etc. But also you can see my view is that much of this is related to security, infrastructural development, and of course gas pipeline geopolitics.So bearing that in mind, I think one scenario that is most likely, of all the scenarios I've considered, is this:Turkey's interest in the war revolved around the completion of the AGP line into Turkey. But Syria led by Assad wouldn't allow this, because it cut seriously against Iran's interest. But initially, Turkey wanted to do the deal, the Persian pipeline deal, with Iran. But once Iran was under sanctions and Washington put the squash on the Persian pipeline, because the EU and Switzerland went along with the sanctions, it was clear that the Southern Corridor plan or Nabucco by itself would not produce enough to justify investment or expansion by the Turks. The pressure from the US and Israel was then to complete the Arab Gas Pipeline that ended in Syria, onto Turkey. And Israel wanted to expand the Arish-Ashkelon connector as its stealing Palestinian gas and it sells through the AGP. Israel may have also wanted a separate line that doesn't go through Jordan, but directly goes from Egypt up all the way, because the Arish-Ashkelon connector isn't central and as a result can reverse flow back to Egypt without a disruption of the whole line. In fact its reverse flowing now to Egypt, now that there is an Egyptian government which won't allow itself to be energy starved at Israel's demand. But the point of the AGP is that Syria would not only receive less gas, but the connection to Turkey would be completed, and hook up with existing Turkish lines, or be repackaged and sold to investors as part of a Southern Corrdior or Nabucco plan. Several big signs that Turkey was trying to get out from under the gravity well placed beneath it, which had forced it on a war path with Syria, were these: First, Syria began to win the war, and with Russia and China overtly involved, this is not going to change. Second Russia and Turkey announced the Turkish stream - this is a hedge for Turkey against being committed to the AGP completion, and hence to the war effort in Syria. Third, Turkey and Iran had a high level meeting just last March 5th at the Saadabad Palace in Tehran, where they agreed to a range of things relating to security and mutual economic development. It's important symbolically that it was Turkey that went to Tehran.That's why the Iranian airbase situation with the Russians was such a big deal. The US cannot be given a free ticket to pressure the Swiss, or say that Iran is in violation of sanctions. The Swiss were heavily invested in this Persian pipeline, and they still want it. It's also good for Europe. Fourth, the sanctions against Iran were partially lifted, and importantly so, the Swiss announced such. The Swiss are the largest European investor in the Persian pipeline. This means that an independent Turkey can return to the Persian pipeline.Lastly, the coup in Turkey was backed by the US and sought to put into power precisely that pro-Israel and pro-US part of the NATO establishment in Turkey committed to the war in Syria. The US would have probably put in someone both the Gulenists, NATO, and the ruling AKP would support - former Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu - who was just fired by Erdogan last May. That this coup failed, and that those involved were closest to Atlanticist power stuctures and were subsequently arrested, says a lot to me. Therefore, I am forced to conclude, from the perspective of my own bias, and my limited understanding of a very complex world in which I can never know all the facts, that Turkey is for the first time operating in Turkey's interests. Not entirely, not purely, but by a tremendous factor more so than ever before in recent history. If that's neo-Ottomanism, then its neo-Ottomanism, so be it. But in reality its about developing a policy based on what has always been the rule of thumb in diplomacy, to have as much good relations with as many states as possible, at any given time. Being obedient to NATO or a unilateralist policy, is the opposite of this rule of thumb. Turkey will use its position in Syria to wrestle what it wants from Syria. Maybe this will include the completion of the AGP! But only if Iran also gets its connector to Turkey, and other guarantees from Turkey. Arnoldski: What does this mean for the war as a whole, in conclusion? At any rate, this whole war, if it can end soon as a result of Turkey's change of position, besides the human tragedy to date, will be studied for generations to come as the product of states like Turkey tied to irrational alliances forced upon them by the US and Israel, which created conflict that could have been avoided. If Turkey can play a role in ending this conflict in a way that is in the interests of Turkey, but also Syria and Iran, then it will have ended in an acceptable way.)

- J. Arnoldski interviews J. Flores - September 1st, 2016 - Fort Russ News -

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFpqU7dDH5U/V8hRmbVJDXI/AAAAAAAAEG8/KJMa3vV4iW4sYY_hZF8gnpGSbTBBfz-fACLcB/s640/or-37814.jpg (https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFpqU7dDH5U/V8hRmbVJDXI/AAAAAAAAEG8/KJMa3vV4iW4sYY_hZF8gnpGSbTBBfz-fACLcB/s1600/or-37814.jpg)

Turkey's seizure of multiple villages from the so-called "Syrian Democratic Forces," i.e., US-backed Kurds has put into question the fate of Kurdish forces in and around Aleppo. What's more, discussion has opened as to whether or not Damascus and Ankara have reached a deal (https://yallalabarra.wordpress.com/2016/08/30/damascus-and-ankara-strike-a-deal-erdogan-gets-the-kurds-and-assad-gets-aleppo/) trading "Kurds and terrorists for Aleppo," thus heightening cooperation between the two countries in attaining strategic objectives which were diametrically opposed just several months ago.

Analysts have been split in their assessments of Euphrates Shield operation and its implications for Turkish-Russian rapprochement and the dynamics on the ground in Syria. While some appraised Turkey's adventure, its involvement of "FSA" forces, and its supposed backing by the US coalition represented by Joe Biden as signs of post-coup Turkish treachery, others suggested that the campaign could not have begun, much less advanced so far, without coordination and at least tacit agreement with Damascus, Moscow, and Tehran.

Arnoldski: The question begs itself; why is it that analysts cannot agree on the nature and scope of the Turkish incursion?

Flores: We have to step outside of conventional thinking. It's too easy to forget how information works in warfare. Information is written consciously by people, it's interpreted by people. Information is created to be interpreted a certain way.

There are events, facts. And then there's interpretation. Which facts you look at, and which facts you even have access to, these are separate questions. But the map is never the terrain. Whether your map features mountain ranges or bathroom stops, these are value judgments. Value judgments and reality are not the same thing.

There is of course a lot of 'fog of war' stuff that we can attribute to the first day or so of the Turkish incursion, which is why I bit my lip and didn't want to give an opinion on the subject. I knew my opinion would be unpopular.

But there are more complex reasons why its virtually impossible to give a definitive answer here.

We know that in 4GW, the point is that the way we perceive the reality also creates the reality. And how we can misperceive things is part of the strategy.

Public analysts may forget that analysis, public analysis, and also think tank analysis written only for officials, is part of the war.

If there is a lot of confusion and disagreement over the nature of the Russian-Turkish rapprochement, if that's even happening at all, and how to interpret Syria in light of that - then good.

Imagine how confused and confusing intelligence gathering is operating right now. You have not only analysts but various pillars in each of the societies or states that have made official and semi-official statements. Let's face it, they are all conflicting.

So we enter into a sort of Rorschach blot and confirmation bias reality. Whatever your operating thesis was going into this event, that will determine precisely how you interpret the events. The facts have been intentionally set up and placed a certain way, precisely so that there's something for everyone's bias. This is intentional.

Arnoldski: So how do US attempts to contain the situation in view of their own biased reality affect the overall arrangement? Was Biden's visit actually meant to play a part in obfuscating the turn of events?

Flores: Yes and no. Everything is obfuscation. We have to begin on a footing of humility. We have to know that we do not know.

Now imagine Biden's visit with Erodgan on the cusp of the Turkish invasion, incursion, however you want to term it. Of course Biden went in there with something to offer. There was this failed coup attempt. The Americans, Biden comes in, and there's some degree of plausible deniability.

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7cHosC4FJ-4/V8hR3MTKd9I/AAAAAAAAEHA/yHEctV0KC5o0hfW77B0BRqAW2Lum8g90gCLcB/s640/biden-erdogan-ankara-aug-2016.jpg (https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7cHosC4FJ-4/V8hR3MTKd9I/AAAAAAAAEHA/yHEctV0KC5o0hfW77B0BRqAW2Lum8g90gCLcB/s1600/biden-erdogan-ankara-aug-2016.jpg)

The US dissembles reality, they can play upon this perception they've promoted in media - it doesn't matter to what extent its true, perhaps it is, probably is, but here it doesn't matter - they've promoted this idea that the pentagon, the White House, and the CIA are at odds over a few things. Biden says, look, it was these other guys trying to stage the coup. He plays up this perception.

But Biden received a cold reception at the airport. He was met by a relatively low level public official. Ankara's displeasure was clear. Or at least that's what they wanted to project. Everyone's putting everyone together. It's multiple realities running in tandem. Erdogan can tell Biden, hey we are going to make it look like we are really upset with you, so your reception will 'appear' cold. At the same time, in reality, others are expecting that Erdogan give Biden a cold reception - and that's what is produced.

Everything is symbolic, and it means things to people looking for meanings. But in reality we are dealing with seasoned politicians, they are masters. Nothing means anything. Nothing is personal. ''You tried to kill me, but I'm still here. It doesn't bother me, let's make a deal."

Arnoldski: Did Erdogan 'buy' what Biden was selling?

Flores: Probably not. The only reason his plane didn't get shot down was Russian intel that they shared with him.

Understanding how these things go down means understanding how deals work. You also have to understand human nature and what bull**** smells like. Sometimes you pretend you've made a deal, so that the other guy doesn't see you as a problem, so he doesn't go home trying to figure out the next way to get at you. So, you shake hands, 'yes we have a deal'. But was there a deal?

I'd say that Biden probably left that day believing that Erdogan at least partly went for the US's explanation of the coup, and he knew that Turkey was going to make an incursion, and that it was going to be somewhat beneficial to the US.

Erdogan would have been clear that the US wouldn't like everything about it, but you know in a way 'tough ****' because 'you guys tried to overthrow me', even if Biden is saying it was the other American guys and not Team Obama.

At the same time, everyone is gaming each other, and setting up for the possible double-cross in the event that they think they are going to be double-crossed. So, they may just preemptively double-cross. So the whole situation is fluid. It's set up precisely so that everything can turn on a dime. Those are your own internal games. 'I have no way to confirm that'. So you just chalk that up to irrelevance.

But at the same time, Erdogan was convincing enough to Biden that this would be in America's interest. It's a typical con game. ''Look'', said Erdogan, ''You're going to see Damascus flip **** about this. You want to see if they are happy about it? Ask them, see how they respond." So of course Damascus is on point for this script, and ready to flip **** about it.

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T0P5nzYLMbI/V8hSrycildI/AAAAAAAAEHQ/OqnSCJ-cRlICWxhYTBQnIvl0c4dM7USXgCLcB/s640/turkey-syrian-refugee-camp-720.jpg (https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T0P5nzYLMbI/V8hSrycildI/AAAAAAAAEHQ/OqnSCJ-cRlICWxhYTBQnIvl0c4dM7USXgCLcB/s1600/turkey-syrian-refugee-camp-720.jpg)

Of course Damascus can't just welcome an illegal incursion in their country. They can't 'invite' Turkey in like they did with Russia, because Turkey can't be seen as doing so to the US, Turkey wants to pursue a multi-vectored foreign policy and have as much plausible deniability as possible.

And think about now how much public resources have gone since this war started, and how much momentum there is now, on this anti-Turkey and anti-Erdogan thing among Syrians and the pro-Syrian activist crowd internationally. It's tremendous. You can't just 'welcome' Turkey.

And what happens if they go out of bounds, or flip the script and really do the US's dirty work? Then you as the Syrian state have lost all legitimacy. Assad can't just welcome Erdogan in.

And Erdogan still has to maintain the official line about regime change, at least for now until the situation matures a bit. Otherwise he looks very weak to his constituency, and to the Islamists of the Muslim Brotherhood he supports and who back him. They helped do the dirty work in the streets to put down this coup. He can't just do them dirty, at least not so fast.

Arnoldski: And the Kurds?

Flores: Turkey has problems with the Kurds, but Syria has to denounce the incursions - these Kurds, even if they are up in arms, are still Syrian citizens. And moreover, Damascus may need to patch things up with them in the future. In fact they will. Damascus doesn't need to 'welcome' any attack on Kurds from the Turks. Syria's problems with Kurds are not the same as Turkey's. There's no reason for them to become the same issue.

Maybe the Turks want to genocide the Kurds. Maybe they don't. But these are Kurds that any unitary Syrian state will have to live with, and will require support from. Not the present Kurdish leadership perhaps, but Kurdish people and new representatives. Well, welcoming in this incursion where now Turks may violently suppress Kurds as a general category, well that's not going to fly so well in the near term future history. So the Syrians have to officially oppose all of this.

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YcfNRIhZgS4/V8hSRax1tZI/AAAAAAAAEHE/BwQcgPU-wEAjVvfZKG1nVabLZqon4EPVgCLcB/s640/150616-kurds-syria-tel-abyad-1045a_6816ac61e868450c8e760d39a6d7b7e0.nbcnews-ux-2880-1000.jpg (https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YcfNRIhZgS4/V8hSRax1tZI/AAAAAAAAEHE/BwQcgPU-wEAjVvfZKG1nVabLZqon4EPVgCLcB/s1600/150616-kurds-syria-tel-abyad-1045a_6816ac61e868450c8e760d39a6d7b7e0.nbcnews-ux-2880-1000.jpg)

The Syrians always had to treat these Kurds with kid gloves. The Kurds have the least intel outside the region. They have no real friends. They have all bad information, they are in the dark. In geostrategic terms, they are retarded. The US has been playing them for stupid, getting them to fight against ISIS whom the US also arms through its proxies and allies.

The game here was to have ISIS retreat and 'melt away' with Kurdish advances, in reality to weaken Damascus and fragment Syria. Will the Kurds ever understand how they were played? Only history will tell. But they won't listen to any Damascus later on, if Damascus welcomed the Turkish incursion.

So of course Damascus's role in the script says they have to denounce the incursion. Whether the incursion was welcome or unwelcome, in either event, they would have to denounce it. In fact I'd be more prone to think it was unwelcome if they had publicly welcomed it. See how that works?

Arnoldski: Are the Americans backing the Turks, the Kurds, or ISIS then right now?

Flores: They think they're backing all of them, sure, right now, why not? The Turks objectively have the most agency and the most objective capacity to make their own policy. ISIS is entirely reliant on US and Israeli proxies in the region, and the Kurdish YPG wouldn't be where it is without the US.

But the Americans want to have some control over this Turkey incursion. At least they need to appear to. That will also cause more confusion. So the Americans can call this a victory. They desperately need a victory right now. A lot is on the line here. But the Americans can run several confusing scripts too. The neocons can call it a victory. But the other pillars will be more sympathetic to Kurds.

The Russians may have a deal with the Turks in Syria. They certainly have deals in the works, or at least both agree to pretend to, in energy markets. And this Syria war is all about the gas pipelines (https://syncreticstudies.com/2014/12/11/russia-and-turkeys-gas-deal-can-save-europe-and-the-world/) and Israel's conflict with Iran. Anyone who forgets this or thinks this is about 'Neo-Ottomanism' of Erdogan has not only lost the script, but never had it.

After all, Erdogan's probably assured Biden that this will be partly in their interest. It will at least create new facts on the ground and shake things up. Sometimes new facts and a shake up is all you need to get through a strategic impasse. It's adding in that 'X' factor, a new variable that changes the equation. It may not be immediately apparent in which way the variables changed, but no matter what, it changes the game.

So the Americans want to make sure the 'right' message about this is sent, and they offer support for the operation. ''Sure, great'', says Erdogan. So yes the Americans and the Turks had a deal. But what's in a deal?

The more that the Americans appear to turn against the Kurds, and support most of Turkey's moves, the more that it makes the Russians scratch their heads. ''Have we been played?'' Of course not all Russians, but we are talking about various analytic circles and advisory councils. A thing to keep in mind is that all of the states involved are connected to basically market based economic models. This involves a lot of speculation. And 'democracy' is a lot like speculation also, its easy to lose support. Even if your plan is solid, the opponent can create the simulacrum that your plan isn't solid. Then you lose support. Then your plan is no longer solid. Then you lose investors.

In that respect, analysis not only interprets the world, but under conditions of 4GW, analysis creates the world.

Arnoldski: Do you have any idea what the actual plan is? Or who said what to whom? Looking at whether Turkey has the deal with Russia and Syria, or with the US, which of these contending views are right?

Flores: Of course not, that's unrealistic. Right now, everyone is speculating. The analysts with integrity will always go back and say when they've learned something or revised their positions. But others, who are basically never right about anything, and have consistently been wrong about Russia's moves in the past, seem emotionally driven to conclude that Russia is always making blunders. So that's their confirmation bias. Or they are speaking to the confirmation bias of their targeted audience.

The role of analysts isn't to be 'right'. Or 'wrong'. This is like some reality TV conception of analytic work. Analysts have different specialties and they approach the same question with different perspectives. Other analysts, generalists, have to sort through these opinions. Even 'wrong' opinions are very valuable, because we can trace these to certain lines of thought, or we can analyze 'why' they are wrong, which produces positive data. Analysts who get things 'wrong' are very valuable. And right and wrong, doesn't properly asses the work being done. A conclusion may be wrong, but the methodology is right. Would you rather have a broken clock that tells the right time twice a day, or a working clock that ticks every second perfectly, but is slow by a few hours and random minutes? Those are two different ways to be wrong. Methodology can be very good, but premise or conclusions wrong. So even apparently wrong analysis may have very sound logic, or it may introduce facts and methods of approaching the problem which are very useful.

[I]Continue below.

Hervé

2nd September 2016, 01:17

Continued from above:

Also, in the public sphere, not talking private analytic work directly for unpublished documents at the governmental or quasi-governmental level, but in the public sphere, some analysts are actually doing intelligence type work. They are promoting wrong views to give an impression that such and such pillar within a society views something a certain way. It's obfuscation. It's part of the war itself.

In reality, nobody knows what anybody said to each other behind closed doors. Even decades later when these guys write their autobiographies from the retirement home, they are going to tell the history in the way they want it remembered, or how they think people should remember it.

So you can't even really interpret these events without a lens to see it through, but that lens is going to sway you (http://www.fort-russ.com/2015/07/russia-vs-us-total-war-is-obliteration.html).

We aren't naturalists observing animals in the wild. We are people observing people who know they are being observed. They are sending signals to the observers precisely so that our interpretations of their actions and statements can be read a certain way.

We don't approach this using Ockham's razor. The most elegant theory is least likely to be the correct one. Tremendous resources go into creating the most confusing and inelegant, anti-rational narrative possible - that's how you dissemble reality and confuse the opponent. The more twists and turns you can create without confusing yourself or your actual allies, the better.

Arnoldski: How do the Syrians want to be read in all of this?

Flores: They want to be read different ways by different people. There are lots of important Syrians, way up, that are just pissed as **** at Erdogan for this whole war. Lots of emotions are tied up in this, and rightfully so. Same goes for the world of analysts who tend on the emotional side, and are attached to their own views.

That's why I always try to be detached, just lay out what's happening. There was always a lot of vilification of Erdogan in the anti-Imperialist milieu. You'll notice there aren't many if any moralizing adjectives when I describe geopolitical events. When I describe the liberal ideology, sure, yes - I can get polemical. But I have fun doing this.

The Syrians can't be read as inviting the Turks, even if they are. That's for sure. For reasons I've laid out, if you want to even try to start to figure this tangled mess out - and you never will fully - at least understand that 'evidence' such as Syria's public statements about Turkey, is in fact evidence of nothing.

Arnoldski: To clarify then, the entire personification of this controversy as one between Erdogan and Putin, or Erdogan and Assad is part of the problem?

Flores: I've never described actions, whether Putin's or Erdogan's, as being rooted somehow in certain highly personalized proclivities. Instead, I look at the forces of geopolitical and geostrategic gravity operating on them. And sometimes these 'gravity wells' have been placed under them precisely to get them to act a certain way.

Turkey has been acting along the rational actor model this whole time, since before the start of this. They wanted a Persian pipeline deal with Iran over ten years ago. Israel wanted to isolate Iran because Iran also came up just like Israel did when Iraq was dismantled the first time 15 years ago. Israel and the neo-cons were warning about Iran - not the Iran that was - but the Iran that is in the making, in part because of the dynamics of Iraq under US occupation and after. We are talking concrete things like political support from Shias suppressed by Sadam, water and oil rights, etc.

So Turkey always wanted normal, even decent ties, with Iran. They wanted to build this pipeline. It's politically incorrect to connect more dots regarding Russia's line on this, so at this point even my own job says to shut up, so I will.

But if people got wrapped up in thinking that Putin lacked resolve, or that Erdogan was 'deceitful', then they've basically violated some of the basic tenets of analysis in IR, and have moved into psychoanalysis and the 'great man' view of history. Yes, psychology of leaders plays a role. And in cases of an actually absolutist state, the psychology of the leader plays a bigger role. Even here though, an absolutist 'despot' can be rational and humble himself in light of smarter views from advisors.

But there are also advisors working for all the states involved, and people whose job it is within an administration to play devil's advocate, disagree, and other things to avoid Abilene paradox and group think situations. This is public administration 101.

Arnoldski: That being said, where is the real "deal" here? Once the 4GW intentions are sorted out, what deal and with who could this Turkish operation be revolving around?

Flores: The situation is meant to be fluid, and this is Turkey's initiative, post coup-attempt. This is specifically designed for us NOT to understand it, and we won't really know until the dust has settled.

Turkey's operation revolves around Turkey. I know this sounds circular, but it will make sense if I can explain.

But first let me say that no one's strategic culture should be underestimated, not the Iranians, not the Americans, not the Russians, and not the Turks. No one's.

I don't like forecasting, I prefer summarizing events that have happened. Rational actor model is normally always the best. Always respect the intelligence and rationality of people clearly quite intelligent and capable of coming to power in complex societies. They may have giant egos, but that alone will not get them far. In fact, an unchecked one will normally preclude them from getting past a certain level. The rational actor model is the most humble and least arrogant, and most in tune with reality.

There's always some analyst somewhere out there who thinks he's smarter or a better planner than all of the hundreds or thousands of analysts of all the institutions, working on complex and interconnected policy questions, for that society's government and academic institutions. They believe they know better than people who are privy to inside and top-secret information. I can't explain it. It's tremendous hubris. I want no part of that, no backseat driving. I don't have the answers. The real inside baseball can only start to be unwrapped after the fact.

But if pushed to give an opinion, I will give one. We do happen to have access to political channels inside of Turkey, and Russia, some important pillars in the process of being rehabilitated in Turkey connected to some Kemalists, as well as in Russia to some of Putin's advisers and supporters, working in the realm of information. Those who know of our other projects will understand this.

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wORmAOnuGGM/V8hS-bLUI8I/AAAAAAAAEHU/HizpY1z1ddYZGSJOzCyRwqZ-25RKmyHygCLcB/s640/turkeynato_3.jpg (https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wORmAOnuGGM/V8hS-bLUI8I/AAAAAAAAEHU/HizpY1z1ddYZGSJOzCyRwqZ-25RKmyHygCLcB/s1600/turkeynato_3.jpg)

I think Turkey wants to break away from its unilateral commitments to the US and NATO, and have a security policy which is more inline with its economic and developmental policy in the region.

I think Turkey would like good relations with the US, pursuing a multilateral and multi-vectored foreign policy, and so also be able to engage in energy markets as a partner with Iran, to sell to Europe and the Balkans. They want good relations with Russia, in the area of developing energy and transport hubs, and of course they are the two powers which share the ever important Black Sea.

Turkey requires agreement with Russia to resolve any number of issues in the Caucuses. These are not necessarily friendly agreements, but Turkey has an interest to at least be able to pursue its own foreign policy interests, whether with Russia or at odds with Russia, but at any rate on its own behalf as a sovereign state.

I assess that since the US seems bent on increasing hostilities with Russia, it is strategically unacceptable for Turkey to have nuclear weapons placed on Turkish soil which only the US has the ability to activate.

It makes no sense to be a walking target for a war that's not in your interest. Are there things that the US maybe could have done to make Turkey have a greater interest? Perhaps. Maybe these would do with the Black Sea and the Crimea, defense matters dealing with post-coup Ukraine. That that didn't pan well for the US.

Turkey's proximity to Russia makes it like Poland, a first strike target, and Poland is in a similar situation, but lacks the objective conditions to have an independent foreign policy, in the way that Turkey does.

Turkey is a regional hegemon in its own right and yet through unilateral policy, it has put itself in otherwise unnecessary peril. This has nothing to do with Erdogan the man. Erdogan inherited the present situation. I oppose the policies of that state when they should be opposed, and support them when they should be supported. Erdogan has come, and he will eventually leave - but Turkey's objective and special geostrategic and geopolitical position will remain.

Arnoldski: So what is your assessment of Turkey's position in the Syrian war in general?

Flores: In my humble opinion, Turkey was forced into this war not because 'Erdogan wants to do Washington's bidding'. Not because anyone wanted anything of that sort. Things just do not operate this way in reality.

Keep in mind what I've said about bias. I've tried to give my biases here - rational actor model, etc. But also you can see my view is that much of this is related to security, infrastructural development, and of course gas pipeline geopolitics.

So bearing that in mind, I think one scenario that is most likely, of all the scenarios I've considered, is this:

Turkey's interest in the war revolved around the completion of the AGP line into Turkey. But Syria led by Assad wouldn't allow this, because it cut seriously against Iran's interest.

But initially, Turkey wanted to do the deal, the Persian pipeline deal, with Iran.

But once Iran was under sanctions and Washington put the squash on the Persian pipeline, because the EU and Switzerland went along with the sanctions, it was clear that the Southern Corridor plan or Nabucco by itself would not produce enough to justify investment or expansion by the Turks.

The pressure from the US and Israel was then to complete the Arab Gas Pipeline that ended in Syria, onto Turkey. And Israel wanted to expand the Arish-Ashkelon connector as its stealing Palestinian gas and it sells through the AGP. Israel may have also wanted a separate line that doesn't go through Jordan, but directly goes from Egypt up all the way, because the Arish-Ashkelon connector isn't central and as a result can reverse flow back to Egypt without a disruption of the whole line. In fact its reverse flowing now to Egypt, now that there is an Egyptian government which won't allow itself to be energy starved at Israel's demand.

But the point of the AGP is that Syria would not only receive less gas, but the connection to Turkey would be completed, and hook up with existing Turkish lines, or be repackaged and sold to investors as part of a Southern Corrdior or Nabucco plan.

Several big signs that Turkey was trying to get out from under the gravity well placed beneath it, which had forced it on a war path with Syria, were these:

First, Syria began to win the war, and with Russia and China overtly involved, this is not going to change.

Second Russia and Turkey announced the Turkish stream - this is a hedge for Turkey against being committed to the AGP completion, and hence to the war effort in Syria.

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ulRBO-7RDg/V8hT7WDAbjI/AAAAAAAAEHk/ceoh22gwcfkYYvfgTuvxB6yrFC9B4IrOQCLcB/s640/gas_to_eu_final_3.png (https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ulRBO-7RDg/V8hT7WDAbjI/AAAAAAAAEHk/ceoh22gwcfkYYvfgTuvxB6yrFC9B4IrOQCLcB/s1600/gas_to_eu_final_3.png)

Third, Turkey and Iran had a high level meeting just last March 5th at the Saadabad Palace in Tehran, where they agreed to a range of things relating to security and mutual economic development. It's important symbolically that it was Turkey that went to Tehran.

That's why the Iranian airbase situation with the Russians was such a big deal. The US cannot be given a free ticket to pressure the Swiss, or say that Iran is in violation of sanctions. The Swiss were heavily invested in this Persian pipeline, and they still want it. It's also good for Europe.

Fourth, the sanctions against Iran were partially lifted, and importantly so, the Swiss announced such. The Swiss are the largest European investor in the Persian pipeline. This means that an independent Turkey can return to the Persian pipeline.

Lastly, the coup in Turkey was backed by the US and sought to put into power precisely that pro-Israel and pro-US part of the NATO establishment in Turkey committed to the war in Syria. The US would have probably put in someone both the Gulenists, NATO, and the ruling AKP would support - former Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu - who was just fired by Erdogan last May.

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2tNvOjeyPsA/V8hTHkznAzI/AAAAAAAAEHY/d90s6CHsykIqJ7vdF3MSNPuLvuEjQ27JACLcB/s640/coup_c045878f3b5434762ea420f13a52ef59.nbcnews-ux-2880-1000.jpg (https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2tNvOjeyPsA/V8hTHkznAzI/AAAAAAAAEHY/d90s6CHsykIqJ7vdF3MSNPuLvuEjQ27JACLcB/s1600/coup_c045878f3b5434762ea420f13a52ef59.nbcnews-ux-2880-1000.jpg)

That this coup failed, and that those involved were closest to Atlanticist power stuctures and were subsequently arrested, says a lot to me.

Therefore, I am forced to conclude, from the perspective of my own bias, and my limited understanding of a very complex world in which I can never know all the facts, that Turkey is for the first time operating in Turkey's interests. Not entirely, not purely, but by a tremendous factor more so than ever before in recent history. If that's neo-Ottomanism, then its neo-Ottomanism, so be it.

But in reality its about developing a policy based on what has always been the rule of thumb in diplomacy, to have as much good relations with as many states as possible, at any given time. Being obedient to NATO or a unilateralist policy, is the opposite of this rule of thumb.

Turkey will use its position in Syria to wrestle what it wants from Syria. Maybe this will include the completion of the AGP! But only if Iran also gets its connector to Turkey, and other guarantees from Turkey.

Arnoldski: What does this mean for the war as a whole, in conclusion?

Flores: At any rate, this whole war, if it can end soon as a result of Turkey's change of position, besides the human tragedy to date, will be studied for generations to come as the product of states like Turkey tied to irrational alliances forced upon them by the US and Israel, which created conflict that could have been avoided. If Turkey can play a role in ending this conflict in a way that is in the interests of Turkey, but also Syria and Iran, then it will have ended in an acceptable way.

Sophocles

2nd September 2016, 04:49

The US is pissing off everyone in northern Syria (https://news.vice.com/article/united-states-kurds-turkey-islamic-state-northern-syria)

By Benjamin Gilbert
August 30, 2016 | 7:50 pm
news.vice.com

When US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter asked Turkey on Monday to "stay focused" in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) and stop attacking US-backed Kurdish forces, Turkish officials responded with a suggestion of their own.

"Americans should revise their policy of supporting (the Kurdish-led force) at all costs," Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin said in a Turkish newspaper on Tuesday.

It was the latest rebuke to American damage-control efforts after US-backed Kurdish forces clashed with American NATO ally Turkey over the weekend. The Syrian Kurds blew up a Turkish tank in the north of Syria on Saturday, killing at least one soldier, and Turkish warplanes attacked Syrian Kurds the following day, killing at least 35 people.

Experts on the region say the US has mismanaged its relationships with allies who have wildly differing objectives in Syria. And this, says Robert Ford, the last US ambassador to Syria, has created a quagmire that could have been avoided.

"We managed to make everyone angry at us: The Syrian kurds, the larger Syrian opposition, as well as the Turks," said Ford, who is now a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute.

Ford said this is partly because the US failed to communicate the limits of its support to the Syrian Kurds. Before Turkey launched an unprecedented offensive, code-named "Operation Euphrates Shield," into northern Syria last week. US Vice President Joe Biden visited Turkey and publicly announced that the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, would need to withdraw to the east of the Euphrates River, as Ankara had requested, or the US would no longer support them.

"If the vice president has to say that in Turkey, there's a problem," Ford said. "That message should have been clear to [the SDF] long before the VP got to Turkey."

The Turks made clear their offensive had two aims: to drive IS militants away from their border with Syria, and to prevent Syrian Kurds from linking together the two autonomous zones under their control in order to create a large, semi-independent statelet in northern Syria. One of Turkey's biggest national security fears is that Syrian Kurdish gains will feed Turkish Kurds' aspirations for an autonomous zone of their own in Turkey's southeast, where the Kurds are engaged in a war against the Turkish government.

Ford says he warned President Barack Obama's administration in 2014 and 2015 not to support the Kurds due to the problems it would cause with Turkey and other Syrian opposition groups.

"What we have in the past five days is we are now harvesting something that we started sowing back in early 2015," said Ford, who resigned from the State Department in 2014 due to his disagreement with US Syria policy, particularly its refusal to arm what he said (http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/11/opinion/ford-arm-syrias-opposition.html?hp&rref=opinion&_r=2) were Syria's moderate rebels.

According to Ford, the Obama administration feared it would violate international law if it armed forces that would in turn attack the government of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. And the Kurds didn't want to fight Assad, they wanted to fight the Islamic State — with the understanding that they could expand their own territory in the process.

And expand they did. The Kurds grew their territory by 50 percent as they drove off IS militants with help from US air support and advisors. They also lost hundreds of fighters in the process.

So it must have come as a shock to the Kurds when, just a few weeks after they fought a bloody battle to evict IS from the town of Manbij at America's request, Biden showed up in Turkey and said the Kurds would need to withdraw from the town in order to accommodate the Turks, says Joshua Landis, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma.

"Of course the Kurds feel betrayed, and they were betrayed," he said. "I'm sure the US Special Forces who worked with the Kurds over the past two months are feeling very embarrassed, because they feel like they lied through their teeth as they gave encouragement to the Kurds to do the heavy lifting."

The question now, Landis says, is whether this will affect future US plans to use the Kurds as the tip of its anti-Islamic State spear, especially in the battle to take the group's de facto capital, Raqqa. The new US general in charge of the US war against IS has said (http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/08/22/situation-report-mosul-raqqa-will-fall-within-a-year-russia-quits-iran-crimea-crisis-and-lots-more/) the US and its allies intend to take Raqqa by next August — and the US is depending on its Kurdish allies to comprise the main ground fighting force in the effort.

Landis points out that the Kurds have no strategic interest in going to Raqqa since it's a Sunni Arab city far east of their territory.

"If this undermines the Kurdish will to go after ISIS, then our efforts to combat ISIS in Syria will be stalled," he said. " the Kurds go back to their tents and sulk, any effort to send them to Raqqa is going to be seriously compromised."

[I]Follow Benjamin Gilbert on Twitter: @benrgilbert (https://twitter.com/benrgilbert)

Source (https://news.vice.com/article/united-states-kurds-turkey-islamic-state-northern-syria)

Sophocles

2nd September 2016, 04:53

Gülen movement ‘founded by CIA like the Mormons and Scientologists,’ says Turkish prosecutor (http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/gulen-movement-founded-by-cia-like-the-mormons-and-scientologists-says-turkish-prosecutor.aspx?pageID=238&nID=103419&NewsCatID=341)

hurriyetdailynews.com
August/31/2016

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/images/news/201608/n_103419_1.jpg
REUTERS photo

A Turkish prosecutor probing the financial links of the Fethullah Gülen movement has said the organizational structure of the group is the same as the Mormon Church and the Church of Scientology in the United States, claiming that all three groups were founded by U.S. intelligence.

The CIA (http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/tag/CIA) organizes these sects as non-governmental organizations in order “to make changes to society,” read the indictment prepared Zafer Dur, a prosecutor in the Aegean province of İzmir.

The system that the Gülenists have built over years up in the education, heath, political, technology and culture sectors aims at the same thing as these churches, Dur said.

He claimed that it would not be possible for a primary school graduate, 75-year-old Fethullah Gülen, who has been living in the U.S. since 1999, to have built up such a large organization and infiltrated vital state organizations through his own efforts and abilities.

“Without international backing, Gülen could not have opened schools in 160 countries,” Dur added.

The prosecutor also established a link between the arrest of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s (PKK) leader in 1999 and Gülen moving to the U.S. in the same year.

“Investigative journalists have been reporting that [Gülenists] worked as contractors for foreign intelligence services such as the CIA, MI6 and BND and infiltrated into the intelligence services of other countries acting in the name of the services they worked for,” read the indictment.

It noted that the mysterious killings of journalists Necip Hablemitoğlu, Haydar Meriç and Aytunç Altındal, who wrote books on the issue, should be “carefully investigated.”

It also mentioned that journalist (http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/tag/journalist) Ahmet Şık was arrested in 2011 before his book on Gülenists was published, while Hanefi Avcı and Nedim Şener, who wrote books on the issue, also spent time behind bars.

Source (http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/gulen-movement-founded-by-cia-like-the-mormons-and-scientologists-says-turkish-prosecutor.aspx?pageID=238&nID=103419&NewsCatID=341)

Cidersomerset

2nd September 2016, 09:21

The Arms trade hypocrisy ....The US and Russia are the biggest by far but many
other countries sell weapons....

Figures vary according to arms contracts etc , but on the whole the US has been top since WW11
after a lull after 1990 , Russia is not far behind. So the PTB behind the whole global theatre has
built up a balance between major blocks to facilitate a world war as opposed to regional conflicts
that has kept them in production thru most of the 20th and early 21 centuries to keep their power
control meme by creating order out of chaos scenarios......

TE INDEPENDENT....

The Defence and Security Equipment International Exhibition, the world’s biggest weapons fair, is due
to open in London next week.

http://indy100.independent.co.uk/article/the-worlds-10-biggest-arms-exporters-and-importers--WktjmuA1Ul

=============================================================

Rolls-Royce will stop military production in Britain if profits cap imposed - CEO

By David on 2 September 2016 GMT

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/57c7f2c0c46188035a8b46da.jpg

RT NEWS....

Rolls-Royce will stop military production in Britain if profits cap imposed - CEO

Published time: 1 Sep, 2016 11:28

Global engineering giant Rolls-Royce says it may stop providing military services in Britain
and move operations elsewhere after a government cap was placed on its UK profits.

Roll-Royce, which made part of the F-35 fighter and services the UK’s famous Red Arrows,
appeared to threaten to stop servicing the military altogether at the first whiff of state regulation.

The row developed after the UK’s military contract watchdog – the Single Source Regulations
Office (SSRO) – ordered the firm to remove £1.27 million (US$1.68 million) worth of charges
to service Hawk fighter jets.’

https://www.rt.com/uk/357879-rolls-royce-profits-arms/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

===================================================
===================================================

Another interesting discussion....

TX-PFn_gGm4

Published on 2 Sep 2016
Turning reality on its head. Candidate Hillary Clinton claims the woes of the world
are due to a vast alt-right conspiracy – and it is run out of Moscow. The fact is
western elites are in a panic. Publics and audiences around the world are no longer
convinced by the messages propagated by the corporate mainstream media.
CrossTalking with Matthew Gordon-Banks, Gilbert Doctorow, and Earl Rasmussen.

Ewan

2nd September 2016, 13:33

Rolls Royce are German now, for whatever that matters.

Cidersomerset

2nd September 2016, 16:46

Putin: Russia and US close to breakthrough deal on Syria

LcUNKLtkeDA

Published on 2 Sep 2016
President Putin has said that Russia and the US could be close to a breakthrough
deal on fighting terrorists in Syria. RT's Roman Kosarev has more on the conditions
and stumbling blocks of a possible agreement.

===================================================

‘US has to belly dance between Turkey & Kurds’: American balancing act irks Ankara

phUYkUKv8xs

Published on 2 Sep 2016
Clashes between the Turks and Kurds intensified last week, after Turkey began a
large-scale military operation against Islamic State in the Syrian border town of
Jarabulus. Recently, the US stated that a ceasefire exists between Turkey and the
Kurds - something Ankara denies. RT's Gayane Chichakyan has the story.

===================================================

Still setbacks for government forces according to this report...

Syria: Army launches numerous air strikes after rebels make gains in major Hama offensive
uvYZqKUW2qk

animovado

2nd September 2016, 18:23

Rolls Royce are German now, for whatever that matters.

It's just Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd. that's a part of BMW.

Hervé

3rd September 2016, 17:26

Big surprise: Media silent regarding George Soros' hidden hand in U.S. internal affairs (http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/23980-where-is-media-coverage-of-george-soros-meddling-in-u-s-internal-affairs)

Bob Adelman The New American (http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/23980-where-is-media-coverage-of-george-soros-meddling-in-u-s-internal-affairs) Fri, 02 Sep 2016 00:00 UTC

https://www.sott.net/image/s16/338600/large/Soros.jpg (https://www.sott.net/image/s16/338600/full/Soros.jpg)

When the hacktivist group calling themselves DCLeaks released "restricted" documents (http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-08-24/bizarre-media-blackout-hacked-george-soros-documents) it obtained from the Internet servers of the Open Society Foundation of George Soros, none of the major so-called watchdog media mentioned it. And yet, those documents revealed more than 50 regional and global initiatives and well-funded programs designed to influence major policy decisions around the world, as well as in the United States.

DCLeaks describes itself as
a new level project aimed to analyze and publish a large amount of emails from top-ranking officials and their influence agents all over the world.

The project was launched by the American hacktivists who respect and appreciate freedom of speech, human rights and government of the people....

We believe U.S. citizens have the right to know how domestic and foreign policies of the United States are shaped and who the real policy maker is. In many cases that "real policy maker" is George Soros, the billionaire progressive activist with a sordid background of aiding all manner of radical and extremist elements around the globe. AS DCLeaks noted:
The selection [of Soros' servers' documents] shed[s] light on one of the most influential networks operating worldwide. [It] counts more than 50 global and regional programs and foundations. Soros is named as the architect and sponsor of almost every revolution and coup around the world for the last 25 years. And yet, not a single member of the fourth estate has picked up the story.

Not even when those hacked documents revealed that Soros

- Promotes international regulation of "what information is taken off the Internet an what may remain;

- Attempted to manipulate Europe's 2014 elections, with its "List of European Elections 2014 Projects" detailing more than 90 such efforts he made that year;

- Poured $4 million into anti-Israel groups, with his goal of "challenging Israel's racist and anti-demographic policies";

- Supported a smear campaign against conservative activists with $200,000 given to his Center for American Progress;

- Funded the Black Lives Movement to the tune of $650,000 (the Washington Times has since reported that Soros-funded groups have given upwards of $33 million to BLM); and

- Gave Hillary Clinton instructions while she was secretary of state on how to deal with unrest in Albania, even suggesting various candidates to be the mediator in the conflict.

Why is the mainstream media so willing to forego any mention of Soros' machinations and interventions into America's internal affairs? Why are they so willing to overlook what would otherwise, in normal times, rate as headline news.

Tyler Durden, writing for ZeroHedge, asked the same question:
If Soros were a rock-ribbed conservative who supported Republican candidates and causes, you can bet that a swarm of reporters would right now be lustily tearing into these documents determined to expose any and every shred of evidence of influence peddling and misdeeds.

Sophocles

3rd September 2016, 23:31

Putin vs. Bilderberg: "Do you want another Cuban Missile Crisis?" (http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/09/putin-vs-bilderberg-do-you-want-another.html)

September 3rd, 2016 - Fort Russ News -
- Ruslan Ostashko, PolitRussia - translated by J. Arnoldski
fort-russ.com

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J4vXtB6t2xI/V8q0ojjeGFI/AAAAAAAAEJs/cNr56237zfco6ydj0kdiNg4svh08V8w2ACLcB/s640/1044883352.jpg

The most important information event of Friday was Vladimir Putin’s interview with Bloomberg, in which the Russian president touched on key issues on the global information agenda. I am sure that dozens of publications are going over this interview and discussing every question and answer in it, but I want to propose to you, dear friends, to look at this from a different angle.

The point is that John Micklethwait, the editor-in-chief of Bloomberg who interviewed the Russian president, is not merely a journalist, but one of many journalists who has participated for many years in meetings of the Bilderberg Club as a full member of this shadow interest group whose opinions determine the policies of Western countries. I think that this explains the unusual format of the interview and the fact that Vladimir Putin called Micklethwait a “specialist” and debated with him more like a politician than a journalist…

If we look at the interview with Putin from this point of view, then we see that this can be considered as Putin’s response to the Western political elite. Here are the key points which I would like to highlight.

John Micklethwait inquired as to whether Putin is ready to exchange or sell the Kuril Islands and Kaliningrad, a question which immediately received a sharp response from the Russian president. The response on the Kuril islands was done in traditional Putin style, said to the effect that "Russia does not trade territories, but looks for agreements that suit both parties."

As for Kaliningrad, Putin outlined the following perspective for this representative of Bilderberg: if someone starts revising the outcome of the Second World War, then the question can be immediately raised about Germany’ eastern territories, where Lvov belongs, and the borders of Romania and Hungary. If anyone wants to open “Pandora’s box”, as Putin put it, then “go ahead with flag in hand.” John Micklethwait hastened to say the he was joking. But the video intereview shows that Putin did not appreciate this “joke.”

The second important point was when John Micklethwait asked Putin about Russian gold-currency reserves, budget deficits, and oil prices. He, like many Russian liberals, distorted Putin’s quote on oil production falling if oil prices fall below $80 a barrel. But Putin reasonably replied that we have enough currency reserves by all standards and a moderate budget deficit. To the question of oil prices, the Russian president remarked that investments in oil production have fallen sharply given current prices. This is what he had in mind, not what certain journalists are misquoting him as saying.

Here you can see the graph compiled by Bloomberg itself which, ironically, indicates that the Russian president is absolutely right.

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Je8mcMn6Hxw/V8q1rCjPsvI/AAAAAAAAEJ0/MOehJ8ASlnUCthOH9fELRqfais-MsJzMwCLcB/s640/CrFXAUZXYAEOBCn.jpg

Due to low oil prices, no one is investing in the exploration of new reserves, hence why the number and size of new oil fields in 2015 and 2016 fell to zero. This means that, in the future, we inevitably await a shortage of oil and corresponding higher prices. Putin's response can be interpreted as a subtle hint at the serious economic circumstances which our Western partners will not find to their liking.

We must give credit to the Bilderberg club’s representative - he really tried to provoke the Russian president to give him the answers he wanted. In particular, he tried to present Putin as a staunch enemy of Europe who desires the collapse of the Eurozone, the destruction of the Euro, and the complete collapse of the European project. After all, what better way to support anti-Russian propaganda in Europe than with the words of the Russian president himself? Putin, as expected, did not take the bait. He wished Europeans the best of luck in fighting the crisis and remarked that he is critical of the EU’s foreign policy, but that Russia hopes for the European economy to improve.

The second failed provocation was when Micklethwait attempted to force Putin to publicly support Donald Trump as candidate for President of the United States, or at least admit that Russia was behind the hacking attack on the Democratic Party’s servers. This provocation failed, as Putin declared his readiness to work with any American president capable of complying with agreements. So that this would be less painful for the interviewer, he added that he understands why the American public was so surprised by the information that hackers exposed. Translated from diplomatic language into English, his remark sounded so: “Yeah, everyone knows that you have a rotten political system - enough making it a comedy out of it."

And the final important element: the Russian president stressed that if anyone in the American leadership tries to “get rid of us,” we will survive and “who knows who will lose more with such an approach.”

Then Putin broke the interview format and asked a direct question to the Bilderberg Club representative. Putin asked whether he wants to repeat the Cuban Missile Crisis. John Micklethwait quickly replied that “no one wants to.” From my point of view, this was another clear and unambiguous message to our Western partners. As they say, a kind word and a nuclear weapon can achieve more than just a kind word. All that remains is to hope that our Western partners will draw the right conclusions from the Russian president’s words.

Cidersomerset

5th September 2016, 19:11

What a mess ........

zArK07RQd1s

https://yt3.ggpht.com/-3481FOdiSDE/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAAAA/Ni8N8DV1qHM/s88-c-k-no-mo-rj-c0xffffff/photo.jpg

Published on 5 Sep 2016

====================================================
====================================================

Aleppo tug-of-war: Rebel supply lines cut following clashes over military colleges

jlaED8UsMGQ

Published on 5 Sep 2016
A major advance by Syrian government forces was made in Aleppo - as they
managed to retake a key area from Islamists.

====================================================

RAW: Multiple blasts in govt-held Syrian city of Tartus

JOgwfNh5SNg

Published on 5 Sep 2016
A series of deadly explosions have rocked at least four government-held cities in
Syria, including the capital, Damascus. Local media reports over 40 people have
been killed and some 60 injured in the blasts.

Cidersomerset

7th September 2016, 23:09

http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.20.4/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png

Islamic State group: Turkey and US 'ready to invade capital'

39 minutes ago
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has suggested he
and the US are ready to drive so-called Islamic State (IS)
from its Syrian stronghold of Raqqa.

Mr Erdogan said US President Barack Obama floated the idea
of joint action against the militants when they met at the G20
summit in China.

Read more....

http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/04BE/production/_91041210_syria_turkey_kurds_v10_624map_6sep.png

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37298968

========================================
========================================

Saudi Arabia FM 'not optimistic' over Syria plan - BBC News

1H6oqRMB2qs

Published on 7 Sep 2016
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir has told the BBC's Lyse
Doucet the new attempt would test President Assad and his
allies but said he wasn't optimistic.

======================================

GLOBAL RESEARCH....

I Am A Syrian Living in Syria: “It was Never a Revolution nor a Civil War. The
Terrorists are sent by your Government”

American People, Please Help Us
By Mark Taliano

Global Research, September 07, 2016

Two years ago, “Majd” wrote these words on a Facebook posting:

“ I am Syrian… living in Syria in the middle of everything. We have seen horrors. It
was never a revolution nor a civil war. The terrorists are sent by your goverment.
They are al Qaeda Jabhat al Nusra Wahhabi Salafists Talibans etc and the like
extremists jihadists sent by the West and the Saudis and Qatar and Turkey. Your
Obama and whoever is behind him or above him are supporting al Qaeda and
leading a proxy war on my country. We thought you are against al Qaeda and now
you support them.

The majority here loves Assad. He has never committed a crime against his own
people…the chemical attack was staged by the terrorists helped by USA and UK
etc..everyone knows that here. American soldiers and people should not be
supporting barbarian al Qaeda terrorists who are killing Christians, Muslims in my
country and everyone. Every massacre has committed by them. We were all happy
in Syria= we have free school and university education available for everyone, free
healthcare, no GMO, no fluoride, no chemtrails, no Rothschild IMF- controlled bank,
state owned central bank which gives 11% interest, we are self-sufficient and have
no foreign debt to any country or bank.

Life before the crisis was so beautiful here. Now it is hard and horrific in some regions.

Read More......

http://www.globalresearch.ca/i-am-a-syrian-living-in-syria-it-was-never-a-revolution-nor-a-civil-war-the-terrorists-are-sent-by-your-government/5544450

Sophocles

9th September 2016, 08:12

Uzbekistan...

http://www.studentnewsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/uzbekistan-map.jpg

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

What Obama Doesn’t Want You to Know About Uzbekistan (http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/09/07/what-obama-doesnt-want-you-to-know-about-uzbekistan/)

Counterpunch.org
September 7, 2016
by Ted Rall (http://www.counterpunch.org/author/ted-rall/)

http://uziiw38pmyg1ai60732c4011.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/dropzone/2016/09/shutterstock_462060448.jpg
Evan El-Amin | Shutterstock.com

Death is usually a sad event. The passing of a world leader, particularly one who brought stability to a tense part of the Muslim world for several decades, is typically cause for concern.

The death of Uzbekistani president Islam Karimov is not typical.

For the majority of the long-oppressed citizens of Uzbekistan, the end of one of the world’s bloodiest and most corrupt dictators — and, to our eternal shame, an American ally — is cause for joy and gleeful celebration.

The SOB died 82 years too late.

Except for the time Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson called (http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/latest-columns/20140608-do-your-homework-ben-carson.ece) it “a small, insignificant state…Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan,” the hell on earth created by Karimov doesn’t get much coverage in the news media. Few Americans could find this backwater on a map to save their lives. Yet Uzbekistan, once known as the underbelly of the USSR, is incredibly important. Which is why the rich and powerful – military generals, energy company executives, Hillary Clinton – know all about it.

Unfortunately for the Uzbeks, these American elites’ interest in their country has made their lives unspeakably miserable. And unless something radically unexpectedly takes place, that’s likely to continue. Which is why, during this presidential election season, American voters ought to ask the candidates most likely to win (Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump) as well as those who should be most likely to win (Jill Stein and Gary Johnson) how they would change American foreign policy in obscure/important places like Uzbekistan.

American policymakers care about Uzbekistan because it is an energy giant (http://oilprice.com/Geopolitics/Asia/How-Uncertainty-In-Uzbekistan-Threatens-Chinas-Energy-Security.html): one of the largest producers of natural gas in the world, a significant supplier of oil, and the fourth-largest source of gold in the world. Sitting smack dab in the middle of Central Asia, the nation has undeniable strategic importance. Uzbekistan has the region’s largest population, its most sophisticated infrastructure and its biggest cities: Tashkent, a city of 2.3 million people (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tashkent), even has a subway. It also has the blockbuster tourist attractions: the Silk Road cities of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand should be on any world traveler’s wish list.

Uzbekistan is the only Central Asian republic with common borders with all of the others, as well as with perpetually troubled Afghanistan. Oil and gas pipelines to and from the biggest source of fossil fuels on earth, the Caspian Sea, crisscross this blisteringly hot, dry nation.

Given Uzbekistan’s tremendous oil, gas and mineral wealth and its geographically and geopolitically strategic importance, its citizens ought to enjoy a high standard of living. Instead, the average Uzbek subsists (https://www.google.no/search?q=uzbekistan+poverty&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=zEXSV_yzCYSwsQGr0KjQCA#q=average%20income%20in%20uzbekistan) on $3 to $8 per day. Where does all that energy wealth go? Karimov, his family and cronies steal it (http://thediplomat.com/2016/05/corruption-politics-and-power-in-uzbekistan/). Gulnara Karimova (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3766631/Where-glamorous-Uzbek-princess-Tyrant-president-s-eldest-daughter-hasn-t-seen-two-years-rumours-swirl-died.html), the deceased despot’s flamboyant chanteuse daughter, is accused of breaking in over $1 billion in bribes from telecommunications companies seeking permits to do business. Another daughter, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva, is linked (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/15/us/shell-company-bel-air-mansion.html?_r=1) to shell companies that own gaudy multimillion estates in the U.S.

Cultural and ethnic heirs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uzbeks) to Genghis Khan’s Golden Horde, Uzbeks are neither stupid nor lazy. It requires and incredibly brutal and ruthless military and police apparatus to prevent them from rising up and overthrowing their oppressors. So this is exactly what the Karimov regime has delivered since the country became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991. (Karimov kept his job as boss of the Uzbek SSR, which he scored from outgoing Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev.)

Uzbekistan is routinely awarded the world’s “Worst of the Worst (https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/freedom-world-2015#.V9JF662T-va)” status for its extreme corruption and violations of fundamental human rights. Phones are tapped and militsia goons shake down motorists at innumerable checkpoints. Print and broadcast media are completely state-controlled. There’s a zero tolerance policy toward political opposition.

In 1999, Karimov said: “I am ready to rip off the heads of 200 people, to sacrifice their lives, for the sake of peace and tranquility in the country.” By which he meant his peace and tranquility.

Four percent of the population are subjected to slavery (http://www.rferl.org/content/global-slavery-index-uzbekistan-pakistan-worst-offenders/27770928.html). At least 10,000 political prisoners (http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21706185-their-tyrant-nears-his-end-people-uzbekistan-hold-their-breath-ailing-despot) are rotting in the nation’s prisons. Torture is standard and endemic; Team Karimov landed a rare spot in the news for boiling dissidents (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/may/26/nickpatonwalsh) to death. In 2005, President Karimov asked security forces confronting protesters in the southern city of Andijon to wait for his arrival from the capital of Tashkent so he could personally witness and coordinate their massacre. An estimated 700 to 1200 Uzbeks were slaughtered. “People have less freedom here than under Brezhnev,” a U.S. official admitted.

Every now and then, some naïve US State Department official has issued a toothless tisk-tisk report documenting human rights abuses in Uzbekistan. But the Americans who run the show are obsessed with maintaining the country’s role in the Northern Distribution Network (https://www.csis.org/programs/transnational-threats-project/past-projects/northern-distribution-network-ndn), a crucial aerial and ground supply line between the US and its European allies and the endless war against Afghanistan and Pakistan. They’re willing to do pretty much anything to protect the NDN — including funneling weapons to one of the most disgusting regimes on the planet.

In 2012, the Obama administration quietly lifted a post-Andijon ban on weapon sales. One major shipment included a 2015 delivery of 320 armored personnel vehicles (https://newrepublic.com/article/120911/obama-administration-gives-uzbekistans-karimov-military-machines) to Karimov – exactly the kind of equipment an authoritarian state uses to crush demonstrations. “Perhaps worse than equipping a government so well-known for abuses against its own people and for its defiance of international norms with such powerful military equipment,” said Steve Swerdlow of Human Rights Watch, “is the message that the Obama administration is sending the people of Uzbekistan: that Islam Karimov has gotten away with it.”

American news accounts of Karimov’s death omitted America’s role propping him up.

It would be nice to hope that the flowers of democracy will sprout in the soil of the dictator’s grave. But years of suppression have destroyed (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-16218112) the opposition groups that might have been able to step into power as part of a post-Karimov transition. The post-KGB security forces will continue to protect themselves and their kleptocratic bosses. Acting Uzbek president Nigmatulla Yuldashev (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37260375) will no doubt call for another of the country’s sham elections, which a hand-selected member of the ruling elite is predestined to win. And Obama will keep the military aid flowing.

This is the kind of thing that causes Muslims to hate us. It’s why we are a constant target of terrorism. But nothing is going to change there unless something changes at the top here.

Ted Rall, syndicated writer and the cartoonist for ANewDomain.net (http://anewdomain.net/), is the author of the book “Snowden (https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1609806352/counterpunchmaga),” the biography of the NSA whistleblower.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Excerpt from Hybrid Wars 4. In the Greater Heartland (V) (http://orientalreview.org/2016/04/22/hybrid-wars-4-in-the-greater-heartland-v/) by Andrew Korybko (Fri, Apr 22, 2016):

The Islamic Improvisation

It is highly expected that the third attempt at a Central Asian Spring would combine the 2010 ethnic-centric innovation with a strategic improvisation that reflects the global zeitgeist of Islamic-affiliated terrorism. This would take the form of ethnic Uzbeks in Uzbekistan (centering on Fergana) and the neighboring states resorting to the doubly ‘unifying’ ideologies of Greater Uzbekistan and Wahhabist extremism in order to fight for the creation of a Central Asian caliphate. The borders of this terrorist entity would roughly correspond to the same territory that Greater Uzbekistan encompasses, so it would be a highly effective overlap of strategic vision as seen from the US’ perspective of planned regional destabilization.

The terrorist wars being fought in Syria/Iraq and Afghanistan by ISIL and the Taliban, respectively, already serve as valuable battlegrounds where fighters can hone their experience before applying it back home. Proving that an ethnic Uzbek-led terrorist campaign is already being planned for Fergana, Kyrgyz officials allege that the majority of extremists (http://thediplomat.com/2015/06/are-the-kyrgyz-who-join-isis-mostly-uzbeks/) that have left their country for terrorist training come from the Uzbek minority, suggesting that this demographic is more susceptible to radical Islamic ideologies than any other in the region.

Source (http://orientalreview.org/2016/04/22/hybrid-wars-4-in-the-greater-heartland-v/)

Cidersomerset

9th September 2016, 08:59

China says it has stealth-defeating quantum radar

By David on 9 September 2016 GMT

RT NEWS.....

China says it has stealth-defeating quantum radar
Published time: 8 Sep, 2016 13:05

https://img.rt.com/files/2016.09/original/57d15263c46188f66d8b45f5.jpg

‘A Chinese firm has reportedly developed and tested a radar system
that uses quantum entanglement to beat the stealth technology of
modern military craft, state media said.

The first Chinese quantum radar was developed by the Intelligent
Perception Technology Laboratory of the 14th Institute in CETC,
according to Xinhua news agency. CETC stands for Electronics
Technology Group Corporation, a defense and electronics firm.

The radar was tested in mid-August, Xinhua said in a Thursday report.’

Read more: China says it has stealth-defeating quantum radar

https://www.rt.com/news/358664-china-quantum-radar-test/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

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PRESS TV...

China wants US out of South China Sea dispute
Thu Sep 8, 2016 8:32AM

China has implicitly urged the United States not to meddle in the South China Sea
territorial dispute, saying Beijing is eager to work with South Asian countries to
settle the issue.

read more.....

http://217.218.67.233//photo/20160908/0ff04172-cd5c-44b1-92da-1d609c1be239.jpg

http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/09/08/483728/China-US-South-China-Sea-ASEAN-Li-Keqiang

Cidersomerset

9th September 2016, 13:19

N. Korea confirms 5th nuke test, claims nuclear missile capability

f_7WRIDQoMg

Published on 9 Sep 2016
North Korea has confirmed it has conducted its fifth nuclear test,
announcing it is now capable of mounting nuclear warheads on
ballistic rockets. The statement came just hours after a powerful
explosion was reported near the country's secretive nuclear test site.

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North Korea's 'biggest' nuclear test sparks global outrage

15 minutes ago
From the section Asia

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World leaders have reacted with anger after North Korea carried out its fifth and reportedly biggest nuclear test.

The South accused the North's leader Kim Jong-un of "maniacal recklessness".

China "firmly opposed" the test, Japan "protested adamantly" and the US warned
of "serious consequences". The UN Security Council will meet later behind closed
doors to discuss the issue.

Such nuclear tests are banned by the UN but this is North Korea's second this year.

Kim Jong-un's rhetoric has also become increasingly aggressive, analysts say.

Read more....

http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/94DC/production/_91080183_north_korea_nuclear_tests_624map_v5.png

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-37317782

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North Korea nuclear test: "it's bad news, showing international community's
sanctions had no effect"

WmhiAV756eM

FRANCE 24 English

Hervé

9th September 2016, 18:52

Great Moments in History: Putin destroys the BBC's John Simpson (http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/09/great-moments-in-history-putin-destroys.html)

Fort Russ News - September 9th, 2016 -
- FRN staff writers -

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U_u11DfRQOc/V9L9fp3k05I/AAAAAAAAD2k/obHsV62_Yu403O0-kqfU9BqR22wWrl6JACLcB/s640/9-9-2016%2B8-20-20%2BPM.png (https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U_u11DfRQOc/V9L9fp3k05I/AAAAAAAAD2k/obHsV62_Yu403O0-kqfU9BqR22wWrl6JACLcB/s1600/9-9-2016%2B8-20-20%2BPM.png)

Vladimir Putin answers a question from the BBC's John Simpson about Russia's supposedly aggressive stance, and it's one the world won't soon forget. This is from December of 2014!

''And you’re telling me I’m the aggressor here? Have you any common sense at all?“
- Vladimir Putin (English translation - video below). December 2014, President Vladimir Putin answers a question from the BBC's John Simpson about Russia's supposedly aggressive stance.

Vladimir Putin said:

Thank you very much for your question. About our exercises, manoeuvres and the development of our armed forces. You said that Russia, to a certain extent, contributed to the tension that we are now seeing in the world. Russia did contribute but only insofar as it is more and more firmly protecting its national interests. We are not attacking in the political sense of the word. We are not attacking anyone. We are only protecting our interests. Our Western partners – and especially our US partners – are displeased with us for doing exactly that, not because we are allowing security-related activity that provokes tension.

Let me explain. You are talking about our aircraft, including strategic aviation operations. Do you know that in the early 1990s, Russia completely stopped strategic aviation flights in remote surveillance areas as the Soviet Union previously did? We completely stopped, while flights of US strategic aircraft carrying nuclear weapons continued. Why? Against whom? Who was threatened?

So we didn’t make flights for many years and only a couple of years ago we resumed them. So are we really the ones doing the provoking?

So, in fact, we only have two bases outside Russia, and both are in areas where terrorist activity is high. One is in Kyrgyzstan, and was deployed there upon request of the Kyrgyz authorities, President Akayev, after it was raided by Afghan militants. The other is in Tajikistan, which also borders on Afghanistan. I would guess you are interested in peace and stability there too. Our presence is justified and clearly understandable.

Now, US bases are scattered around the globe – and you’re telling me Russia is behaving aggressively? Do you have any common sense at all? What are US armed forces doing in Europe, also with tactical nuclear weapons? What are they doing there?

Listen, Russia has increased its military spending for 2015, if I am not mistaken, it is around 50 billion in dollar equivalent. The Pentagon’s budget is ten times that amount, $575 billion, I think, recently approved by the Congress. And you’re telling me we are pursuing an aggressive policy? Is there any common sense in this?

Are we moving our forces to the borders of the United States or other countries? Who is moving NATO bases and other military infrastructure towards us? We aren’t. Is anyone listening to us? Is anyone engaging in some dialogue with us about it? No. No dialogue at all. All we hear is “that’s none of your business. Every country has the right to choose its way to ensure its own security.” All right, but we have the right to do so too. Why can’t we?

Finally, the ABM system – something I mentioned in my Address to the Federal Assembly. Who was it that withdrew unilaterally from the ABM Treaty, one of the cornerstones of the global security system? Was it Russia? No, it wasn’t. The United States did this, unilaterally. They are creating threats for us, they are deploying their strategic missile defence components not just in Alaska, but in Europe as well – in Romania and Poland, very close to us. And you’re telling me we are pursuing an aggressive policy?

If the question is whether we want law-based relations, the answer is yes, but only if our national economic and security interests are absolutely respected.

We negotiated WTO accession for 19 years or so, and consented to compromise on many issues, assuming that we are concluding cast-iron agreements. And then… I will not discuss who’s right and who’s wrong (I already said on many occasions that I believe Russia behaved the right way in the Ukrainian crisis, and the West was wrong, but let us put this aside for now). Still, we joined the WTO. That organisation has rules. And yet, sanctions were imposed on Russia in violation of the WTO rules, the international law and the UN Charter – again unilaterally and illegitimately. Are we in the wrong again?

We want to develop normal relations in the security sphere, in fighting terrorism. We will work together on nuclear non-proliferation. We will work together on other threats, including drugs, organised crime and grave infections, such as Ebola. We will do all this jointly, and we will cooperate in the economic sphere, if our partners want this.

XfA0E735zmo

Cidersomerset

10th September 2016, 10:00

Lavrov and Kerry discuss ceasefire & humanitarian aid for Syria

c1EvMF9nwMA

Published on 9 Sep 2016
US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov met in
Geneva, Switzerland to reportedly discuss a ceasefire in Syria and more humanitarian
aid for civilians in the war-torn country. Kerry and Lavrov have had discussions together
over 40 times in 2016. RT correspondent Egor Piskunov has the report from Switzerland.

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Syrian conflict: US and Russia agree peace moves
20 minutes ago

Russia and the US have agreed to coordinate air strikes against Islamist
militants in Syria, part of a detailed agreement to reduce the violence there.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37324872

Aleppo: Syria's key battleground - BBC News

KTLxRkN4VSw

Published on 9 Sep 2016
Aleppo was once Syria's largest city and the country's industrial and financial
centre, but since 2012 it has been a key battleground in the five-year civil war.
Control of parts of the city has changed a number of times this year. So who is
currently laying siege to whom in Aleppo?Video produced by Howard Johnson

====================================================
'Suffering of Syrians is horrendous': UK Baroness Cox on her trip to Aleppo, Damascus

GDsClrB_Yss

Published on 9 Sep 2016
RT spoke with Baroness Caroline Cox, a member of the UK Parliament’s House Of
Lords, who has just returned from Damascus in Syria, where she met with
President Assad – a move which has earned her a lot of criticism from her colleagues.

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Syria: UK Peace Delegation Meet with President Assad

By David on 8 September 2016 GMT

http://21stcenturywire.com/wp-content/themes/magazine/images/21-LOGO-230x115.png

SYRIA: UK Peace Delegation Meet with President Assad
September 6, 2016 By Vanessa Beeley

http://21stcenturywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Andrew-bw.png

‘At the end of July 2016 the US Peace Council delegation entered Syria on a very
successful fact finding mission to support their campaign for an end to the universal
suffering of the Syrian people perpetuated by the US and NATO member state
military and propaganda war against Syria. A UK Peace delegation has followed
hard on their heels led by Revd Andrew Ashdown and including members of the
House of Commons and Lords, religious and academic emissaries.

The following is a report from SANA [Syrian Arab News Agency] on the meeting
between Syrian President Bashar al Assad and the UK Peace delegation:’

Read more: Syria: UK Peace Delegation Meet with President Assad

http://21stcenturywire.com/2016/09/06/syria-uk-peace-delegation-meet-with-president-assad/

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of Syrians is horrendous': UK Baroness Cox on her trip to Aleppo, Damascus
By David on 10 September 2016 GMT

6up8WpLCVZY

Published on 9 Sep 2016
Hillary Clinton invoked Allah in reference to Islamic State and Donald Trump,
accusing him of weaponizing Islam and having widespread support among jihadists.
Meanwhile, Bill Clinton calls Donald Trump’s campaign slogan racist, but has said
that various things will “make America great again” several times over the years.
And the New York Times, in a story that ridiculed Gary Johnson’s Aleppo flub, made
several mistakes in its own definition of the Syrian city. This and more in today’s
FishTank with Lindsay France, along with guest Scott Greer, deputy editor at The Daily Caller.

Cidersomerset

10th September 2016, 10:37

Evidence that Syria Chemical Weapons Attacks Were 'Staged' by Jihadists. UN Team

By David on 10 September 2016 GMT

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/CNCQYoWUcAAk-n.jpg

‘United Nations investigators encountered evidence that alleged chemical weapons attacks
by the Syrian military were staged by jihadist rebels and their supporters, but still decided
to blame the government for two incidents in which chlorine was allegedly dispersed via
improvised explosives dropped by helicopters.

In both cases, the Syrian government denied that it had any aircraft in the areas at the times
of the purported attacks, but the U.N. team rejected that explanation with the curious argument
that Syria failed to provide flight records to corroborate the absence of any flights. Yet, if there
had been no flights, there would be no flight records.’

Read more: Evidence that Syria Chemical Weapons Attacks Were ‘Staged’ by Jihadists. UN Team

https://consortiumnews.com/2016/09/08/un-team-heard-claims-of-staged-chemical-attacks/

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Vanessa Beeley on Aleppo, ‘Chemical Attack’ Propaganda & The White Helmet Folly

By David on 10 September 2016 GMT

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Untitled-3-2.jpg

‘UK Column News anchor Mike Robinson talks to 21WIRE’s Vanessa Beeley in a stunning interview
covering the reality on the ground in Aleppo, the truth behind the west’s latest contrived ‘chemical
weapons’ propaganda, and the story of the REAL Syria Civil Defense who’ve been hijacked by the
western-backed, terrorist-linked faux NGO known as ‘the White Helmets’ currently being promoted
by the website Netflix.’

dXDqr1hPRw0

Published on 8 Sep 2016

Today's UK Column News with Mike Robinson & Vanessa Beeley, including:

START Delegation of Lords to Syria : Vilified for Dialogue with Assad
02:45 Of Assad : ‘We met him for two hours, we fired questions at him.’
05:27 “End intervention : End the arming of Terrorist Entities in Syria.”
09:35 Font of tremendous Wisdom & Peace : Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun
12:14 Photographic Evidence of Compassion in Wartime|Map of Aleppo
15:23 Media Coverage in Syria : Who Perpetrates The Chemical Attacks?
21:35 Real victims of warfare waged against an innocent Syrian Population.
24:12 Abdullah Issa - Child Tortured & Beheaded by ‘Moderate’ Terrorists
29:27 World of Delusions|Nobel Nominees : the Al Qaeda ‘White Helmets’
32:12 Beatification of Literal Terrorists|Defamation of Syrian Civil Defence

For clarification, the White Helmets are literal terrorists who masquerade as
humanitarians for press releases and propaganda : these people are guilty
ofactual war crimes and atrocities, as is evidenced by testimony from the
ground in Syria.

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Iraqi soldiers discover ISIS courtroom with human cages in Fallujah

cuRTaaLAqIo

Published on 10 Sep 2016
A video released by RT Arabic shows what is believed to be a Sharia courtroom
for trials staged by ISIS in the Jubail District of Fallujah. The video shows old
court papers, which include photos and documents of proceedings and complaints
concerning conflicts between ISIS members.

PathWalker

10th September 2016, 15:10

Fighting Rages in Aleppo Hours After Russia, U.S. Announce Syria Deal

Syrian army attacks rebel-held areas, pushing to maximize recent gains before a nationwide cease-fire is due to come into effect on Monday.
read more: http://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/1.741244
http://www.haaretz.com/polopoly_fs/1.741245.1473498825!/image/458489914.jpg_gen/derivatives/headline_857x482/458489914.jpg

REUTERS - The United States and Russia hailed a breakthrough deal early on Saturday to put Syria's peace process back on track, though the war-torn country's rebels said they doubted it would hold and violence raged on in Aleppo.

The agreement reached by the powers backing opposing sides in the conflict promised a nationwide truce effective from sundown on Monday, improved humanitarian aid access and joint military targeting of banned Islamist groups.

But only hours after it was announced, Syria's army attacked rebel-held areas in the northern city of Aleppo, both sides said, as the military pushed to maximize gains before the cease-fire deadline.

Insurgents said they were planning a counter-offensive.

"The fighting is flaring on all the fronts of southern Aleppo but the clashes in Amiryah are the heaviest," Captain Abdul Salam Abdul Razak, the military spokesman of the rebel Nour al-Din al Zinki Brigades said.

Syria's 5-year civil war has killed thousands in Aleppo, the main focus of clashes between insurgents, including Western-backed rebels, and pro-government forces backed by Russia and Iran.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called on all sides to respect the deal, which was reached after marathon talks in Geneva and several failed attempts to hammer out the details in recent weeks.

"This requires halting all attacks, including aerial bombardments, and any attempts to gain additional territory at the expense of the parties to the cessation. It requires unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access to all of the besieged and hard-to-reach areas including Aleppo," he said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that despite continuing mistrust, the two sides had developed five documents that would enable coordination of the fight against terrorism and a revival of Syria's failed truce in an enhanced form.

Both sides agreed not to release the documents publicly.

"This all creates the necessary conditions for resumption of the political process, which has been stalling for a long time," Lavrov told a news conference.

Doubts

Previous efforts to forge agreements to stop the fighting and deliver humanitarian aid to besieged communities in Syria have crumbled within weeks, with the United States accusing Assad's forces of attacking opposition groups and civilians.

Kerry said the "bedrock" of the new deal was an agreement that the Syrian government would not fly combat missions in an agreed area on the pretext of hunting fighters from the banned Nusra Front, an Al-Qaida affiliate in Syria.

Under the agreement, Russian-backed government forces and opposition groups, supported by the United States and Gulf States, would halt fighting for a while as a confidence building measure.

If the truce holds from Monday, Russia and the United States will begin seven days of preparatory work to set up a "joint implementation center," where they will share information to delineate territory controlled by Nusra and opposition groups.

Both warring sides would pull back from the strategic Castello Road in Aleppo to create a demilitarized zone, while opposition and government groups would both have to provide safe and unhindered access via Ramouseh in the south of the city.

Syria's moderate Free Syrian Army rebels said on Saturday they saw were skeptical the deal would be enforced as Damascus and Moscow had continued bombing their areas under earlier truces.

Razak, from the rebel Nour al-Din al Zinki Brigades, said they were studying the deal but it appeared it would only give the Syrian army a chance to gather forces and pour more Iranian-backed militias into the main battles raging in Aleppo.

The U.K. based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said jets believed to be either Syrian or Russian also hit rebel-held towns in the northern Aleppo countryside including Anadan and Hreitan along important insurgent supply routes.

The monitor confirmed reports by residents and activists in rebel-held eastern Aleppo who said Syrian army helicopters dropped barrel bombs on residential civilian areas in several districts with scores injured and at least four civilians killed.

Jets believed to be Russian also hit several areas in rebel held Idlib city in northwestern Syria, targeting a busy market with reports of several dead and injured, residents and the monitor said.

Cidersomerset

10th September 2016, 17:03

US-Russian Syria deal: Nationwide ceasefire to begin at sundown on Monday

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Published on 10 Sep 2016

Washington and Moscow hailed a deal reached overnight in marathon talks between US
Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Geneva,
calling it a breakthrough. The agreement seeks to revive the failed February ceasefire
beginning on Monday in order to ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations
suffering from violence.

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Syria conflict: US-Russia brokered truce gains cautious welcome

46 minutes ago

read more....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37328945

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Syria conflict: Bombs rain down as truce hopes rise

8 hours ago

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37328945

0jUMkhxuviw

Sophocles

17th September 2016, 07:29

Georgia: Pushing the NATO thorn into Russia's southern flank (https://www.sott.net/article/328478-Georgia-Pushing-the-NATO-thorn-into-Russias-southern-flank)

Jonathan Marshall
Consortium News (https://consortiumnews.com/2016/09/12/pushing-nato-to-russias-southern-flank/)
Mon, 12 Sep 2016 14:36 UTC

In pursuit of a new Cold War with Russia, Official Washington wants to expand NATO into the ex-Soviet republic of Georgia, creating the potential for nuclear war to protect a sometimes reckless "ally".

A Republican leader calling for a new military base in Georgia is hardly newsworthy — the state already has more than a dozen such installations. But when it's the speaker of parliament in the country of Georgia, who belongs to that nation's Republican Party calling (http://www.eurasianet.org/node/80441) for a U.S. military base on Russia's southern border, and for a constitutional amendment to guarantee his country's commitment to NATO, that should raise some eyebrows.

https://www.sott.net/image/s17/344693/medium/Saakashvili_and_Bush.jpg
Mikheil Saakashvili, President of Georgia and
U.S. President George Bush at a NATO meeting.

Although major U.S. papers didn't report that news this month, it reflects another escalation of NATO's dangerous confrontation (https://consortiumnews.com/2016/02/13/natos-provocative-anti-russian-moves/) with Moscow. Eight years ago, Georgia's intense campaign to join NATO — combined with its reckless aggression (https://euobserver.com/foreign/28747) against the breakaway territory of South Ossetia — helped spark (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/world/europe/10georgia.html) a brief but bloody war with Vladimir Putin's Russia.

Today, the U.S.-led military alliance is once again promoting its expansion plans (https://consortiumnews.com/2015/12/03/nato-picks-a-new-fight-with-russia/) in Georgia and other countries on Russia's periphery as if the Cold War had never ended.

On Sept. 7, ambassadors from all the NATO countries drove along George W. Bush Avenue to downtown Tbilisi, Georgia's capital, to meet with Georgian leaders about security cooperation (http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_134706.htm) and progress toward the country's full integration into NATO.

At the end of the two-day visit, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg declared "the bonds between NATO and Georgia are stronger than ever." His news release (http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_134882.htm) noted that "the Alliance is committed to helping Georgia move towards NATO membership," and that "NATO experts in Georgia are providing advice on defense planning, education and cyber security, while Allies have increased joint training and exercises with Georgian troops."

Just days earlier, the U.S. Marine Corps announced (http://www.marforeur.marines.mil/News/Press-Release-View/Article/928560/georgia-hosts-marines-allies-during-regional-security-exercise/) that it had joined "NATO allies and partners from the Baltics and Black Sea regions" in the Republic of Georgia to conduct live-fire military exercises with heavy tanks, armored vehicles, and anti-armor TOW missiles. And in July, Secretary of State John Kerry visited Georgia before joining President Obama at a NATO meeting in Poland to sign a new security cooperation agreement (http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2016-07-06/kerry-visits-georgia-ukraine-to-show-solidarity)with Georgia.

All of these moves followed President Obama's request to Congress in February to quadruple U.S. military spending in Europe next year, including military equipment to help Georgia (http://www.eurasianet.org/node/77291) in "countering Russian aggression." Days later, NATO dispatched ships and sailors to Georgia for joint naval exercises (http://www.eurasianet.org/node/77316) in the Black Sea.

Moscow's ambassador to NATO complained (http://www.eurasianet.org/node/77291), "NATO is trying to draw us into a state of Cold War by inflating the myth about the threat from the East and justifying the necessity to deter Russia."

NATO and the Roots of Conflict

NATO's relentless expansion toward Russia — in violation of promises (http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/nato-s-eastward-expansion-did-the-west-break-its-promise-to-moscow-a-663315.html) by Western leaders a quarter century ago — is a major cause of recent dangerous military escalation by the world's major nuclear powers. In 2008, NATO extended membership invitations to both Georgia and Ukraine — two countries on Russia's direct borders. George Friedman, CEO of the private intelligence firm Stratfor, explained (http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2008/09/25/georgia-and-the-balance-of-power/) that year why Moscow reacted with such hostility:

"US Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton had promised the Russians that NATO would not expand into the former Soviet empire. That promise had already been broken in 1998 by NATO's expansion to Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic — and again in the 2004 expansion, which included not only the rest of the former Soviet satellites in what is now Central Europe, but also the three Baltic states, which had been components of the Soviet Union.

"The Russians had tolerated all that, but the discussion of including Ukraine in NATO represented to them a fundamental threat to Russia's national security. It would, in their calculations, have rendered Russia indefensible and threatened to destabilize the Russian Federation itself. When the United States went so far as to suggest that Georgia be included as well, bringing NATO deeper into the Caucasus, the Russian conclusion — publicly stated — was that the United States in particular intended to encircle and break Russia."

Conflict with Russia ensued that August when, according to official E.U. investigators (https://euobserver.com/foreign/28747), Georgia's authoritarian president (https://www.crisisgroup.org/europe-central-asia/caucasus/georgia/georgia-sliding-towards-authoritarianism), Mikheil Saakashvili, ordered the shelling of the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali, massacring civilians (and Russian peacekeepers) with cluster munitions (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/world/europe/06cluster.html). The resulting five-day war with Russia killed 850 people and displaced 100,000.

South Ossetia and nearby Abhkazia had broken away from Georgia in the early 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Their inhabitants were alarmed (http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2008/11/06/georgia-the-ignored-history/) by the fanatical nationalism of Georgia's thuggish first president, who declared that subversive minorities "should be chopped up [and] burned out with a red-hot iron from the Georgian nation." South Ossetia alone lost more than one percent of its population to Georgian arms in 1991 and 1992.

https://www.sott.net/image/s17/344695/large/1024px_Georgia_high_detail_map.jpg
© Wikipedia

President Saakashvili's attempt to retake that territory in 2008 reflected his understandable overestimation of Washington's willingness to back him up. Perhaps he listened too much to his paid lobbyist Randy Scheunemann (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Scheunemann), a neoconservative leader and chief foreign policy adviser to U.S. presidential candidate John McCain. Hardly had the war begun than McCain and other hawks rushed to blame Russia as the aggressor. The Arizona senator declared (http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB121867081398238807), "we are all Georgians."

In addition, the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/world/europe/10georgia.html) observed just days after the war broke out,

"The United States took a series of steps that emboldened Georgia: sending advisers to build up the Georgian military, including an exercise last month with more than 1,000 American troops; pressing hard to bring Georgia into the NATO orbit; championing Georgia's fledgling democracy along Russia's southern border; and loudly proclaiming its support for Georgia's territorial integrity in the battle with Russia over Georgia's separatist enclaves."

Saakashsvilli may also have calculated that Israel, a major arms supplier to Georgia (http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3580136,00.html), would use its political clout to get Washington to intervene against Russia. Georgia's defense minister, a former Israeli, said "We are now in a fight against the great Russia, and our hope is to receive assistance from the White House because Georgia cannot survive on its own."

The Bush administration airlifted 1,800 Georgian troops (http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/09/04/revealed-how-bush-saved-georgia-from-russia/) from Iraq and guarded Tbilisi airport against Russian attack but did not save invading Georgian forces from defeat.

Fueling a New Cold War

Although Russia came out ahead, some Russian analysts concluded that their failure to teach Georgian leaders enough of a lesson in 2008 contributed to the recent conflict in Ukraine, where a violent putsch (https://consortiumnews.com/2016/01/28/cheering-a-democratic-coup-in-ukraine-2/) in 2014 installed an anti-Russian regime bent on joining NATO. As one Russian expert at Moscow State University observed (http://carnegieeurope.eu/publications/?fa=61451) last year:

"The Saakashvili regime survived, it was not punished. What is happening in Ukraine is a direct result of the fact that in 2008 we did not pursue things in Georgia to the end. The junta in Kiev feels that it has absolute impunity, it is confident that Russia will not overthrow and punish it. That is why it is so brazen. And the West, seeing that Russia did not stick it out to the end, decided that it can do what it wants in Ukraine."

(Lending support to that view, former President Saakashvili decamped last year for Ukraine, after being charged at home with a variety of offenses including embezzlement, violent crackdowns on opposition protests and the illegal seizure of a critical TV channel. The Kiev regime appointed (http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/01/20/the-case-against-saakashvili-ukraine/) him governor of the Odessa region and he has since become a major national political figure.)

https://www.sott.net/image/s17/344699/medium/kerry_and_nuland_b_768x512.jpg
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, flanked by
Assistant Secretary of State for European
and Eurasian Affairs Victoria “Toria” Nuland,
addresses Russian President Vladimir Putin
in a meeting room at the Kremlin in Moscow,
Russia, at the outset of a bilateral meeting
on July 14, 2016.

In the West, the 2008 war fueled more anti-Russian sentiment, despite the consensus of most authorities that Georgia initiated the conflict. NATO roundly condemned (http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_38988.htm) Russia for recognizing South Ossetia and Abhkazia as independent states, setting the stage for continued tension for Moscow. In 2009, the newly elected President Obama began a training program (http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124835911309475853) for Georgian military forces.

In 2011, McCain's buddy, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, engineered a unanimous voice vote of the U.S. Senate to condemn Russia for recognizing the independence of South Ossetia and Abhkazia (a vote that scandalized (http://original.antiwar.com/buchanan/2011/08/22/why-are-we-baiting-the-bear/) not only Moscow but conservative commentator Patrick Buchanan).

The same year, Hollywood actors Andy Garcia (playing Saakashvili), Val Kilmer and Heather Graham starred in the movie bomb "5 Days of War (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1486193/)," co-produced by a Georgian minister, about (http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Film/2011/Jun-07/140568-hollywood-feature-on-georgia-russia-war-premieres-in-tbilisi.ashx) "a small country fighting for independence and freedom."

Meanwhile, the neo-conservative opinion editors of the Washington Post have stoked the fires by running columns championing (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2016/01/25/yes-putin-may-be-starting-to-win-georgia-away-from-the-west-heres-why-that-matters/) Georgia's "enthusiastic embrace of Westernization," its key role as a bulwark against Russian "domination" and "hegemony," and the importance of hastening its entry into NATO (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/nato-and-the-eu-desert-georgia/2016/06/16/20f2c7dc-33be-11e6-8758-d58e76e11b12_story.html?utm_term=.df9b86049a66).

The Post even ran a column (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/mikheil-saakashvili-the-west-must-not-appease-putin/2014/03/06/db9e0c82-a4a9-11e3-8466-d34c451760b9_story.html?tid=a_inl&utm_term=.46497d59d46d) by Saakashvili brazenly accusing Putin of trying to conquer Georgia in 2008, citing parallels with Nazi Germany's occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1938. The paper's own editorial writers call for (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/to-resist-russia-georgia-and-moldova-would-benefit-from-deeper-ties-to-europe/2014/04/25/d3e82626-c1aa-11e3-b574-f8748871856a_story.html?tid=a_inl&utm_term=.756e94c5b893) "tougher sanctions" against Russia to "deter Mr. Putin from taking further aggressive action" against Georgia and other neighboring countries.

Georgia's ability to glean so much fawning attention becomes less mysterious in light of the fact that it is one of the top 10 foreign spenders on lobbying (https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/wp/2014/05/14/which-foreign-countries-spent-the-most-to-influence-u-s-politics/) in the United States, including a $50,000 monthly retainer (http://www.politico.com/story/2012/04/georgian-billionaire-storms-k-street-075054) to the uber-lobbying firm, Podesta Group (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podesta_Group).

Among the few dissenters are foreign policy "realists" like the CATO Institute's Ted Galen Carpenter, who have the temerity to question the rationale for NATO in the post-Soviet age. Citing the cost and danger of growing U.S. commitments to that alliance, he wrote last month (http://warontherocks.com/2016/08/nato-is-an-institutional-dinosaur/), a propos of countries like Georgia:

"The only thing worse than committing the United States to defend a small, weak, largely useless ally is doing so when that ally is highly vulnerable to another major power. . . Alliances with such client states are perfect transmission belts to transform a local, limited conflict into a global showdown between nuclear-armed powers."

His words have gone largely unheeded. America's dangerous commitment to Georgia is taking place nominally in public but far below the radar of most voters. So let me propose a serious question for the next presidential debate: "What would you do, if you were elected, about Tbilisi?"

Jonathan Marshall is author or co-author of five books on international affairs, including The Lebanese Connection: Corruption, Civil War and the International Drug Traffic (https://www.amazon.com/Lebanese-Connection-Corruption-International-Stanford/dp/0804781311/) (Stanford University Press, 2012).

Source (https://www.sott.net/article/328478-Georgia-Pushing-the-NATO-thorn-into-Russias-southern-flank)

Sophocles

18th September 2016, 04:18

Whistleblower exposes how NATO’s leading ally is arming and funding ISIS (https://medium.com/insurge-intelligence/former-turkish-counter-terror-chief-exposes-governments-support-for-isis-d12238698f52#.xzf2g2ah8)

“I am the police chief who was asked to guard ISIS terrorists”

By Nafeez Ahmed

This exclusive is published by INSURGE INTELLIGENCE, (https://medium.com/insurge-intelligence) a crowdfunded investigative journalism project for the global commons. Support us to keep digging where others fear to tread.

+Turkey’s intelligence chief, Hakan Fidan, named as member of terror group linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS

+ Turkish intelligence directly supplied military aid to ISIS for years

+ Turkish government siphoned military supplies to ISIS through humanitarian relief agency

+ ISIS fighters, including al-Baghadi’s deputy, received free medical treatment in Turkey and “protection” from Turkish police

+ Head of ISIS in Turkey received “24/7 protection” under the personal order of President Erdogan

+ Turkish police investigations into ISIS are being systematically quashed

+ ISIS oil is sold with complicity of authorities in Turkey and Kurdish region of northern Iraq

+ NATO affirms Turkey’s role as ally in war on ISIS

A former senior counter-terrorism official in Turkey has blown the whistle on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s deliberate sponsorship of the Islamic State (ISIS) as a geopolitical tool to expand Turkey’s regional influence and sideline his political opponents at home.

Ahmet Sait Yayla was Chief of the Counter-Terrorism and Operations Division of Turkish National Police between 2010 and 2012, before becoming Chief of the Public Order and Crime Prevention Division until 2014. Previously, he had worked in the Counter-Terrorism and Operations Division as a mid-level manager for his entire 20-year police tenure, before becoming Chief of Police in Ankara and Sanliurfa.

In interviews with INSURGE intelligence, Yayla exclusively revealed that he had personally witnessed evidence of high-level Turkish state sponsorship of ISIS during his police career, which eventually led him to resign. He decided to become a whistleblower after Erdogan’s authoritarian crackdown following the failed military coup in July. This is the first time that the former counter-terrorism chief has spoken on the record to reveal what he knows about Turkish government aid to Islamist terror

Full article (https://medium.com/insurge-intelligence/former-turkish-counter-terror-chief-exposes-governments-support-for-isis-d12238698f52#.xzf2g2ah8)

Cidersomerset

18th September 2016, 09:02

‘US is defending ISIS’: Russia convenes UNSC meeting after US coalition
strike on Syrian army

I just posted this on above thread but is valid here as well obviously.....

This ties into another incident from yesterday it is confusing on the Turkish / US
Kurdish region coming into conflict with other groups some US/Saudi backed and
the Syrian Arab Army backed by Russia.

American troops flee Syrian town after threats from US-backed rebels

HFZNrlq1F14

Published on 16 Sep 2016

US Special Forces commandos were forced to withdraw from the town of al-Rai on
Syria’s border with Turkey after threats from the Free Syrian Army (FSA), a
moderate US-backed rebel group. RT correspondent Lizzie Phelan has the story.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On the Western front the US policy is just as confusing as the CIA/Intel/Saudi
backed groups are not necessarily listening to the Pentagon.

‘Syrian rebels using ceasefire to gain better battlefield positions’ – fmr Pentagon official
527s0Wc-9ps

Published on 15 Sep 2016
Russia and the United States are pointing fingers at each other as shelling
continues in Syria despite it being three days since a ceasefire went into effect. To
discuss the dynamics in Syria, former Pentagon official Michael Maloof joins RT
America’s Manila Chan and says, “Syrian rebels are using the ceasefire to gain
better battlefield positions” and that the humanitarian aid promised is “not really
rolling in.”

==================================================

http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.20.4/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png

Syria conflict: US air strikes 'kill dozens of government troops'
1 hour ago

http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/13AAE/production/_91285508_033909776-1.jpg
Fighters of so-called Islamic State in Deir al-Zour, where they have been battling Syrian troops

The US-led coalition has admitted its planes carried out an attack in eastern Syria that
the Russian army says killed at least 62 Syrian troops fighting IS.The US said its planes
had halted the attack in Deir al-Zour when informed of the Syrian presence.

A spokesman for the US administration expressed "regret" for the "unintentional loss of life".
The attack caused a bitter row between the US and Russia at the United Nations Security Council.

US envoy Samantha Power accused Russia of "pulling a stunt" by calling an emergency meeting
of the council.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37398721

Cidersomerset

18th September 2016, 20:23

'US should be ashamed of Deir ez-Zor strike, it's really disgraceful' - Assad's adviser (EXCLUSIVE)

6ThzS53KmSs

Published on 18 Sep 2016
US-led coalition jets have bombed Syrian government forces’ positions near the eastern city of
Deir ez-Zor, killing 62 troops and "paving the way" for Islamic State militants, the Syrian Army
General Command told the state television. RT gets exclusive reaction from Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad's political and media adviser Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban.

=========================================================
=========================================================
‘Unbelievable that US strike on Syrian army was mistake' – fmr MI5 agent

kqwwNELdiJA

Published on 18 Sep 2016

The US must cooperate with Russia on intelligence matters in Syria, former MI5
agent Annie Machon told RT, expressing doubt over Washington’s explanation for
the “unintentional” raid which killed over 60 Syrian soldiers on ISIS’ frontline.

========================================================
========================================================

Cross Talk are pretty good at analysing geo political situations...
This is pre the #1 incident but does give some background and
is a lively debate.

hpgTLd9oEzE

Published on 15 Sep 2016

Is it déjà vu all over again? Russia and the U.S. have brokered another ceasefire to stop
hostilities in Syria. But can these two parties ensure their allies and proxies commit to
the deal? Are the Pentagon and the State Department on the same page? And what
about fighting terrorist groups?
CrossTalking with Gareth Porter, Stephen Zunes, and Eva Bartlett.

Cidersomerset

20th September 2016, 13:07

The Richie Allen Show on Davidicke.com: Ray McGovern - 'The
Ceasefire Collapse In Syria Could Push The US & Russia To The Brink'

Very good interview as usual.....

By David on 20 September 2016 GMT

ulr9gdRmCKU

Published on 19 Sep 2016

===================================================
===================================================

GLOBAL RESEARCH......

It’s Official: Israeli Military Cooperates with Al-Qaeda Terrorists in Syria

Druze Representative in Israel Knesset

By Fort Russ

Global Research, September 19, 2016
Fort Russ News 18 September 2016

An Israeli representative in the Knesset directly denounced the Israeli military: the IDF cooperates
with the terrorist organization Al-Nusra Front in Syria. The Chief of the Israeli army Gadi Eisenko
said it was not true that the Israeli army (IDF) is associated with the terrorist organization Al-Nusra
Front, after that was proclaimed by the member of the Israeli parliament.

But, Eisenko added that it is no secret that the Israeli army maintains contacts with the “Syrian militias”
in order to ensure peace on the Israeli-Syrian border.

What is this all about? In particular, Israeli representative Akram Hasson openly accused the Israeli army
of collaborating with terrorists in Syria. “It is no secret that the IDF cooperates with Al-Nusra Front. We
were told earlier that Nusra coordinate actions with IDF”, said Hasson in an interview for Israel’s Channel 2
and was written by Israeli newspaper Jerusalem Post.

He gave the statement at a moment when Al-Nusra Front is trying to take the town Khader in the area of
Golan Heights. It is a city of about 25,000 Druze, and Hasson himself belongs to Druza ethnic group.

“We received information from various parties and from the people inside who confirmed to us that Al-Nusra
Front is unprecedentedly supported by the IDF . Their fighters take up positions where IDF first bombards the
Syrian Army”, said Hasson.

Hervé

22nd September 2016, 13:15

US airstrikes on Syrian troops were ‘intentional,’ lasted nearly 1 hour – Assad to AP (https://www.rt.com/news/360248-assad-ap-intentional-us-airstrikes/)

Published time: 22 Sep, 2016 11:18
Edited time: 22 Sep, 2016 12:18
Get short URL (http://on.rt.com/7pyw)

https://cdn.rt.com/files/2016.09/original/57e3c03cc461882d238b45a0.jpg
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad © SANA / Reuters

Syrian President Bashar Assad says that US airstrikes which killed 62 Syrian government troops were “intentional” and they lasted for an hour. He added that the US “does not have the will” to join Russia in fighting terrorists in Syria.

Speaking to the Associated Press in Damascus, the Syrian leader denied that the airstrikes carried out by the US near Deir ez-Zor on September 17 were an accident. Sixty-two Syrian soldiers were killed and over 100 were injured, according to the Syrian military. Assad said they were “intentionally” targeted.

“It was not an accident by one airplane; it was four airplanes which kept attacking the position of the Syrian troops for nearly one hour or maybe a little bit more than one hour,” Assad told AP, adding they were attacking a large area that “constituted of many hills” adjacent to where the Syrian troops were stationed.

s2GUfBppapA
Assad also questioned how IS was able to launch an attack so quickly after the airstrike.

“The IS troops attacked at the very same time as the American strike. How could they know that America was going to attack that position in order to gather their militants right away and attack it one hour after the strike. It was definitely intentional and not unintentional,” he added.

The Pentagon said the airstrikes on Syrian troops were an accident and that they were aimed at Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) terrorists.

Assad also claimed that the US is not interested in fighting terrorists in Syria, saying that Washington “lacks the will” to join Russia in trying to eliminate extremist groups.

“When you have many external factors that you don't control, it's going to drag on and no one in this world can tell you when,” he answered a question about when the war might end.

He also said that the conflict is likely to drag on because the US, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar keep supporting those opposed to Assad’s rule.

The Syrian president dismissed US claims that Russian or Syrian planes were responsible for a fatal attack on an aid convoy which killed 21 people September 19. He said the American accusations have “no credibility” and they are “just lies.”

“I would say whatever the American officials said about the conflict in Syria has no credibility. Whatever they say is just lies.” When pressed about what happened to the aid convoys, Assad said they were passing through rebel-held areas and these “terrorists” were responsible for their security.

“We don’t have any idea about what happened. The only thing we saw was videos of burnt-out, destroyed trucks and nothing else,” Assad said.

Atlas

22nd September 2016, 14:20

Published on Sep 14, 2016
President Bashar al-Assad: "the Western plan" @1:08:
nQ012KHURgM

Hervé

23rd September 2016, 15:47

Motorola, Sparta sent to prevent LPR coup (http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/09/motorola-sparta-sent-to-prevent-lpr-coup.html)

September 22, 2016 - Fort Russ News -
Tsargrad (http://tsargrad.tv/news/2016/09/22/batalon-motoroly-perebroshen-v-lnr), RusVesna (http://rusvesna.su/news/1474403794) - translated by J. Arnoldski

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SQGWmd_Oawc/V-P_1qt3YpI/AAAAAAAAEcs/Vb1Ads9yxrMqy_IYfdXDD5RN5dSKnMDhwCLcB/s640/Arseny%2BPavlov%2BA.K.A%2BMotorola%2B7.jpg (https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SQGWmd_Oawc/V-P_1qt3YpI/AAAAAAAAEcs/Vb1Ads9yxrMqy_IYfdXDD5RN5dSKnMDhwCLcB/s1600/Arseny%2BPavlov%2BA.K.A%2BMotorola%2B7.jpg)

The unit of the legendary Donbass fighter with the callsign "Motorola" has been deployed to the Lugansk People’s Republic. This was stated on Thursday by the head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Alexander Zakharchenko.

According to him, the Sparta battalion, whose commander is Motorola, has been transferred to the LPR to prevent a coup d’etat.

The DPR head indicated that there is no threat of destabilization in the Donetsk People’s Republic and that authorities regularly engage in dialogue with all sectors of society and the neighboring republic.

LPR head Igor Plotnitsky announced the prevention of a coup attempt on September 21st.

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WKJpz8taNOg/V-P_5PA_KFI/AAAAAAAAEcw/wSMWH-ocqUcnMTC-T1X-wAIDEY99mPPdgCLcB/s640/1415014301_0d10e523d30cf04081b20e99662ad2c9837dd944.jpg (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WKJpz8taNOg/V-P_5PA_KFI/AAAAAAAAEcw/wSMWH-ocqUcnMTC-T1X-wAIDEY99mPPdgCLcB/s1600/1415014301_0d10e523d30cf04081b20e99662ad2c9837dd944.jpg)

Igor Plotnitsky announced that the LPR leadership had managed to prevent a coup d’etat attempt.

“There was another attempt, so to speak, at a coup, but the point was not the fact of a coup in the LPR itself as much as creating a precedent with which to outrage the Ukrainian people, and then have the Ukrainian army sent in. We worked ahead of the curve, and we know everything perfectly well,” he said.

Plotnitsky did not rule out that those preparing the coup are not only in Ukraine, but Russia as well.

“We know those internal enemies and those who have patrons, perhaps even in the Russian Federation,” Plotnitsky emphasized, adding that a similar coup has been planned for the Donetsk People’s Republic.

Related:
COUP THWARTED: Kiev fails at plot in LPR - Full Coverage Exclusive (http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/09/coup-thwarted-kiev-fails-at-plot-in-lpr.html)

Hervé

23rd September 2016, 16:08

RUSSIA'S COUNTER-BLOW: Info War victory and the destroyed Aid Convoy (http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/09/russias-counter-blow-info-war-victory.html)

By Joaquin Flores - September 22nd, 2016 - Fort Russ News -Analysis -

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zEYhLYwqobs/V-PhbJOKm2I/AAAAAAAAD8s/zBsKAjPk1VsKH04z0Kdk5NVKpTTqpeyaACLcB/s640/_87277780_5f6fe0ef-f763-4085-8172-f6681b715ad5.jpg (https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zEYhLYwqobs/V-PhbJOKm2I/AAAAAAAAD8s/zBsKAjPk1VsKH04z0Kdk5NVKpTTqpeyaACLcB/s1600/_87277780_5f6fe0ef-f763-4085-8172-f6681b715ad5.jpg)

In a surprising turn of events, Russia struck back at the US and the western media disinformation campaign, causing NATO to back off from claiming that Russia or Syria was responsible for the attack on the Red Crescent aid convoy destroyed earlier this week. This became evident after the public statement of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday, September 21, in comments to media following an ad-hoc meeting with Russian FM Sergei Lavrov.

Western media outlets previously reported, both through AP and Reuters distributors like the New York Times, LA Times, etc., as well as the UK's Guardian and BBC, that US officials laid the blame on Russia for the attack on the Red Crescent aid convoy in Syria. The attack destroyed nearly twenty of the thirty-one trucks scheduled to arrive in Uram Al-Kubra.

Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-intelligence-idUSKCN11Q2PR) apparently broke the US version of events, duplicitously citing two conveniently anonymous military sources, claiming that:

"Two Russian Sukhoi SU-24 warplanes were in the skies above an aid convoy in Syria at the precise time it was struck on Monday, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Tuesday, citing U.S. intelligence that has led them to conclude Russia was to blame."
- Reuters, September 19th, 2016. (http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-intelligence-idUSKCN11Q2PR)
The same article went on to claim in conclusion that: "The strike appeared to deal a fatal blow to Syria's fragile week-old ceasefire."

On September 20th, the Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/20/un-aid-convoy-attack-syria-us-russia)ran with the headline "Russian planes dropped bombs that destroyed UN aid convoy, US officials say".

These indicate an intention on the part of the US to spin this event, placing blame on Russia both for the attack on the aid convoy and also for the collapsed ceasefire, in the first hours and days after the convoy attack, as part of a public disinformation campaign to create that ever-important first impression in the public mind's eye.

As a matter of record, it was the planned US and ISIS joint attack on the Syrian Arab Army forces at Deir ez-Zor on September 17th, 2016, that led to the Syrian government unilaterally calling off the ceasefire (http://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2016/09/syria-cease-fire-bombing/500543/) hours before the attack on the Red Crescent convoy. The diplomatic crisis was compounded by the 'heavy handed' and 'unprofessional' ( in the words of Russia's UN rep, Churkin,) approach of the US's UN representative Samantha Power at an emergency session of the UN Security Council.

Therefore, the western media focus on the aid caravan attack seems to be aimed at deflecting blame on the collapsed ceasefire away from the US, and diverting public attention onto a more recent news story - this is in line with the use of the 'recency effect (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_position_effect#Recency_effect)' in psychology. Human memories are not recording devices, and the public is prone to remember things based cues and references independent of reality.

Several narratives and events, in the chronological order below, are important to understand as the story unfolded.
*
1. The Reuters and AP, pieces set the Atlanticist media tone and gave all derivative media their talking points with a clear angle to follow. In this version, media reported that US officials 'knew' who carried out the attack: Russia. The Guardian was a degree more cautious, both citing the Reuters piece which 'cited' the anonymous US military sources but also included their own follow up (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/20/un-aid-convoy-attack-syria-us-russia) with the White House and found that: "The White House and state department said they could not confirm the allegations, while the Russian foreign ministry rejected them (http://tass.com/politics/901114) with “resentment and indignation”."

2. The UN's initial statement that the destruction of the convoy was a result of 'air strikes' seemed to all but confirm that Russian or Syrian air forces were responsible, within the context of the publicly pronounced presumption that there were no US air forces present at the time.

3. The UN then suddenly reversed its official statement, and withdrew its assessment that the destruction was caused by 'air strikes' and deferred the matter to pending investigation. One can only speculate what caused this sudden reversal, but it appears likely this was a diplomatic success on the part of Russia, which at any rate could have only led to great confusion on the part of the US as to what Russia's coming prepared response was going to be.

4. Russia released aerial footage of the aid caravan, also showing an off-road vehicle towing a large caliber mortar. This was an interesting twist, and laid the potential for Russia to deny attacking the convoy while publicly presenting an understandable reason why it would be legitimate to attack it. Aid caravans have long been suspected by all sides as a way to cloak the transport or import of military equipment. Russia has publicly stated that its position is that the Caravan 'caught fire', using the passive tense in textual construction, and not indicating necessarily 'who', if anyone 'set' this fire, or if it was a random accident caused by heat, or even possibly the existence of munitions being smuggled in to aid US backed enemy combatants.

5. Russia went public with its intel (https://www.rt.com/news/360165-us-drone-syria-russia/), providing back up evidence to confirm, that a US predator drone was overhead in the skies at the same time as the attack. At the same time, it says that the cause of the loss of about 2/3rds of the aid caravan (18 of 31 trucks) was the result of 'fire'.

6. Public analysts and watchdog journalists (http://21stcenturywire.com/2016/09/21/false-flag-us-nato-and-rebel-coalition-appear-to-have-fabricated-un-convoy-evidence/) across the internet, such as 21Wire, noticed that several of the released photographs of the damaged trucks indicated evidence of small weapons fire, and noted a lack of the sort of craters or blast marks that would be consistent with either shelling or an aerial attack. While this sort of 'remote forensics by photography' is useful in the public discourse, and even critical in some cases such as MH17, it is not conclusive in cases of a larger area of attack, because photographs in circulation were not taken with the intention of documenting the entire scene from several angles with the aim of seeking out conclusive evidence. Nevertheless, the possibilities raised are still present, and independent journalism surrounding this stands as an important contribution to public awareness

7. Lavrov met with Stoltenberg, in an ad-hoc meeting at the sidelines of the UN's 71st General Assembly, the details of which are presently unknown to the public. Based upon the following, it would appear that the exchange of data entailed more than what Russia went public with. We of course can only speculate that there may have been some direct evidence of the predator drone making the attack. Or perhaps there is aerial footage of a shelling from the direction of rebel held areas. The release of several perhaps conflicting narratives from Russia and the independent media sphere have created the likelihood that any one of these versions may be correct.

8. Stoltenberg, a named source, in his position as the result of what is effectively a US appointment, publicly stated that he will "not speculate on who carried out the attack (https://www.rt.com/news/360198-stoltenberg-unga-rt-interview/)", which is a decisively different position than what was expressed through Western media, in an original Reuters story citing unnamed sources from the US military. The meaning of this is tremendous in terms of the public discourse. In an RT story in connection with this, they included the following:

"Moscow, however, strongly denied it had played any part in the atrocity, while calling it “another unacceptable provocation.”

"On Wednesday, Lavrov confirmed that Russia had provided all data related to the incident for investigation, and pointed out that the timing of the attack coincided with the large militant offensive in the 1070 district of Aleppo."

"Lavrov and his American counterpart, John Kerry, are expected to meet face-to-face for the second time since the start of the UN General Assembly session on Wednesday evening, a Russian delegation source told RIA Novosti." 9. Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov today has just said (http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/09/russia-confirms-un-convoy-bombing-was.html) that there was an explosion at the caravan, and that the US's use of a predator drone is documented, which it is prepared to reveal to the public. But it is critical, very critical, to note here that the spokesman does not exactly connect the dots explicitly, which leaves upon some important openings listed below.

10. As a result, a number of possibly contradictory public and official theories have surfaced, all however which tend to shift blame away from the Russian or Syrian forces. This is a compelling development, as both sides seek dominance in the information war.
*

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S__WAOatvDE/V-Ph4QcUsNI/AAAAAAAAD8w/PIimrIOQl2MIOUqkUxk3U5DCkVHhrEpaQCLcB/s640/9-5-2016%2B2-12-54%2BPM.png (https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S__WAOatvDE/V-Ph4QcUsNI/AAAAAAAAD8w/PIimrIOQl2MIOUqkUxk3U5DCkVHhrEpaQCLcB/s1600/9-5-2016%2B2-12-54%2BPM.png)

As a result of this carefully planned and well-timed chain of events, Russia has several moves, and one or some combination of the following will show the public that,
a. munitions or fuel being transported in and packed in unsafe conditions caught fire,
b. the caravan was shelled by enemy combatants and then caught fire
c. small arms fire made the munitions or fuel catch fire
d. the US predator drone dropped a non-shell based incendiary device
e. the US predator drones cam data was intercepted (hacked) showing what happened
f. Russian drones caught the whole event, showing what happened
g. Russia attacked the convoy once it was (or will be) revealed that these carried munitions and weaponry for enemy combatants
Right now Russia is indicating that they are going with the 'US dropped an incendiary device from a predator drone', and is going to allow this version to run a certain course until other developments indicate the promotion of an alter or counter narrative. This puts Russia in the position of now having taken control of messaging, while maintaining a high degree of flexibility in any necessary counter-move after the US's response.

So far, western media has not paid attention to Stoltenberg's big statement, as this runs counter to the dissimulation story citing two unnamed sources via Reuters. Reuters has run (http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-russia-idUSKCN11R238) the story of Russia's claim of US drones in the sky, but MSM outlets have not yet made any breaking story of this.

Instead the Atlanticist MSM are running their own two counter-factual, but mutually exclusive, narratives side-by-side - that there is a cease-fire still in effect, and that resumption of the (now dead, Russia's fault) cease-fire talks are 'ongoing', which Russia's increased bombing of Aleppo is 'endangering'. This is based on Kerry's apparent media holography attempt (http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-idUSKCN11R1CN) that there is still a 'truce' that can be 'salvaged' if Russia stops bombing US's Al Nusra or ISIS terrorists in critical parts of Aleppo.

This, again, runs contrary to the fact that the SAA which leads Russian official military rules of engagement on Syria, has ended the truce and that neither side is acting now (the US side the whole while never abiding, according to the leaked parts of the 'secret agreement') as if that truce is in effect, because it is not, neither de facto nor de jure.

All of these developments, as confusing and multifaceted as they are - and indeed because they are as such - grant to Russia the strategic advantage at this stage. The US's media campaign reflects a clearly defensive posture and a position of messaging uncertainty. At this point it can only speak to the ever shrinking western audience which relies on the MSM as its sole source of information. It is relying on the Reuters/AP model as stenographers of western institutional power, which now has fewer total readers among westerners than the so-called 'alternative media', which in fact has a larger combined market-share. What complicates this further, is that this demographic is nevertheless war-weary and unwilling to support an increase of military action, 'kinetic' or otherwise.

Russia has several media/evidentiary counter-moves ready to deploy that will effectively neutralize the US's coming claims, regardless of which track the US takes.

Russia's media counter-offensive surrounding this week's stunning series of events will no doubt be one of the many case studies for media/military strategy students for a generation to come.

Cidersomerset

25th September 2016, 13:06

Caught On Tape: Did The US Target Syrian Aid Convoy With Hellfire Missile?

By David on 25 September 2016 GMT

‘Footage of the nighttime attack on the Syrian aid convoy in Aleppo has surfaced. But there’s
something curious about how the footage has been appearing on Western news reports. A
commenter on the Moon of Alabama blog, PavewayIV, made the following observations about
what appears in the video, and what it suggests. First, however, here’s an unedited version of
the blast, courtesy of ABC:

http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/all/themes/zero_hedge/images/zh_logo_desktop.svg

Caught On Tape: Did The US Target Syrian Aid Convoy With Hellfire Missile?

Tyler Durden's
Sep 23, 2016 9:30 PM

HQnKEhHb4Iw

In the screen cap above, you can see what looks to be a cloud of sparks following an initial
explosion. According to PavewayIV, this is a signature of the Metal-Augmented Charge (MAC)
Hellfire AGM-114N, the Predator drone’s typical payload.’

Read more: Caught On Tape: Did The US Target Syrian Aid Convoy With Hellfire Missile?

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-09-23/caught-tape-did-us-target-syrian-aid-convoy-hellfire-missile

===========================================================

As previously reported – US coalition Predator drone spotted at time & place of Syria aid convoy attack

RT NEWS.......

US coalition Predator drone spotted at time & place of Syria aid convoy attack – Russian military
Published time: 21 Sep, 2016 15:40
Edited time: 22 Sep, 2016 13:47

‘The Russian Defense Ministry says that a US coalition drone was in the vicinity of a humanitarian
convoy when it was attacked outside Aleppo. According to the Russian military, the unmanned
aircraft was a Predator drone.

“On the evening of September 19, in that specific region, a drone belonging to the international condition,
which had taken off from the Incirlik air base in Turkey, was flying at a height of 3,600 meters and
traveling at around 200 kilometers per hour,” said Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov.

“The object was in the area around the town of Urm Al-Kubra, where the convoy was a few minutes before
it caught fire,” Konashenkov added. “It left after about 30 minutes.”’

Read more …

https://www.rt.com/news/360165-us-drone-syria-russia/

===============================================================
===============================================================

Lavrov Makes History: 'Ceasefires' were Bogus. Accuses Washington of Flagrant Violations and
Support of ISIS-Al Qaeda

By David on 25 September 2016 GMT

T9Q3a4EnafI

GLOBAL RESEARCH....

Lavrov Makes History: “Ceasefires” were Bogus. Accuses Washington of Flagrant Violations and
Support of ISIS-Al Qaeda
By Joaquin Flores
Global Research, September 24, 2016
Fort Russ

‘Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov made history today at the UN’s meeting of the Security
Council, declaring that future unilateral pauses couched as ‘ceasefire agreements’ are off the table.
He has skillfully referred to the mounting factual evidence of the US’s continued flagrant violations
on any number of points of agreement over the course of this conflict.’

Read more: Lavrov Makes History: ‘Ceasefires’ were Bogus. Accuses Washington of Flagrant
Violations and Support of ISIS-Al Qaeda

http://www.globalresearch.ca/lavrov-makes-history-ceasefires-were-bogus-accuses-washington-of-flagrant-violations-and-support-of-isis-al-qaeda/5547603

===================================================

Crosstalk: The Media's Syria

PLVixaAgxVk

Published on 23 Sep 2016
Conflicting narratives and competing agendas – this is the tragedy of the Syrian
conflict. Western media coverage is focused on forcing political outcomes. In the
process, the truth is often overlooked and even denied. Another casualty of war.
CrossTalking with Jonathan Steele, Scott Bennett, and Daniel Lazare.

Cidersomerset

25th September 2016, 13:16

The US Road Map to Balkanize Syria: Establish the ISIS-Daesh Salafist Principality.
What are Russia’s Options?

By David on 25 September 2016 GMT

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Untitled-1-9-1.jpg

GLOBAL RESEARCH......

The US Road Map to Balkanize Syria: Establish the ISIS-Daesh Salafist Principality. What are Russia’s Options?
By Pepe Escobar
Global Research, September 24, 2016
RT 22 September 2016

‘Forget about those endless meetings between Sergei Lavrov and John Kerry; forget
about Russia’s drive to prevent chaos from reigning in Syria; forget about the possibility
of a real ceasefire being implemented and respected by US jihad proxies.Forget about
the Pentagon investigating what really happened around its bombing ‘mistake’ in Deir Ezzor.

The definitive proof of the Empire of Chaos’s real agenda in Syria may be found in a 2012
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) document declassified in May last year.’

Read more: The US Road Map to Balkanize Syria: Establish the ISIS-Daesh Salafist Principality.
What are Russia’s Options?

ZUMJ2vm4vgU

http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-us-road-map-to-balkanize-syria-establish-the-isis-daesh-salafist-principality-what-are-russias-options/5547520
==========================================================
==========================================================

China Joins Russia in Syria: Shaping New Anti-Terrorist Alliance

By David on 25 September 2016 GMT War and Terror

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Untitled-23-587x392.jpg

Andrei AKULOV | 22.09.2016 | WORLD

China Joins Russia in Syria: Shaping New Anti-Terrorist Alliance

Read more: China Joins Russia in Syria: Shaping New Anti-Terrorist Alliance

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/09/22/china-joins-russia-in-syria-shaping-new-anti-terrorist-alliance.html

=========================================================
=========================================================

US admit using white phosphorus munitions in Iraq (Warning: Disturbing images)

rO4C-i6RQ-0

Published on 24 Sep 2016

US forces have admitted to using controversial white phosphorus in Iraq. Let's get more on
that from our correspondent Emily Siu.

Cidersomerset

25th September 2016, 21:01

The US , UK and other western media have been stepping up the anti Russian
rhetoric today on Andrew Marr show they were blaming Russia or Syria for breaking
the ceasefire and bombing the aid convoy. Andrew Marr was calling it a war crime
and really only having a one sided debate with his guests reviewing the papers and
later with 'Bubbling' Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn.....

' Bubbling' Boris Johnson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lbKsEBvqd8

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.20.4/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png

Syria conflict: US accuses Russia of 'barbarism' in Aleppo

2 hours ago

Short vid of US ambassador on link
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37468080

===================================================

West still arming Al-Nusra in Syria, peace almost impossible – Russia’s UN envoy

SeUKr5zoH8A

Saudi and John Kerry says plan B is on the table , which sounds like an invasion.

===================================================

Meanwhile the city is bleeding.....This is from channel four hard to tell if the
hospital seen was genuine or staged for the camera ? It looks genuine , even
if most of the patients shown were men of fighting age , it filmed in the rebel held
part of the city.

Bloodshed in one of Syria's battered cities

Channel 4 News

473y0r26EAY

Published on 24 Sep 2016
Aleppo has been bombarded by a fresh wave of air strikes - hitting at least four
rebel-held areas where a quarter of a million residents are trapped. Many buildings
have been utterly flattened.

====================================================

Interesting vid from the BBC which is a large corporation which has been accused
of bias by all UK parties over the years , which is a good thing and why the Beeb
has generally been trusted , even intel agencies do keep a eye on parts of it.
Though for the last decade they are not as critical of the political class as maybe
they should though there are exceptions and there have been many documentaries
over the years that are on par the alternate media in some topics. Most news items
do appear on the web page but may not be highlighted on the TV news reports.

You can see why the Saudis have a big say whats happening in the region , in
Washington and London. The global mil ind complex , the reason why there must
be perpetual warfare somewhere , so more arms can be produced and used on
the civil population usually in the end.

Which countries does Britain sell weapons to? BBC News

H32js9Rf22w

Published on 21 Sep 2016

As controversy surrounds sales of weapons to Saudi Arabia, the BBC examines the
UK's trade in arms.

Hervé

25th September 2016, 21:09

Russian spokeswoman Maria Zakharova makes a fool of Boris Johnson, after he accuses Russia of war crimes in Syria (http://theduran.com/russian-fm-spokeswoman-maria-zakharova-makes-a-fool-of-boris-johnson-after-he-accused-russia-of-war-crimes-in-syria/)

Alex Christoforou (http://theduran.com/author/alex/) The Duran (http://theduran.com/russian-fm-spokeswoman-maria-zakharova-makes-a-fool-of-boris-johnson-after-he-accused-russia-of-war-crimes-in-syria/) Sun, 25 Sep 2016 20:00 UTC

https://www.sott.net/image/s17/346843/large/57e7fb81c36188d8178b46bc.jpg (https://www.sott.net/image/s17/346843/full/57e7fb81c36188d8178b46bc.jpg)

Boris Johnson just had his first run in with Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, and he got destroyed via Facebook.

In an article on The Duran last week by Numan Abd al-Wahid entitled, “How becoming British Foreign Secretary made Boris Johnson flip on Syria” (http://theduran.com/becoming-british-foreign-secretary-made-boris-johnson-flip-syria/), we examined Boris Johnson’s sudden flip flop on Syria, right after he was appointed British FM.

Author al-Wahid notes…
Following his appointment as British Foreign Secretary British politician Boris Johnson has without explanation transformed from a supporter of cooperation with Bashar Al-Assad, the Syrian government and Russia in the fight against Jihadi terrorism into a supporter alongside Saudi Arabia of regime change in Syria.
Boris’ flip flop is easy to explain. By becoming British FM, Johnson got a gold card entrance into the globalist club.

The global elite, neocons, and Saudi monarchy probably had a nice sit down with Boris and “persuaded” the malleable ex-London mayor to see things their way on Syria and Russia. Boris is now a faithful foot soldier to the “powers that be”, who fund and support ISIS/Al Nusra in Syria.

Now Boris, the flip flopping, Saudi/neocon foot soldier is hitting the TV circuit to promote the war in Syria, and do his part to prop up ISIS and Al Nusra/Al Qaeda…
Johnson went on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, and made some fascinating claims. Most notably…
–that Russia was guilty of protracting the war in Syria as well as “making it far more hideous.”

Johnson said that Russia might be guilty of war crimes if allegations of its attack on a UN humanitarian convoy in Aleppo were true.
Unfortunately for Boris, he is not reading The Duran or Moon of Alabama (http://www.moonofalabama.org/2016/09/syria-the-aid-convoy-attack-points-to-further-escalation-.html#comments), otherwise he would have known that evidence is now very much showing (http://theduran.com/evidence-mainstream-media-edited-un-convoy-blast-images-cover-up-predator-drone-hellfire-missile-strike/) that a US Hellfire missile from a Predator Drone most likely set the UN convoy ablaze. Will the US now be guilty of war crimes Boris?

Luckily Russia has assembled a well qualified, sharp team of diplomats at the Foreign Ministry.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted Boris’ ridiculous claims and took to Facebook to respond to Johnson’s accusation regarding Russia’s role in Syria.

Zakharova said that the United Kingdom is guilty of protracting and worsening violence in Iraq, and in the kindest of gestures fixed Boris’ statement, so that it reflects facts on the ground.

“Everything is correct, except for two words: the word ‘Russia’ should be replaced with ‘Britain,’ and ‘Syria’ with ‘Iraq.'”How small of a man must Boris Johnson feel like…

https://www.sott.net/image/s17/346844/large/maria_zakharova.jpg

Sputnik News adds context (https://sputniknews.com/politics/20160925/1045681684/fm-zakharova-accusations-syria.html) to the diplomatic war of words going on between the US, its puppy dogs and The Russian Federation…
Currently Syria is seeing intensified fighting in the city of Aleppo, after the Syrian army declared an end to the week-long ceasefire on Friday, blaming militants for numerous violations that made the cessation of hostilities unreasonable.

Earlier on Sunday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that Aleppo had faced the most intense airstrikes since the start of the Syrian conflict, expressing dismay at the situation and the fate of civilians trapped in the city.

A UN-Syrian Arab Red Crescent convoy carrying humanitarian aid for Aleppo province was hit on Monday, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). As a result, 18 of 31 trucks were destroyed and at least 21 individuals were killed. A number of US military officials claimed that Russia was responsible, while Russia called for a thorough investigation into the incident.

On September 9, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov brokered a ceasefire in Syria that took effect three days later. The agreement called for unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid and stipulated that only designated terror groups would be targeted in military strikes.
Via: https://sputniknews.com/politics/20160925/1045681684/fm-zakharova-accusations-syria.html

Cidersomerset

25th September 2016, 21:48

Boris is a political car crash waiting to happen , here he is dodging and deflecting
questions on various topics as most politicians do. It will be interesting if Donald
gets elected , listening to their geo - political foreign debates and hair product
advise.

'Dear World, Sorry': May Appoints Boris as Foreign Secretary
http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?91836-Theresa-May-to-succeed-Cameron-as-UK-PM-on-Weds-13-July-2016&p=1081653&viewfull=1#post1081653

https://rugbyoldbloke.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/boris-johnson-donald-trump-lookalike-thumb.jpg

Boris Johnson speaks about his new role as Foreign Secretary

G4yYvQcbDM4

Published on 23 Sep 2016

In his first interview with Channel 4 as Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson has accused the Russians
of being guilty of needlessly protracting the Syrian conflict. He said the "puppeteers" for what he
called a proxy war were principally in the Kremlin. He also said nobody had raised the issue of Brexit
with him at the United Nations where the UK plays a global role. Mr Johnson spoke to our foreign
affairs correspondent Jonathan Rugman in New York.

===================================================
===================================================

similar 'Bumbling ' in Sky interview......

Boris Johnson: Sky News The full interview Syria, leaving the EU

X_jMy9XDWas

Published on 22 Sep 2016
The Foreign Secretary is questioned on Syria, the next stage of leaving the EU and
any concessions or deals which may be agreed.

====================================================

In theory he should be a perfect link between Washington and Moscow being
born in New York and is a dual UK/US citizen and with a name like Boris with
European roots he has the bloodline if not the brain cells...

United Nations: Lavrov meets with Boris Johnson on the sidelines of UNGA

JFJbMejDcEY

Hervé

26th September 2016, 14:25

Damascus Has Audio of Daesh Talks With US Military Before Strike on Syrian Army (https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160926/1045706456/us-airstrike-daesh-army.html)

Sputnik (https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160926/1045706456/us-airstrike-daesh-army.html) Middle East 15:19 26.09.2016
(updated 16:20 26.09.2016)

https://www.sott.net/image/s17/346934/large/1045428627.jpg (https://www.sott.net/image/s17/346934/full/1045428627.jpg)
© Flickr/ Expert Infantry

The Syrian intelligence possesses an audio recording of conversation between Daesh terrorists and US military prior to the Washington-led coalition's airstrikes on the government troops near Deir ez-Zor on September 17, the speaker of the People's Council of Syria said Monday.

"The Syrian Army intercepted a conversation between the Americans and Daesh before the air raid on Deir ez-Zor", Hadiya Khalaf Abbas said as quoted by the Al Mayadeen broadcaster.

US warplanes hit Syrian government troops near the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor on September 17, leaving 62 military personnel killed and a hundred wounded. The Pentagon said initially that the airstrike was a mistake and targeted Daesh militants.

The head of the Syrian parliament, during her visit to Iran, added that after the coalition's airstrikes on the government troops US military directed terrorists' attack on the Syrian army.

The attack on government positions put to test a US-Russia brokered nationwide ceasefire that came into being in Syria earlier that week. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said last Friday it was necessary to separate Daesh terrorists from "moderate" opposition forces in order to salvage the truce.

Britain, Australia and Denmark confirmed their air forces' participation in the deadly airstrikes. The politician noted that the details would be made public later.

Cidersomerset

26th September 2016, 15:48

Its all about £/$ as we know and Saudi buys so many weapons from
the US and UK that Saudi is 'untouchable'. First Obama blocking the
9/11 proposals and now Mrs May joining in. Saudi/Israel are the main
two western allies in the Middle East , so both states are immune.....

Obama’s 9/11 veto disregards thousands of victims for sake of geopolitical interests – survivor
t6eQFI4fqhU

Published on 24 Sep 2016
By vetoing a bill that would have allowed the families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia,
US President Barack Obama has disregarded thousands of victims for the sake of geopolitical
interests, William Rodriguez, a survivor of the attack, told RT.

Re: Saudi Arabia wants US to kill 9/11 bill, threatens to dump US assets worth $750 bn - report
http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?90102-Saudi-Arabia-wants-US-to-kill-9-11-bill-threatens-to-dump-US-assets-worth-750-bn-report&p=1101497&viewfull=1#post1101497

==============================================

‘It’s betrayal of Yemeni people’: Outcry as Britain blocks UN inquiry into Yemen war crimes

LO-fkElSUrU

Published on 26 Sep 2016
Human rights groups have accused the UK of blocking an international inquiry
into the war in Yemen, where the Saudi-led coalition is implicated in war crimes.
RT's Polly Boiko has more.

WTF? Crucifixion, Beheading, Stoning, Saudi Arabia and ISIS/ISIL have near-identical punishments!!

http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?85350-WTF-Crucifixion-Beheading-Stoning-Saudi-Arabia-and-ISIS-ISIL-have-near-identical-punishments--

http://i.alalam.ir/news/Image/Inner-Media/2016/07/06/alalam_636034303987754152_25f_4x3.jpg
http://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/styles/wysiwyg_large/public/images/Punishments_FINAL-01.jpg
http://www.syriatruths.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/daesh-and-israel.jpg

http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/crime-and-punishment-islamic-state-vs-saudi-arabia-1588245666

=================================================================
=================================================================

" Its a Rat trap and you've been conned !!!! "

and its been going on a very long time.....

YtPgwAj2M9c
Boomtown Rats - Rat Trap (Live at Hammersmith Odeon 1978)

Cidersomerset

26th September 2016, 16:38

Syria: White Helmets Staged ‘Russian Bombing’ Scene Near Aleppo, Lapped-up by Mainstream Media

By David on 26 September 2016 GMT

http://21stcenturywire.com/wp-content/themes/magazine/images/21-LOGO-230x115.png

Syria: White Helmets Staged ‘Russian Bombing’ Scene Near Aleppo, Lapped-up by Mainstream Media

September 24, 2016 By 21wire

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/convoy-22-768x432.jpg
Image of one of the burned out SARC trucks in Urm-Al-Kubra, West Aleppo (Image Source: Reuters)

21st Century Wire....REPORT

‘When it comes to Syria, the level of disinformation fraud from US Coalition-aligned agencies shows
no sign of diminishing. Once more, the West is attempting to produce an open and shut case of
humanitarian law violation, with which to further demonize the nations of both Syria and Russia.

This, in turn, will enable them to escalate hostilities on the ground in Syria and invoke the much
sought after ‘No Fly Zone’ which will be used to facilitate full spectrum destablization and a NATO
bombing of Syria into the oblivion of a Libya-style failed state.’

Read more: Syria: White Helmets Staged ‘Russian Bombing’ Scene Near Aleppo, Lapped-up by
Mainstream Media

http://21stcenturywire.com/2016/09/24/syria-white-helmets-staged-russian-bombing-scene-near-aleppo-lapped-up-by-mainstream-media/
===========================================================
===========================================================

Netflix and the White Helmets, hand in hand with al Qaeda

By David on 26 September 2016 GMT

4oQTWn1JfeA

Published on 14 Sep 2016
Second short doco on the US-UK funded al Qaeda support group, the White Helmets,
backed by Netflix. By Steve Ezzeddine

===========================================================
===========================================================

SPUTNIK NEWS.....

US Ambassador to UN Hints at Removal of Russia From Security Council Over Syria

Russia23:23 25.09.2016

Read more: https://sputniknews.com/russia/20160925/1045690476/aleppo-syria-russia-security-council.html
US Ambassador to the United Nations claims that Russia is responsible for the horrors that have
descended upon Syria, but remained silent about the 1.5 million civilians whose water was shut
off by US-backed rebels.The United States Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power blamed Russia
for the surge in violence in Syria after the ceasefire agreement collapsed last week following a
US-led airstrike in Deir Ez-Zor that killed 62 Syrian Army soldiers and left scores injured causing
fighting to intensify to a breaking point.

Read more: https://sputniknews.com/russia/20160925/1045690476/aleppo-syria-russia-security-council.html

https://sputniknews.com/russia/20160925/1045690476/aleppo-syria-russia-security-council.html

====================================================

Damascus has proof US talked to ISIS militants ahead of airstrike on Syrian forces – lawmaker
By David on 26 September 2016 GMT

RT NEWS...

Damascus has proof US talked to ISIS militants ahead of airstrike on Syrian forces – lawmaker
Published time: 26 Sep, 2016 14:55
Edited time: 26 Sep, 2016 17:24

https://cdn.rt.com/files/2016.09/original/57e93595c46188f7798b4661.jpg
A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer supersonic bomber © Reuters

‘Damascus has a recording of conversations between the American military and Islamic State terrorists
ahead of the US-led coalition airstrike that hit Syrian troops near Deir ez-Zor on September 17, the
speaker of the People’s Council of Syria said.“The Syrian Army intercepted the communications between
the Americans and Daesh [Arabic pejorative for Islamic State/IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL] ahead of the attack
on Deir ez-Zor,” Hadiya Khalaf Abbas said, as cited by Sputnik Arabic.

According to the People’s Council speaker, the Syrian authorities have evidence that the US-led coalition’s
airstrike was a deliberate act.’

Read more: Damascus has proof US talked to ISIS militants ahead of airstrike on Syrian forces – lawmaker

https://www.rt.com/news/360656-us-isis-talks-proof/

=================================================================
=================================================================

RT NEWS....

Ahrar Al-Sham plans to launch chemical attack on civilians, blame it on Syria govt – Syrian UN envoy

Published time: 26 Sep, 2016 01:22
Edited time: 26 Sep, 2016 03:09

Rebel fighters from the Ahrar al-Sham Islamic Movement

Militants from Ahrar Al-Sham, a hardline Islamist group, are planning to use white phosphorus in an attack
on civilians to later blame it on Syrian armed forces, UN envoy Bashar Ja’afari told a UN Security Council
emergency meeting on Sunday.

https://www.rt.com/news/360590-ahrar-sham-chemical-attack-syria/

===================================================
===================================================

Scary , Scary propaganda .....

Breaking down Russia and U.S. nuclear capabilities

fYYstZyiUlU

Published on 25 Sep 2016
On "60 Minutes" CBS News national security correspondent David Martin took a deeper look into
the threat and risk of nuclear war as Russia and the U.S. build their nuclear arsenals. David Martin
and director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists Hans
Kristensen join CBSN to discuss.

Cidersomerset

26th September 2016, 18:11

Why The Hell Are We Still in Afghanistan?

ZyJfdmFl0vY

Published on 26 Sep 2016

SHOW NOTES AND MP3: https://www.corbettreport.com/?p=19975

15 years later, the US and its NATO allies still have troops in Afghanistan with
no plans on leaving. We were told this was about 9/11 and Osama Bin Laden,
but these were lies. So why are the troops still there? What was the war in
Afghanistan really about? Michel Chossudovsky of the Centre for Research
on Globalization joins us to explain.

==================================================

'Hands Dripping with the Blood of the Afghan People': US Agrees to Pardons and Rewards Warlord

NwbaUvNQjk4

Published on 24 Sep 2016
The peace deal amounts to a bribe for warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar to not commit
crimes and terrorism, says Sonali Kolhatkar, host of “Rising Up With Sonali” on KPFA

Visit http://therealnews.com for more videos.

Re: Afghan Opium Harvesting Protected by British & American Occupation Forces // 2014 the largest Opium crop in History.

http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?84791-Afghan-Opium-Harvesting-Protected-by-British-American-Occupation-Forces-2014-the-largest-Opium-crop-in-History.&p=1101827#post1101827

====================================================
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R6UEsXp0cmE

Published on 26 Sep 2016
The second Syrian ceasefire has come to an abrupt end, with Washington and
Moscow blaming the other. Was the ceasefire intentionally scuttled? And what
happens now?

CrossTalking with Mark Sleboda, Dmitry Babich, and Charles Shoebridge.

Hervé

27th September 2016, 20:27

Bellingcat unwittingly shows Russia didn't bomb Aleppo aid convoy (http://turcopolier.typepad.com/sic_semper_tyrannis/2016/09/bellingcat-proves-the-russians-didnt-do-it.html)

Patrick Armstrong Sic Semper Tyrannis (http://turcopolier.typepad.com/sic_semper_tyrannis/2016/09/bellingcat-proves-the-russians-didnt-do-it.html) Mon, 26 Sep 2016 17:45 UTC

https://www.sott.net/image/s17/347281/large/6a00d8341c72e153ef01bb093aade4.jpg (https://www.sott.net/image/s17/347281/full/6a00d8341c72e153ef01bb093aade4.jpg)

The Bellingcat site has a piece entitled "Confirmed : Russian Bomb Remains Recovered from Syrian Red Crescent Aid Convoy Attack (https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2016/09/22/russian-bomb-remains-recovered-syrian-red-crescent-aid-convoy-attack/)" which includes this picture as well as several others. You may look at the others, but this one picture is apodictic proof 1) that the Russians (or Syrians) didn't do it and 2) that Bellingcat is a loyal servant of the Borg.

He spends a lot of efforts to establish that the metal piece is the tail piece of a Russian-made OFAB 250-270 Fragmentation High Explosive Bomb (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/ofab-250-270.htm). No argument there, I'm sure it is. Said bomb has 92kg of explosive. Which is quite a lot.

If said bomb has exploded in this not very large room, all those cardboard boxes would be torn to pieces and burned. To say nothing of a lot more damage to the room itself. Therefore it did not explode in that room.
If said bomb was a dud and did not explode, where is the rest of it? Therefore the bomb is not a dud.
Therefore the bomb piece was put there to make it look as if the Russians had done it. (And not very competently either: note that it is supposed to have come through the ceiling and neatly placed itself underneath some undamaged cardboard boxes.)
If it is necessary to produce a fake picture, then the Russians didn't do it.
QED

And, as a bonus, by perpetrating this fraud, Bellingcat has also proved that he is a stooge of the war party.

A lot to deduce from one photo, isn't it? It used to be that it took more effort to disprove Bellingcat's fakes. He's losing his touch.

SOTT Comment: (https://www.sott.net/article/329447-Bellingcat-unwittingly-shows-Russia-didnt-bomb-Aleppo-aid-convoy) Some of the comments on the bellingcat original are hilarious. We recommend you check them out.

Cidersomerset

29th September 2016, 16:22

Kerry threatens to sever all Syria cooperation with Russia

fDwScS31T1Y

Published on 28 Sep 2016
The US holds Russia responsible for the violence in Aleppo and is threatening to break
off all cooperation with Moscow in Syria, the State Department said. Russia is asking
the US to live up to its obligation to separate the US-backed opposition from terrorists.
RT correspondent Gayane Chichakyan has the report. Then, former US diplomat Jim
Jatras joins ‘News with Ed’ and says, “the Obama administration is supporting radical
Islamic terrorism in Syria.”

======================================================

Foreign states supply Syrian rebels with new Grad rockets – FSA commander

By David on 29 September 2016 GMT

RT NEWS.....

https://cdn.rt.com/files/2016.09/original/57ebf0afc361888d0f8b46ba.jpg

‘Foreign states have supplied Syrian rebels with surface-to-surface Grad rockets
in response to the Russian-backed offensive in Aleppo, according to Fares al-Bayoush,
rebel commander of the Free Syrian Army.

Rockets for the Grad BM-21 multilaunch systems with ranges of 22km and 40km have
recently been supplied in “excellent quantities,” Reuters news agency reported on
Wednesday, citing Colonel al-Bayoush. The colonel did not specify exactly how many
rockets had been received.

Al-Bayoush claims the rockets are to be used on battlefronts in Aleppo, Hama and the
coastal region of Syria, adding that this type of ammunition had not previously been
supplied to the rebel forces. He said, however, that the rebels are already using Grad
rocket stocks they had previously captured from Syrian Army reserves.’

Read more: Foreign states supply Syrian rebels with new Grad rockets – FSA commander

https://www.rt.com/news/360980-syria-rebels-grad-rockets/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

Cidersomerset

29th September 2016, 16:46

Kerry threatens to sever all Syria cooperation with Russia

FPGjqma5vxA

Published on 28 Sep 2016
The US holds Russia responsible for the violence in Aleppo and is threatening to break
off all cooperation with Moscow in Syria, the State Department said. Russia is asking
the US to live up to its obligation to separate US-backed opposition from terrorists.

===================================================
===================================================

US failed to fulfill any of their promises & commitments in Syria - Assad adviser

MzLG3nqRpb0

Published on 29 Sep 2016

The U.S. is threatening to end co-operation with Moscow on Syria unless - quote -
Russian and Syrian attacks on Aleppo stop. The ultimatum was made in a phone
call between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart,
Sergey Lavrov.The U.S. State Department also says it's looking at non-diplomatic
options for responding to the situation in the war-torn country.Reaction from
Bouthaina Shaaban, who's a political and media adviser to Syria's President Assad

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Hillary Clinton’s ‘Presidency’ has Already Begun as Lame Ducks Promote Her War on Syria

By David on 28 September 2016 GMT

http://21stcenturywire.com/wp-content/themes/magazine/images/21-LOGO-230x115.png

Hillary Clinton’s ‘Presidency’ has Already Begun as Lame Ducks Promote Her War on Syria

September 27, 2016 By 21wire 5 Comments

21st Century Wire says…

‘One glaring conclusion from last night’s US Presidential debate is that there is virtually
no difference between either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton’s view on what the US
should do in Syria. Both are advocating for more war – for more airstrikes in Syria,
and for “building safe zones” which are actually ‘No Fly Zones’ (where only US Coalition
aircraft are allow to fly).

There is one vast difference however, between these two candidates. During her tenure
as Obama’s Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton was both the architect of the US-led
destruction of the Libyan State, and also of Washington’s secret war against Syria, officially from 2011.’

Read more: Hillary Clinton’s ‘Presidency’ has Already Begun as Lame Ducks Promote Her War on Syria

http://21stcenturywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1-Hillary-Clinton-Syria.jpg

http://21stcenturywire.com/2016/09/27/hillary-clintons-presidency-has-already-begun-as-lame-ducks-promote-her-war/

Cidersomerset

29th September 2016, 18:08

People are trying for justice , if only the UN were so ethical.....

Lawsuits against the Neocons: Hillary's DNC, George W. Bush Et Al

YlntVB9fT8E

Published on 27 Sep 2016

The neocon war hawks have embroiled the United States in illegal wars of
aggression around the globe, and with the possibility of a Clinton presidency,
that reign of terror looks set to continue. But a series of lawsuits are challenging
the neocons in the courts and threatening to derail that agenda. This is the GRTV
Backgrounder on Global Research TV.

Cidersomerset

29th September 2016, 22:05

'waffle ,waffle , waffle ,lash out ' by the spokesman as usual.....

RT's Gayane Chichakyan and John Kirby spat over Syria, Saudi and Yemen

uYZwgc6GwZ4

Published on 29 Sep 2016
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry threatens to cut off all cooperation with Moscow
over Syria, unless attacks on Aleppo are stopped and the ceasefire is restored.
That's as his spokesperson warns of even worse consequences...

==============================================
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http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.20.4/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png

Syria war: Russia rejects US calls to halt bombing eastern Aleppo
1 hour ago

http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/25F2/production/_91441790_gettyimages-610637504.jpg
Eastern Aleppo has come under intense aerial bombardment for the past week

Russia has said it will carry on bombing rebel-held eastern Aleppo in Syria,
defying US demands to stop.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on
Thursday that the Russian air force would continue its support of the
Syrian armed forces.

He also urged Washington to deliver on a pledge to separate moderate
Syrian opposition fighters from "terrorists".US Secretary of State John Kerry
warned the US was "on the verge" of suspending talks with Russia over Syria.

"It's irrational, in the context of the kind of bombing taking place, to be sitting
there, trying to take things seriously," he told a conference in Washington.

"There is no notion or indication of seriousness of purpose with what is taking place right now."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37508085

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Syria slams US-led coalition for destroying two bridges

By David on 30 September 2016 GMT War and Terror

PRESS TV....

Syria slams US-led coalition for destroying two bridges
Thu Sep 29, 2016 7:23PM

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/5f79e544-c17a-4645-b2f8-93b951bb4f07.jpg

‘Syria has slammed the US-led coalition purportedly fighting Daesh for destroying
two bridges over Euphrates River in the eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr, where
the same alliance recently killed 83 Syrian soldiers.

The attacks “confirm the so-called international coalition’s intent to bomb and
destroy Syrian infrastructure and economic and social establishments through
repeated aggressive acts,” the Syrian Foreign Ministry said in two letters to the UN
chief and the Security Council on Thursday.

The ministry said said terror groups are the only beneficiaries of the US-led
coalition’s attacks, which come under the pretext of a war against Daesh.’

Read more: Syria slams US-led coalition for destroying two bridges

http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/09/29/486956/Syria-Euphrates-Bridges-US

Cidersomerset

30th September 2016, 08:58

Moscow ‘keeps in mind’ US readiness to use nuclear weapons, prepared for ‘countermeasures’

By David on 30 September 2016 GMT

Lack of cooperation between US and Russia - 'Best gift to ISIS'

sPCAso985vs

Published on 29 Sep 2016
The US’ refusal to cooperate with Russia would be a real “gift” to terrorists in Syria,
on a par with its failure to separate “moderates” from jihadists and the recent airstrike
against Syrian army, Moscow said in response to a barrage of criticism from Washington.

====================================================
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Moscow ‘keeps in mind’ US readiness to use nukes, prepared for ‘countermeasures’

RT NEWS....
Published time: 30 Sep, 2016 03:50
Edited time: 30 Sep, 2016 03:51

‘Russia has promised to take all necessary countermeasures to ensure its national security given
recently-announced US plans to modernize its nuclear triad and hawkish statements on nuclear
deterrence coming from Washington.

US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter told American troops at Minot Air Force Base in South Dakota
that the Pentagon has been seeking $108 billion over the next five years to upgrade the nation’s
nuclear triad of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, ballistic submarines, and strategic bombers. He also
announced that NATO is reviewing its “nuclear playbook” to deter potential “terrible attacks” by Russia.

“Across the Atlantic, we’re refreshing NATO’s nuclear playbook to better integrate conventional and
nuclear deterrence to ensure we plan and train like we’d fight and to deter Russia from thinking it can
benefit from nuclear use in a conflict with NATO, from trying to escalate to de-escalate, as some there
call it,” Carter said on Monday.’

Read more: Moscow ‘keeps in mind’ US readiness to use nuclear weapons, prepared for ‘countermeasures’

https://www.rt.com/news/361141-us-nuclear-concern-russia/
=======================================================
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China warns against US deployment of THAAD anti-missile system in S. Korea

By David on 30 September 2016 GMT

RT NEWS....

China warns against US deployment of THAAD anti-missile system in S. Korea
Published time: 29 Sep, 2016 21:16

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/download-14-1.png

‘The Chinese Defense Ministry has warned the US against deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense
system in South Korea. On Wednesday, Washington released a statement that it is going to deploy the system
“as soon as possible.”

“We will pay close attention to relevant developments, and consider taking necessary actions to protect national
strategic security and the regional strategic balance,” Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun told a
monthly news briefing on Thursday as cited by Reuters. “What needs to be stressed is that Chinese people mean
what they say.”‘

Read more: China warns against US deployment of THAAD anti-missile system in S. Korea

https://www.rt.com/news/361118-china-warning-missiles-south-korea/

Cidersomerset

30th September 2016, 14:22

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/download-12.png

World War III and the Gross Hypocrisy of Britain and America - David Icke Videocast

0SAw63RFKZ8
Published on 30 Sep 2016

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US State Department Threatens Terror Attacks in Russia if Moscow Keeps Fighting ISIS

By David on 30 September 2016 GMT War and Terror

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/download-23-1.png

http://static.infowars.com/p/prison_planet_logo2.jpg

State Dept. Threatens Terror Attacks in Russia if Moscow Keeps Fighting ISIS

The Alex Jones Channel Alex Jones Show podcast Prison Planet TV Infowars.com

“More Russian lives will be lost, more Russian aircraft will be shot down”

Paul Joseph Watson
Prison Planet.com
September 29, 2016

6wRXncGsktE

‘In extraordinary comments that have gone virtually unnoticed by the media, U.S.
State Department spokesman John Kirby threatened Moscow with terror attacks in
Russian cities and even shoot downs of Russian jets if Vladimir Putin continued his
fight against ISIS in Syria.’

Read more: US State Department Threatens Terror Attacks in Russia if Moscow
Keeps Fighting ISIS

http://www.prisonplanet.com/state-dept-threatens-terror-attacks-in-russia-if-moscow-keeps-fighting-isis.html

Cidersomerset

30th September 2016, 14:48

Russia in Syria: 1 year on

oJv1paJWfyI

Published on 30 Sep 2016
Precisely a year ago Moscow joined the campaign in Syria at the request of Damascus.
While killing thousands of jihadists, Russia suffered military losses, but became one of
the driving forces behind attempts at the national reconciliation process.

=======================================================
=======================================================

CrossTalk on Russia-US relations: Increased Tensions

fYE8Tf-ueL4

Published on 30 Sep 2016
Going from bad to even worse: The very strident and harsh rhetoric coming out of
Washington and directed towards Russia is unprecedented. Bilateral relations have
reached a dangerous low. What happens now? CrossTalking with Gilbert Doctorow,
Brian Becker, and Daniel McAdams.

====================================================

US shouldn’t engage in ‘death struggle’ over who controls Aleppo – Ron Paul

LqLK_0HsHFY

Published on 28 Sep 2016
Syria's Aleppo has become the hotspot of the battle between the government,
rebels and terrorists. Former congressman Dr. Ron Paul says that Washington's
involvement in the conflict damages both the peace process and US security.

Cidersomerset

30th September 2016, 19:31

http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.20.4/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png

US protecting Syria jihadist group - Russia's Lavrov

2 hours ago

bUyYg8BrYkw

Sergei Lavrov: "We believe the plan was to spare Nusra"

The US is trying to spare a jihadist group in its attempts to unseat Syria's President
Bashar al-Assad, Russia's foreign minister has told the BBC.

Sergei Lavrov said the US had broken its promise to separate the powerful Jabhat
Fateh al-Sham (formerly known as al-Nusra Front) and other extremist groups from
more moderate rebels.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37520793

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Inside Aleppo: hospitals bombed

Channel 4 News

zXs0dIxWmnU

Published on 28 Sep 2016
Secretary of State John Kerry has told the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
that the US holds Russia responsible for the use of incendiary and bunker bombs
against Aleppo.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inside Aleppo: The morning after

Channel 4 News

BT5gsYdTL-E

Published on 27 Sep 2016
We've obtained footage from inside the besieged rebel side of the city as the
residents of one suburb emerge into the light, after a night of bombing.

Cidersomerset

30th September 2016, 20:22

Why Everything You Hear About Aleppo Is Wrong

I8mA0h7dCKI

Streamed live on 29 Sep 2016

What's really going on in Aleppo? Are Assad and Putin exterminating the population for sport?
Is it a war against US-backed "moderates"? That is what the mainstream media would have
us believe. We speak with Vanessa Beeley, a journalist who just returned from Aleppo for the real story.

Be sure to visit http://www.ronpaullibertyreport.com for more libertarian commentary.

====================================================
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The underlying goal is still to get rid of Assad...

US admits not targeting Nusra, fails to separate ‘moderates’ from terrorists

E87dzO09Y-A

Published on 30 Sep 2016
The US is not targeting al-Nusra terrorists in Syria because they have become
too “intermingled” with moderates and civilians, the US State Department claimed,
accusing Moscow of causing the mess which prevents Washington from separating
the groups

====================================================
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http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.20.4/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png

Syria conflict: US says Russia driving rebels into extremists' camp
31 minutes ago

Russia's increasing military action in Syria is forcing moderates within the
opposition into the hands of extremists, the US has said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37525655

Akasha

1st October 2016, 15:34

In-depth interview with the Syrian ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar Jaafari - "Syria will never be another Libya or Iraq....."

sSJTHiNN5KE

Cidersomerset

1st October 2016, 17:25

Syria will never be Iraq or Libya – Syrian ambassador to UN

X3w_VZevI6k

================================================

http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.20.4/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png

Syria conflict: Aleppo hospital 'hit by barrel bombs'
2 hours ago

Dr Abu Rajan shows cameras around the bombed hospital

An air raid on the rebel-held eastern half of the Syrian city of Aleppo has hit the
area's largest hospital for the second time in a matter of days, a medical charity says.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37528260

==============================================

Kerry: ‘I argued for use of force in Syria, and I’ve lost the argument’

gBw9t3Mpk38

Published on 1 Oct 2016

John Kerry frustrated with inability to use forces in Syria - leaked recording

uzn

1st October 2016, 21:54

Jürgen Todenhöfer (german ex-politician and Journalist) interviewed an Al-Nusra Commander Adu Al Ezz 10 Days ago. The Internettrolls are calling it fake, the german press is skeptical. But the Content is really interesting:
Some exerpts: America indirectly supports Al Qaida. Al Nusra was supplied with modern Anittankrockets by America. They had Officers from Saudi-Arabia, Katar and Israel there when they were under siege.
With english Subs (one has to go to Youtube to have the english Subtitle):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K6zqSTSp6g

With german Subs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K6zqSTSp6g

seko

2nd October 2016, 03:53

This war is the middle ground for WW3. It doesn't look to end soon. U.S. State department Rear Admiral John F. Kirby warns that this war will cross borders and go to Russia, waged by the extremists(I think he is talking about himself and his gang).

The consequences are that the civil war will continue in Syria, that extremists and extremists groups will continue to exploit the vacuums that are there in Syria to expand their operations, which will include, no question, attacks against Russian interests, perhaps even Russian cities, and Russia will continue to send troops home in body bags, and they will continue to lose resources – even, perhaps, more aircraft… read the rest of the article.

http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/washington-has-just-declared-war-russia/ri16748

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wRXncGsktE

Cidersomerset

2nd October 2016, 08:50

There are other flashpoints going on Palestinian/Israel incidents are going on
most days , the same in Yemen and elsewhere....

Year of atrocities in Palestine

Maureen Clare Murphy Rights and Accountability 30 September 2016
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/maureen-clare-murphy/year-atrocities-palestine?utm_source=EI+readers&utm_campaign=a7cf3b241a-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e802a7602d-a7cf3b241a-299185473

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Israel seals off Palestinian territories, approves new settlements ahead of Jewish new year
Published time: 2 Oct, 2016 02:21

https://www.rt.com/news/361344-israel-seals-off-gaza-west-bank/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

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One potential serious conflict that could escalate quickly is in Kashmir , which
has been disputed for decades. I noticed earlier last week that Indi was initiating
border raids/strike . I have noticed that India has been importing a lot of new
weapons over the last few years , the charts do fluctuate depending on amount
of equipment as well as price but give a general idea of the players and the
link between buying arms and using them in these areas.....

==================================================

INDEPENDENT
Arms trade: One chart that shows the biggest weapons exporters of the last five years

Asia was the main importer of weapons in the last five years
Hazel Sheffield |
Wednesday 24 February 2016|
https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/styles/story_medium/public/thumbnails/image/2016/02/24/16/Arms-Exporters-Importer.jpg

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/arms-trade-exporters-importers-weapons-transfers-sipri-a6891491.html

==================================================

US Backs India’s Military Strikes against Pakistan

By David on 2 October 2016 GMT War and Terror

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/army26.jpg

http://www.wsws.org/img/title.png

US backs India’s military strikes on Pakistan

By Keith Jones

‘The Obama administration has signaled its support for India’s “surgical” cross-
border military strikes carried out Wednesday night in Pakistan-held Kashmir.

India’s attack was patently illegal and highly provocative. US strategic think tanks
frequently refer to disputed Kashmir as the most dangerous “nuclear flashpoint” in
the world. Yet American officials have studiously avoided making any criticism of
India, a “global strategic partner” of US imperialism and pillar of its military-strategic
offensive against China.

A chorus of former Obama and Bush administration officials now employed by various
military-strategic think tanks are lauding the Indian action and even praising New
Delhi for its “restraint,” even as the Hindu supremacist BJP government of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi pushes South Asia closer to the precipice of all-out war.’

Read more: US Backs India’s Military Strikes against Pakistan

http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2016/10/01/indi-o01.html

====================================================

India conducts 'surgical strikes' along Kashmir border, prompting fury in Pakistan

G-VMjSk39C0

Published on 29 Sep 2016

Tensions threaten to boil over in Kashmir after India carried out what it
called ''surgical strikes'' along the de facto border with Pakistan. A senior Indian
army spokesman said the operation had inflicted significant casualties on Pakistan-
based militants, it claimed were planning a series of attacks.

Cidersomerset

2nd October 2016, 08:59

This happens in the US and probably most countries with mil ind complex's
Again these charts and list vary a bit over the years but give a general
idea of the players and users and most are the 'usual suspects' in these
areas for decades if not centuries.....

DAWN....

Pakistan at tenth place in list of world's largest arms importers for 2015

Dawn.com | Reuters — Updated Feb 22, 2016 03:45pm

http://i.dawn.com/primary/2016/02/56cacebd2d6a4.jpg

http://www.dawn.com/news/1241157

=================================================

Exposed: ‘Revolving door’ between British government and arms dealers

By David on 2 October 2016 GMT

RT NEWS....

Exposed: ‘Revolving door’ between British govt and arms dealers

Published time: 30 Sep, 2016 15:45
Edited time: 1 Oct, 2016 18:36

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/57ee7a5bc46188b37e8b4675.jpg

‘Peace campaigners have exposed the cozy relationship between the British government
and the nation’s arms dealers by publishing details of meetings between weapons
manufacturers and public officials.

According to data analyzed by Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), the Defence and Security
Organization (DSO) has had more than 1,000 meetings with industry representatives since 2010.

CAAT now suggests there is a “revolving door” between the British government and arms & security industries.

The group highlighted the case of current Leicestershire police and crime commissioner, Baron Willy
Bach, who moved from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) procurement department to the directorship
of aerospace and cybersecurity firm Leonardo-Finmeccanica shortly after he left the government in 2005.’

Read more: Exposed: ‘Revolving door’ between British government and arms dealers

https://www.rt.com/uk/361217-arms-trade-government-caat/

Cidersomerset

3rd October 2016, 14:39

The US and UK have been ramping up the fear factor so as to get funds to update
there nuclear arsenals. China and Russia have also been responding slowly edging
back towards cold war mentality. Which will be handy for the mil ind complex's and
PTB as more people are questioning the war on terror.....

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Russia suspends weapons-grade plutonium deal with US
1 hour ago

http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/3709/production/_91498041_topolafp08.jpg
Plutonium goes into the warheads of nuclear missiles like these Russian Topols

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree suspending an agreement with
the US on the disposal of surplus weapons-grade plutonium.The decree (in Russian)
accused the US of creating "a threat to strategic stability, as a result of unfriendly
actions" towards Russia. So Russia had to take "urgent security measures".

Under the 2000 deal, each side is supposed to get rid of 34 tonnes of plutonium by
burning it in reactors.It is part of cuts to nuclear forces.The US state department
said the combined 68 tonnes of plutonium was "enough material for approximately
17,000 nuclear weapons". Both sides reconfirmed the deal in 2010.

'We fulfilled our duties'

But in April Mr Putin said the US was failing to fulfil its obligations to destroy plutonium.
Instead, he argued, the US reprocessing method allowed plutonium to be extracted and
used again in nuclear weapons.Both sides had agreed to build special facilities for disposing
of the surplus plutonium."We fulfilled out duties, we built that enterprise. But our American
partners did not," Mr Putin said.The US rejected that claim, insisting that its disposal method
did not violate the agreement.The Russian decree comes amid heightened tensions over
Russia's bombing campaign in Syria, which some have described as a "war crime".

Russian planes are helping Syrian government forces to hit rebel groups, some of which are
supported by the US and its Gulf Arab allies.Russia is currently modernising its nuclear arsenal.
The post-Cold War thaw ended in 2014 when the Russian military annexed Crimea from Ukraine.
Russia says it is defending the legitimate interests of ethnic Russians in Ukraine.

read more....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37539616

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UK Government to Invest $1.7Billion in New Nuclear Submarines' Construction

By David on 3 October 2016 GMT War and Terror

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/1045903496.jpg

UK Gov't to Invest $1.7Bln in New Nuclear Submarines' ConstructionUK Ministry of DefenseEurope
6:29 01.10.2016(updated 16:52 01.10.2016)

‘The UK government unveiled a project to invest 1.3 billion British pounds ($1.7 billion) in the
construction of the new Successor-class nuclear submarines, part of the full 178 billion-pound
spending plan for Britain’s military, a press release issued on Saturday revealed.

“Britain’s ballistic missile submarines are the ultimate guarantee of our nation’s safety – we use
them every day to deter the most extreme threats. Along with increasing the defence budget to
buy new ships, planes and armoured vehicles, this shows that this Government will never gamble
with our national security,” Defense Secretary Michael Fallon was quoted as saying in the press release.’

Read more: UK Government to Invest $1.7Billion in New Nuclear Submarines’ Construction

https://sputniknews.com/europe/20161001/1045903899/uk-nuclear-submarines.html

===================================================

Putin signs decree suspending Russia-US deal on plutonium disposal over hostile US actions

By David on 3 October 2016 GMT War and Terror

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/download-23.png

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RT NEWS....
Putin signs decree suspending Russia-US deal on plutonium disposal over hostile US actions
Published time: 3 Oct, 2016 08:23
Edited time: 3 Oct, 2016 14:41

https://cdn.rt.com/files/2016.10/original/57f2165bc4618864308b462e.jpg

‘Russia has suspended a post-Cold War deal with the US on disposal of plutonium
from decommissioned nuclear warheads. The decision was explained by “the hostile
actions of the US” against Russia and Washington’s failure to observe the terms of
the deal.

A decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin cites “the radical change in the
environment, a threat to strategic stability posed by the hostile actions of the US
against Russia, and the inability of the US to deliver on the obligation to dispose of
excessive weapons plutonium under international treaties, as well as the need to
take swift action to defend Russian security” as justification for suspending the deal.

While Russia suspended the plutonium reprocessing deal, it stressed that the
Russian fissile material, which was subject to it, would not be used for any military
purpose, be it production of new weapons or research.’

Read more: Putin signs decree suspending Russia-US deal on plutonium disposal
over hostile US actions

https://www.rt.com/news/361411-russia-suspend-plutonium-deal/

0SAw63RFKZ8
Published on 30 Sep 2016

====================================================

GlcEPbsCqf0

Published on 3 Oct 2016
The crucible known as Syria: With Moscow and Washington trading less than
diplomatic rhetoric surrounding Syria, the prospect of a head-to-head conflict loons.
Is there stepping back from the abyss?
CrossTalking with Mark Sleboda, Dmitry Babich, and Adam Garrie.

Cidersomerset

3rd October 2016, 15:02

Secretary of State Kerry Admits War on 'Legitimate' Syrian Government is Illegal

By David on 3 October 2016 GMT

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Untitled-33.jpg

Secretary of State Kerry Admits War on 'Legitimate' Syrian Government is Illegal

© AP Photo/ Vadim GhirdaMiddle East21:43 01.10.2016(updated 04:17 02.10.2016)

‘Speaking on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, the top US diplomat
admitted that the administration’s lawyers had determined that any and all American
intervention in Syria is illegal.

Experts have long criticized the legality of the US intervention in Syria under the tenets of
international law given that the legitimate government of Bashar al-Assad has patently
refused to welcome American intervention and has, in fact, repeatedly called on the United
States to stop meddling in the ongoing civil war to which Washington is not a party to.

The State Department has long countered that their position is that the alleged attacks by
the Assad regime on civilians, particularly in rebel-held East Aleppo, invalidates the Syrian
leader’s legitimacy under international law under a doctrine known as “right to protect.”‘

Read more: Secretary of State Kerry Admits War on ‘Legitimate’ Syrian Government is Illegal

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20161001/1045911056/kerry-assad-syria-airstrikes-illegal.html

==========================================================
==========================================================

China ‘to provide aid, enhance military training’ in Syria – top army official

By David on 3 October 2016 GMT War and Terror

RT NEWS......

China ‘to provide aid, enhance military training’ in Syria – top army official
Published time: 16 Aug, 2016 15:22
Edited time: 18 Aug, 2016 08:24

‘Beijing and Damascus have agreed that the Chinese military will provide humanitarian aid to Syria,
a high-ranking People’s Liberation Army officer said, adding that the training of Syrian personnel by
Chinese instructors has also been discussed.Director of the Office for International Military Cooperation
of China’s Central Military Commission, Guan Youfei, arrived in Damascus on Tuesday for talks with
Syrian Defense Minister Fahad Jassim al-Freij, Chinese Xinhua news agency reported.

During the negotiation, Guan noted China’s consistent diplomatic efforts to find a political solution to
the Syrian crisis, adding that Beijing is now seeking closer military ties with Damascus.’

Read more: China ‘to provide aid, enhance military training’ in Syria – top army official

https://www.rt.com/news/356161-china-syria-military-training/

=======================================================
=======================================================

U.S. 'Military Aid' to Al Qaeda, ISIS-Daesh: Pentagon Uses Illicit Arms Trafficking to Channel Enormous
Shipments of Light Weapons into Syria

By David on 3 October 2016 GMT

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/get-attachment-157.jpg

GLOBAL RESEARCH....

U.S. 'Military Aid' to Al Qaeda, ISIS-Daesh: Pentagon Uses Illicit Arms Trafficking to Channel Enormous
Shipments of Light Weapons into Syria

By Prof Michel Chossudovsky
Global Research, October 02, 2016

‘According to Jane’s Defence Weekly, quoting documents released by the U.S. Government’s Federal
Business Opportunities (FBO), the US –as part of its “counterterrorism campaign”– has provided Syrian
rebels [aka moderate Al Qaeda] with large amounts of weapons and ammunition.The US and its allies
(including Turkey and Saudi Arabia) have relied on shipments of light weaponry produced in Eastern
Europe, the Balkans and China, etc.

Operating out of the occupied Golan Heights, Israel’s IDF has provided weapons, ammunition, logistical
support to Al Qaeda rebels operating in Southern Syria.While the US relies on its Middle East allies to
undertake shady transactions in a buoyant market for light weapons, a significant part of these weapons
shipments is nonetheless directly commissioned by the US government.’

Read more: U.S. ‘Military Aid’ to Al Qaeda, ISIS-Daesh: Pentagon Uses Illicit Arms Trafficking to Channel
Enormous Shipments of Light Weapons into Syria

http://www.globalresearch.ca/u-s-military-aid-to-al-qaeda-routine-shipments-of-weapons-to-syrian-freedom-fighters/5548960

=======================================================
=======================================================

UN blames US, EU sanctions for punishing Syrian civilians, stalling aid work – leaked report

By David on 3 October 2016 GMT

RT NEWS...

UN blames US, EU sanctions for punishing Syrian civilians, stalling aid work – leaked report
Published time: 2 Oct, 2016 21:22

‘US and EU sanctions against Syria are punishing the population and make aid work in the war-torn country
almost impossible, a leaked UN report and internal letters have revealed.The restrictive measures contributed
to the destabilization of every sector of the economy in Syria that used to be self-sufficient before the war
began in 2011.The country now heavily depends on aid, which is hard to deliver as sanctions make medicine,
food, fuel, spare parts and other essentials unreachable, a 40-page UN report, cited by The Intercept, stressed.
The paper entitled ‘Humanitarian Impact of Syria-Related Unilateral Restrictive Measures’ was published in mid
-May, but The Intercept got hold of it now, adding other materials on the issue.’

Read more: UN blames US, EU sanctions for punishing Syrian civilians, stalling aid work – leaked report
https://www.rt.com/news/361395-syria-us-eu-sanctions-un/

==================================================
==================================================

'White Helmet' 'Save Aleppo' Protest Proves How Easy It Is To Dress Up Actors As 'War Victims'

By David on 3 October 2016 GMT

ACTIVIST POST....

“White Helmet” “Save Aleppo” Protest Proves How Easy it is to Dress Up Actors as “War Victims”

Propaganda SyriaTony Cartalucci.
October 2, 2016

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/aleppo-crisis-actors.jpg

By Tony Cartalucci

‘Recent protests held across North America and Europe staged by supporters of armed militants in Syria have staged
scenes in Western streets eerily similar to those featured in the photos and videos of the US-European funded “Syrian
Civil Defence” also known as the “White Helmets.”

Above Image: This is not Aleppo, Syria, but rather the streets of Europe where a recent “save Aleppo” protest was staged.
Actors posing in fake dust and blood proved just how easy it is for anyone to create “war victims” anytime, anywhere.’

Read more: ‘White Helmet’ ‘Save Aleppo’ Protest Proves How Easy It Is To Dress Up Actors As ‘War Victims’

http://www.activistpost.com/2016/10/white-helmet-save-aleppo-protest-proves-easy-dress-actors-war-victims.html

Cidersomerset

3rd October 2016, 21:47

Aleppo pounded, U.S. suspends talks with Russia

IqtWsoje-Do

Published on 3 Oct 2016
Subscribe: http://smarturl.it/reuterssubscribe

Syrian government forces supported by Iranian-backed militias and Russian air power
pound the rebel-held area of Aleppo while the United States suspends talks with Russia
on trying to end the violence in Syria. Jillian Kitchener reports.

===================================================
===================================================
US suspends communications with Russia over Syria

x5phR4eIbcY

Published on 3 Oct 2016
Washington has “suspended” bilateral contacts with Moscow over the Syrian crisis,
the US State Department said. The Russian Foreign Ministry said it was "disappointed"
by the decision and accused the US of seeking to shift blame for its own failure to keep
its promise of separating moderate rebels from terrorists of the group Al-Nusra Front.
For more on this, RT America’s Simone Del Rosario is joined by former Pentagon
official Michael Maloof.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Russia's UN envoy speaks as country takes over presidency in Security Council

6cC0wewEarM

Published on 3 Oct 2016

===================================================
===================================================

Afghan forces repel Taliban attack in Kunduz

BjxxCn8g5ks

Published on 3 Oct 2016
Afghan officials say government forces have repelled an attack by Taliban militants on
the northern city of Kunduz. According to authorities in Kunduz, the terrorists attacked
the city from four directions in the early hours of Monday. Afghan security forces pushed
backed the militants after intense gun battles in the city’s checkpoints. The attack occurs
one year after the Taliban managed to briefly capture the city in a lightning offensive.
Kunduz was the only provincial capital to have fallen into the militants' hands since 2001

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Analysis: Why does Afghanistan's Kunduz matter?

7sQ_S5uCzXE

Published on 3 Oct 2016
Al Jazeera political analyst, Hashmat Moslih, puts the attack on Kunduz in context.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Taliban raises its flag over Kunduz before being pushed back by Afghan forces

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbygr1FMadE

Published on 3 Oct 2016
Afghan security forces say they have now taken back control of central Kunduz,
which fell into the hands of the Taliban, following an audacious assault on the city.
Fighting continues around the key transport hub.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Over 20 killed in Taliban attack on Kunduz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iho4YEY7R3k

Published on 3 Oct 2016

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.20.4/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png

Kunduz assault: Afghan forces 'in control of city'
1 hour ago

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-37538449

http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/624/media/images/82830000/png/_82830280_kunduz_region_624_v4.png

bluestflame

4th October 2016, 11:01

htv7EO9oORE

Message Sent? 40 Million Russians Head To Bunkers For Oct. 4th-7th Drill

and from another site https://www.gazeta.ru/army/news/9174473.shtml

MOE will conduct training for civil defense with the participation of 40 million people

Russian Emergency Situations Ministry will hold the All-Russian exercise of civil defense, in which more than 40 million people will be involved, reports RIA "Novosti" .

This was told the director of the Emergency Situations Ministry of Civil Defence Department Sergey Manuilov.

"Training will be held from 4 to 7 October. It will bring together more than 40 million people, more than 200 thousand professionals rescue units, about 50 thousand units. The full force of the Russian Emergencies Ministry are utilized, including military units EMERCOM rescue, emergency rescue units, rescue units of paramilitary units and the State Inspectorate for Small Boats, a division of the State Fire Service of EMERCOM of Russia, aircraft, "- said Manuilov.

According to him, the action will be worked on evacuation, issuance of personal protective equipment, sanitary, deployment obmyvochnyh points.

translated by https://addons.opera.com/en/extensions/details/translate-4/?display=en

Cidersomerset

4th October 2016, 12:20

US suspends bilateral contact with Russia over Syria

EK7phhr9su8

Published on 4 Oct 2016

Washington has “suspended” bilateral contacts with Moscow over the Syrian crisis,
the US State Department said. Russian Foreign Ministry said it was "disappointed"
by the decision and accused the US of seeking to shift blame for its own failure in Syria.

===================================================
===================================================

LEAK: UN blames US, EU sanctions for punishing Syrian civilians, stalling aid work

xq83xDIv1J0

Published on 3 Oct 2016
US and EU sanctions against Syria are punishing the population and make aid work in the
war-torn country almost impossible, a leaked UN report and internal letters have revealed.

Sueanne47

4th October 2016, 14:36

The Russian Embassy was shelled in Damascus from the terrorist controlled area of Syria:

Lxqhgaluz0I

(pub. 4th oct 2016)

But John Kerry now states he wants to keep up the peace talks:

http://news.sky.com/story/kerry-condemns-russia-but-vows-to-keep-up-syria-peace-efforts-10605260

Cidersomerset

4th October 2016, 17:43

Russian embassy in Damascus hit by mortar from terrorist-controlled area of Syria

Q26upw2XoqI

Published on 4 Oct 2016
The Russian embassy in Damascus came under fire on Tuesday from a
neighborhood controlled by militant groups, including Al-Nusra Front,
the Russian Foreign Ministry reports.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aleppo reduced to rubble amid battle to recapture rebel-held areas

w4bq-egPFK8

Published on 4 Oct 2016
The Syrian flashpoint city of Aleppo continues to suffer, as various factions
battle government soldiers.

==========================================

http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.20.5/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png

Syria conflict: Russia sends missile system to Tartus base
59 minutes ago

Russian officials said the system was purely defensive

Russia has confirmed it has sent an S-300 air defence system
to its naval base in the Syrian port of Tartus.Defence Ministry
spokesman Igor Konashenkov said the purpose of the system
was to guarantee the security of the base from the air

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37557138

==================================================
==================================================

ACTIVIST POST.....

“Nothing More To Talk About” As US Suspends Bilateral Contact With Russia On Syria War

TOPICS:Baran HinesMilitaryRussiaSyria.
.
October 4, 2016

http://www.activistpost.com/2016/10/nothing-talk-us-suspends-bilateral-contact-russia-syria-war.html

===================================================
===================================================

http://21stcenturywire.com/wp-content/themes/magazine/images/21-LOGO-230x115.png

AVAAZ: Washington’s Merchant of War Peddles the No Fly Zone in Syria, Calls for Another Libya

October 3, 2016 By Vanessa Beeley

21st Century Wire says…

Presently, the Syrian Arab Army and allies are advancing inexorably towards the
liberation of Aleppo from the hordes of US coalition-funded terrorist brigades,
headed up by Al Nusra Front aka Al Qaeda, and Washington’s foreign policy is in
turmoil. Despite its best efforts, the US coalition ‘intervention’ in Syria has been an
unmitigated disaster, having hit the brick wall of President Bashar Al Assad’s
popularity and the fortitude of the Syrian people in withstanding everything the US
coalition has flung at it, militarily and on the multi-million dollar propaganda front.
Now an increasingly frustrated US coalition has pulled what they believe to be the
Ace in their pack of public-perception-altering cards.

read more....
http://21stcenturywire.com/2016/10/03/avaaz-washingtons-merchant-of-war-peddles-the-no-fly-zone-in-syria-calls-for-another-libya/

animovado

5th October 2016, 08:16

VOLTAIRE NETWORK (http://www.voltairenet.org/article193535.html) | DAMASCUS (SYRIA) | 4 OCTOBER 2016

Confirmations

by Thierry Meyssan

After five years of war in Syria, the masks have come off. The publication of the text of the Russo-US agreement reveals the hidden intentions of the two great powers – Washington wants to cut the «Silk Road», while Moscow wants to destroy the jihadists. Moreover, the failure of this agreement and the Security Council debates demonstrate the surrealist nature of President Obama’s rhetoric – in five years he has not managed to constitute even a minor group of «moderate» opposition, and therefore is unable to field them, contrary to the text of the agreement. The United States are not capable of honouring their signature.

(Read more (http://www.voltairenet.org/article193535.html))

Cidersomerset

5th October 2016, 15:11

US considers military strikes against Assad's troops - reports

m1H6biOQmiM

Published on 5 Oct 2016
Washington is considering military strikes against Syria's government, according to
media reports citing US government sources. That's after America severed talks
with Russia over the Syrian peace process. What's more, the White House says it
understands potential attacks on President Assad's forces will bring Russia and the
US closer to conflict.

=================================================

Very straight forward analyst the elephant in the room is and always has been Israel.
Using the hawks and neo - cons in the US. Saudi and the client states also have major
stakes in the destability of Syria. This is leading to a game of 'Chicken' with Russia that
could backfire on Washington and its allies. Ray McGovern is always worth a listen in these
maters imo.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

xd5fuAUM2BM

Published on 5 Oct 2016
The spiral downward continues with no end in sight. The dangerous escalation of tensions
separating Russia and the West witness a decline diplomatic engagement, particularly
concerning Syria. What can we expect next?

CrossTalking with Ray McGovern, Earl Rasmussen, and Vladimir Golstein.

=================================================

Syria UN envoy: Israel supporting terror in occupied Golan Heights

By David on 5 October 2016 GMT

Press TV

Syria UN envoy: Israel supporting terror in occupied Golan Heights
Tue Oct 4, 2016 9:19PM

Syria's Ambassador to the UN Bashar al-Jaafari says Israel’s occupation of the
Syrian Golan Heights is a direct threat to regional stability and security.Jaafari
made the remarks while addressing the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in
New York on Tuesday.He noted that Israel’s support for terrorist groups in Golan
also escalates the conflict in Syria, where according to UN estimates, over 400,000
people have died in a foreign-sponsored conflict, which started in March 2011.

http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/10/04/487672/syrian-golan-israel-un-jaafari

===================================================

Ban Ki-moon calls on Israel to halt illegal settlement activities

By David on 5 October 2016 GMT

PRESS TV.....

Ban Ki-moon calls on Israel to halt illegal settlement activities
Tue Oct 4, 2016 10:40PM

http://217.218.67.233/photo/20161004/7dbf2d45-5141-4f1e-bb1b-be184afa4668.jpg

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on Israel to halt plans to construct a
new settlement and an industrial zone in the West Bank.

http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/10/04/487675/un-ban-israel-settlement

Cidersomerset

5th October 2016, 15:18

Although tension between these two states have been going on since 1947
and the partition of imperial India, this seem to be getting tense again.
India has been spending huge sums on the military in recent years despite
poverty in many regions. As with all militaries when they have shiny new
deadly toys there are always generals ready to use them if the political
leaders let them......Saudi the largest importers have been using them
in the middle east and Yemen and covertly arming ISIS and other groups
its alleged.....

http://blogs-images.forbes.com/niallmccarthy/files/2015/03/20150310_Arms_FO.jpg

====================================================

Indian generals eye six-month campaign in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir – report

By David on 5 October 2016 GMT

RT NEWS.....

Indian generals eye six-month campaign in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir – report
Published time: 4 Oct, 2016 12:19
Edited time: 4 Oct, 2016 12:20

https://cdn.rt.com/files/2016.10/original/57f37cbbc461885e358b456e.jpg

‘Amid rising Pakistani-Indian tensions over the disputed Kashmir region, Indian
generals are reportedly calling on the government to approve a sustained six-month
campaign to destroy “terrorist infrastructure” on the Pakistani side of the de-facto border.

“We have to look at a sustained campaign. The terror network is on the back foot, but
to really achieve something, we have to look at a medium-term plan, a six-month campaign.
A one-off event will not deter them,” a top Indian Army official was quoted by Times of India
as telling the country’s government.

The suggestion comes at a time of rising tensions over Kashmir, a mountainous border area
that India and Pakistan have been disputing for seven decades. Each party controls part of
the region, while claiming sovereignty over all of it. Two of the three wars that the two
nations have fought were over Kashmir.’

Read more: Indian generals eye six-month campaign in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir – report

https://www.rt.com/news/361558-india-pakistan-kashmir-campaign/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

Cidersomerset

5th October 2016, 16:42

The timing of all these reports are so predictable......The US wants to escalate the conflict
heres a pretext.......

BBC...

Syria conflict: Aid convoy attack was air strike, UN expert says

31 minutes ago

http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/DB95/production/_91531265_mediaitem91529615.jpg
The UN's secretary general denounced the attack as "savage and apparently deliberate"

Analysis of satellite imagery taken after a deadly attack on an aid convoy in
northern Syria last month shows that it was an air strike, a UN expert says.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37561755

Cidersomerset

7th October 2016, 13:53

Russian Defense Minister Warns US: Do Not Strike the Syrian Army

By David on 7 October 2016 GMT

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/download-1-1.jpg

http://21stcenturywire.com/wp-content/themes/magazine/images/21-LOGO-230x115.png

‘It’s well-known by now that desperate imperial behemoths do desperate deeds.

Russian Defense Ministry announced today that any US Coalition airstrike or missile hitting
targets in territory controlled by the Syrian Army and its government – would place Russian
personnel in danger, something Moscow considers unacceptable.

“Any missile or air strikes on the territory controlled by the Syrian government will create a
clear threat to Russian servicemen.”

In response, Moscow has deployed its own hypersonic S-400 mobile surface-to-air missile
defense system in Syria.’

Read more: Russian Defense Minister Warns US: Do Not Strike the Syrian Army

http://21stcenturywire.com/2016/10/06/russian-defense-minister-warns-us-do-not-strike-the-syrian-army/

================================================
================================================

Al-Qaeda must be saved, as top Washington Officials are ready to attack Syria without UN resolution

By David on 7 October 2016 GMT

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Untitled-33-2.jpg

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE DURAN....

Al-Qaeda must be saved, as top Washington Officials are ready to attack Syria without UN resolution

‘Top Washington Officials, the Clinton Campaign, and main stream media (including The
Washington Post and New York Times) have thrown their full support behind Al Qaeda
and ISIS in Syria, in an effort to not have the last terrorist strong hold of East Aleppo be
liberated by the internationally recognized Syrian government.

The WaPo is talking about Russian war crimes. Talk about a parallel universe. Russia, the
country that has been invited legally under international law, is being accused of war
crimes because it is fighting to liberate Aleppo from Al Qaeda and ISIS control…while the
uninvited (in Syria illegally) United States, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey fight to keep Al
Qaeda alive.

Unfortunately this is the America, that for al intensive purposes, has crossed the rubicon,
fallen off the wagon, and has entered into an evil alliance with jihadists terrorists…the very
same terrorists who attacked the US in 2001.’

Read more: Al-Qaeda must be saved, as top Washington Officials are ready to attack Syria
without UN resolution

http://theduran.com/al-qaeda-saved-top-washington-officials-are-ready-to-attack-syria-without-un-resolution/

Sueanne47

7th October 2016, 14:18

The UN special envoy wants the 275,000 civilians out of Aleppo, he was pleading with the rebel leaders to leave and give them safe passage but they refuse:

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/envoy-warns-east-aleppo-faces-total-destruction-161006125742882.html

Cidersomerset

7th October 2016, 15:19

US may go outside UN to ‘impose costs’ on Russia & Syria – White House

N7XORUqXjWY

Published on 6 Oct 2016
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently met with his French counterpart to
discuss the ongoing crisis in Syria. Meanwhile, in the United States the rhetoric against
Russia and Syria has intensified with White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest saying
the US may go outside of the United Nations to “impose costs” on Russia and Syria.
RT correspondent Caleb Maupin has the report.

=================================================
=================================================

From criticism to direct threats in just 1 month: US-Russia tension growing over Syrian crisis

dlYHje-rv5w

Published on 7 Oct 2016
Washington has threatened to impose "costs" on Russia outside the UN, over the Syrian conflict.
It may mark the starkest warning so far from the U.S., which has been ramping up anti-Russian
rhetoric in recent weeks, moving from criticism to direct threats. However just a month ago,
U.S.-Russia talks on the Syrian peace process seemed warm and friendly.

PurpleLama

7th October 2016, 17:10

u3lihkh182I

A Danish interview in english of Assad, from yesterday (Oct 6). Courtesy of thesaker.is

Edit to add:
I am loving the quote on the screenshot. Priceless!

Cidersomerset

7th October 2016, 18:55

The US alliance and their masters are getting more desperate.....

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Syrian and Russian actions beg for war crimes investigation - Kerry

By David on 7 October 2016 GMT

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/download-5.jpg

RT NEWS....

Syrian, Russian actions beg for war crimes investigation - Kerry

Published time: 7 Oct, 2016 14:26
Edited time: 7 Oct, 2016 16:53

‘Washington has intensified saber-rattling rhetoric towards Russia, with US Secretary of
State John Kerry calling for a war crimes probe of Moscow’s anti-terrorist operation in Syria.

“Russia and the regime owe the world more than an explanation about why they keep
hitting hospitals, medical facilities, children, women,” Kerry said after meeting with the
French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault on Friday. “These are acts that beg for an
appropriate investigation of war crimes.” Kerry called the actions of the Syrian military
and the Russian air force “beyond accidental” and “a targeted strategy to terrorize civilians.”‘

Read more: Syrian and Russian actions beg for war crimes investigation – Kerry

https://www.rt.com/usa/361939-kerry-russia-war-crimes/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.20.5/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png

Syria conflict: US calls for Russia and Syria war crimes probe

2 hours ago
From the section Middle East

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37590014

======================================================
======================================================

A monumental idiot speaks - this is the idiocy running the United States military.
Breathtaking. The mind of a child (sorry children)

By David on 7 October 2016 GMT

-wCwJ8pfXXo

Published on 5 Oct 2016
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley warned last night that the United States was ready to
“destroy” its enemies in comments that were clearly directed at Russia.
“I want to be clear to those who wish to do us harm….the United States military – despite
all of our challenges, despite our [operational] tempo, despite everything we have been
doing – we will stop you and we will beat you harder than you have ever been beaten before.
Make no mistake about that,” said Milley.The General went on to warn that Russia and other
countries had taken advantage of the U.S. being focused on the war on terror.

======================================================

Things have not changed that much from the 1980's cold war mentality in the US military it seems....

z80jmLbaMfU

Published on 25 Feb 2015
Funny British take on the good old US of A!
Just as relevant now as back in the 80's

Cidersomerset

7th October 2016, 19:02

Another excellent discussion about the white helmets dis info scam.....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CrossTalk: White Helmets, Really?

SgGNzj6rKqI

Published on 7 Oct 2016
The White Helmets: a heartfelt humanitarian NGO or an elaborate and cynical
western PR stunt promoting illegal regime change in Syria? Does the wearing
of white helmets mean they are the good guys supporting a just cause?

CrossTalking with Vanessa Beeley, Eva Bartlett, and Patrick Henningsen.

=============================================

White Helmets: Miraculous ‘Rag Doll Rescue’

By David on 7 October 2016 GMT

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/download-4-2.png

http://21stcenturywire.com/wp-content/themes/magazine/images/21-LOGO-230x115.png

(VIDEO) White Helmets: Miraculous ‘Rag Doll Rescue’

October 7, 2016 By 21wire 5 Comments

21st Century Wire

Since 2013, mainstream media outlets have been flooded with images supplied by a
western and Gulf-backed ‘NGO’. With each successive image, indignant western officials
continue their calls for another ‘humanitarian’ military intervention in Syria.

In the following video, we’re told that the White Helmets aka “Syria Civil Defense” are
frantically digging for survivors at the scene of an alleged “Assad barrel bomb,” or
possibly a “Russian or Syrian air-strike.” Either way, it’s impossible to independently
verify exactly what the audience is looking at. Same with the location and time – this
scene might be somewhere in northern Syria, presumably in “rebel-held” (occupied by
terrorists like Al Nusra, Arar Al Sham, Nour al din Zinki, or ISIS) enclaves like Idlib or
East Aleppo, but like most White Helmet videos – it’s impossible to independently verify
either the time or location of the event in question.

The White Helmet claim to be rescuing children, but unfortunately, the children below
appear to have been used as live props in this White Helmet PR campaign:

short vid on link....http://21stcenturywire.com/2016/10/07/video-white-helmets-miraculous-rag-doll-rescue/

‘The editing is also misleading. First it shows two separate views of the three men working
on the site, and then the edit suddenly cuts to the miraculous rescue of charming little 4
year old girl, supposedly emerging from under the rubble of a building. She is not crying
and looks immaculate, while holding an equally clean rag doll.

Then the edit cut jumps, and a little 3 year old boy suddenly appears from the exact same
spot. Both children appear to have sustained no injuries, nor any visible cuts or bruises,
and no dust. Not bad for being buried under tons of concrete, gravel and dust. Incredible,
but par for the course in the improbable first-responder reality show that is the White Helmets.’

Read more: White Helmets: Miraculous ‘Rag Doll Rescue’

http://21stcenturywire.com/2016/10/07/video-white-helmets-miraculous-rag-doll-rescue/

Sueanne47

8th October 2016, 13:28

Russian Aid helicopter comes under fire by ISIS over Hama ~ but no one hurt :

https://www.rt.com/news/362035-russian-chopper-syria-aid/

Moscow warns of response after US sends destroyer to Black sea:

https://www.rt.com/news/346105-us-military-demonstration-mediterranean/

Akasha

8th October 2016, 13:29

Globalist and former chairman of Goldman Sachs International (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldman_Sachs) (1995-2015), Peter Sutherland (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Sutherland) driving the European migrant crisis on at every available opportunity:

t6sP4-80fKY

Morbid

8th October 2016, 13:39

thank you all who contribute to this thread. lots of useful info here.

Hervé

9th October 2016, 19:46

Pentagon Begins Low-Intensity, Stealth War in Syria (http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/10/07/pentagon-begins-low-intensity-stealth-war-in-syria/)

by Mike Whitney (http://www.counterpunch.org/author/mike-whitney/) October 7, 2016
“Last Wednesday, at a Deputies Committee meeting at the White House, officials from the State Department, the CIA and the Joint Chiefs of Staff discussed limited military strikes against the (Assad) regime … One proposed way to get around the White House’s long-standing objection to striking the Assad regime without a U.N. Security Council resolution would be to carry out the strikes covertly and without public acknowledgment.”
– Washington Post
Call it stealth warfare, call it poking the bear, call it whatever you’d like. The fact is, the Syrian war has entered a new and more dangerous phase increasing the chances of a catastrophic confrontation between the US and Russia.

This new chapter of the conflict is the brainchild of Pentagon warlord, Ash Carter, whose attack on a Syrian outpost at Deir Ezzor killed 62 Syrian regulars putting a swift end to the fragile ceasefire agreement. Carter and his generals opposed the Kerry-Lavrov ceasefire deal because it would have required “military and intelligence cooperation with the Russians”. In other words, the US would have had to get the greenlight from Moscow for its bombing targets which would have undermined its ability to assist its jihadist fighters on the ground. That was a real deal-breaker for the Pentagon. But bombing Deir Ezzor fixed all that. It got the Pentagon out of the jam it was in, it torpedoed the ceasefire, and it allowed Carter to launch his own private shooting match without presidential authorization. Mission accomplished.

So what sort of escalation does Carter have in mind, after all, most analysts assume that a direct confrontation between the United States and Russia will lead to a nuclear war. Is he really willing to take that risk?

Heck no, but not everyone agrees that more violence will lead to a nuclear exchange. Carter, for example, seems to think that he can raise the stakes considerably without any real danger, which is why he intends to conduct a low-intensity, stealth war on mainly Syrian assets that will force Putin to increase Russia’s military commitment. The larger Russia’s military commitment, the greater probability of a quagmire, which is the primary objective of Plan C, aka–Plan Carter. Take a look at this clip from an article in Tuesday’s Washington Post which helps to explain what’s going on:
“U.S. military strikes against the Assad regime will be back on the table Wednesday at the White House, when top national security officials in the Obama administration are set to discuss options for the way forward in Syria…

Inside the national security agencies, meetings have been going on for weeks to consider new options to recommend to the president to address the ongoing crisis in Aleppo,…A meeting of the National Security Council, which could include the president, could come as early as this weekend.

Last Wednesday, at a Deputies Committee meeting at the White House, officials from the State Department, the CIA and the Joint Chiefs of Staff discussed limited military strikes against the regime…

The options under consideration… include bombing Syrian air force runways using cruise missiles and other long-range weapons fired from coalition planes and ships… One proposed way to get around the White House’s long-standing objection to striking the Assad regime without a U.N. Security Council resolution would be to carry out the strikes covertly and without public acknowledgment, the official said.” (Obama administration considering strikes on Assad, again (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/josh-rogin/wp/2016/10/04/obama-administration-considering-strikes-on-assad-again/#comments), Washington Post)
Don’t you think the Washington Post should have mentioned that Carter’s sordid-little enterprise is already underway?

Consider the bombing of Deir Ezzor, for example. Doesn’t that meet the Post’s standard of “U.S. military strikes against the Assad regime”?

Sure, it does.

And what about the two Syrian bridges US warplanes took out over the Euphrates last week? (making it more difficult to attack ISIS strongholds in the eastern quadrant of the country) Don’t they count?

Of course, they do.

And let’s not forget the fact that Carter’s jihadist buddies on the ground launched a mortar attack on the Russian embassy in Damascus on Tuesday. That’s another part of this low-intensity war that’s already underway. So all this rubbish about Obama mulling over these “new options” for “military strikes” is complete hogwash. Plan Carter is already in full swing, the train already left the station. The only thing missing is presidential authorization which probably isn’t necessary since Il Duce Carter decided that it was his turn to run the country.

Now check out this clip from a Memo to the President from a group of ex-U.S. intelligence agents who compelled to warn Obama about (among other things) “asserting White House civilian control over the Pentagon.” Here’s an excerpt:
“In public remarks bordering on the insubordinate, senior Pentagon officials showed unusually open skepticism regarding key aspects of the Kerry-Lavrov deal. We can assume that what Lavrov told his boss in private is close to his uncharacteristically blunt words on Russian NTV on Sept. 26:
“My good friend John Kerry … is under fierce criticism from the US military machine. Despite the fact that, as always, [they] made assurances that the US Commander in Chief, President Barack Obama, supported him in his contacts with Russia… apparently the military does not really listen to the Commander in Chief.”
Lavrov’s words are not mere rhetoric … Policy differences between the White House and the Pentagon are rarely as openly expressed as they are now over policy on Syria.”
(Obama Warned to Defuse Tensions with Russia (https://consortiumnews.com/2016/10/02/obama-warned-to-defuse-tensions-with-russia/), Consortium News)
How shocking is that? When was the last time you read a memo from retired Intel agents warning the president that the Pentagon was usurping his Constitutional authority? That sounds pretty serious, don’t you think?

Bottom line: The Pentagon is basically prosecuting their own little war in Syria and then chatting up the policy with Obama when they damn-well feel like it. Here’s more from the Washington Post:
“The CIA and the Joint Chiefs of Staff … expressed support for such “kinetic” options, the official said … That marked an increase of support for striking Assad compared with the last time such options were considered.” (Washington Post)
Of course they want to bomb Assad. They’re losing! Everyone wants to bomb someone when they’re losing. It’s human nature. But that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. It’s a very bad idea. Just like supporting Sunni extremists is a bad idea. Just like giving shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles (MANPADS) to fanatical crackpots is a bad idea. How crazy is that? And how long before one of these religious nutcases use their new toys to take down an Israeli or American jetliner?

Not very long, I’d wager. The idea of doubling-down on homicidal maniacs (By providing them with more lethal weapons) is really one of the dumbest ideas of all time, and yet, the Pentagon and CIA seem to think that it’s tip-top military strategy. Here’s one last blurb from the WA Post article:
“Kerry’s deputy, Antony Blinken, testified last week that the U.S. leverage in Russia comes from the notion that Russia will eventually become weary of the cost of its military intervention in Syria. “The leverage is the consequences for Russia of being stuck in a quagmire that is going to have a number of profoundly negative effects,” Blinken told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.” (Washington Post)
See? There it is in black and white. “Quagmire”. The new “Plan C” strategy is designed to create a quagmire for Putin by gradually ratcheting up the violence forcing him to prolong his stay and deepen his commitment. It’s a clever trap and it could work, too. The only hitch is that Putin and his allies appear to be making steady headway on the battlefield. That’s going to make a lot harder for Syria’s enemies to continue the provocations and incitements without triggering massive retaliation.

But maybe Carter hasn’t thought about that yet.

NOTE: Russia issues warning to Pentagon; Hostile aircraft that threatens Syrian troops will be shot down

This is from a Thursday report on Sputnik International:
“The Russian Minister of Defense said “that “Russian S-300, S-400 air defense systems deployed in Syria’s Hmeymim and Tartus have combat ranges that may surprise any unidentified airborne targets. Operators of Russian air defense systems won’t have time to identify the origin of airstrikes, and the response will be immediate. Any illusions about “invisible” jets will inevitably be crushed by disappointing reality.”

No More Deir ez-Zors
“I point out to all the ‘hotheads’ that following the September 17 coalition airstrike on the Syrian Army in Deir ez-Zor we took all necessary measures to exclude any similar ‘accidents’ happening to Russian forces in Syria,” Konashenkov said. (Sputnik (https://sputniknews.com/news/20161006/1046061966/cia-pentagon-strikes-syrian-army.html))

Related:

What would a no-fly zone in Syria mean? Just ask Killary: "Killing a lot of Syrians" (https://www.sott.net/article/330564-What-would-a-no-fly-zone-in-Syria-mean-Just-ask-Killary-Killing-a-lot-of-Syrians)
All talk, no action: US to 'immediately review' support for Saudi-led coalition after Yemen funeral bombing (https://www.sott.net/article/330549-All-talk-no-action-US-to-immediately-review-support-for-Saudi-led-coalition-after-Yemen-funeral-bombing)
Turkish MP believes Putin's 'strategic' visit to Turkey may help Moscow, Ankara bring peace to Syria (https://www.sott.net/article/330559-Turkish-MP-believes-Putins-strategic-visit-to-Turkey-may-help-Moscow-Ankara-bring-peace-to-Syria)

Octavusprime

10th October 2016, 15:08

There was an Emergency UN Security Council meeting held on Sunday 10/8/16. The meeting was to vote on a Russian proposal on Syria which failed to gain enough votes to pass.

If you want to see how bad US - Russian relations has gotten just listen to this meeting. It's fairly long so if you want to go to the meat of it, I've highlighted a few speakers. At the very least listen to the US Rep followed by the Syrian Rep, it highlights the differences in views very well. When Syria's Representative prepares to speak, a large amount of "Western" Representatives walk out of the room. The rhetoric is very disturbing with the West being the most provocative in my opinion.

Russia: 19:00
UK: 29:15
US: 39:20
Syria: 1:45:00

Sorry I couldn't find a complete video on Youtube. The one I did find was from RT and cut out the US Representative. The censorship of information happens on both sides pretty regularly.

http://webtv.un.org/meetings-events/security-council/watch/middle-east-syria-security-council-7785th-meeting/5162575830001

Cidersomerset

10th October 2016, 18:45

Very good summery report from James Corbett as usual......

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

URGENT: MSM Syria Lies NEED TO BE EXPOSED...Before It's Too Late

mzEsDAoUvOI

Published on 9 Oct 2016

SHOW NOTES: https://www.corbettreport.com/?p=20107

The world once again finds itself hurtling to the brink of war, and once again
the establishment mouthpiece puppet propaganda media is leading the charge.
This time around their lies defy description. In the sick world of the would-be
warmongers, child beheading terrorist scum are now the heroes. The blood of
the innocents that spill from here on in covers the hands of the mainstream
media propagandists.

==================================================
==================================================

'What living in terror really means': RT inspects thin line between war and peace in Aleppo

D5lS8a0l82o

Published on 9 Oct 2016
The city of Aleppo has seen some of the fiercest fighting in the course of the Syrian
war, and the battles continue unabated.

Cidersomerset

10th October 2016, 19:13

Theres a lot of bluff , bluster , rhetoric , claim , blame and counter claim/blame.
In one sense this global theatre is ridiculous power controlled cabal backed
squabbling. On the other its deadly with millions of people killed , injured
and misplaced over the last decade , but goes back centuries when you
look at the PTB's playbook otherwise known as history.....

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What a difference an attempted coup makes......

5pxObUD3ADQ

Published on 10 Oct 2016
Russia and Turkey are set to find common ground on Syria, revamp stalled
energy projects and boost bilateral trade, closing a sour chapter in relations
with an array of deals as President Putin and President Erdogan meet in Istanbul.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CrossTalk: Bullhorns Bantering

cplDXMxzwGc

Published on 10 Oct 2016
With Syria locked in a statement while Russia-US relations spiral downward,
which party in this conflict is the barrier to peace and what needs to happen
next? CrossTalking with Mark Sleboda, Alex Christoforou, and Mohammad Marandi.

==============================================

Meanwhile Saudi led coalition continue to commit carnage in Yemen...

Yemen: More than 140 killed by air strikes at funeral - BBC News

jzBQYSLUSTA

Published on 10 Oct 2016
More than 140 people have been killed and over 500 injured by air strikes
on a funeral gathering in Yemen's capital Sanaa.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DISTURBING: Over 150 killed after Saudi coalition jet strikes rock
funeral ceremony in Yemen

p3o5zeBvIiA

Published on 9 Oct 2016
A bombardment carried out by Saudi-led coalition jets has rocked a funeral
ceremony in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, killing over 140 people and injuring
hundreds more, according to the UN. Local media claim the death toll is much higher.

Akasha

10th October 2016, 19:16

URGENT: MSM Syria Lies NEED TO BE EXPOSED...Before It's Too Late

mzEsDAoUvOI

Published on 9 Oct 2016

SHOW NOTES: https://www.corbettreport.com/?p=20107

The world once again finds itself hurtling to the brink of war, and once again
the establishment mouthpiece puppet propaganda media is leading the charge.
This time around their lies defy description. In the sick world of the would-be
warmongers, child beheading terrorist scum are now the heroes. The blood of
the innocents that spill from here on in covers the hands of the mainstream
media propagandists.

I'm subscribed to Corbett Report's YouTube channel and guess what? That video didn't show up in my feed. Surprise, surprise. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, Cider'! If it hadn't been for you posting it here, I'd probably have missed it.

Sueanne47

10th October 2016, 22:08

UN accusing obama of war crimes :

LgIPaUO4nCs

"US Elections cancelled & War Crimes Tribunals held, Pentagon & CIA sources say" Fulford Oct. 10 2016

qmK1E2Hn8k8

More on this :

https://kauilapele.wordpress.com/2016/10/10/benjamin-fulford-10-10-16-us-elections-to-be-cancelled-and-war-crimes-tribunals-to-be-held-pentagon-and-cia-sources-say/

Raw intel. from CIA 90% probability

Cidersomerset

11th October 2016, 14:11

With the political carnival in the US bringing politicians into more disrepute
than usual. There is nothing better than a escalation of military action, which
could boil over into direct conflict with Syrian and Russian forces to distract
the mainstream media. This does not mean it will happen as this posturing
has been going on the last few years. But it could escalate quickly if the
Pentagon or agents behind the scenes, light the fuse of a false flag or direct
attack on government forces.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Putin cancels visit to France amid Syria tensions

dOav937xAyY

Published on 11 Oct 2016

Russian President Vladimir Putin has canceled a planned visit to France after
Paris shortened the program for the trip. The development comes amid
increased tensions between Russia and France over Moscow’s veto of a
French UN Security Council draft resolution on Syria.

==================================================
==================================================

False-flag attack may push US and Russia to war: Analyst

By David on 11 October 2016 GMT

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/download-72.png

PRESS TV.....

False-flag attack may push US, Russia to war: Analyst
Mon Oct 10, 2016 8:24AM

Short vid on link....http://presstv.ir/Detail/2016/10/10/488409/Syria-US-Russia-War-Dean

The rhetorical war between Washington and Moscow is not going to lead the two
countries into a direct conflict unless a false-flag attack pushes the two powers
into a war, managing editor of Veterans Today Jim W. Dean told Press TV’s
'Top 5' program.Dean believes that the war of words between the United States
and Russia over the Syrian city of Aleppo and other issues of difference is not
heading towards a confrontation “unless somebody does something really stupid.”

read more.....

http://presstv.ir/Detail/2016/10/10/488409/Syria-US-Russia-War-Dean

===================================================
===================================================

Russia beefing up military presence in Syria

YnRjPqrzIPc

Published on 10 Oct 2016
In a further sign of Russia’s long-term commitment to Syria, Moscow says it plans
to establish a permanent naval base at the Syrian port of Tartus.

Russian deputy defense minister Nikolai Pankov says necessary documents are
already prepared and are in the process of being approved. The naval base, sits
on the site of an existing facility Russia has leased from Syria. Moscow has been
beefing up its military presence in Syria. It deployed the advanced S-300 surface
-to-air missiles in Tartus last week. This, as the US has stepped up anti-Syria
rhetoric. Russia inherited the naval facility at Tartus when the Soviet Union
collapsed in 1991. The base is of immense strategic importance, as its Russia’s
sole foothold in the Mediterranean Sea.

Gordon Duff
Senior Editor, Veterans Today

Cidersomerset

11th October 2016, 14:16

Pentagon Threatening Russia Behind Obama’s Back. What The BBC Won’t Tell You About Syria

By David on 11 October 2016 GMT

WJ01hOlQNBo

Published on 9 Oct 2016

Bashar Ja’afari stressed that the massacre taking place in Syria was caused by foreign
terrorists who were coming from Europe. He accused France and its allies of supporting
Syrian terrorists. The two proposals were submitted as about 275,000 Syrian civilians,
a third of them children, have been caught up in the fighting in Aleppo. The civilian
population there lacks access to humanitarian aid and proper healthcare.

Earlier, Investigative Journalist Tony Gosling said he believed that the Western media
were biased and didn’t reflect the reality on the ground in Syria.

======================================================
======================================================

The Richie Allen Show on Davidicke.com: Madelyn Hoffman - 'I've Been To Syria.
Our Media Is Lying About What's Happening There & Why'

By David on 11 October 2016 GMT

JjJWEaxKn10

Published on 11 Oct 2016

Cidersomerset

11th October 2016, 14:42

This is why a lot of the 'hot air' in geo politics is difficult to predict a couple
of months ago Turkey and Russia looked like they were more likely to go
to war and cancel previous trade deals and projects. After the recent coup
attempt which Turkey feels that parties in the US had a hand in , the
Turkey/Russia relationship is blossoming again. Its why these games
played by power full people and agencies often change as circumstances
dictate.....

A year ago Russia had a deal with Greece and Turkey for a gas pipe line
and is why parties in Europe and the US have tried to force them apart.
Greece is in trouble and Turkey almost succumbed to pressure and could
be part of the reason for the coup there.

Putin and Erdogan kiss and make up....Another reason the US may escalate
in Syria.

Turkey: Russia and Turkey sign 'Turkish Stream' accord

wPOmwjLQzUQ
Published on 10 Oct 2016
Russia and Turkey signed an agreement for the ‘Turkish Stream’ gas pipeline
on the side-lines of the World Energy Congress 2016, in Istanbul, on Monday.
Russian Minister of Energy Alexander Novak and Turkish Minister of Energy
and Natural Resources Berat Albayrak signed the agreement after the
bilateral meeting of Russian and Turkish Presidents.

============================================

Russia, Greece sign €2bn deal on Turkish Stream gas pipeline

gGq8C3SEay8

Published on 19 Jun 2015
Russia and Greece have signed a deal to create a joint enterprise for construction
of the Turkish Stream pipeline across Greek territory, Russian Energy Minister
Aleksandr Novak said. The pipeline will have a capacity of 47 billion cubic meters
a year. READ MORE: http://on.rt.com/wo5ffg

Hervé

11th October 2016, 16:12

Aggressor squadron? Pics of US jets painted in Russian colors spark Syria false flag conspiracy (https://www.rt.com/viral/362321-us-jets-russian-colors/)
(https://www.rt.com/viral/362321-us-jets-russian-colors/)
Published time: 11 Oct, 2016 07:05
Edited time: 11 Oct, 2016 15:44
Get short URL (http://on.rt.com/7rkh)

https://cdn.rt.com/files/2016.10/original/57fc91ccc36188aa578b4593.png
© AiirSource Military / YouTube

Photos showing US jets being painted Russian colors have triggered debates and conspiracy theories online, with many saying Washington plans to conduct false flag attacks in Syria and blame them on Moscow.

The pictures of the US jets were posted by a Canadian journalist last week on his Twitter account.

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/785137039901687808/1lInrwEm_bigger.jpg Christian Borys Verified account ‏@ItsBorys (https://twitter.com/ItsBorys)

The U.S is painting their F/A-18's to match the paint schemes of Russian jets in #Syria (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Syria?src=hash). Standard training, but interesting nonetheless.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CuHL6L4WIAAkzAY.jpg

Although the journalist noted that painting fighter jets in the colors of potential adversaries is standard practice, they caused a stir among conspiracy theorists.

Many of them accused the US of preparing a false flag attack aimed at framing Russia in Syria.

From the Canadian journalist behind the original post came the following tweet.

One Twitter user said the practice is reminiscent of Washington’s past actions regarding Cuba.

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/659071735753502721/5EO2oyOY_bigger.jpg NedoUkraïnka ‏@ValLisitsa (https://twitter.com/ValLisitsa)

NedoUkraïnka Retweeted NedoUkraïnka
Nothing is new under this sun. Looks like recycling the old scenario for false flag framing Cuba. @ItsBorys (https://twitter.com/ItsBorys)

NedoUkraïnka added:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CnmD9EWW8AAxH5U.jpg

NedoUkraïnka @ValLisitsa
Oh, look, a MIG aircraft! American-made "in under 3 months", can be used to attack civil air traffic. Brilliant!Another called false flag operations a “US trademark.”

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/777181884744929280/fllqdJcz_bigger.jpg 'Schreeuwer' Niek N ‏@Niek1953 (https://twitter.com/Niek1953)

! @ItsBorys (https://twitter.com/ItsBorys) @DaniDonblizz (https://twitter.com/DaniDonblizz) Could be the case. Fals flag is a US trademark.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CuKEI5dWgAA9bvR.jpg

The publication of the images fell on fertile ground. Relations between Russia and the US over the Syria conflict are at an all-time low, with both countries exchanging threats and warnings with each other over their involvement in Syria.

The US and other militaries are known for using aggressor squadrons, which act as opposing forces in military war games. In addition to being painted in an adversary’s colors, they also use enemy tactics to provide realistic simulations of air combat.

Hervé

11th October 2016, 16:34

Just in case the Pentagon gets an itch to follow up on the above "conspiracies" ideas:

MAJOR DEVELOPMENT: Russia to deploy ZRPK to shoot down US air force in Syria
(http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/10/major-development-russia-to-deploy-zrpk.html)
RusVesna (http://rusvesna.su/news/1476138058) - translated by J. Arnoldski - October 11, 2016 - Fort Russ News -

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rkTY6oAlqqU/V_y5bkhIp9I/AAAAAAAAExA/iu8j8NX0m3Mmw8dlYws7Yb0UoHIxCXy4ACLcB/s640/1564109.jpg (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rkTY6oAlqqU/V_y5bkhIp9I/AAAAAAAAExA/iu8j8NX0m3Mmw8dlYws7Yb0UoHIxCXy4ACLcB/s1600/1564109.jpg)

Russia is strengthening Syria’s anti-air defense systems with the latest ZRK missile system, Izvestiya has reported citing a source in military-diplomatic circles.

Russian authorities are considering sending a batch of “Pantsir” anti-aircraft rocket missile and gun systems (ZRPK) to Syria. The deal, concluded a few years ago, was only partially realized for financial reasons. Now Moscow has decided to send the remaining Pantsir’s to Damascus without demanding immediate payment.

Interviewed experts believe that Moscow’s decision was influenced by the tense situation in Syria and the Americans’ threat to strike Assad’s troops.

As the director of the Foreign Policy Agency and program director of the Valdai Club, Andrey Sushentsov says, if the now Syrian Pantsir’s shoot down an American plane, then we will find ourselves in an even more difficult political situation than now, because the blame will be put on Russia and thereby bring the US-Russia confrontation to a new level.

However, for now everything is being done to ensure that the Pentagon will not decide to launch such strikes.

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-knX3bobp1as/V_y7owNhD7I/AAAAAAAAExI/e5zaFRhw9wMi6nF9VHgJeqIuRUytGkKxwCLcB/s640/OooK6.jpg (https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-knX3bobp1as/V_y7owNhD7I/AAAAAAAAExI/e5zaFRhw9wMi6nF9VHgJeqIuRUytGkKxwCLcB/s1600/OooK6.jpg)

Cidersomerset

11th October 2016, 17:31

There's a debate in the house of commons at the moment and how Boris is describing events
its like the two sides are in parallel universes conducting this war........The US ,UK , France
and other pro western agencies are not covering the events reported on the alternate media
very thoroughly and are keeping to the script of the western politicians and military on the whole....

Boris wants to see demonstrations outside the Russian embassy in London....

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.20.5/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png

Boris Johnson: Russia risks becoming pariah over Syria bombing
18 minutes ago

VPSeng-t_8o
Sort vid on link....http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37614554

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson asks: "Where is the Stop The War coalition at the moment? Where are they?"

Russia is risking becoming an international "pariah" following its bomb attacks in Syria, UK Foreign Secretary
Boris Johnson has said.He told MPs he would "like to pursue" those responsible for attacks on hospitals and a
humanitarian convoy as war criminals.Earlier, former cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell likened attacks on the
city of Aleppo to the raid on Guernica, Spain, by the Nazis in the 1930s.

Russia says it is targeting terrorists.

The northern Syrian city of Aleppo has become a key battleground in the country's bloody five-year civil, with
a UN relief convoy being attacked from the air last month - an action widely blamed on Russia.Russian President
Vladimir Putin's government - which supports the government of Bashir al-Assad - has denied carrying out the action.

Read More......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37614554

====================================================
====================================================

'Great nation is in danger of becoming a pariah nation': Boris Johnson's speech at Syria debate

hrXm-HKEDJE

Published on 11 Oct 2016

UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has used his debut at the House of Commons
dispatch box to accuse Russia of bombing an aid convoy in Aleppo, and asked why
anti-war activists have not mounted protests outside the Russian Embassy in London
- READ MORE http://on.rt.com/7rml

====================================================
====================================================

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson calls for protests at Russian embassy over Syria
conflict - it should really be the UK Foreign Office and American Embassy

By David on 11 October 2016 GMT

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/download-2-2.jpg

The Syria conflict was instigated by a joint operation involving the UK Foreign Office
and the US State Department/Pentagon using ‘rebels’ they have funded, armed and
shipped in from outside the country and yet here we have the instigators of this
humanitarian catastrophe now seeking to blame it all on Russia and Assad.

The US and UK are a killing machine that work to hide their fundamental
responsibility for untold civilian deaths worldwide by pointing the finger at those
responding to the coldly-planned human disaster which the killing machine has
caused and the grotesque madmen they have unleashed on the Syrian, Iraqi and
Libyan peoples.

Sickening.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-3832755/Boris-Johnson-calls-protests-outside-Russian-embassy-Syria-conflict.html

===================================================
===================================================

War Crimes: US blames Russia for civilian deaths, omits collateral damage inflicted by own military

Cw3z5FvgbPQ

Published on 11 Oct 2016

The US has been firing more and more accusations at Moscow over Aleppo. RT's
Gayane Chichakyan has been looking at how the US deals with the collateral
damage inflicted by its own military.

==================================================
==================================================

Mortar attack on govt-controlled area of Aleppo: civilians killed & injured

GJqhylfSi8I

Published on 11 Oct 2016
A mortar attack on a Syrian government-controlled area of Aleppo has resulted in
numerous casualties, RT’s Murad Gazdiev reported from the embattled city.

Sueanne47

11th October 2016, 17:46

I dont like Bojo anymore, he is as bad for disinformation as Cameron. And the 'stop the war coalition' is a bit lukewarm!

Cidersomerset

11th October 2016, 18:18

Meanwhile after the 9/11 false flag attack , Afghanistan was the first of
the current list of invasions as told to General Wesley Clarke and planned
by the neo - con controlled G W Bush's administration......

General Wesley Clark: Wars Were Planned - Seven Countries In Five Years

9RC1Mepk_Sw

http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?84791-Afghan-Opium-Harvesting-Protected-by-British-American-Occupation-Forces-2014-the-largest-Opium-crop-in-History.&p=1105164#post1105164

===============================================
===============================================

James Corbett and others explains the real reason for invading Afghanistan.
Nothing to do with the 9/11 inside job other than a convenient contrived
excuse to invade. A lot of these events in Asia and the Middle East are
a direct result of the fall of the Soviet union and the oil cartels and other
grab for control of these riches before Russia recovered......

What You Are Not Being Told About the Afghanistan War

jUvgnt-cOqI

Published on 11 Oct 2016

TRANSCRIPT AND SOURCES: https://www.corbettreport.com/?p=20063

15 years after NATO's invasion and occupation of Afghanistan, the 9/11 and Al Qaeda
lies that were used to justify the war have disappeared. Now the truth about oil and
gas, mineral wealth, opium and naked imperial ambition are all that remain.

Hervé

11th October 2016, 20:18

...

Following up on post # 1396 (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?69621-Ukraine-Crimea-Syria-Israel-Iran-Putin-and-World-War-III&p=1105143&viewfull=1#post1105143) and 1397 (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?69621-Ukraine-Crimea-Syria-Israel-Iran-Putin-and-World-War-III&p=1105148&viewfull=1#post1105148):

A few military secrets to put in your pipe and smoke, by Scott (http://thesaker.is/a-few-military-secrets-to-put-in-your-pipe-and-smoke-by-scott/)

The Saker (http://thesaker.is/a-few-military-secrets-to-put-in-your-pipe-and-smoke-by-scott/) Mon, October 10, 2016

http://thesaker.is/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/CuWeyOBWIAInFay-864x400_c.jpg

After September 17th when the US Air force bombed the Syrian troops that were besieged by the US terror troops in town Deir EzZor, and the following provocation with the UN humanitarian convoy, we have been waiting for the next Pentagon and CIA provocation. The military psyop specialists are getting paid millions of dollars to invent these provocations, and we, collectively, trying to prevent them from happening and to untangle them after they take place. We do all these intelligence as volunteers.

Here are a few bits of information for you to think about.

On October 6, 2016, Christian Borys, a Canadian Journalist based in Eastern/Central Europe and a contribution writer for VICE, the Guardian, RFERL, The Daily Beast, MacleansMag, TheEIU, Global Television, Al Jazeera, had posted the following tweet:

The U.S is painting their F/A-18’s (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?69621-Ukraine-Crimea-Syria-Israel-Iran-Putin-and-World-War-III&p=1105143&viewfull=1#post1105143) to match the paint schemes of Russian jets in Syria. Standard training, but interesting nonetheless.

On October 9, some flight trackers noticed an inconsistency in the flight route of an Ukrainian airline company plane.

A passenger flight from Ukraine to Israel took rather unusual and dangerous route

Ukrainian Mediterranean Airlines (code UF781) flight status from Kiev to Amman.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CuWM8Q7XYAAo7QY.jpg
General flight information: Ukrainian Mediterranean Airlines UF781: info and flight status. The flight UF 781 connects the airport Borispol of Kiev and the airport Queen Alia Intl of Amman. The flight is operated by the airline Ukrainian Mediterranean Airlines (IATA code: UF, ICAO code: UKM). The distance between the two airports is about 2.085 Km and the flight time is about 3h 18m (the flight time is approximate, and may vary as a function of the air route and the type of aircraft used). For flights of some airlines (and to the main airports) you can also find real-time information on flight arrival or departure, info about delays or cancellations and the flight status.

As you can see, the flight UF-781 took a sharp turn left and made a loop over the Syrian airspace, instead of following a safe route over Israel. The same fight went back over Syria again.

Considering that the US terror troops fighting in Syria have just received MANPADS from Pentagon, making flights over Syrian war zone is not particularly bright idea. Maybe, we can find out who was the pilot? Interesting also what do the passengers think of this?

There are a few ideas about what could take place. I will list them below.

Also on October 9th, a flight tracker from Israel tweeted a peculiar screenshot
At least 4 USN plans (P8A & TEX2), 1 NASA, 1 USArmy BE20 along with AZAZ909 c/s usually used by RuAF @planesonthenet ??

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/779764122070224896/WZ7tfV7x_bigger.jpg Yaniv Schwartz (https://twitter.com/yanivschwartz)❌ ‏@yanivschwartz (https://twitter.com/yanivschwartz)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/1f1fa-1f1f8.png:At least 4 #USN (https://twitter.com/hashtag/USN?src=hash) plans (P8A & TEX2), 1 #NASA (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NASA?src=hash), 1 #USArmy (https://twitter.com/hashtag/USArmy?src=hash) BE20 along with #AZAZ909 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AZAZ909?src=hash) c/s usually used by #RuAF (https://twitter.com/hashtag/RuAF?src=hash) https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/2049.png@planesonthenet (https://twitter.com/planesonthenet) ??

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CuV4f4nWcAAh2Ze.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CuV4f4nWYAARebZ.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CuV4f4rXEAAlt_S.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CuV4f4yWgAAj3vz.jpg
https://twitter.com/yanivschwartz/status/785166223134851072

It looks like P-8s could be aircraft returning to Florida from hurricane evacuation. However, why would radar see TWO Russian AZAZ909 AWACS aircraft?

Yaniv Schwartz also tweeted” “if u playback this screen u could see that the 2 Azazs have exactly the same hex and reg… maybe a glitch or another mystery.”

Meaning that the radar saw two aircraft with the same hex code, and the registration number. Which is only possible if they are been spoofed.

More on this here:

Aviation transponder interrogation modes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviation_transponder_interrogation_modes)

Hex Codes and their allocation (http://www.airnavsystems.com/forum/index.php?topic=3181.0.)

Summary…
We have got information that at least past week the US air force with sweat, blood and tears, repainting their Fs into sky-blue and white colors of the Russian SUs.

During this eventful week Pentagon came out and declared that they, via their proxies or directly, will kill more Russian troops in Syria and more Russian people in Russian cities.

Russia responded with a promise to shoot “unidentified flying objects” and everything the Russian air force would perceive as threat.

Russia also has installed its S-300 air defense missile launchers.

We also have the evidence of the American fighter jets painted in Russia’s colors. And we have evidence of the US fighter jets flying with transponders able to fool radars with mimicking the Russian reconnaissance aircraft hex code and registration. It’s the same for two aircraft, but it is enough for a provocation.

Next, we have got a Ukrainian passage jet on its way to Amman Jordan, flying into no-fly zone over Syria.

Possible development…

The repainting of the US fighter jets into Russian color scheme wasn’t a “regular training;”

Ukraine regime send their international passenger jet into a war-zone to be taken down by an American fighter jet masquerading as a Russian jet to put a blame on Russia;

As a variant, the US shoots down a Ukrainian plane over the territory controlled by the US terror army (ISIS, Daesh, Al Nusra, Kurds) and blames Russian S-300. On the territory controlled by the American terrorists, it would be impossible to prove otherwise, just like in Donbass with MH17.

For the past two weeks the American reconnaissance jets conducted several flights along Crimean coastal line, to get reading on the parameters of the Russian radars. because the US needed to know the exact parameters of the radars to be able to calculate what they see in order to produce the Russian AZAZ 909 transponder signal and ADS-B signals.

There were no AZAZ imitating jets flying over Maryland, but it’s an attempt to fool civil radars and to use flight trackers to falsify flight information. In essence to post on the civil radars fake information about non-existing aircraft that Pentagon wants the general public to find on the flight trackers. In this instance, Pentagon wants people to think that two Russian reconnaissance jets flew over Washington.

Usually other flight trackers confirm certain interesting information. In this case they are all quiet. Are they all quiet because they know that it’s fake? It could be that “Yaniv Schwartz” is a part of some kind of plot and he/they are distributing this information with the aim to cause a panic among the gullible American public.

That’s all I’ve got for now…

What do you think about this?

Regards,

Scott

Cidersomerset

12th October 2016, 20:54

Putin: We know who destroyed aid convoy in Aleppo, Syria

By David on 12 October 2016 GMT War and Terror

RT NEWS.....

Putin: We know who destroyed aid convoy in Aleppo, Syria

Published time: 12 Oct, 2016 12:52
Edited time: 12 Oct, 2016 17:15

ogh6IBk6-zk

‘The attack on a UN humanitarian aid convoy near the Syrian city of Aleppo
last month, which Washington has blamed on Russia, was actually carried
out by one of the terrorist groups present in the area, Russian President
Vladimir Putin has said.

“It was one of the terrorist groups. And we know that, say, the Americans
know it too, but prefer to take a different position, to falsely accuse Russia.
This is not helping,” Putin said at an economic forum in Moscow.’

Read more: Putin: We know who destroyed aid convoy in Aleppo, Syria

https://www.rt.com/news/362498-putin-us-relations-choice/

============================================
============================================

British tabloids go into WWIII frenzy over reported pull-out of Russian
officials’ relatives

By David on 12 October 2016 GMT

RT NEWS......

British tabloids go into WWIII frenzy over reported pull-out of Russian officials’ relatives
Published time: 12 Oct, 2016 14:23

https://cdn.rt.com/files/2016.10/original/57fe42c5c4618867578b461c.png

Read more.....
https://www.rt.com/news/362511-russian-officials-tabloids-war/

===================================================

Boris Johnson turns up heat on Russians by calling for protests in streets over Aleppo strikes
19:12, 11 Oct 2016
Updated 20:52, 11 Oct 2016
By Jason Beattie

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/boris-johnson-calls-protests-outside-9025167

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INDEPENDENT.....

Boris Johnson calls for demonstrations ....................................

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-calls-for-demonstrations-outside-russian-embassy-over-moscow-s-role-in-the-syrian-a7356066.html

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SKY

Boris Johnson calls for protests at Russian embassy over Syria bombing

http://news.sky.com/story/boris-calls-for-protests-at-russian-embassy-over-syria-bombing-10613638

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Guardian

Russia scorns Boris Johnson's 'hysteria' as bombs hammer Aleppo

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/12/russia-boris-johnson-syria-aleppo-war-crime-russophobic-hysteria

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Telegraph

'Risk of retaliation at British embassy in Russia' as Boris Johnson is accused of
fuelling 'Russophobic hysteria'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/12/boris-johnson-accused-of-stoking-russophobic-hysteria-over-syria/

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MAIL ONLINE...

Protest over Aleppo at US embassy as well as Russian, Corbyn spokesman says

By Press Association
Published: 20:56, 12 October 2016 | Updated: 20:56, 12 October 2016

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-3834136/Moscow-criticises-Boris-Johnson-accusation-Russia-bombed-Syria-aid-convoy.html#ixzz4MuNihT3L
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

And so on..............................

===================================================

Rebel snipers shoot civilians on Aleppo streets - locals

5Daq-YBJ2B8

Published on 12 Oct 2016
The US State Department has responded to an RT report documenting how
terrorists in eastern Aleppo are preventing the civilian population from leaving.
Although Islamic State is not known to be present there, its sympathizers
apparently are. RT spoke to many locals who claim they live in constant
threat of terrorist sniper fire.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A lighter moment....

‘So many p*ssies on both sides’: Russian FM trolls US elections

8H7aKGOpSwE

Published on 12 Oct 2016
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has trolled Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton
during a CNN interview, telling host Christiane Amanpour that the US presidential
campaign was full of 'p*ssies'.

====================================================

Inside Aleppo: the civilian victims of Syria's war

sKBtESbVBno

https://yt3.ggpht.com/-3481FOdiSDE/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAAAA/Ni8N8DV1qHM/s88-c-k-no-mo-rj-c0xffffff/photo.jpg
Published on 12 Oct 2016
A warning, there are some distressing images in this report.

Cidersomerset

12th October 2016, 21:01

http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.20.5/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png

Syria conflict: US and Russia to resume talks on Saturday
31 minutes ago

The US and Russia have announced that they will resume talks on Syria,
which broke down earlier this month.Washington broke off all negotiations
with Moscow nine days ago amid extreme tension over failure to secure a truce.

But Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will now meet his US counterpart
John Kerry and other key regional powers in Switzerland on Saturday.

Read more....

http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/159C8/production/_91502588_aleppo_control_03_10_16_624.png

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37633256

===============================================

Inside IS defector camp - BBC News

Zr8rsa-UkQQ

Published on 12 Oct 2016

BBC News has discovered the existence of a camp in northern Syria holding dozens
of Europeans who have abandoned the Islamic State group, or who were captured
during fighting.

================================================

US seeks to partition Syria to serve Israel: Nasrallah - it's been the plan all along

By David on 12 October 2016 GMT War and Terror

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Untitled-1-9.jpg

PRESS TV....

US seeks to partition Syria to serve Israel: Nasrallah - it's been the plan all along

Tue Oct 11, 2016 5:58PM

‘Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary general of the Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah,
has warned of plots by the US, Saudi Arabia and their regional allies to partition Syria in order to
serve the Israeli regime’s interests in the Middle East.The “real goal” of the countries that have
neither democracy nor elections was not democracy or elections in Syria, Nasrallah said on Tuesday.

“The goal was for Syria to fall and be fragmented and be ripped apart” in line with Israel’s interests, he added.’

Read more: US seeks to partition Syria to serve Israel: Nasrallah – it’s been the plan all along

http://presstv.ir/Detail/2016/10/11/488623/Lebanon-Hezbollah-resistance-Seyyed-Hassan-Nasrallah-Tasua

====================================================
====================================================

Watch StateDept Kirby shove own foot in mouth by explaining diff b/w airstrikes in Yemen & Aleppo

Sv7p1RBOOXM

Published on 12 Oct 2016

John Kirby, State Department Spokesperson.
U.S. Department of State - Daily Briefing: Oct.11.2016

Sueanne47

12th October 2016, 22:38

Lavrov announces Russia-US meeting on Syria this saturday:

8dhmmTCdWY0

Cidersomerset

13th October 2016, 11:07

Lavrov announces Russia-US meeting on Syria this saturday:

8dhmmTCdWY0

This is a interesting little quote from Lavrov , he is basically saying the US created,
with help and money from their allies Al Qaeda . Which is true the CIA and other
agencies did this in the late seventies thru to today to fight the Soviets and have
been used in other war theatres and head 'bogeyman' in the intel/cabal created
war on terror. Which I posted in # 1400 as part of all this. Lavrov obviously knows
this and the Russian intelligence agencies play the same political games. But not
on the scale of the US and allies at this time , so he has to accuse them in 'diplomatic'
rhetoric rather than the 'clumsy' accusations of the western media. So when Lavrov
starts explaining to the interviewer in the CNN clip , I can hear the producer telling
her not go there, but he still does......

Meanwhile after the 9/11 false flag attack , Afghanistan was the first of
the current list of invasions as told to General Wesley Clarke and planned
by the neo - con controlled G W Bush's administration......

General Wesley Clark: Wars Were Planned - Seven Countries In Five Years

9RC1Mepk_Sw

http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?84791-Afghan-Opium-Harvesting-Protected-by-British-American-Occupation-Forces-2014-the-largest-Opium-crop-in-History.&p=1105164#post1105164

===============================================
===============================================

James Corbett and others explains the real reason for invading Afghanistan.
Nothing to do with the 9/11 inside job other than a convenient contrived
excuse to invade. A lot of these events in Asia and the Middle East are
a direct result of the fall of the Soviet union and the oil cartels and other
grab for control of these riches before Russia recovered......

What You Are Not Being Told About the Afghanistan War

jUvgnt-cOqI

Published on 11 Oct 2016

TRANSCRIPT AND SOURCES: https://www.corbettreport.com/?p=20063

15 years after NATO's invasion and occupation of Afghanistan, the 9/11 and Al Qaeda
lies that were used to justify the war have disappeared. Now the truth about oil and
gas, mineral wealth, opium and naked imperial ambition are all that remain.

========================================================
========================================================

Russia and Syria has offered this to the US and allies to get the 'fighters' out of East Aleppo,
but its not time for them to leave yet .......

Syrian army offers rebels safe passage out of Aleppo

sf88rx8j4q8

Published on 3 Oct 2016
The bombardment of Aleppo isn't letting up.
From the air and on the ground, the Syrian government and its allies are intensifying their
offensive in rebel-held areas in Aleppo. The army has yet again told rebels to leave the area
offering them safe passage. The government may be hoping the opposition surrenders just
like it did in other areas that were besieged, starved, and bombed.
Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr reports from Gaziantep on the Turkey-Syria border.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

US and Saudis to grant 9,000 ISIS fighters free passage from Iraqi Mosul to Syria – source

By David on 13 October 2016 GMT

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/get-attachment-108.jpg

===========================================================

RT NEWS....

US, Saudis to grant 9,000 ISIS fighters free passage from Iraqi Mosul to Syria – source

Published time: 12 Oct, 2016 21:01

Edited time: 12 Oct, 2016 21:03

‘The US and Saudi Arabia have agreed to grant free passage to thousands of
Islamic State militants before the Iraqi city of Mosul is stormed. The jihadists will be
redeployed to fight against the government in Syria, a military-diplomatic source
told RIA Novosti.

“More than 9,000 Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS, ISIL) militants will be
redeployed from Mosul to the eastern regions of Syria to carry out a major
offensive operation, which involves capturing Deir ez-Zor and Palmyra,” the source
said.According to the anonymous diplomatic source, US President Barack Obama
has already sanctioned an operation to liberate Mosul, due to take place in October.
During the storm of the city in northern Iraq the US-led coalition’s planes would
only strike detached, vacated or uninhabited buildings, while keeping terrorists as
targets, he said.’

Read more: US and Saudis to grant 9,000 ISIS fighters free passage from Iraqi
Mosul to Syria – source

https://www.rt.com/news/362559-syria-iraq-mosul-isis/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

==================================================

5 children killed, 3 injured in rebel shelling in Aleppo (GRAPHIC)

0taVGED_f54

Published on 13 Oct 2016
At least 5 children dead in Aleppo bus station shelling by rebels. A mortar shell
landed right next to a bus station in the government-controlled al-Hamadaneyah
neighborhood of Aleppo, RT’s Murad Gazdiev reported from the Al Razi hospital,
where the victims have been brought

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Disturbing images: Inside Aleppo hospital saving children in govt-held western part ignored by MSM

8pzwjViA1K8
Published on 13 Oct 2016
RT crew visits hospital in Western Aleppo where they find child casualties of the
conflict, some have never seen peace in their home city.

Cidersomerset

13th October 2016, 11:29

Articles from Davids headline page.....

Britain And France Prepare Military Escalation In Syria

By David on 13 October 2016 GMT War and Terror

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/get-attachment-38.jpg

http://www.wsws.org/img/logo.png

Britain and France prepare military escalation in Syria

By Robert Stevens
12 October 2016

‘Britain’s ruling elite are making advanced preparations towards a major
escalation of military operations in Syria.Parliament met in an emergency
three-hour session yesterday to accuse Russia of war crimes in Syria and
lay the basis for Britain’s involvement in establishing a no-fly zone and
possibly sending ground forces into the war-torn country.

Global tensions over Syria are at a boiling point. As parliament met, Russian
President Vladimir Putin cancelled a planned October 19 visit to France in
response to the accusation made the previous day by French President
Francois Hollande that Moscow was guilty of “war crimes” in Syria.’

Read more: Britain And France Prepare Military Escalation In Syria

http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2016/10/12/syri-o12.html

=================================================
=================================================

Public rejects military action in Syria if it means conflict with Russia - poll

By David on 13 October 2016 GMT =

‘Britons are deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Aleppo, Syria,
but reject any idea of military intervention if, as is highly likely, it would mean
clashing with Russia.The survey by the majority Rupert Murdoch-owned Sky
News channel found that 51 percent of those polled rejected the idea of
intervention if it meant conflict with Russia. Meanwhile, 31 percent said they
would press on with military operations anyway.’

Iqudmwnn82E

Read more: Public rejects military action in Syria if it means conflict with Russia – poll

https://www.rt.com/uk/362609-russia-reject-syria-intervention/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

===============================================
===============================================

Tory MP calls for shooting down of Russian jets over Syria

By David on 13 October 2016 GMT =

http://www.andrew-mitchell-mp.co.uk/images/andrew_mitchell_portrait.jpg

PRESS TV.....

Tory MP calls for shooting down of Russian jets over Syria
Wed Oct 12, 2016 6:39PM

‘A senior member of the UK Parliament has called on the government to enforce
a no-fly zone over Syria and allow British fighter jets attack Russian warplanes
that breach it.Andrew Mitchell, the UK’s former international development secretary,
told BBC that if shooting down Russian jets ends the conflict in Syria, then that is
what Britain and its allies should focus on.

“What we are saying is very clear. No one wants to see a firefight with Russia, no
one wants to shoot down a Russian plane,” Mitchell said. “But what we do say is
that the international community has an avowed responsibility to protect and that
protection must be exerted.’

Read more: Tory MP calls for shooting down of Russian jets over Syria

http://presstv.ir/Detail/2016/10/12/488785/UK-attack-Russia-Syria-Mitchell

Hervé

13th October 2016, 13:25

Did the US just commit a False Flag in Yemen? (http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/10/did-us-just-commit-false-flag-in-yemen.html)

Yuri Podolyaka, cont.ws (https://cont.ws/post/398806)- translated by J. Arnoldski - October 13, 2016 - Fort Russ -

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4R0Zn8oSs6I/V_-DrCsromI/AAAAAAAAEy4/rHUte7_vsoMNRfgjP9hPEqu8Fi9QSRkEQCLcB/s640/maxresdefault.jpg (https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4R0Zn8oSs6I/V_-DrCsromI/AAAAAAAAEy4/rHUte7_vsoMNRfgjP9hPEqu8Fi9QSRkEQCLcB/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg)

The US is a master at creating provocations that lead to war. Many of the Americans’ wars of conquest have begun with alleged attacks on their soldiers or civilians after which the army and navy of one of the most powerful states in the world invades another people’s territory.

On Thursday, October 13th, Reuters reported “another” Houthi attack on the USS Mason destroyer. Two anti-ship missiles were supposedly launched at the ship but missed, but the American ship was compelled to strike back and destroy a radar station on Yemeni territory.

Afterwards, the Pentagon published a rather interesting message: “Those who threaten our forces should know that U.S. commanders retain the right to defend their ships, and we will respond to this threat at the appropriate time and in the appropriate manner.”

There is much interesting here, but we’ll get to this later. First, let’s retrace the chain of events.

On October 1st, 2016, an American high-speed HSV-2 military transport, leased to the UAE for rapidly transporting troops between Yemeni ports, was attacked. The ship, which has a cruising speed of over 40 knots, was ideally useful and even indispensable for quickly transporting troops from one front to another.

Ltqv2QR-n5E
As we can see, the ship burned out completely after the attack and will most likely never return to surf the ocean again.

Then, on October 10th, 2016, the US stated that its Mason destroyer had been attacked by two missiles which, before reaching the ship, fell into the water. Two days later, the attack was supposedly repeated but with the same failed result.

The Houthis’ arsenal in Yemen includes “Nur” coastal anti-ship rocket complexes of Iranian production. Each of corresponding missiles has a firing range of 120 km and a payload of around 150 kg. The HSV-2 and Mason destroyer were attacked near the port of Mokha, which is only 50 km away from the shores of Eritrea. How could the rocket have not made it to its target, especially if 2 were launched, and then another 2 were launched two days later? If they had been launched with the help of electronic warfare guidance, i.e., those radar stations, then the US could have simply said the the attack failed or was deflected. But the question here is not about bragging. There were hundreds of sailors on the ship who could spill the beans about what really happened.

If you shoot at a passing destroyer with any close-range missile complex, even at night, then the missiles will, of course, fall into the water, and then the world can talk about the treachery of the Houthis. And the ship’s crew might even have seen what happened. In fact, the port of Mokha is situated close to the front line, and therefore the Houthi supporters of Hadi easily could have produced such a strike.

If the Americans really did bother about these spectacles, then they could have thought through and invented the story from beginning to end.

It also cannot be said that the American ship was attacked by mistake. Dozens of vessels go through the strait daily and not a single one has been hit by a mistaken strike. Much less has one been shot at more than once. Moreover, confusing a 10,000 ton ship at a distance of 20-30 km for a light Saudi Arabian or UAE warship is simply impossible.

Even taking into consideration the disagreements between the US and Saudi Arabia, the Americans are continuing to support the Saudis. Iran and Russia are the enemies of the United States, and it is unlikely that Washington will allow Russia to gain a foothold in the region. Any coastal missile system which can successfully attack an American military ship in the Bab El-Mandeb strait is therefore a threat to them, and needs to be removed.

Hence why they came up with this provocation. Most likely, the American destroyer simply patrolled the area for a few days and waited until the coastal radar station would work, and then struck. In order to cover up this act of aggression against a foreign country in the information space, they came up with the story of a failed attack which no one except themselves knows.

Judging by the Pentagon’s statement, they will continue to patrol the region and strike at radar systems which the US deems dangerous. In general, one can consider these actions by the US to be their reaction to a failed Houthi attack on their military ship rented to the UAE. But will this have further consequences? Definitely. The Houthis will have to stop attacking ships or their systems (especially radar stations) will be rapidly destroyed.

Will the Americans launch more strikes? There is too little information to analyze this. But the first and most important step towards this have already been taken. The pretext is the first strike. From now on, it’ll be easier. And after a year, everyone will forget about this.

animovado

13th October 2016, 15:08

All that serious diplomatic talk in the CNN interview of Lavrov and then an ending with such a joke?
It seems to contradict the usual behaviour of him so much, it really makes me wonder.

Here's the whole transcript of the Interview: http://www.mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/-/asset_publisher/cKNonkJE02Bw/content/id/2497676

Cidersomerset

13th October 2016, 17:32

Yes it was a strange question to ask at the end of this interview.....

All that serious diplomatic talk in the CNN interview of Lavrov and then an ending with such a joke?
It seems to contradict the usual behaviour of him so much, it really makes me wonder.
Here's the whole transcript of the Interview: http://www.mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/...ent/id/2497676

Question: Can I just file one last question? One last question, a bit cheeky but I’m going to ask you.
Russia had its own Pussy Riot moment. What do you think of Donald Trump’s Pussy Riot moment?

Sergey Lavrov: Well, I don’t know whether this would… English is not my mother tongue and I don’t know
whether I would sound decent. There are so many pussies around your presidential campaign on all sides
that I prefer not to comment.

Question: Oh, my goodness! I wasn’t expecting that! All right, thank you again.

http://www.mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/-/asset_publisher/cKNonkJE02Bw/content/id/2497676

8H7aKGOpSwE

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't think the questioner meant it to be a joke ? I think she was trying
to draw an unguarded comment from him. Lavrov being the professional
diplomat deflected it by giving a typical Russian response.

A similar thing happened on the BB2 news night yesterday (weds 12th)
when the questioner asked her interviewer a question about Boris Johnson
calling for protest outside the Russian embassy in London and whether he
would be welcome in Moscow ? She looked confused and said her question
was not valid to the Russian mindset . Of course Boris would be welcome.
( I'm paraphrasing)....

RT presenter Oksana Boyko responds to Boris Johnson - BBC Newsnight

iV06ujWM7kQ

Published on 13 Oct 2016
Emily Maitlis speaks to RT presenter Oksana Boyko about Boris Johnson's call for
protests outside the Russian embassy over its actions in Syria. Note: this video has
been edited to remove a delay on the line.

Cidersomerset

13th October 2016, 19:16

In this clip Russia's UN Amb' explains its fashionable to blame Russia for everything.....

Russia insists air strikes in Aleppo are 'carefully targeted' - BBC News

QQJiKzm7iY4

Published on 13 Oct 2016
Russia's Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin has told the BBC that the Russian
military is "careful about selecting targets" in the Syrian city of Aleppo. Mr Churkin
told correspondent Lyse Doucet he regretted civilian casualties, but Russia's military
campaign would continue.

====================================================
====================================================
====================================================

Well this article is bloody obvious , but interesting remote controlled planes
can be militarised...

As well as bigger air craft and airliners as possibly happened on 9/11 ?
and it just happens to be another coincidence the first US armed drone
attack was a month later....UHM !!

The US launched the first armed drone attack back in October 2001. Since
then the use of armed drones has been the preserve of the most sophisticated
military actors in the world.

http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.20.5/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png

Iraq attack shows deadly potential of 'off-the-shelf' drones

By Jonathan Marcus
Defence and diplomatic correspondent

13 October 2016

http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/FF3D/production/_91914356_035204712-1.jpg
Drones are widely used by enthusiasts for racing, filmmaking or photography

You could call it a demonstration of the proliferation of drone use with frightening possibilities.

Last week's attack in northern Iraq in which a small drone exploded killing two
Peshmerga fighters and badly wounding two members of the French special forces,
marks something of an innovation in modern warfare.

The US launched the first armed drone attack back in October 2001. Since then the
use of armed drones has been the preserve of the most sophisticated military
actors in the world.

Israel and the US had the early technological lead with Russia and China rapidly
developing their own drone industries. Modern military drones can operate over
huge distances and remain aloft for extended periods.

They have become an invaluable means of gathering intelligence and conducting
surveillance. Their armed counterparts can strike with an array of precision-guided
weapons. That is, if you like, the high-end of drone technology.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37638982

====================================================

Analysis: Model planes as weapons of terror

By Paul Cruickshank and Tim Lister　
Updated 1443 GMT (2243 HKT) September 29, 2011

huqS-3I6EAI

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/09/29/opinion/model-plane-attack/

bluestflame

13th October 2016, 22:54

anyone near sandiego ?

http://www.newsprepper.com/air-raid-sirens-san-diego-tacoma-fighter-jets-seen-scrambling-reports-explosion-sounds/#.WAAPKDyKSRF

bennycog

13th October 2016, 23:41

If you are following things closely and have little time you can have these site sitting up on your desktop to check now and then. they give you some idea of what is going on. though there is always something deeper. by now most of us can assess and look at things deeper.
you can see how things are reported and see what is considered actual news in that zone. all you need to do is look at headlines.

http://globalnews.ca/world/

http://www.9news.com.au/world

http://www.foxnews.com/

http://www.breakingnews.com/topic/russia/

14h
Russia completes delivery of S-300 air defense missile system to Iran - RIA
read more on ria.ru

Cidersomerset

14th October 2016, 00:02

This will have the Pentagon in a panic , demanding more $$$$$$$$$$$$$

and may explain some of the incidents over the last couple years and Putins
boldness in Syria and the Ukraine....Meanwhile the US military has problems..
It may also explain all the nuclear threats coming out of the US recently as
a message to Russia saying we will use them and the massive home defence
drills in Russia ...Uhm!!

U.S. Army Chief Threatens War With Russia

-wCwJ8pfXXo
Published on 5 Oct 2016
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley warned last night that the United States was
ready to “destroy” its enemies in comments that were clearly directed at Russia.
“I want to be clear to those who wish to do us harm….the United States military –
despite all of our challenges, despite our [operational] tempo, despite everything
we have been doing – we will stop you and we will beat you harder than you have
ever been beaten before. Make no mistake about that,” said Milley.
The General went on to warn that Russia and other countries had taken advantage
of the U.S. being focused on the war on terror.

40 million Russians involved in annual 4-day defense drills — RT News
https://www.rt.com/news/361553-russia-civil-defense-drill/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

F-35 fighter problems continue

ulocJjCILh0
Published on 6 Jul 2016
It's the most expensive weapons system ever built and it has just made its first trip
across the Atlantic. But the F-35 fighter jet has been plagued with problems and
continues to be. CNBC's Phil Han reports.

====================================================

'Completely new type of weapon': Russia tests ‘unrivaled’ new radio-electronic weapon

5lcgBp9NONE

Published on 13 Oct 2016

Russia has developed and successfully tested radio-electronic weapons systems
unmatched anywhere in the world, RIA Novosti reports, citing the manufacturer.

RT LIVE http://rt.com/on-air

===================================================
===================================================

RUSSIA BEGINS TESTS OF ADVANCED NEW ELECTRONIC WARFARE SYSTEM

_6_0aeo9714

Published on 28 Apr 2016
Sub for more: http://nnn.is/the_new_media | TASS reports Russia’s Concern Radio-
Electronic Technologies group of companies has begun testing of components of a
ground-based electronic warfare system, capable of protecting the troops and
civilian facilities from an air and space attack.

====================================================
====================================================

RUSSIA JAMMING NATO ELECTRONICS OVER SYRIA

vSALGLzxxwE

Published on 23 Oct 2015
Sub for more: http://nnn.is/the_new_media | New Russian Jamming System Near
Latakia Blocks All NATO Electronics Inside Bubble 600 Km in Diameter; Radar,
Satellites, Communications All Disrupted; System Shifts Military Balance in Favor of
Russia

====================================================
====================================================

No official confirmation of this in the mainstream news I can find .....

Russian Fighter Jet Disables US Missle Destroyer Using Electronic Warfare Weapon

8s4sKAMgYsU

Published on 16 Nov 2014

The Russian Air Force Khibiny is an advanced aircraft-mounted electronic warfare
(EW) system capable of jamming state-of-the-art air defense radar systems. The
Khibiny jamming was tested successfully for some time on the ground in Buryatia,
Russian Federation. On April 17, 2014, two Russian Air Force Su-24 bombers with
no weapons loaded were sent to intercept the US Navy's AEGIS-equipped destroyer
USS Donald Cook in the Black Sea. One of them flied around the destroyer up to 12
times while the other one remained away as done usually by both sides during the
Cold War period. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the Su-24s were equipped with
the Khibiny EW system and were able to neutralize the AEGIS phased array radar
target tracking capabilities while the ship's crew was unable to re-boot the system.
It is not clear whether the jammer affected the radar system itself or only the
computer-based component or either both at the same time. The Russian Air Force
plans call for the installation of the Khibiny jammer on all its advanced jets.

Russian Su-24 Making "Fake Attacks" at US Navy Ship USS Donald Cook in Baltic Sea

okD1D8Z-d68

Published on 13 Apr 2016
USS Donald Cook was "buzzed" again by Russian Su-24 strategic bomber jets in
Baltic sea (international waters) near Poland. The previous similar incident was in
May 2015.The Russian Su-24 was unarmed, but flew very close to the USS Donald
Cook Destroyer.

Sueanne47

14th October 2016, 00:09

Obama meets Aides friday for possible military intervention in Syria:

S1XLNzEOxd4

October 19th 2016??? this date was on the crop circle with a countdown, this date is to do with the military:

34393

bennycog

14th October 2016, 02:24

mainstream are saying something.. It is not a call to say anything is happening it is letting people know to be ready i guess..

http://abcnews.go.com/International/russian-television-warns-nuclear-war-amid-us-tensions/story?id=42773541

A couple paragraphs from the webpage:

With diplomatic relations between Moscow and Washington at their lowest point since the Cold War, one could be forgiven for being alarmed by recent Russian news broadcasts. For the past month, Russian media outlets have been punctuated with reports asking people whether they are ready for nuclear war.

“If it should one day happen, every one of you should know where the nearest bomb shelter is. It’s best to find out now,” according to one particularly fevered report on the Russian state-owned channel, NTV.

Russia’s main current affairs show, hosted by a presenter known by critics as the country’s propagandist-in-chief, recently spent two hours warning that Russia would defend itself with nuclear arms.

“We’ve had it with American scolding over Syria,” the show’s host, Evgeny Kiselyov, told his audience. "Impudent behavior,” from the U.S. he said, can take on “nuclear dimensions."

“In reality, nothing has changed,” Baunov said. “There is no peak in anti-American mood here among people.”

Flash

14th October 2016, 03:15

The difference between American/western nations and Russia is that Russia did build large war shelters for its population just acfew years ago. Have you seen any western country doing the same? No, they only built for the compliant extra rich. Unless we consider above ground fema camps as shelters.

I think it tells a lot.

China built nothing for the population either except for fake over the ground cities.

mainstream are saying something.. It is not a call to say anything is happening it is letting people know to be ready i guess..

http://abcnews.go.com/International/russian-television-warns-nuclear-war-amid-us-tensions/story?id=42773541

A couple paragraphs from the webpage:

With diplomatic relations between Moscow and Washington at their lowest point since the Cold War, one could be forgiven for being alarmed by recent Russian news broadcasts. For the past month, Russian media outlets have been punctuated with reports asking people whether they are ready for nuclear war.

“If it should one day happen, every one of you should know where the nearest bomb shelter is. It’s best to find out now,” according to one particularly fevered report on the Russian state-owned channel, NTV.

Russia’s main current affairs show, hosted by a presenter known by critics as the country’s propagandist-in-chief, recently spent two hours warning that Russia would defend itself with nuclear arms.

“We’ve had it with American scolding over Syria,” the show’s host, Evgeny Kiselyov, told his audience. "Impudent behavior,” from the U.S. he said, can take on “nuclear dimensions."

“In reality, nothing has changed,” Baunov said. “There is no peak in anti-American mood here among people.”

ThePythonicCow

14th October 2016, 04:06

Cidersomerset

14th October 2016, 10:43

CrossTalk on Russia-US Relations: Inevitable Clash?

rsGg8e4vD6Q

Published on 14 Oct 2016

FACEBOOK: Like CrossTalk on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/crosstalkrules/
It would appear Russia and the United States are moving down the path toward
some kind of confrontation – even conflict. With the war of words coming out of
Washington directed at Moscow, is there still time to de-escalate?
CrossTalking with Michael O'Hanlon, Larry Johnson, and Mark Almond.

Cidersomerset

14th October 2016, 12:25

In this weeks podcast David touches on the US election and the war on terror , WW111
Syria and elsewhere. Intelligent and concise observations as usual......

Give Your Power Away to Psychopaths, This is What Happens - The David Icke Videocast

g2mpDeBVBPg

Published on 14 Oct 2016

David plays this clip in the podcast and is the classic US 'gun ho' cartoon type General......

U.S. Army Chief Threatens War With Russia
-wCwJ8pfXXo
Published on 5 Oct 2016
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley warned last night that the United States was ready
to “destroy” its enemies in comments that were clearly directed at Russia.

xGMWZJlA0QA

Its just ridiculous , but deadly series......

====================================================
====================================================

====================================================

Then you have dosey idiot Boris who must be related to 'J W' putting his foot in his
mouth again over protesting the Russian embassy in London. It won't be long
before he is upsetting the colonies !!

https://londonsurvival.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/london-mayor-boris-johnson.jpg

RT NEWS....

No UK plans for military force in Syria – PM May contradicts Johnson

Published time: 13 Oct, 2016 09:28
Edited time: 13 Oct, 2016 15:40

MJOPeg6Y_6w

‘Britain is not planning to extend its military intervention in Syria, according to
Prime Minister Theresa May’s official spokeswoman, despite Foreign Secretary Boris
Johnson telling the Foreign Affairs Committee the UK should consider more “kinetic
action.”

“There are no plans for military action. We are working with the international
community to look at how to bring the conflict to an end,” May’s spokeswoman said
when asked about Johnson’s comments.

A range of options are available, she added.’

Read more: No UK plans for military force in Syria – PM May contradicts Johnson

https://www.rt.com/uk/362606-boris-military-options-syria/

Cidersomerset

14th October 2016, 19:15

http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.20.5/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png

Syria's Assad: Aleppo a 'springboard' to winning the war

7 hours ago

http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/14EE4/production/_91923758_5ed888b2-e163-4745-885f-9c2fe200eb1e.jpg
President Assad said 'terrorists' must be pushed 'back' to Turkey

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said victory in Aleppo will
make the city a "springboard" from which to retake the rest of
the country.In an interview with a Russian newspaper, Mr Assad
said there was no choice but to "keep cleaning this area" and
force rebels "back" to Turkey.

read more....

http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/98E8/production/_91544193_syria_turkey_kurds_v12_624map.png

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37653116

========================================
========================================

http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.20.5/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png

Egypt: 'IS militants' kill 12 soldiers in Sinai peninsula
5 hours ago

Suspected Islamist militants have killed 12 soldiers and injured eight in an attack
on an army checkpoint in the Sinai Peninsula, Egyptian security sources say.
The army says 15 militants were also killed in the attack, which took place near
the town of Bir al-Abd.Gunmen from the Sinai Province group are reported to be
behind the attack.It is Egypt's most active insurgent group, which pledged
allegiance to so-called Islamic State in 2014.Officials said a gun battle erupted after
the militants opened fire on the checkpoint with light arms and heavy machine-guns.

http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/FB24/production/_91929246_egyptsinai4641016.png

Friday's attack was the latest in what appears to be a surge in the number of operations
launched by the militants.

read more

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37658035

Cidersomerset

14th October 2016, 22:24

‘The US has no rational policy for Syria’

EEio0fJ81S8

Published on 14 Oct 2016
President Barack Obama and other top US government officials are weighing military
action in Syria ahead of high-level meetings set to take place in Switzerland between
the US, Russia and other countries. The United States is reportedly considering arming
rebel groups in Syria. To discuss, RT America’s Manila Chan is joined by Daniel Kovalik,
a professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law., who says “the US has no
rational policy for Syria or rational plan for the Syrian people.”

===================================================
===================================================

‘They use my relatives as human shields’: Civilians trapped in rebel-held districts of Aleppo

L3avrWdZmwM

Published on 15 Oct 2016

In the Syrian city of Aleppo, rebel-held districts are turning into traps for civilians.
The militants in control are stopping residents, under threat of constant shelling,
from leaving the area and crossing into the Western part of the city, which is under
government control.

Hervé

14th October 2016, 23:07

Dr Papadopoulos Sets BBC Straight on Syria and Russiaphobia in Britain (http://21stcenturywire.com/2016/10/13/dr-papadopoulos-sets-bbc-straight-on-syria-and-russiaphobia-in-britain/)

October 13, 2016 By 21wire (http://21stcenturywire.com/author/21wire/)

21st Century Wire (http://wp.me/p3bwni-kvW) says…

Now here’s a rare sight: the BBC allowed a genuine dissenting voice on to its airwaves.

Dr Marcus Papadopoulos, editor of Politics First (http://www.politicsfirst.org.uk/), recently talked to the BBC News about the west’s massive disinformation campaign targeting Syria, and misinformation and Britain’s irrational fear-mongering over Russia.

This week, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/11/boris-johnson-calls-for-demonstrations-outside-the-russian-embas/) called for “demonstrations outside the Russian embassy”, because of of what Johnson alleges as “war crimes” Syria. It seems that Johnson’s dangerous rhetoric merely typifies a general level of ignorance and political malaise taking hold over the British Parliamentarians recently.

CSNT_5KJd-o

Sueanne47

15th October 2016, 02:38

It seems that Johnson's dangerous rhetoric merely typifies a general level of ignorance and political malaise taking hold over the British Parliamentarians recently.

It looks like he is now embarrassed about campaigning for Brexit, like he let down his mate Cameron... he's a Judas IMO. And now he's joining the fools blaming Putin ~ IDIOT! :facepalm:

Cidersomerset

15th October 2016, 11:05

This is from a couple years ago and George Galloway one of the few politician
experts on the Middle East lays out the situation at the time. He is not on
the mainstream as much as he should be to counter government propaganda.

Pauline Neville - Jones seems to come from the same bubbling camp as Boris....

bqmKUyuWPYU

Published on 3 Sep 2016
George Galloway humiliating Jo Coburn and Pauline Neville-Jones over their
anti-Syrian propaganda on the BBC.

====================================================
====================================================
====================================================

Then you have dosey idiot Boris who must be related to 'J W' putting his
foot in his mouth again over protesting the Russian embassy in London. It won't be
long before he is upsetting the colonies !!

https://londonsurvival.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/london-mayor-boris-johnson.jpg

MJOPeg6Y_6w

Read more: No UK plans for military force in Syria – PM May contradicts Johnson
https://www.rt.com/uk/362606-boris-military-options-syria/

===================================================
===================================================

George is one of those politicians that polarizes opinion , but he has much more
experience in these subjects than the vast majority of MP's in parliament. I don't
agree with all his views but many on these topics.....

George is on the web with radio and tv shows on RT , Sputnick and other outlets...

onGDmU88wUY
Published on 25 Aug 2016
An angry student tells George Galloway on his "obsession" with imperialism. He
claims that Galloway supports dictators and never wants to implement military
action over "historical guilt".

===================================================
===================================================

George losing it with the calibre of students at Oxford.

i0oWNR7k27s

Published on 21 Mar 2013
George Galloway shows his stance on Gay Rights and Hugo Chavez in response to a
student who refers to him as a 'homophobic'. İcerik giriniz

8jgZHlV9UMI

Published on 26 Oct 2013

George Galloway asked 'ARE YOU RACIST?' at Oxford Union!
Filmed on Monday 14th October 2013.
Is it "racist" to refuse to debate with a racist?
Galloway destroys zionist's absurd, irrational logic.

In a passionate reply George Galloway describes his experiences as an undercover
agent working with Jews for the ANC against apartheid in South Africa and, in a no-
nonsense reference to the illegal Israeli occupation, forcefully responds:

"Jews don't have to be on the side of Apartheid - They can stand up against it!"

He continues that he will never debate with a supporter of any form of apartheid
because apartheid is the very worst form of racism and fascism there is.

Cidersomerset

15th October 2016, 16:05

Who Is REALLY Behind the EU Migrant Crisis? - Newsbud Roundtable

dzPiZSw3FP0

Published on 15 Oct 2016

https://yt3.ggpht.com/-18ENytFD7iY/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAAAA/nmL5kOfqUsw/s88-c-k-no-mo-rj-c0xffffff/photo.jpg

SHOW NOTES AND MP3: https://www.corbettreport.com/?p=20164

James joins the Newsbud roundtable to discuss what is being called the
'worst humanitarian crisis' of our time. We take a peek behind the curtain
to find the root causes for why and how millions of people are migrating
from war torn countries, and who benefits. We also examine the history
and context of synthetically-created refugee crises since 1951. Join this
highly stimulating discussion, and bring in your thoughts and responses
with your comments.

Cidersomerset

15th October 2016, 21:00

CIA preparing cyberattacks against Russia – US officials cited by NBC

JmjflZRa1es

Published on 15 Oct 2016

The CIA is reportedly planning a “clandestine” cyberattack on Russia, in retaliation
for its alleged efforts to influence the US elections against Hillary Clinton. The
“wide-ranging operation” is meant to “embarrass” Russia’s leadership, NBC News reported.
READ MORE: http://on.rt.com/7rz3

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RT breaks Podesta email leak faster than Wikileaks, US conspiracy machine can’t handle it

NFH3Q4cNqKw

Published on 15 Oct 2016
RT breaking Podesta emails #6 before WikiLeaks sparked accusations of collusion
with the whistleblowing organization. Actually, no conspiracies were involved – just
good journalism.

Cidersomerset

15th October 2016, 21:11

Lavrov on Syria talks in Lausanne: Some interesting ideas voiced, more meetings to follow soon

5OygxEXFjwA

Published on 15 Oct 2016
International talks on Syria in Switzerland's Lausanne have ended after four hours
of discussion behind closed doors. No breakthrough has apparently been reached.
Participants have agreed to further work on solving the crisis, Russia's Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov said, adding that there are "some interesting ideas" that
have been discussed.

===================================================
===================================================

U.S. seeks regional path to Syrian peace

kl8w4q0EfVA

Published on 15 Oct 2016

Subscribe: http://smarturl.it/reuterssubscribe
Syria talks with a fresh format but few fresh ideas open in Lausanne, Switzerland,
with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry seeking a new path to peace after direct
talks with Russia failed to secure a ceasefire. Mana Rabiee reports.

====================================================
====================================================

Suicide bombing, shootouts kill around 55 in Iraq

srjUVSv0axU

Published on 15 Oct 2016

Around 55 people are killed in three separate suspected Islamic State attacks in Iraq,
as Iraqi forces get ready to launch their major offensive on the city of Mosul where the
militants have their last remaining Iraqi stronghold. Mana Rabiee reports.

==================================================

Raw: Dozens Killed in Baghdad Suicide Bombing

pwJ5AH1KGAw

Published on 15 Oct 2016

A suicide bombing targeting a funeral gathering in northern Baghdad on Saturday
killed at least 35 people and left another 63 wounded, Iraqi police and hospital
officials said. (Oct. 15)

Cidersomerset

15th October 2016, 22:03

This is an interesting segment from a 2013 interview where Putin explains briefly
some of the cultural differences between Russia and America as he saw it ,
obviously in a brief interview he could only give an overview but it still gives you a
idea of his views....

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Putin on ideology - difference between Americans and Russians

3JVR0zAiyw0

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is from a couple days ago and just confirms Russia has no intention of
initiating a major conflict from all the articles I have watched/ read recently
or over the past few years , unless something drastic happens.

Its more likely going to be the neo - con faction backed groups either in the
White House , Pentagon or CIA or other agency or possibly by an ally ?

Putin Talks to Investors: Now is the Right Time to Invest in Russia

m9-B0j2jEgg

Published on 14 Oct 2016

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the annual VTB Capital "Russia Calling!"
Investment Forum in Moscow, Russia, October 12, 2016.
President Vladimir Putin is taking part in the eighth Russia Calling! Investment
Forum organised by VTB Capital. This year’s theme is Maintaining Responsibility,
Expanding Opportunities. This year’s theme is Maintaining Responsibility,
Expanding Opportunities
Invitations to the forum’s plenary session have been sent to Russian Government
members and heads of major international corporations and leading Russian
companies, delegates from over 60 countries, including 550 investors from Russia,
Europe, the United States, the Middle East and Africa.
VTB Capital Investment Forum is a leading platform for attracting portfolio and
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Russian businesses and international investors, Russia, October 12, 2016.
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Cidersomerset

16th October 2016, 11:15

More signs that Russia are unlikely to start a wider conflict and are
keeping to local conflicts within its sphere of historic influence imo.....
Of course this is subject to change by events and other players ie
US and allies......

This game is all about selling weapons by the big players and Russia
is definitely open for business , which could lead to deeper conspiracy
theory to who actually is pulling the strings behind the scenes to create
all this death to feed off. But that's for other threads.....

PRESS TV....

Russia open to sell missile systems to Turkey: Official
Fri Oct 14, 2016 3:12PM

http://217.218.67.233/photo/20161014/db08bd74-1d09-4f09-b959-ec0bfce4aedf.jpg

A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country could sell missile
systems to neighboring Turkey in light of a rapprochement between Moscow and Ankara.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday that Putin and his Turkish
counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan had discussed potential arms deals during a meeting
in Istanbul earlier this week.He said Russia would consider selling various missile defense
systems to Turkey in case the latter wants them.

=============================================
=============================================

PRESS TV.....

Russia set to seal deal with India on S-400 air defense system
Thu Oct 13, 2016 5:19PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to seal a deal with Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on the delivery of Moscow’s most advanced air defense system to New Delhi, the
Kremlin says.Russian news agencies quoted Putin aide, Yuri Ushakov, as saying that the
deal would be signed during an upcoming visit by the Russian president to India.

"An agreement on the delivery of S-400 'Triumph' anti-missile defense systems and other
deals will be signed as a result of the talks," Ushakov said in the Russian capital, Moscow,
on Thursday.

http://presstv.ir/Detail/2016/10/13/488914/India-Russia-Putin-Modi-S400

=============================================
=============================================

PRESS TV.....

Russia says fulfilled delivery of S-300 missile systems to Iran
Thu Oct 13, 2016 1:15PM

Moscow has reportedly concluded the supply of the Russian-made S-300 surface-to-air
missile defense systems to Iran.Russia’s RIA news agency quoted the Federal Service
for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSVTS) as making the announcement on Thursday.

“All divisions have been supplied,” said FSVTS Director Alexander Fomin.

Russia delivered the first parts of the S-300, the missile tubes and radar equipment,
to Iran in April.Moscow was committed to delivering the systems — which are used to
target tactical and ballistic aircraft and projectiles — to Tehran under an $800-million
deal in 2007.However, Russia banned the delivery of the systems to Tehran back in
2010, citing the fourth round of the UN Security Council sanctions, which bars hi-tech
weapons sales to the Islamic Republic.

http://217.218.67.233//photo/20161013/738619be-6f64-40d6-8ef6-787a5ccf3266.jpg
In this file photo a Russian S-300 surface-to-air missile defense system is on display at the opening
of the MAKS Air Show in Zhukovsky outside Moscow. (By AP)

http://presstv.ir/Detail/2016/10/13/488880/Russia-Iran-S300

====================================================
====================================================
====================================================

It has been speculated that Russia is considering re opening some of its old Soviet
rea bases , which will be raise tension with Washington and the Pentagon if it
happens.....

YkoAWaigxPc

Published on 7 Oct 2016
Russian news agencies quoted Russian Deputy Defence Minister Nikolai Pankov as
saying on Friday, Russia is considering plans to restore military bases in Vietnam
and Cuba that had served as pivots of Soviet global military power during the Cold
War.The agencies quoted Pankov as saying in Russia's parliament, "We are dealing
with this issue."As part of a drawing down of Russia's military presence around the
world after the demise of the Soviet Union, Russia lowered its flag at the Lourdes
signals intelligence base in Cuba and the deepwater Cam Rahn naval base in
Vietnam in the early 2000s.

====================================================
====================================================

This is probably out of date as actives bases fluctuates with events....Its why the
US has such a massive mil ind complex and needs proxy wars to use munitions
and hardware so the US tax payer and foreign clients like Saudi , Israel and others
can keep buying more. President Eisenhower who oversaw its creation during WW11
saw its potential to get out of hand and did warn us and JFK was murdered partly
to keep it going.

13Gt1bhKLhs

Why does the US have 800 military bases around the world?

gU8rQWh_qtc

Published on 18 May 2015
The US has about 800 military bases in other countries, according to David Vine in
his forthcoming book Base Nation. And it costs a lot of money to keep them open.
Why are they there in the first place?

norman

16th October 2016, 11:50

Here's a notion that's shot into my head this morning. It contradicts everything I said in my last post on this subject in another thread but my mind is swinging around in all directions.

Is it possible that Putin and whoever is really running American policy have reached an agreement on how to get out of the Islamic crisis. An agreement to re build the cold war and reverse back out of the 'war on terror', which may have gone off course, or simply is just too exposed as fake and so causing too much backlash?

Hervé

16th October 2016, 12:08

Snowden on Joe Biden: Nobody told VP Joe Biden what "covert operation" means

RT (https://www.rt.com/usa/362911-snowden-biden-cyber-threat/) Published time: 15 Oct, 2016 21:19
Get short URL (http://on.rt.com/7s0v)

https://www.sott.net/image/s17/351190/large/58029a12c461889c1c8b4654.jpg
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden © Jim Young / Reuters

Whistleblower Edward Snowden has made fun of US Vice President Joe Biden's announcement to respond to hack attacks, allegedly conducted by Russia, with a crafty counterstrike.

Speaking to the host of NBC's "Meet the Press" earlier this week, Biden said that "at the time of our choosing, and under the circumstances that will have the greatest impact," Washington would exact revenge against Moscow for its alleged interference with the upcoming US elections.

Such revelations about the kind of operation that is conventionally kept secret prompted the former NSA contractor to suggest that the top US official simply doesn't know how such things work. "I get the feeling nobody told VP Joe Biden what "covert operation" means," Snowden tweeted.

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/648888480974508032/66_cUYfj_bigger.jpg Edward Snowden Verified account ‏@Snowden (https://twitter.com/Snowden)

I get the feeling nobody told @VP (https://twitter.com/VP) Joe Biden what "covert operation" means.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cu0dtrUXEAAGfef.jpg This week, NBC News released a report suggesting that the CIA is planning a "clandestine" cyberattack on Russia, to "embarrass" its leadership for its alleged efforts to influence the US elections against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Such warnings about a "wide-ranging operation" in reference to reports from US officials have been also ridiculed by WikiLeaks.

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/512138307870785536/Fe00yVS2_bigger.png WikiLeaks Verified account ‏@wikileaks (https://twitter.com/wikileaks)

If the US "clandestine" pending cyberwar on Russia was serious:
1) it would not have been announced
2) it would be the NSA and not the CIA
Despite the absurdity of such threats, Russia will take "precautionary measures," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said, adding that what's worrying is that such "unprecedented" threats are "being announced at the level of the US Vice President."

Related:
Kremlin: Russia faces unprecedented cyber-threats from the US (https://www.rt.com/news/362868-kremlin-cyberattack-threats-us/)
CIA working on ‘clandestine’ cyberattack against Russia – report (https://www.rt.com/usa/362847-cia-cyber-attack-putin/)

==============================================

Real "dog and pony show" with no ponies... only running dogs.

Cidersomerset

16th October 2016, 12:08

Is it possible that Putin and whoever is really running American policy have reached an agreement
on how to get out of the Islamic crisis. An agreement to re build the cold war and reverse back out of the
'war on terror', which may have gone off course, or simply is just too exposed as fake and so causing too
much backlash?

Could be ? would make life a lot more simpler for the elites and those who run this world.....

====================================================
====================================================

Vice President Biden Threatens Russia With 'Unprecedented' Cyber Attack - The Kremlin Responds

By David on 16 October 2016 GMT

MAIL ON LINE....

Vice President Biden Threatens Russia With 'Unprecedented' Cyber Attack - The Kremlin Responds

Kremlin calls Joe Biden's threat to 'cyber strike' Russia 'unprecedented' and pledges
to protect itself from the 'aggressive, unpredictable United States'
Russia called the US's threat to perform a cyber attack 'unprecedented'
Vice president Joe Biden said America will 'send a message' to Russia
Kremlin responded by saying it'll do what it must to protect itself from US
CIA could prepare cyber attack to stop interference with election
Tensions between US and Russia at their worst levels since the Cold War
Russia accused of posturing to the world by prepping civilians for conflict
State-controlled media explains what do should war break out in Russia

By Alexander Robertson For Mailonline

Published: 11:48, 15 October 2016 | Updated: 22:37, 15 October 2016

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3839467/Are-ready-WAR-Russia-tells-civilians-check-bomb-shelters-gas-masks-nuclear-forces-advance-prepares-cyber-strike.html#ixzz4NFZus0TU
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"CIA preparing cyber attack to embarrass Russia"

BAxlwHyNRFI

Published on 15 Oct 2016

Russia has slammed the US for its "unprecedented threats" against Moscow over an
alleged series of cyber attacks.The Kremlin said it would take necessary measures
to protect its interests and vowed to respond to any cyber attacks from the US.
This after Washington formally accused the Russian government of trying to
interfere in its 2016 Presidential race through cyber attacks. US vice president says
a message will be sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Joe Biden reiterated
that the CIA is preparing a retaliatory attack to harass and embarrass the Kremlin
Leadership. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called the allegations
baseless. Moscow-Washington relations have been dented in the past few years
over the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria.

==================================================
==================================================

‘Maybe I said something wrong’: Blackout as Putin talks about NSA surveillance at BRICS presser

g9LvCRalCxc

Published on 16 Oct 2016
Commenting on US Vice President Joe Biden’s statement on the possibility of
cyberattacks against Russia, Vladimir Putin said it’s the first time that Washington
has admitted involvement in such actions.‘Something happened, certainly’: Blackout as Putin talks about NSA surveillance at

Sueanne47

16th October 2016, 13:29

*WTF* are the universities filling those student heads with? or are they getting their distorted opinions from wealthy parents full of zionist garbage? sheesh..

I wonder if George Galloway has been silenced? he is never on the BBC like Nigel Farage is, I've only seen him on youtube videos.

So the peace talks didnt end well yesterday? coarse not! NWO and reducing the population to 500,000 is the end game.

bennycog

16th October 2016, 22:08

I guess this should go here..

This is something to look out for as we all know military exercises most commonly go with false flag attacks..

I have tried to verify this but cannot find any other sources.

https://twitter.com/DWSIntel/status/787691917983289344

Looks like Vigilant Shield and Global Thunder is going on as planned and scheduled to start tomorrow- perhaps tonight

It seems Global Thunder is to do with ballistic missile defence systems

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/budget/fy2016/dod-peds/0603896c_4_pb_2016.pdf

This Program Element includes support for the Discrimination Improvements for Homeland Defense (DIHD) effort. The goal of this effort is to develop and field an
integrated set of Element capabilities to improve BMDS effectiveness and resilience against the evolving threat. The end result will be a future BMDS architecture
more capable of discriminating and destroying a re-entry vehicle with a high degree of confidence, improving Warfighter shot doctrine and preserving inventory.

I could not find much on vigilant shield but i found some Vermont Guard exercises . i assume it is similar to these

https://defensesystems.com/articles/2016/06/30/vermont-vigilant-guard-infrastructure-protection.aspx

The Vermont National Guard is gearing up for a cyber exercise to test its cyber warriors and civilian agencies in various aspects of cyber defense and response in the event of an attack on critical infrastructure. And Vermont’s units are looking for a cyber range to help them prepare.

Cidersomerset

17th October 2016, 08:55

http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.20.5/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png

Battle for Mosul: Operation to retake Iraqi city from IS begins
5 minutes ago

YRLfhJuTeWM

An Iraqi operation to recapture the city of Mosul, the last stronghold of the
so-called Islamic State (IS) in the country, has started.Artillery began firing
on the city early on Monday, in a long-awaited assault from Kurdish Peshmerga,
Iraqi government and allied forces.Tanks are now moving towards the city,
which has been held by IS since 2014. The UN has expressed "extreme concern"
for the safety of up to 1.5 million people in the area.

read more....

http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/2E7F/production/_91930911_mosul_control_624.png

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37674693

Mosul Offensive: On the frontline with Kurdish forces - BBC News
RB5YOq0GtVM

Published on 17 Oct 2016
An Iraqi operation to recapture the city of Mosul, the last stronghold of the so-
called Islamic State (IS) in the country, is under way. Kurdish peshmerga forces
are attacking from the east of Iraq's second city, while the Iraqi army is pushing
from the south. The country's second city fell to the militants in June 2014, and it is
central to the group's philosophy of a transnational Islamic caliphate.
The BBC's Orla Guerin is with Kurdish Peshmerga forces east of Mosul.

================================================
================================================

The declining fortunes of Islamic State

kZcVLQXpWDI

Published on 16 Oct 2016

The Syrian village of Dabiq, a symbolically important stronghold of Islamic State,
is now said to be under the full control of Turkish-backed rebels, as Iraqi government
forces tell residents of Mosul they are in the final stages of a major offensive to retake
the last Iraqi city still under the militant's control. Diane Hodges reports.

===================================================
===================================================

Iraq gears up for offensive on ISIL-held city of Mosul

it9v5K9KmnY

Published on 16 Oct 2016

Iraqi security forces are preparing for a major offensive in northern Iraq to retake
Mosul, the last ISIL-held city in the country.

Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr reports from Khazir, near Mosul.

====================================================
====================================================

Mosul: "a coordinated attack from three fronts, one of the biggest battle in Iraq's
recent history"

4QetsVRrI1k

Published on 17 Oct 2016

"Today I declare the start of these victorious operations to free you from the
violence and terrorism of Daesh [the Arabic acronym for the IS group]," said al-
Abadi in a nationally televised address.

Dressed in the uniform of Iraq’s elite counterterrorism force, and flanked by senior
military officers, al-Abadi noted that, "the hour has come and the moment of great
victory is near.”

====================================================
====================================================

ebaaHHJlHN0

Published on 16 Oct 2016
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi says an operation to drive ISIS out of Mosul is
imminent. Lt. General Mark Hertling talks to CNN's Robyn Curnow about the battle
for the key Iraqi city.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Retaking Of Mosul From ISIS Underway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8F0JQkP8Os

Published on 16 Oct 2016
The Retaking Of Mosul From ISIS Underway

Cidersomerset

17th October 2016, 10:26

"It's up to the Russians to show mercy over Syria"

I3gmi5xygGo

Published on 17 Oct 2016
Boris Johnson and John Kerry met to discuss Syria

=============================================

US, UK consider new sanctions on Russia over Syria

x0GzYE6guik

Published on 17 Oct 2016
The United States and Britain have warned of imposing sanctions against the Syrian
government and Russia over the conflict in Syria's Aleppo.

Kerry stressed countries have an obligation not to light a fire under a conflict that could
expand into a larger regional war. He made the remarks in a joint presser with British
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson in London. The top diplomats also called on Moscow to
help end the conflict in Syria. On Saturday foreign ministers from nine countries gathered
in Lausanne failed to come up with a joint statement on the Syria crisis.

============================================
============================================

Syria Govt forces retake Maardis from Nusra in Hama Governorate

Wm7eUJgZSwk

Published on 16 Oct 2016
Syrian government forces recaptured the town of Maardis in northern Hama District,
following fierce fighting with Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as al-Nusra Front.
According to Syrian government sources, at least 34 militants were killed with several
armoured fighting vehicles destroyed in the offensive.

==========================================
==========================================

‘Brutal night’: Rebels shell Aleppo residential areas, up to 3 killed (Graphic)

L8kxR0oQDdc

Published on 16 Oct 2016
Rebels have shelled residential areas in the government-held part of the Syrian city
of Aleppo – RT’s Murad Gazdiev has sent us video of the deadly attack's aftermath.

====================================================
====================================================
====================================================

CrossTalk: Bullhorns: Into the Abyss

Utjq965jrkc

Published on 17 Oct 2016
In the waning days of the Obama administration, Russia-U.S. relations stare into
the abyss. What can we expect over the next few months and with the inauguration
of the next American president?
CrossTalking with Mark Sleboda, Richard Weitz, and Dmitry Babich.

RT LIVE http://rt.com/on-air

Hervé

17th October 2016, 12:51

‘Get lost’: Moscow to keep counter sanctions & other highlights from Putin's BRICS presser (https://www.rt.com/news/362972-putin-brics-us-sanctions/)
(https://www.rt.com/news/362972-putin-brics-us-sanctions/)
Published time: 16 Oct, 2016 21:04
Get short URL (http://on.rt.com/7s2k)

https://cdn.rt.com/files/2016.10/original/5803e50ec461881b6d8b45f1.jpg
Russian President Vladimir Putin attending BRICS summit in Goa, India © Mihail Metzel / Sputnik

While meeting the media in Goa, southwest India, the Russian president was asked to comment on hot issues as the US elections, the situation in Ukraine and Syria, and his refusal to visit France, rather than Moscow's relations with its BRICS partners.

Deteriorating Russia-US relations: 'It all started from Yugoslavia'
Relations between Moscow and Washington did not deteriorate because of or during the Syrian conflict, Putin said in a remark to a journalist, adding: "Just remember what was going on about Yugoslavia, it all started from there." The Russian leader said that it's not about any third side in particular, but relations worsen because "one country" wants to impose its policy and decisions upon the rest of the world.

"We are not against this country, but we oppose that decisions are made on a unilateral basis and are not thought through considering historic, cultural and religious peculiarities of one country or another," even if there is a conflict within the affected nation, Putin said.

'Sanctions aim to suppress Russia's strength’
The US does not accept compromises, which is necessary to solve issues in world politics. Rather, it chooses a "counterproductive" policy of sanctions, Putin said. "Apparently, they don't want to compromise, they only want to dictate. Such a style has formed over the past 15-20 years in the US, and they still can't deviate from it," Putin said, adding that restrictive measures never achieve the aims that those who impose them hope for.

"Regarding sanctions against Russia, whatever they are said to be linked to, be it events in Ukraine or Syria, I assure you, the aims of those who formulate such a policy [of restrictions] do not solve any concrete problem," Putin told the media. Saying that "sanctions are aimed not at solving anything, but at suppressing Russia's strengthening" as a robust participant in international affairs, the president said that such intentions against Russia would never be fulfilled.

https://cdn.rt.com/files/2016.10/original/5803e776c36188b2048b4568.jpg
© Alexei Druzhinin / Sputnik

Moscow, in turn, does not plan to ease its retaliatory measures, caused by western policies, the Russian leader told the journalists in Goa. "No way, they can get lost," he said.

'US officials snoop and eavesdrop on everyone'
Russia's president was not surprised with US Vice President Joe Biden's recent threats towards Moscow, and said that it's not the first time Russian-American relations have been "sacrificed" for the sake of a US presidential campaign. "One can expect anything from our American friends. What has he revealed that is new? Don't we already know that US officials snoop and eavesdrop on everyone," Putin said, adding that Washington "spends billions of dollars" on its secret services "spying not only on its potential opponents, but on its closest allies as well."

Russia portrayed as US enemy to divert voters' attention from domestic problems
Meanwhile, Russia is not going to meddle in the American presidential elections in any way, the president told reporters, adding that Moscow has no idea what could happen after a new US leader is elected. So far Hillary Clinton has chosen "an aggressive stance on Russia," and Donald Trump has called for cooperation, "at least in fighting terrorism," but "no one knows what it will be like after the elections," according to Putin, who said that both candidates might change their rhetoric.

Creating an enemy out of Russia is a means by which to distract attention from domestic problems during election campaign season, according to Putin. "There are many problems [in the US], and in these circumstances, many choose to resort to the tried and tested system of diverting voters’ attention from their own problems. That’s what we are currently witnessing, I think."

"Portraying Iran and the Iranian nuclear threat as an enemy didn’t work. [Portraying] Russia [as an enemy] seems more interesting. In my opinion, this particular card is now being actively played," Putin said.

https://cdn.rt.com/files/2016.10/original/5803e776c36188b2048b4569.jpg
© Alexei Druzhinin / Sputnik

It will be hard to settle the conflict in southeastern Ukraine with President Poroshenko's propensity to avoid political commitments adhering to the Minsk peace deal, Putin once again warned. Recently, the Ukrainian leader has said that Kiev would not proceed with a political process in the region, as the issue of security has not been solved in the troubled part of the country.

"I think it's only a pretext to not do anything in the political sphere," the Russian president said, recalling Kiev's obligations to amend Ukraine's constitution, as mentioned in the peace deal. "If it's not done, it means that the current government are not ready to solve the problem once and for all," Putin said.

Commenting on future meetings with European partners to discuss the situation in Ukraine, the Russian president said that he had agreed with his French and German counterparts that it would be "viable" to meet only if the leaders' aids manage to make progress in preparing some preliminary agreements.

On canceled Paris visit: 'French side refused to take part in joint events'
Moscow is "always ready to talk with anyone," but attending meetings on issues that have been originally out of the agenda is "senseless," Putin said, answering a journalist's question as of why he canceled his Paris visit recently.

"The main reason for my planned visit to France was the opening of our religious and cultural center, and visiting an exhibition of Russian artists. So the main aim of the visit was joint participation [with the French president] in these events. But because of the known Syrian issues the French side decided not to join the events," Putin said, adding that "if the main reason for the visit dropped out," there was no reason to go.

Related:
Putin on Biden cyberthreat: First time US admits such thing on highest level (https://www.rt.com/news/362936-putin-brics-press-conference/)

Akasha

17th October 2016, 18:43

NatWest just gave RT two months notice to find another bank in the UK with no explanation of it's plan to terminate its account. It's obviously too early to say for sure if it's because of RT's contradictory coverage of Syria, but as the pressure gets ramped up I think that's probably the reason, as do the pundits in the following video:

R172-KIxaKQ

Cidersomerset

17th October 2016, 20:54

http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.20.5/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png

Syria war: Russia announces Aleppo humanitarian pause
2 hours ago

Russia has announced a "humanitarian pause" in its bombing of the Syrian
city of Aleppo.Moscow said it would halt operations in Aleppo on Thursday
for an eight-hour span between 08:00 (05:00 GMT) and 16:00.

The Russian defence ministry said the pause was agreed so that civilians
and rebels could leave the city.But UN agencies say at least 12 hours will
be needed for that to happen. "We would welcome any pause in the fighting,
but there is a need for a longer pause in order to get the aid in," said UN
spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Read more.....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37683244

===============================================

‘Deeply Disturbed’: Kerry accuses Russia of war crimes while Syrian rebels shell
civilians daily

Pn7Dyz9jUvc

Published on 17 Oct 2016

US Secretary of State John Kerry has described the situation in Aleppo as "the worst
humanitarian disaster since World War Two." He added that Russia could stop the
fighting, but doesn't - and accused Moscow of committing "crimes against humanity"
on a daily basis.

RT LIVE http://rt.com/on-air

===============================================
===============================================

Kerry and Boris Accuse Russia of War Crimes

_XyPCZ34HqA

Published on 16 Oct 2016
Ignoring yet another rebel shelling of Aleppo civilians, the US State Secretary
John Kerry has accused Moscow of committing daily “crimes against humanity,”
while the UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson blamed the Assad regime for the
“radicalization” of the so-called moderates.

However, Secretary Kerry does not have a “strong reputation” for truthfulness,
a Republican member of the Virginia State Senate, Richard Hayden Black, told RT.

Channel 'RT TV'
https://www.rt.com/news/362979-kerry-...

ThePythonicCow

17th October 2016, 21:29

These wars and regional destruction in the Middle East have been going on since at least the early 1990's at least, for the current US, and going back at least a century more, for the Anglo-American empire.

I found the following map of Babylon, from thousands of years ago to be suggestively relevant.

http://thepythoniccow.us/WhollyScienceBabylonMap.jpg
The map appeared in the following screen shot from Johan Oldenkamp's latest video, Wholly Scripture TV : 2. Babylon (http://thepythoniccow.us/WhollyScienceBabylonScreenshot.jpg):

http://thepythoniccow.us/WhollyScienceBabylonScreenshot.jpg
The yellow area on the above map has been the focus of our (the US) most persistent and unjust fighting, since at least the first Iraq war in the early 1990's. The yellow area covers major portions of Iraq and Syria. We seemed determined to conduct a scorched earth campaign there.

I wonder why there is such a focus on this area. My present speculation is that the Elite Bastards that I rail against are descendents of the Babylonian priesthood, who in recent centuries have infiltrated and operated through various major institutions and cultures. Somehow, for some reason, the bastards feel compelled to control or destroy the area of their ancient homeland.

Cidersomerset

17th October 2016, 22:15

http://thepythoniccow.us/WhollyScienceBabylonScreenshot.jpg

I found the following map of Babylon, from thousands of years ago to be suggestively relevant.

If that does not shout Annunaki , I do not know what does.....LOL

I have been listening/watching a lot of Annunaki vids over the
last couple weeks.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Synchronicity : I listened to The 12th Planet written by Zecharia Sitchin audio book
yesterday and started looking at other of his vids, I did wonder whether to post
and 'ummed and rrrrrd' and thought where would I go with it ? as it has been discussed
many times. So I left it and low and behold on David's headline page this morning there
is this article. So who am I to argue ...LOL . We know after the Iraq invasion the US
forces headed straight for the Bagdad museum for something ? so this is your Sunday
morning listening for this week if your in the mood......

===================================================

Iraqi Minister: Ancient Sumerians travelled space and discovered Pluto // 12th Planet by Z. Sitchin

http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?93691-Iraqi-Minister-Ancient-Sumerians-travelled-space-and-discovered-Pluto-12th-Planet-by-Z.-Sitchin&p=1103170#post1103170

Iraqi transport minister: Ancient Sumerians travelled space and discovered Pluto

By David on 2 October 2016 GMT History Rewritten

INDEPENDENT.....

Iraqi transport minister claims first airport was built 7,000 years ago in Iraq by ancient Sumerians

The Sumerians settled in the historical region of Mesopotamia, now south Iraq, in 5500
to 4000 BCKatie Forster |
@katieforster |18 hours ago|

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ur.jpg
The Ziggurat of Ur, a Sumerian ruin in south Iraq

‘Iraq’s Transport Minister Kazem Finjan has claimed that ancient Sumerians in Iraq invented space travel.

Finjan made the claim during a press conference in the southern Iraqi province of Dhi
Qar. In a speech, he said that the ancient civilisation had built the world’s first airport in
the area around 5,000 BC.Finjan went on to claim that the airport had served as a hub
for space exploration, and that the Sumerians discovered Pluto falsely claiming it to be
the solar system’s “twelfth planet” and discovered by NASA.

Read more: Iraqi transport minister: Ancient Sumerians travelled space and discovered Pluto

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iraq-spaceships-transport-minister-kazem-finjan-iraqi-sumerians-space-travel-7000-years-ago-a7340966.html

====================================================
Original....

Un ministre irakien évoque une présence extraterrestre, de Nibiru et des Annunakis
8GBBem0CkIY
Published on 2 Oct 2016

Edit : with subtitles

'Ancient aliens' built world’s 1st airport 7,000 yrs ago, Iraqi minister wants to believe

tWcAXCi99AI

Published on 6 Oct 2016
The guy on the right looks very uncomfortable as Iraqi minister states that 'ancient
aliens' built world’s first airport 7,000 yrs ago.

======================================================

The 12th Planet written by Zecharia Sitchin

_E3gBvwLyQc

List of Zecharia Sitchin Books in Chronological Order
Zecharia Sitchin is known for his extensive research about human-alien
connections, and the series of seven books that resulted from it.

http://www.buzzle.com/img/articleImages/602651-49526-32.jpg

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/list-of-zecharia-sitchin-books-in-chronological-order.html

http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?93691-Iraqi-Minister-Ancient-Sumerians-travelled-space-and-discovered-Pluto-12th-Planet-by-Z.-Sitchin&p=1103170#post1103170

Cidersomerset

17th October 2016, 22:25

I am also listening to this interview and they are talking about creating
rings around the Earth like Saturn and they go into an interesting
discussion about related topics....

I posted it on the chemtrail /geo - engineering thread , I think
many of these agendas are related and part of the bigger picture....

http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?74872-Undeniable-Footage-Of-Jet-Aircraft-Spraying-The-Midwest-Respiratory-Crisis----Infected-Chemtrail-Beta-Test&p=1106432#post1106432

Related Theory......

THE SPACE FENCE & FULL PLANETARY LOCKDOWN 2017! DARK JOURNALIST & ELANA FREELAND

g0wPQ5VH_to

Published on 13 Oct 2016

Visit http://www.DarkJournalist.com

Exclusive Preview of 2017 Space Fence Research
In this fascinating and riveting episode Dark Journalist Daniel Liszt welcomes back
Geoengineering Author Elana Freeland to preview her new research set for release
in 2017 on the massive Multi Level Surveillance Project called 'The Space Fence.'

Early Development of SDI Technology
The Space Fence was originally the brainchild of the Reagan era during the craze to
build the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) a space based weapons defense program
ostensibly designed to protect the US from incoming Russian nuclear missiles. It has
been established that this early version of the Space Fence may have actually been
created to keep an eye on unusual UFO developments in space.

HAARP Ionization of the Atmosphere & Nano Particles
After abandoning SDI on paper, covert forces inside the National Security State continued
to develop various uses for the space deployed technology. Realizing their new efforts of
achieving a global domination through space surveillance on Earth could not be totally
successful, they undertook to expand the ionization of the atmosphere which gives them
the ability to implant tiny nano particles into the human body. These nano sensors can
penetrate the blood brain barrier to activate wireless signals that can be remotely monitored
and controlled. Human beings in effect would become walking cell towers that microwave s
ignals could be beamed at and penetrated to automatically send back revealing data.

Planetary Lockdown
The ultimate purpose behind this decades long project can not be fully known, but according
to Elana's research we can deduce that its main goal is a Full Planetary Lockdown intended to
centralize and control the full spectrum of activity on planet Earth, including human behavior,
geopolitical events, weather conditions, earthquake activity and the creation of a manipulated
reality within a gigantic artificial intelligence grid.

Captivating and packed with groundbreaking information, you don't want to miss this powerful
Dark Journalist episode!

Category
News & Politics

Cidersomerset

17th October 2016, 23:38

A post I put on turiya Trump thread yesterday , so many dots connect as
David Icke and others would say and I certainly have seen it for decades,
though only in the last decade has the bigger picture began to open up
more clearly for me . Although its still rugged around the edges......

I look at elections and especially this US one as a classic one the PTB
are determined to win preferably with Hillary as she is already primed
for manipulation. But if Trump does pull off a surprise I expect he will
be brought to heel or JFK'd .....

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When people look back at this election in the future , despite the fiasco it may
turn out to be pivotal in history and may present opportunities for disclosure ?
Also bringing out the mainstream bias and general political corruption.....

In the meantime Trump suggest a dope test which should be mandatory especially
after GW and Bill....

BBC webpage.......

Trump challenges Clinton to drug test

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump challenges Hillary Clinton to a drugs
test after accusing her of being "pumped up" during the last debate.

5 hours ago
From the section US Election 2016

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has accused rival Hillary Clinton of being
"pumped up" during their last debate, saying they should both be tested for drugs before
the next one.

He also suggested the presidential race was looking like a "rigged election".

The comments came in the wake of the publication of a recording in which he made
obscene remarks, which sparked a string of sexual assault claims.

Polls suggest Mr Trump is losing ground in some of the key battleground states.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-us-2016-37667924

=========================================================
=========================================================

I feel a collage coming on...LOL ......This will vary on each individuals beliefs and
interpretations of what we are learning......Or it could just be greedy , power hungry
selfish humans behind all this ???

https://conspiracydailyupdate.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/igigi1.jpg
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kXWjvy04Dmc/Vwc8E01hRgI/AAAAAAAAnww/Wb332zdGCzoS-hD3JKpUhIX_-qPUWJeOw/s1600/Hidden-Hand-Illuminati-Family-1.jpg
http://www.ufocrashbook.com/images/eisenpage.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uCs69ivIDZg/VpxiLXyIHTI/AAAAAAAAI6w/qCOq4OCj-wU/s1600/milindcom.jpg

https://www.metabunk.org/data/MetaMirrorCache/contrailscience.com_skitch_jfk_fake_quote.jpg

http://alien-ufo-sightings.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Nixon-Alien-Gleason.jpg

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/c5/ce/c9/c5cec9c51c592ed94d09dd77376fa134.jpg

2iDmaB5BxzA

====================================================

End of Cold war , US political coup by Neo - Con factions and others....

https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4JAtC0iuOVSZc0pHu7-TCrfn5dg=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6049299/GettyImages-568874623.jpg

PUPPETS..............

http://www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_large/public/views-article/presidents_in_a_row.jpg

Hervé

18th October 2016, 01:46

Anyone noticed this guy got blown up in an elevator:

BREAKING: DPR commander Motorola assassinated

By J. Arnoldski - October 16, 2016 - Fort Russ News -

https://www.sott.net/image/s17/351367/large/mot6.jpg

The commander of the Sparta battalion of the Donetsk People’s Republic and famous defender of Donbass known by his callsign “Motorola,” Arsen Pavlov, was killed today, October 16th, by a bomb in his apartment building’s elevator. The incident has been officially confirmed as an assassination carried out by Ukrainian special forces.

Over the course of the war in Donbass, Ukrainian media claimed dozens of times that Motorola had been killed. This time, however, reliable sources have confirmed the news.

The Ministry of Defense of the DPR has officially stated that “According to preliminary information, Motorola was killed as a result of a terrorist operation of a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group. Upon returning home, a remote-detonated explosive device was set off in the elevator.”

nOrXi3gp7mc
Interfax was similarly told by an “informed source” that “According to preliminary information, in the elevator of the house in which Arsen Pavlov lived, an improvised explosive device was detonated. The militiaman, as planned, was in the epicenter of the explosion at the moment and was fatally traumatized.”

According to numerous news sources in Russia and Donbass, a state of emergency has been announced in Donetsk and an investigation has been launched. The DPR's defense ministry has since announced that a tightened "anti-terrorist regime" is in effect.

Motorola, who became an internationally recognized icon of the Donbass people's defense forces, is famous for having participated in the most intense battles of the war since the beginning of the conflict.

Having been subjected to numerous assassination attempts over the past two years, the last one was on August 25th (http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/08/photos-video-explosion-rocks-donetsk.html), but failed.

Motorola's last known assignment was being sent to the Lugansk People's Republic to provide security during the suppression of an alleged coup attempt.

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RcnVxp35j2Q/WAPU380EkhI/AAAAAAAAE2Y/SdAJrr5OUioNHuObsoNyiiuoeZpTP4xSACLcB/s640/Arseny%2BPavlov%2BA.K.A%2BMotorola%2B7.jpg (https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RcnVxp35j2Q/WAPU380EkhI/AAAAAAAAE2Y/SdAJrr5OUioNHuObsoNyiiuoeZpTP4xSACLcB/s1600/Arseny%2BPavlov%2BA.K.A%2BMotorola%2B7.jpg)

Hervé

19th October 2016, 00:46

Interesting conjectures from The Saker about Motorola's elimination:

The Murder of Motorola – questions which must be answered (http://thesaker.is/the-murder-of-motorola-questions-which-must-be-answered/)

The Saker October 17, 2016

Small caveat first:
I will be honest here, I am extremely uncomfortable with this topic and I greatly hesitated before addressing it here. As I have said it many many times before, there is a US-manipulated crowd of what I call “hurray patriots” which will use anything and everything to blame it all on Putin (just like their US controllers do, of course). So when Putin (or Russia) does something wrong or inept, there is a great real of risk of “adding water to their mill”. However, there is another trap I also refuse to fall into: to look away or not ask the tough questions, even about Putin, just because the Putin-bashers will inevitably use it or indulge in an infantile kind of “we told you so long ago” glee. The truth is we, the real patriots and friends of Russia, cannot let the Putin-bashers completely own the discussion. In fact, I think that the best thing we can do is simply ignore them, just pretend like they are not here, even while we remain acutely aware that an entire segment of the so-called ‘patriotic’ or ‘pro-Russia’ blogosphere is, in reality, used by the enemies of Russia.

Having said that, let’s now turn to

The murder of Motorola:
Motorola was killed yesterday, so the investigation is only beginning, but we already know that he was killed by a remotely controlled bomb place in the elevator shaft of his house. DNR officials have immediately blamed the murder on a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance unit. The Ukies, of course, were more than happy to confirm and take credit for this.

And this is were problems begin.

For one thing, Motorola is only the latest in a now obscenely long list of top Novorussian leaders (Pavel Dremov, Alexei Mozgovoi, Evgeny Ishchenko, etc.) who were murdered in very strange circumstances.

Second, the Ukie security services are, to put it very mildly, not exactly known for their amazing capabilities. In the Ukraine they are more known for their corruption, the way the viciously torture their prisoners and for snatching off the street clueless bystanders only to present them as, what else, secret FSB agents. Frankly, I find the notion that the Ukies kill all these top Novorussian leaders absolutely ridiculous.

Third, you tell me: how do you enter a heavily protected building, get into the elevator shaft, then leave, then monitor the arrival of Motorola before setting off a bomb and then get away? This very much reminds me of the murder by the Israelis of Imad Mughniyeh who was killed in Damascus by an Israeli bomb place in the headrest of his car: how did the Israelis get access to his car (in a very heavily protected government area of Damascus) without the numerous Syrian security services noticing? Impossible, of course. But only the widow of Mughniyeh, now living in Iran, had the courage to state the obvious: the Israelis had top level accomplices in Syrian security services.

Means, motive and opportunity
Let’s use “means, motive and opportunity” format and ask – who had the means.

The Ukies: Forgive me, but I don’t believe that the Ukronazis had the means.

The Russikies: Forgive me again, but I find it undeniable that the Kremlin did have the means

The CIA-SAD/SOCOM/USAISA/MI6/SAS/SBS/Mossad/IDF/etc.etc.etc.: doubt it very much. They would need to have not only a specially trained commando team, which they all have, but one which would be inconspicuous in the DNR, and that I find very very hard to believe.

Private contractors: maybe. I could see some agency or country sub-contracting the murder of a Novorussian leader to some private mercenary outfit as the latter would have native Russians speakers with the correct skillset.

However, I submit that this is the wrong way to looking at this issue. The real question is not who had the means to execute such an operation, but why would anybody at all have had the opportunity to do so?!

It does not require to be a genius figure out that Motorola was a prime target. And yet, neither the Novorussians nor the Russians could protect him?! This is prima facie ridiculous. Okay, maybe the Novorussians security services are a mess (judging by the number of Novorussian leaders kill, I get the feeling that this are!), but what about the Russians?! They could organized an immense Olympic event in the face of a direct and overt Saudi treat to have it marred by terrorist attacks and not have a single incident, even minor, happen, but they cannot protect the top 10-20 Novorussian leaders?!

As far as I know, not a single Novorussian security service leader was fired or demoted following all the murders of the Novorussians leaders. Why not?

This is how I see it: either the Russians let the Novorussians protect themselves and that was a huge mistake on the part of the Russians, or the Russians are in charge and they are themselves either incompetent (or worse).

Here we have to at least look at

The “Putin did it” theory
Yes, he sure had the means. And opportunity. The Russians are covertly running Novorussia and whatever manner they see fit, and if they wanted to they could kill anybody there. But motive?!?!?!

Motorola was not at all the bone-headed stubborn pain the the butt that other Novorussians leaders have been. I would even say that he, along with “Givi”, were just about the most willing to work with Russia. We also know from the example of Strelkov that the Russians can, if they want, remove anybody they get frustrated with. Why murder Motorola? This makes no sense.

The problem with the “Putin did it” theory is that it is based on a circular argument which goes like this: “since Putin wants to sell-out Novorussia, he murders Novorussian patriots, and he murders Novorussian patriots because he wants to sell-out Novorussia”. What that argument misses is that Putin could have sold out all of Novorussia, including all the Novorussian patriots, years ago just by a short move of his pen. But to the great dismay of the Putin-hating hurray-patriots, Putin remained steadfast in his support for Novorussia (without Russian support, Novorussia would fold in a week or so). Ditto for Syria which the very same Putin-hating hurray-patriots accuse Putin of “selling out” for many years already, even when the Russians single handedly protect Syria like they are doing today.

Yes, the Russians had the means and opportunity to murder Mozgovoi and the others, just as the Russians did have the means to shoot down MH-17, and just as the Russians do have the means today to bomb Syrian hospitals. So what? The Russians also have the means to send special forces to attack any orphanage on the planet and they can nuke Machu Picchu, but that hardly means that they would have any motive to do so? What we need to ask is

Whatever happened to cui bono?
Cui bono indeed. Unless somebody presents me a fact-based argument, I submit that Putin had no reasons at all the kill anybody in Novorussia so he is off my list of suspects.

Kiev. Meh… Yeah, I guess, they kinda had a motive. If they are dumb enough to send (a rather poorly trained) unit to blow up bombs in Crimea, they are probably dumb enough to try to kill somebody in Donesk. Except for I don’t believe that they had the means or opportunity to do it. So Kiev is also off my list of suspects.

CIA-SAD/SOCOM/USAISA/MI6/SAS/SBS/Mossad/IDF/etc.etc.etc? Means? I doubt it. Opportunity? I doubt it again. Motive? Not really. Folks in the West are smart enough to realize that by killing Novorussian leaders they really achieve very little. Even if ALL the current Novorussian leaders are killed, the people of Novorussia will never accept any Ukronazi rule over them, as for the military defense plans, they are made in Moscow anyway. Killing Novorussian leaders just is a lot of effort for not much to gain.

Which, unless I missed something leaves one theory:

Novorussian infighting aka “they did it themselves”
Usually, when somebody in the LNR is murdered, Plotnitsky is suspected. Not only is he an extremely unsympathetic personality, he has that “look” of being a ruthless thug. Then there is the fact that several of the murdered leaders were openly highly critical of him. Problem: Motorola was in the DNR, not the LNR and the LNR bad boys had no reason to risk messing with their (much more powerful) DNR leaders. As for the leader of the DNR, Zakharchenko, there is no evidence whatsoever to suggest that he had any problems with Motorola.

How about the Novorussian mobsters (and their colleagues from Russia)?

Well, maybe. By definition maybe. But that does not explain how they got past the security and into the elevator shaft of a highly protected building.

Conclusion?
To be honest, I ain’t got anything remotely resembling a real conclusion. All I have is a sense of frustration and one Ukrainian slogan like a mantra in my mind. So let’s begin with my frustration.

I am mad at the Russian security services.

Sorry, but for all the talk about the sovereign Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, Novorusssia is inside the Russian security services area of responsibility. At the very least, the Russian security services have done a terrible job setting down the law, their law, in Novorussia. This is a case of professional incompetence, I am sorry to say. Putin ought to ask the heads of his security services whether they can maintain law and order in Novorussia or not and immediately fire anybody who would reply in the negative. He should then appoint one person in charge of Novorussian security and subordinate the FSB/SVR/GRU assets in Novorussia to that person. Finally, the Kremlin out to explain the local security services that they either step aside and shut up or be removed, physically if needed.

Too extreme?

I don’t think so. The Russians own Novorussia and they have to fix it now. The people involved (as actors or accomplices) to these murders ought to be found and shot. Yes, *shot*. By a military tribunal and under the laws of a time of war. And while the local elites might be outraged by such a Russian move, the local people will only be grateful

Путін прийде порядок наведе!
The above slogan says (in Ukrainian) “Putin will come and restore order”. This is the (highly illegal!) motto of those in the Ukraine who still hope that the Russians will come and restore order. As I wrote many times, the Russians ain’t coming and the Ukrainians need to restore order themselves. But for Novorussia, I see no other solution.
There are no 10’000 ways of putting it: Novorussia is a friggin mess. Not only are top leaders murdered, but all the others are constantly appointed, then removed like some kind of crazy merry go around. Zakharchenko in the DNR has done a much better job than the folks in the LNR, but that latest murder of Motorola is showing that instead of the LNR becoming more like the DNR, it is the DNR which is becoming more like the LNR.

Ideally, the Russians should send some smart and ruthless patriot, like General Shamanov, to go to Lugansk and Donesk and read the locals the riot act (Russians generals are very good at that kind of stuff) and if they offer any resistance, just toss them out of their office (Russian generals are also good at that kind of stuff).

Okay – now the real conclusion
We are about to enter fantastically dangerous times. The Kremlin simply cannot afford the kind of bull**** (forgive my French!) that has been taking place in Novorussia. Enough is enough. If the locals cannot get the job done, they the locals need to step aside. There is an absolutely real risk of Hillary and her Neocons finally taking full power in the White House, Russia and the USA might have a shooting war over Syria, the Ukronazis might attack the Donbass any day now, the Russian 5th column is as powerful as ever in the Russian government, and Russia needs to prepare for a possible WWIII. Russia simply does not have the luxury of putting up with a chaotic and lawless Novorussia run by either traitors or incompetent people. A major crackdown on the Novorussia elites is much overdue. Come on, Putin – do it! And find the bastards who murdered Motorola.

The Saker

ThePythonicCow

19th October 2016, 01:29

If that does not shout Annunaki , I do not know what does.....LOL

http://www.crystalinks.com/sumertreeoflifeZ550.jpg

The Sumerian god Anu
===

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/7b/78/1e/7b781e1dd734fa668e6c5c8dd1b5072f.jpg

Roman Eagle (SPQR stands for Senātus Populusque Rōmānus, the Roman Republic)
===

http://gb.fotolibra.com/images/previews/1137595-eagle-lectern-john-the-baptist-church.jpeg

Roman Catholic Church Eagle Lectern
===

http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/sites/statesymbolsusa.org/files/styles/large/public/primary-images/unitedstatesgreatseal5.jpg?itok=AhcjbX5T

Eagle on the Great Seal of the United States
===

The tradition runs deep.

bluestflame

19th October 2016, 05:41

they never left ( they just learnt to brush thier hair )

Cidersomerset

19th October 2016, 08:44

This is another area like all spying and espionage activities that has gone
on at various times. It is being highlighted at the moment by the Democrats
who are blaming the Russians for everything. So this is interesting and
shows the US are probably among the world leaders at this covert game....

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

US general guilty in Stuxnet false statements probe

By David on 19 October 2016 GMT

https://www.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/xft8yg.jpg

=============================================

http://cdn.timesofisrael.com/images/thetimesofisrael-529x60.png

US general guilty in Stuxnet false statements probe

Former vice chair of Joint Chiefs James Cartwright, 67, tried to hide involvement
in 2012 news reports on alleged US-Israeli cyber attack on Iranian nuke program

By SAM HANANEL and Eric Tucker October 18, 2016, 3:01 am

http://cdn.timesofisrael.com/uploads/2016/10/Leak-Investigation_Horo-635x357.jpg
Retired Marine Gen. James Cartwright arrives at the US District Court in Washington, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016.

‘The former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff pleaded guilty Monday to
making false statements during an investigation into a leak of classified information
about a covert cyberattack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.Marine Gen. James Cartwright
entered the plea at a hearing before US District Judge Richard Leon, convened just
a few hours after the Justice Department announced the charges.

The plea ends a Justice Department investigation that began after the 2012 leak to
reporters of information about use of a computer virus called Stuxnet that disabled
equipment the Iranians were using to enrich uranium.’

Read more: US general guilty in Stuxnet false statements probe

http://www.timesofisrael.com/us-general-guilty-in-stuxnet-false-statements-probe/

Sueanne47

20th October 2016, 14:04

Rebels wont let civilians flee Aleppo, shell humanitarian corridor with Mortars :

L1Sl2EnjX0I

Sueanne47

20th October 2016, 17:44

Evidence on the Syrian Conflict - Obama, Clinton & Erdogen's involvement :

6_5MkYD7PZA

Lots of information here ~ Assad knew that Erdogen's son was buying up all the oil from Syria and taking it & shipping it out of Syria.

In 2012 the Jihadist's, Al-Nusra, Al-Queda, and moderate Rebels siezed a chemical factory near Aleppo, and controlling chemical factories inside of Syria.

Seymour Hersh says: Hillary approved sending Libya's Sarin Gas to Syrian Rebels to use on the Syrian people. It was *NEVER* Bashar Al-Assad using gas on his people!!

Erdogen has never left his backing of the US & Obama, here is the two sources of info Steve Ben Nun had about the gas:

RT Eren Erdem :

fmcH3kP70LU

Seymour Hersh, Strategic Culture :

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/04/28/seymour-hersh-hillary-approved-sending-libya-sarin-syrian-rebels.html

Hervé

20th October 2016, 19:23

Radar data proves Belgian F-16s attacked village near Aleppo, killing 6 - Russia (https://www.rt.com/news/363493-belgium-f16-aleppo-airstrike/)
(https://www.rt.com/news/363493-belgium-f16-aleppo-airstrike/)
Published time: 20 Oct, 2016 12:05
Edited time: 20 Oct, 2016 14:32
Get short URL (http://on.rt.com/7sh1)

https://cdn.rt.com/files/2016.10/original/5808b559c36188ff2d8b464e.jpg
An F-16 fighter jet from the Belgian Air Force © Jon Nazca / Reuters

Russia insists two Belgium warplanes flying from an Air Force base in Jordan attacked a village in Syria, citing radar data. Belgium denies conducting any airstrikes.

Brussels’ continued denial of the jets movements in the area is Belgian Defense Minister Steven Vandeput “deliberately deceiving people in Belgium and elsewhere in the world, or his subordinates and the Americans are lying to the leadership of Belgium,” Russian Defense Ministry spokesman General Igor Konashenkov said.

An airstrike on the village of Hassadjek in Aleppo province reportedly killed six civilians on Tuesday. Russia has now reiterated its accusations against Belgium, saying data from Russian and Syrian radar stations confirm it.

“Detailed information about the operation of the Belgian F-16s in Syrian sky will be delivered to the Belgian side through diplomatic and military channels,” Konashenkov said.

The two Belgian F-16 jets accused of the attack flew from the Muwaffaq Salti Airbase in Jordan, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman General Igor Konashenkov said, adding that they were immediately identified.

“Every aircraft type has a unique identifiable signature,” he said.

The Belgian warplanes delivered their night strike at the village at 00:35 GMT, about two hours after take-off, the general said. The attack left six civilians killed and four others injured. Russia tracked the flight of the two planes from Jordan to Iraq and Syria, as well as their encounter with a US KC-135 tanker, which refueled them over the Deir ez-Zor area, Konashenkov said.

Another refueling happened almost an hour after the village attack, he said. The Belgian planes continued patrolling around the city of Azaz in northwestern Syria and then flew towards Iraq, leaving Syrian airspace at 04:25 GMT, he added.

The US-led coalition never informed Russia of the Belgian sorties, Konashenkov said, which goes against the usual practice.

“I’d like to stress that this was not the first time when the international coalition conducted airstrikes against civilian targets and later denied responsibility for them,” he said. “Coalition warplanes have hit weddings, funerals, hospitals, police stations, humanitarian convoys and even Syrian troops fighting Islamic State [IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL] terrorists.”

All the movements were detected by the Russian and Syrian air defense radars.

“Russia has effective air defense measures capable of round-the-clock monitoring of the sky above almost all of Syria. In addition to ours, the airspace is also controlled by Syrian air defenses, which have been restored during the past year,” Konashenkov said.

Responding to the new accusations, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel reiterated the denial of his country’s involvement in the bombing.

“Judging by the information from the Defense Ministry, we have nothing to do with it. Of course the parliament will be informed of the role played by our military in the region in the hours or days to come,” he said before an EU summit in Brussels.

Belgium earlier denied Russia’s accusations, saying none of its six warplanes contributing to the US-led coalition had flown over the region. The Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador to Brussels to voice its protest.

Related:
‘6 killed in airstrike’ on village in Aleppo province, Belgium denies involvement (https://www.rt.com/news/363228-aleppo-airstrike-belgian-jets/)

==================================================

Anyone remembers this post:

...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CuV4f4nWYAARebZ.jpg

Where a radar flights tracking site demonstrates the spoofing (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/spoofing) of TWO Russian AZAZ909 AWACS planes over New York?

So... if Belgians didn't do it, who else, with radar spoofing capabilities, could have?

Cidersomerset

20th October 2016, 19:56

‘Deep psychic need for an enemy and Putin is filling it’ – The Spectator Deputy Editor

fd0Ih1msQ_U

Published on 20 Oct 2016
More of the same front-page fear-mongering - this time British news magazine 'The Spectator'
puts Putin on the cover - with talk of invasion plans and propaganda tools. We want to know
'What is up!' - so we asked the Deputy Editor of The Spectator Freddy Gray

RT LIVE http://rt.com/on-air

====================================================

http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.20.5/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png

UK warships shadowing Russian naval task force
3 hours ago

http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/B126/production/_92005354_duncan.jpg
HMS Duncan (right) tracking a warship in the Russian taskforce

Two British warships are shadowing an aircraft carrier and other Russian naval ships
as they pass the UK on their way to Syria.The carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and its task
force are on a course to sail through the North Sea and English Channel.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the ships would be "man-marked every step of
the way" while near UK waters.

However, Nato said Russia had the right to operate in international waters.

Read More...

http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/17E8/production/_92002160_russian_flotilla_map624_v2.png

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37719847

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Rebels don't let civilians flee Aleppo, shell humanitarian corridor with mortars

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Published on 20 Oct 2016
Islamist militants have shelled a ‘humanitarian corridor’ set up to allow civilians
to escape from eastern Aleppo, RIA Novosti reported. The shelling came amid a
ceasefire declared the by Syrian military and Russian Air Force.

====================================================

GI_FMKpW9mE

Published on 19 Oct 2016

President Assad to Swiss SRF1:

“.. Aleppo has been under siege for the last four years by the terrorists, and we
haven't heard a question by Western journalists about what's happening in Aleppo
that time, and we haven't heard a single statement by Western officials regarding
the children of Aleppo. Now, they are talking about Aleppo recently just because
the terrorists are in a bad shape. This is the only reason, because the Syrian Army
are making advancement, and the Western countries - mainly the United States
and its allies like UK and France - feeling that they are losing the last cards of
terrorism in Syria, and the main bastion of that terrorism today is Aleppo.”

Sueanne47

20th October 2016, 21:42

Me and Terry saw that Russian warship (could have been the British one) out at sea at Walcott, Norfolk beach today...took our dog to the beach.

Sueanne47

20th October 2016, 22:44

Daily Express newspaper: Operation Seafist: Theresa May's fury at Russian aggression as Putin's ships head to Dover :

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/723309/Russian-warships-conduct-naval-drills-coast-UK-Netherlands-Belgium

Hervé

21st October 2016, 13:16

Moscow summons Belgian ambassador, presents data on F-16s bombing of Syrian civilians (https://www.rt.com/news/363640-russia-evidence-belgium-airstrikes/)

Published time: 21 Oct, 2016 12:34
Edited time: 21 Oct, 2016 13:03
Get short URL (http://on.rt.com/7sl4)

https://www.sott.net/image/s17/352321/large/1.jpg
A Belgian F-16 fighter jet © Eric Vidal / Reuters

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it has presented Alex Van Meeuwen, Belgium’s ambassador in Moscow, with evidence proving the involvement of Belgian Air Force jets in a recent airstrike on a Syrian village that killed four civilians.

The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Van Meeuwen on Friday.

“During the conversation with Van Meeuwen, First Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov said that Moscow was puzzled by Belgium’s ongoing denial of the fact that the Belgian Air Force carried out an airstrike that killed civilians on the outskirts of Aleppo on October 18 of this year,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement (http://www.mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/-/asset_publisher/cKNonkJE02Bw/content/id/2503541).

“The Belgian diplomat [Van Meeuwen] was presented with evidence showing involvement of the Belgian Air Force in the airstrike on the village of Hassadjek. It was also mentioned that detailed info on the technical aspects of the flight of the two F-16 jets had been given to Belgium’s military attaché in Moscow by the Russian Ministry of Defense.”

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman General Igor Konashenkov said on Thursday that Brussels’ obstinate denial of involvement shows that Belgian Defense Minister Steven Vandeput is either “deliberately deceiving people in Belgium and around the world, or his subordinates and the Americans are lying to the leadership of Belgium.”

The airstrike on the village of Hassadjek in Syria’s Aleppo province reportedly killed six civilians on Tuesday.

According to Konashenkov, the two Belgian F-16s were immediately identified by Russian and Syrian air defense radar and all of their movements were tracked.

“Every aircraft type has a unique identifiable signature,” he noted.

The warplanes, which had flown in from the Muwaffaq Salti Airbase in Jordan, delivered their night strike on the village at 00:35 GMT, about two hours after takeoff, leaving six civilians dead and four injured, the general said. Russia tracked the flight of the two planes from Jordan to Iraq and Syria, as well as their meeting with a US KC-135 tanker, which refueled them over the Deir ez-Zor area, Konashenkov said, adding that the US-led coalition hadn’t informed Russia about the Belgian flights.

Related:
Radar data proves Belgian F-16s attacked village near Aleppo, killing 6 - Russia (https://www.rt.com/news/363493-belgium-f16-aleppo-airstrike/)

Hervé

21st October 2016, 13:32

Terrorist groups disrupted a humanitarian pause in Aleppo, not allowing civilians and members of Islamist groups to leave eastern Aleppo. (https://southfront.org/humanitarian-pause-failed-almost-no-one-left-eastern-aleppo/)

South Front (https://southfront.org/humanitarian-pause-failed-almost-no-one-left-eastern-aleppo/) Fri, 21 Oct 2016 12:40 UTC

https://www.sott.net/image/s17/348055/large/Al_Nusra_Front_fighters_Syria.jpg

Terrorists of Islamist groups disrupted a humanitarian pause in Aleppo (https://southfront.org/fight-against-terrorists-to-be-continued-after-humanitarian-pause-in-aleppo/) on October 20. About an hour after the start of the ceasefire (about 09:00 am local time), a checkpoint for exit into a humanitarian corridor in the area of Bustan al-Qasr was fired with mortars and light weapons.

A crowd of onlookers, who came to look at the escape of terrorists and civilians, has quickly dispersed after the start of the shelling. Several hundreds of civilians (according to pro-government sources, up to 2,500 people) gathered on the side of Bustan al-Qasr, controlled by terrorists (https://southfront.org/russia-proposed-statement-calling-to-separate-terrorists-from-opposition-in-aleppo-blocked-in-unsc/). They staged a spontaneous demonstration, demanding to allow them to move in the western part of Aleppo. Terrorists dispersed demonstrators, opening fire with automatic weapons over their heads. As result, several civilians were wounded.

During the day, it was quiet at other checkpoints for exit into the humanitarian corridors. Only occasionally, rare shots were heard on the side, controlled by terrorists. About 19:00 pm local time, some 10 wounded militants came in Bustan al-Qasr and asked to take them to the province of Idlib (https://southfront.org/terrorists-suffer-heavy-casualties-in-syrian-airstrikes-in-idlib-and-latakia/). Reportedly, nobody else has used the humanitarian corridors during the day.

In the evening, an exchange of artillery fire was resumed in the central part of the city, as well as in the north and southwest of Aleppo. Three Russian officers, who were on one of the checkpoints, were wounded (https://southfront.org/3-russian-soldiers-wounded-14-syrian-officials-killed-during-humanitarian-pause-in-aleppo-city/). Despite the ongoing fighting, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced extension of the humanitarian pause for another day. At the same time, it became known that almost all groups in Aleppo, including ‘moderate’ ones, formally renounced the UN initiative to withdraw from eastern Aleppo in the evening of October 20.

Morbid

21st October 2016, 13:53

Nnqx6PYLqoQ

pause on 19th second, while being questioned about threat by j kerry.

Flash

21st October 2016, 14:08

Sweet agile sailor

His speech is almost better than those of US politicians. And most probably not to be trusted either

On 19 sec he is smiling cause he has the occasion to turn the answer the way he wants, with a sweet two edges sword. I wonder if he is paid by Clinton to favor Trump diplomatically and scare Americans that way.

Nnqx6PYLqoQ

pause on 19th second, while being questioned about threat by j kerry.

Sueanne47

21st October 2016, 14:11

Thank heavens Mr Putin has a smart brain.... he doesnt want no WW3. He wants to maintain relations with America after the election, hoping it wont be Killary next in charge.

Sueanne47

21st October 2016, 16:32

Italian PM Renzi blocks new Russia sanctions over Aleppo at EU summit.

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Hervé

23rd October 2016, 15:44

No one allowed to leave: Militants shell East Aleppo exit route as humanitarian pause ends (https://www.rt.com/news/363782-east-aleppo-militants-block-civilians/)

Published time: 22 Oct, 2016 22:41
Get short URL (http://on.rt.com/7sp2)

The area of the humanitarian corridor in Aleppo, Syria. © Michail Alaeddin / Sputnik

Not a single civilian has been able to flee militant-held East Aleppo as the third day of a humanitarian ceasefire initiated by Moscow and Damascus came to an end, RT’s correspondent on the ground reports. Terrorists also bombed the humanitarian corridor.

“There were ambulances, buses waiting for civilians, waiting for the sick, nobody was allowed to leave,” RT’s Murad Gazdiev, who is currently in Aleppo, reported on Saturday.

Instead, “rebels and Jihadists” shelled the crossings designated to allow free passage to those willing to exit the encircled part of Aleppo.

On October 18, Moscow and Damascus halted their anti-terrorist strikes on East Aleppo. Starting from October 20, a humanitarian ceasefire saw an opening of four corridors for civilians and two for militants to offer a safe way out. The UN and other aid groups were supposed to bring humanitarian aid through the respective corridors as well. On Thursday, militants opened fire on one of the routes, injuring three Russian officers at the El-Masharka government checkpoint, Moscow said.

The evacuation of civilians was “impossible” due to the poor security situation on the ground, Ingy Sedky, spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), was quoted as saying by Deutsche Welle (http://www.dw.com/en/aleppo-ceasefire-ends-without-promised-evacuations/a-36121050).

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov earlier put the blame for the misery on former Al-Qaeda affiliate the Al-Nusra Front and allied militants. Their fighters “explicitly shell those routes through which such humanitarian aid can be delivered,” Lavrov said Friday.

Lavrov’s statement is supported by Gazdiev’s reports from the frontlines in Aleppo, where an RT crew witnessed the black banners of Al-Qaeda. “Today we actually got very close to the frontline, we had actually a direct line of sight of East Aleppo. And we saw again the black flags of Al-Qaeda waving over the city,” Gazdiev said. In early October, the UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, estimated that some 900 fighters for the Al-Nusra Front – designated a terrorist group by the UN – are standing their ground in East Aleppo alongside other militants.

https://img.rt.com/files/2016.10/original/580be913c36188ae488b469e.png

On Saturday, Al-Nusra Front terrorists executed a local imam in East Aleppo after he tried to persuade militants to leave the district, RIA Novosti reports, citing local Syrian militia. The news agency adds that on Thursday, jihadists also killed 14 civilians in the Bustan al Qasr district for trying to use one of the humanitarian corridors.

The RT crew managed to speak to people in the government-held part of Aleppo who have relatives in the militant-held districts. A woman, whose three children are living with their grandmother in East Aleppo, said that “they are doing very badly.”

“They do not have food or drink – nothing,” she said.

“It’s bad, it’s very bad. They [militants] take their food, their money, beat them and do whatever they want,” another woman told RT.

On Friday, the UN Human Rights Council voted to start an independent inquiry into alleged human rights abuses in Aleppo. “Armed opposition groups continue to fire mortars and other projectiles into civilian neighborhoods of western Aleppo,” a statement by the Office for the UN Commissioner for Human Rights said. However, the body has put most of the responsibility for the civilian casualties on Damascus and its allies, of which Moscow is a key one.

On Saturday, the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, lambasted the move, issuing a statement on her Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/maria.zakharova.167?ref=ts&fref=ts), calling the accusations “cynical” and “dishonorable.”

“The worst thing is that the very countries that hysterically cried foul over the humanitarian situation in Aleppo, they know (do not assume, but rather know) that the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the civilian population of the city is blocked by militants, [to whom] they in turn regularly provided assistance,” Zakharova said.

Related:
‘They’re cowards hiding behind women’s backs’: Aleppo locals tell RT of terrorist atrocities (https://www.rt.com/news/363697-aleppo-locals-interviews-ceasefire/)

UN Human Rights Council votes to open probe into Aleppo ‘war crimes’ (https://www.rt.com/news/363658-un-aleppo-war-crimes/)

Al-Nusra Front & allies sabotage humanitarian aid delivery efforts to east Aleppo - Lavrov (https://www.rt.com/news/363617-lavrov-syria-aleppo-nusra/)

Aleppo & Mosul: How Western rhetoric on anti-terror ops changes depending on location (VIDEO) (https://www.rt.com/news/363776-aleppo-mosul-western-comments/)

Sueanne47

24th October 2016, 13:51

Russia insider : Aleppo's war battlefield update - Terrorists planning counter offensive in Aleppo Syria.

l7bqRZ8nZV8

(pub. 23rd Oct. 2016)

Sueanne47

27th October 2016, 15:00

Aleppo's war battlefield update ~ South Aleppo front, Syria 24th Oct. 2016 :
(pub. 26th Oct. 2016) Russia insider

ACf_RBdueW4

Sophocles

28th October 2016, 10:36

‘Syria, Iraq are Turkey’s responsibility,’ exclaims Erdogan, demands Mosul, parts of Asia, Balkans and Middle East (http://theduran.com/in-bizarre-speech-erdogan-demands-mosul-makes-sweeping-claims-for-turkey-in-central-asia-the-balkans-the-eastern-mediterranean-and-the-whole-middle-east/)

The Duran
Alexander Mercouris
26. oct. 2016

In incendiary speech Turkish President Erdogan lays claims to a vast zone of influence for Turkey whilst demanding paramount influence for Turkey over Iraqi province and city of Mosul.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has just delivered one of the most bizarre speeches on foreign policy of his whole eccentric career.

Speaking at the newly opened University of Rize in Busra, he staked claims on behalf of Turkey to vast regions extending far beyond Turkey’s borders.

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(Turkey: Mosul and Aleppo belonged to Turks - Erdogan)

Referring to the National Covenant – a 1920 declaration by the last Ottoman parliament, which was used by the newly formed Turkish Republic as the basis of its initial negotiating position at the conference of Lausanne, which eventually established Turkey’s present borders – he claimed that according to “certain historians” it had included within Turkey’s borders:

“Cyprus, Aleppo (in Syria), Mosul, Arbil and Kirkuk (in Iraq), Batum (in Georgia), Kardzhali, Varna (in Bulgaria), and Thessaloniki and the Aegean islands (in Greece).”

The Duran’s Alex Christoforou wrote earlier on the claims (http://theduran.com/erdogan-targets-greek-islands-says-we-gave-away-the-islands-that-you-could-shout-across-to/) made by Erdogan about Turkey’s right to certain Greek islands. He also used historic, linguistic and religious ties to claim for Turkey a gigantic zone of influence for itself.

“Turkey is not only Turkey. Not only for 79 million citizens, but Turkey bears also responsibility towards our hundreds of millions of brothers in the geographical area to whom we are connected through our historical and cultural ties.

It is a duty, but also a right of Turkey to be interested in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Crimea, Karabakh, Bosnia, and other sister areas (NB: this is a reference to Azerbaijan and former Soviet Central Asia – AM). The moment you give up this, it will be the time when we lose our independence and our future”.

It is however Erdogan’s extraordinary comments about Mosul in Iraq that will be the cause of the greatest concern in the major world capitals.

“Our territories were as large as 2.5 million square kilometres, and after nine years at the time of the Lausanne Treaty [the international document of the foundation of the Republic of Turkey] it diminished to 780,000 square kilometres with the inclusion of Hatay [which joined Turkey in 1939].

When we had started the National Liberation War , our aim was to lay claim to the frontiers of the National Covenant [adopted by the last Ottoman parliament in 1920, which included the Mosul Vilayat of the Ottoman Empire].

Unfortunately, we could not protect [those borders]. … We cannot act in the year 2016 with the psychology of 1923. To insist on [the borders accepted in 1923] is the greatest injustice to be done to the country and to the nation. While everything is changing in today’s world, we cannot see to preserving our status of 1923 as a success.”

To that end Erdogan claimed a direct role for Turkey, both in the military operation to free Mosul from ISIS, and in any negotiations concerning its future.

“We will be in the field and at the negotiating table, too. We have to resolve the Mosul issue in Mosul. … If we sacrifice Mosul to sectarianism ([I]NB: this is clearly a reference to the Shia dominated government in Baghdad – AM), we cannot prevent the problem from reaching our borders.”

This incredible speech has already triggered a storm of complaints from neighbouring states including Greece (http://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2016/10/17/erdogans-expansionism-claims-from-thessaloniki-to-mosul-from-gaza-to-siberia/). There have also been criticisms of Erdogan’s seemingly shaky grasp of history (http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/10/turkey-iraq-mosul-discourse-empty-talk-or-irrendentism.html#ixzz4O3BZnpy9), though it is doubtful Erdogan cares much about that.

Erdogan is not laying physical claim to the vast regions he is talking about. What he is saying is that Turkey should establish some sort of sphere of influence over these regions. Nor is Erdogan saying that he wants to conquer Mosul so as to incorporate it into Turkey. However he does seem to think that Turkey is entitled to some sort of paramount position of influence in Mosul, and that it should be allowed to determine the shape of the eventual political settlement there.

It is clear that Erdogan does not want Mosul to fall fully under the control of the Shia dominated Iraqi government in Baghdad, and nor does he want Kurdish influence to be extended there. To the extent that it is possible to understand Erdogan’s thinking, it seems he wants Mosul to become a kind of de facto Turkish dominated Sunni Arab protectorate within Iraq, tenuously connected to the central government in Baghdad through some sort of loose confederal arrangement, but actually under the control of the Turkish government in Ankara.

This is of course very much the same arrangement Erdogan is trying to create in north east Syria in the ‘safe zone’ the Turkish military is busy setting up there. It is incidentally also the same arrangement the Turks have for a long time been working towards in northern Cyprus.

Needless to say Erdogan’s project for Mosul is fiercely opposed by the government in Baghdad, as well as by most of the Iraqi Kurds.

Erdogan’s speech in fact seems to have been triggered by a furious public row (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-11/turkey-plans-to-join-mosul-operation-against-islamic-state) Erdogan has recently had with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, in which Erdogan has insisted on a role for the Turkish military in the liberation of Mosul from ISIS, only to be rebuffed by al-Abadi, who clearly does not trust the Turkish army to leave Mosul if they ever go there, and who has publicly told Erdogan to mind his own business and stay out.

As is often the case with Erdogan this public rebuff from al-Abadi – who Erdogan seems to have trouble taking seriously – seems to have completely infuriated him. Typically his response has been ludicrously over the top, resulting in a speech of almost preposterous grandiosity bordering on outright megalomania.

At a practical level Erdogan’s plans for Mosul are going to complicate its liberation from ISIS. The Iraqi military as it advances on Mosul now has to worry about the possible reaction of the Turkish army. This is actually located illegally on what is Iraqi territory nearby, putting it in a good position to intervene in the fighting in Mosul were Erdogan to order it to do so.

As they close in on ISIS the Iraqi military now have to worry about what Erdogan might order the Turkish army to do behind their back. Inevitably that means that with one eye on the Turks the Iraqi military will not be able to focus single-mindedly on defeating ISIS, which is what the complicated nature of the battle to liberate Mosul requires them to do.

The US for its part must be seriously concerned that the quarrel between Turkey and Iraq caused by Erdogan’s overweening regional ambitions is going to delay the liberation of Mosul. Though it is becoming increasingly unlikely that Mosul can be liberated from ISIS before the US Presidential election in November (http://theduran.com/the-great-battle-of-mosul-how-hillary-clinton-may-be-denied-her-october-surprise/), the threats from Erdogan now threaten to extend Mosul’s liberation beyond January, when Obama steps down. That would be a bitter disappointment for Obama, who must be hoping for a victory over ISIS in Mosul to end his Presidency on a high note.

US diplomats must now be working over time to try to smooth over the differences between Erdogan and the Iraqis to enable the Mosul operation to go ahead as planned. Given the extreme language Erdogan is using and the overweening nature of his ambitions, it looks like they have a hard job ahead of them.

As for ISIS – the other big player in the battle for Mosul – not for the first time Erdogan’s regional ambitions are de facto aligning him with ISIS, which is the immediate beneficiary of what he is doing. Whether Erdogan wants to admit the fact or not this has always been true in Syria, and it is now turning out to be true in Iraq.

Erdogan’s speech is in fact very much in line with the “neo-Ottoman” foreign policy which his government has been pursuing ever since he came to power.

The speech shows that despite glimmers of understanding a few months ago that Turkey is over-reaching itself, and needs to improve relations with its neighbours (http://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2016/06/28/turkey-aims-to-improve-relations-with-all-neighbors-prime-minister-yildirim-says) rather than go on alienating them as it has been doing by pursuing this neo-Ottoman policy, Erdogan himself remains far too emotionally committed to it ever to give up on it.

On the contrary the defeat of the recent coup attempt and the – probably ephemeral – success of Operation Euphrates Shield in Syria seems to have gone to his head, causing him to double down on his neo-Ottoman policy, staking out vast claims for Turkey which it can never hope to realise.

As for the Russians, as they ponder Erdogan’s speech they will doubtless downgrade their expectations of the Turkish-Russian rapprochement even further, correctly assessing that Erdogan’s overweening regional ambitions and unstable personality make him in the end an impossible partner to place any long term reliance upon.

Source (http://theduran.com/in-bizarre-speech-erdogan-demands-mosul-makes-sweeping-claims-for-turkey-in-central-asia-the-balkans-the-eastern-mediterranean-and-the-whole-middle-east/)

7alon

29th October 2016, 11:59

I don't know if anybody has mentioned this, but Defcon status is now Defcon 4/blue/less threat. I don't know when that happened, but yeah :P

Hervé

29th October 2016, 12:37

I don't know if anybody has mentioned this, but Defcon status is now Defcon 4/blue/less threat. I don't know when that happened, but yeah :P
I am not too sure about that info since it was at Defcon 3 not long ago: http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?93759-WW3-may-be-imminent&p=1105962&viewfull=1#post1105962

Sueanne47

29th October 2016, 17:36

Rare footage of an up close battle in Aleppo ;

HfYx9obu0S0

7alon

29th October 2016, 17:56

Sophocles

30th October 2016, 08:23

VALDAI Discussion Club -2016

Is the US a banana republic? - Putin [Valdai, Part 1 of 2]
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Putin confronts the 'New World Order' (Valdai Part 2 of 2)
5JAduBdB7Mo

Sophocles

30th October 2016, 08:27

Turkey Coup July 2016

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A film by Tsargrad TV (where the philosopher Alexander Dugin (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?92460-Alexander-Dugin-on-Red-Ice-Radio-The-Fourth-Political-Theory&p=1088536&highlight=alexander+dugin#post1088536) is the Chief Editor)

Ewan

30th October 2016, 10:23

VALDAI Discussion Club -2016

Is the US a banana republic? - Putin [Valdai, Part 1 of 2]

Putin confronts the 'New World Order' (Valdai Part 2 of 2)

Very interesting, thank you.

Here is a link to the Valdia Club for those, like myself, who had never heard of it.

http://valdaiclub.com/

Hervé

30th October 2016, 14:16

Iraqi Army Base Comes Under US Air Raid Again (http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950808001197)

FARS News Agency (http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950808001197) Sat Oct 29, 2016 4:1

http://media.farsnews.com/media/Uploaded/Files/Images/1394/09/16/13940916000225_PhotoI.jpg

TEHRAN (FNA)- Deputy Chief of the Nineveh Provincial Council Noureddin Qablan announced that the US-led coalition warplanes have launched airstrikes on on army base in Nineveh province, killing several soldiers.

"The US fighter jets hit one of the military bases of Iraqi Army's 16th Division in a region North of Mosul, and the attack left four Iraqi soldiers dead," Qablan said.

He said that the US army has confirmed the attack, calling it a "mistake".

Qablan said that it is not the first time the US warplanes hit the Iraqi army and volunteer forces (Hashd al-Shaabi) military positions, adding, "The US-led coalition has each time said that air raids were not deliberate."

On October 5, the US warplanes hit the military positions of Hashd al-Shaabi forces in the village of Kharaeb Jabr to the South of Mosul, killing 20 Iraqi volunteer forces and injuring five others.

In late September, a senior Iraqi lawmaker disclosed that the US fighter jets had pounded the military positions of the Iraqi volunteer forces in the Northern part of Babel province.

"The Iraqi warplanes struck the equipment warehouses of Hashd al-Shaabi in al-Nasr region in Northern Babel," Mohammad Naji said.

He noted that the US was trying to prevent the Iraqi popular forces from making advances against the ISIL and the most important proof to that is that it struck Hashd al-Shaabi's warehouse in mid-September.

In June 2015, Fighter jets of the US-led coalition against ISIL once again struck the Iraqi forces' positions in the province of Anbar, in Western Iraq.

The US-led coalition warplanes hit the bases of Iraqi army's Hezbollah battalions in Fallujah in Anbar province, killing 6 soldiers and injuring 8 others.

In early May, the anti-ISIL coalition forces struck the position of Iraq's popular forces near Baghdad, killing a number of volunteer forces.

The US-led coalition warplanes hit an arms production workshop of the popular forces near the Iraqi capital, destroying the workshop and its ammunition completely.

Two members of Iraq's popular forces were killed in the attack.

The US has repeatedly struck the popular forces' positions in different parts of Iraq.

On March 29 2015, the US fighter jets struck the positions of Iraq's popular forces during their fierce clashes with ISIL terrorists near Tikrit, injuring a number of fighters.

The US and coalition forces conducted eight airstrikes near Tikrit, but they hit the popular forces' positions instead of ISIL.

In February 2015, an Iraqi provincial official lashed out at the western countries and their regional allies for supporting Takfiri terrorists in Iraq, revealing that the US airplanes still continue to airdrop weapons and foodstuff for the ISIL terrorists.

"The US planes have dropped weapons for the ISIL terrorists in the areas under ISIL control and even in those areas that have been recently liberated from the ISIL control to encourage the terrorists to return to those places," Coordinator of Iraqi popular forces Jafar al-Jaberi told FNA.

He noted that eyewitnesses in Al-Havijeh of Kirkuk province had witnessed the US airplanes dropping several suspicious parcels for ISIL terrorists in the province.

"Two coalition planes were also seen above the town of Al-Khas in Diyala and they carried the Takfiri terrorists to the region that has recently been liberated from the ISIL control," Al-Jaberi said.

Meantime, Head of Iraqi Parliament's National Security and Defense Committee Hakem al-Zameli also disclosed that the anti-ISIL coalition's planes have dropped weapons and foodstuff for the ISIL in Salahuddin, Al-Anbar and Diyala provinces.

In January 2015, al-Zameli underlined that the coalition is the main cause of ISIL's survival in Iraq.

"There are proofs and evidence for the US-led coalition's military aid to ISIL terrorists through air(dropped cargoes)," he told FNA at the time.

Related:
Security Source: US Sending Arms Cargo to ISIL in Iraq's Diyala (http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950808001424)
UN: ISIL Uses Civilians as Human Shields in Battle for Mosul (http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950805001373)
Official: ISIL Executes over 230 Iraqi Civilians in Mosul (http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950806000440)

Sueanne47

31st October 2016, 01:38

On the heels of Germany announcing tanks & troops on the Russian border, now
Britain, France and even Denmark sending tanks & troops to Estonia. NATO is amassing troops on Russia. (I am ashamed to be British :( )

03ALr_2LhwU

Sueanne47

2nd November 2016, 23:19

Russia moves into survival mode :

tooBWBhIG9c

Sophocles

3rd November 2016, 08:06

How Putin Derailed the West (http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/11/01/how-putin-derailed-the-west/)

November 1, 2016
counterpunch.org
Mike Whitney

http://uziiw38pmyg1ai60732c4011.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/dropzone/2016/10/CoAEcsdUMAAiCC-.jpg

“Nation state as a fundamental unit of man’s organized life has ceased to be the principal creative force: International banks and multinational corporations are acting and planning in terms that are far in advance of the political concepts of the nation-state.”

— Zbigniew Brzezinski, “Between Two Ages: The Technetronic Era”, 1971

“I’m going to continue to push for a no-fly zone and safe havens within Syria….not only to help protect the Syrians and prevent the constant outflow of refugees, but to gain some leverage on both the Syrian government and the Russians.”

— Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Third Presidential Debate

Why is Hillary Clinton so eager to intensify US involvement in Syria when US interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya have all gone so terribly wrong?

The answer to this question is simple. It’s because Clinton doesn’t think that these interventions went wrong. And neither do any of the other members of the US foreign policy establishment. (aka–The Borg). In fact, in their eyes these wars have been a rousing success. Sure, a few have been critical of the public relations backlash from the nonexistent WMD in Iraq, (or the logistical errors, like disbanding the Iraqi Army) but–for the most part– the foreign policy establishment is satisfied with its efforts to destabilize the region and remove leaders that refuse to follow Washington’s diktats.

This is hard for ordinary people to understand. They can’t grasp why elite powerbrokers would want to transform functioning, stable countries into uninhabitable wastelands overrun by armed extremists, sectarian death squads and foreign-born terrorists. Nor can they understand what has been gained by Washington’s 15 year-long rampage across the Middle East and Central Asia that has turned a vast swathe of strategic territory into a terrorist breeding grounds? What is the purpose of all this?

First, we have to acknowledge that the decimation and de facto balkanization of these countries is part of a plan. If it wasn’t part of a plan, than the decision-makers would change the policy. But they haven’t changed the policy. The policy is the same. The fact that the US is using foreign-born jihadists to pursue regime change in Syria as opposed to US troops in Iraq, is not a fundamental change in the policy. The ultimate goal is still the decimation of the state and the elimination of the existing government. This same rule applies to Libya and Afghanistan both of which have been plunged into chaos by Washington’s actions.

But why? What is gained by destroying these countries and generating so much suffering and death?

Here’s what I think: I think Washington is involved in a grand project to remake the world in a way that better meets the needs of its elite constituents, the international banks and multinational corporations. Brzezinski not only refers to this in the opening quote, he also explains what is taking place: The nation-state is being jettisoned as the foundation upon which the global order rests. Instead, Washington is erasing borders, liquidating states, and removing strong, secular leaders that can mount resistance to its machinations in order to impose an entirely new model on the region, a new world order. The people who run these elite institutions want to create an interconnected-global free trade zone overseen by the proconsuls of Big Capital, in other words, a global Eurozone that precludes the required state institutions (like a centralized treasury, mutual debt, federal transfers) that would allow the borderless entity to function properly.

Deep state powerbrokers who set policy behind the smokescreen of our bought-and-paid-for congress think that one world government is an achievable goal provided they control the world’s energy supplies, the world’s reserve currency and become the dominant player in this century’s most populous and prosperous region, Asia. This is essentially what Hillary’s “pivot” to Asia is all about.

The basic problem with Washington’s NWO plan is that a growing number of powerful countries are still attached to the old world order and are now prepared to defend it. This is what’s really going on in Syria, the improbable alliance of Russia, Syria, Iran and Hezbollah have stopped the US military juggernaut dead in its tracks. The unstoppable force has hit the immovable object and the immovable object has prevailed…so far.

Naturally, the foreign policy establishment is upset about these new developments, and for good reason. The US has run the world for quite a while now, so the rolling back of US policy in Syria is as much a surprise as it is a threat. The Russian Airforce deployed to Syria a full year ago in September, but only recently has Washington shown that it’s prepared to respond by increasing its support of its jihadists agents on the ground and by mounting an attack on ISIS in the eastern part of the country, Raqqa. But the real escalation is expected to take place when Hillary Clinton becomes president in 2017. That’s when the US will directly engage Russia militarily, assuming that their tit-for-tat encounters will be contained within Syria’s borders. It’s a risky plan, but it’s the next logical step in this bloody fiasco. Neither party wants a nuclear war, but Washington believes that doing nothing is tantamount to backing down, therefore, Hillary and her neocon advisors can be counted on to up the ante. “No-fly zone”, anyone?

The assumption is that eventually, and with enough pressure, Putin will throw in the towel. But this is another miscalculation. Putin is not in Syria because he wants to be nor is he there because he values his friendship with Syrian President Bashar al Assad. That’s not it at all. Putin is in Syria because he has no choice. Russia’s national security is at stake. If Washington’s strategy of deploying terrorists to topple Assad succeeds, then the same ploy will be attempted in Iran and Russia. Putin knows this, just like he knows that the scourge of foreign-backed terrorism can decimate entire regions like Chechnya. He knows that it’s better for him to kill these extremists in Aleppo than it will be in Moscow. So he can’t back down, that’s not an option.

But, by the same token, he can compromise, in other words, his goals and the goals of Assad do not perfectly coincide. For example, he could very well make territorial concessions to the US for the sake of peace that Assad might not support.

But why would he do that? Why wouldn’t he continue to fight until every inch of Syria’s sovereign territory is recovered?

Because it’s not in Russia’s national interest to do so, that’s why. Putin has never tried to conceal the fact that he’s in Syria to protect Russia’s national security. That’s his main objective. But he’s not an idealist, he’s a pragmatist who’ll do whatever he has to to end the war ASAP. That means compromise.

This doesn’t matter to the Washington warlords….yet. But it will eventually. Eventually there will be an accommodation of some sort. No one is going to get everything they want, that much is certain. For example, it’s impossible to imagine that Putin would launch a war on Turkey to recover the territory that Turkish troops now occupy in N Syria. In fact, Putin may have already conceded as much to Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan in their recent meetings. But that doesn’t mean that Putin doesn’t have his red lines. He does. Aleppo is a red line. Turkish troops will not be allowed to enter Aleppo.

The western corridor, the industrial and population centers are all red lines. On these, there will be no compromise. Putin will help Assad remain in power and keep the country largely intact. But will Turkey control sections in the north, and will the US control sections in the east?

Probably. This will have to be worked out in negotiations, but its unlikely that the country’s borders will be the same as they were before the war broke out. Putin will undoubtedly settle for a halfloaf provided the fighting ends and security is restored. In any event, he’s not going to hang around until the last dog is hung.

Unfortunately, we’re a long way from any settlement in Syria, mainly because Washington is nowhere near accepting the fact that its project to rule the world has been derailed. That’s the crux of the matter, isn’t it? The bigshots who run the country are still in denial. It hasn’t sunk in yet that the war is lost and that their nutty jihadist-militia plan has failed.

It’s going to take a long time before Washington gets the message that the world is no longer its oyster. The sooner they figure it out, the better it’ll be for everyone.

MIKE WHITNEY (http://www.counterpunch.org/author/mike-whitney/) lives in Washington state. He is a contributor to Hopeless: Barack Obama and the Politics of Illusion (https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1849351104/counterpunchmaga) (AK Press). Hopeless is also available in a Kindle edition (https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B007X497NM/counterpunchmaga). He can be reached at fergiewhitney@msn.com.

Source (http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/11/01/how-putin-derailed-the-west/)

Sueanne47

3rd November 2016, 11:36

Russia can easily defeat NATO! so why this suicide mission to poke the bear? just depopulation agenda?

mjiqTzug8zM

Sophocles

4th November 2016, 08:40

The Russian media just loves the campaign to demonize Putin (http://thesaker.is/the-russian-media-just-loves-the-campaign-to-demonize-putin/)

The Saker
November 03, 2016

Last May I wrote an article entitled Counter-propaganda, Russian style (http://thesaker.is/counter-propaganda-russian-style/) in which I explained that far from banning or censoring the western anti-Putin/anti-Russia campaign, the Russia media reported about it in meticulous detail. Half a year later, not only is this still true, but the level of coverage has now sharply increased. Check out this screenshot from the latest (and most watched) weekly news show:

http://thesaker.is/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Putin-bashing-reported-on-Russian-TV-1024x535.jpg
“Painting Putin” on Russian TV

Remember that roughly 80% plus of the audience watching this are strong supporters of President Putin. You can imagine what they think when they see these reports. The fully understand that the West hates Putin so much precisely because Putin is one of them, a real Russian who cares for the interests of the Russian people. So when the West demonizes Putin, it is really all the Russian people who are demonized and their conclusion is simple: the West does not hate Putin, the West hates *us*. As for “Blame it on Putin” – it has now become a real joke.

One of the main effects of this kind of demonization is that the Russian public fully understands that there is no way back. In practical terms, most Russians believe that even if Russia pulled out of Syria, stopped supporting the Donbass or even decided to hand Crimea to the Ukies, the West would still continue to demonize Russia and try to subdue her (https://www.rt.com/news/206623-putin-us-never-subdue-russia/).Furthermore, the Russians remember that the only time when the West liked Russia was when she was run by the drunken Eltsin and his coterie of Jewish oligarchs who pillaged Russia and whose reign had consequences similar to what a major war would result in. Any other Russia is simply unacceptable to the AngloZionist Empire.

http://thesaker.is/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Selection_340-276x300.png

Source: the (pro-Western) Levada Center

Seen in this light, the alliance of the West with both the Nazis in Kiev and the “moderate terrorists” in the Middle-East makes sense. This is not fundamentally different from the European’s alliance with the Ottomans during the Crimean War or the USA supported Japan against Russia in 1905 (only to then end up fighting against Japan a few years later). As long as X is anti-Russian, the West support X. It’s that primitive and that stupid.

The Ukronazi regime in Kiev has understood that it has only one “commodity” left which it can sell to the West: its rabid russophobia. And since they are desperate, they make desperate and, frankly, comical efforts. Check out the new symbol of the Ukie military intelligence service:

http://thesaker.is/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Ukie-Military-Intelligence-Service-symbol-and-Poro.jpg
The Ukies point a dagger at the heart of Russia

I don’t think I have ever seen the Ukie inferiority complex better illustrated. The Latin sentence “Sapiens Dominabitur Astra” (“the wise will rule the stars”) is a nice touch as it combines a non-cyrillic (Latin) alphabet, a reference to European astrology in the Middle Ages and a typically Ukrainian (cosmic) megalomania. Yet another proof, if needed, that all the Ukraine is is an “anti-Russia”.

Make no mistake though, there is absolutely no fear of the West in Russia. Most Russians believe that the Russian armed forces are more than enough to keep West in check. And they are quite correct. But there is this acute awareness that were in not for the Russian military, Russia would be treated just like Iraq.

In the meantime, the Russia media is gleefully feeding the Russian public every bit of russophobic propaganda produced in the West. Future generations will probably study this period and wonder at the absolutely mind-boggling stupidity of a western propaganda machine which is apparently completely oblivious at the impact of its propaganda on a nuclear superpower.

The Saker (http://thesaker.is/the-russian-media-just-loves-the-campaign-to-demonize-putin/)

Sophocles

4th November 2016, 11:52

Intelligence agencies are running al-Qaeda camps in North Africa — UN consultant (EXCLUSIVE) (https://medium.com/insurge-intelligence/intelligence-agencies-are-running-al-qaeda-camps-in-north-africa-un-consultant-exclusive-6e19eec5d834#.pbkg3ulk8)

New evidence points to a Western cover-up of Algerian state sponsorship of Islamist jihadists, to protect oil and gas interests

By Nafeez Ahmed

This exclusive is published by INSURGE INTELLIGENCE (https://medium.com/insurge-intelligence), a crowdfunded investigative journalism project for the global commons. Support us (https://www.patreon.com/nafeez) to keep digging where others fear to tread.

An unpublished report by a government advisor and UN consultant, obtained exclusively by INSURGE intelligence, accuses Western and Algerian security services of complicity in al-Qaeda terrorist activity across North Africa.

The academic report focuses on damning evidence that a devastating al-Qaeda terrorist attack on the Tigantourine gas plant near In Amenas, Algeria, was orchestrated by Algeria’s secret services, with the knowledge of US, French and British intelligence.

A draft copy of the report, due to be published later this month, has been seen exclusively by INSURGE intelligence.

Escalating instability in North Africa is being blamed on the re-emergence of an offshoot of al-Qaeda — al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Despite French military efforts, the group is re-consolidated in northern Mali, and has orchestrated terror strikes from Burkino Faso to the Ivory Coast.

Yet the new draft report by a UN consultant, prepared by the International State Crime Initiative (ISCI) at Queen Mary University of London, uncovers remarkable evidence that the Phoenix-like return of AQIM is thanks to the unwavering covert support the terror group receives from one of the West’s staunch allies in the ‘war on terror’: Algeria.

Terror ties

The as-yet unpublished report highlights evidence of such support from the In Amenas attack between 16 and 20 January 2013, which resulted in the deaths of 39 foreign nationals, including three Americans, six Britons, five Norwegians, and one French.

The Tigantourine gas plant is operated jointly by BP, Norway’s Statoil and the Algerian state-owned Sonatrach, producing 12% of Algeria’s natural gas.

The attack was the single largest terrorist killing of ‘Westerners’ since the London bombings of 7 July 2005.

The Queen Mary University of London report is authored by social anthropologist Jeremy Keenan, Visiting Professor at the Queen Mary University’s Law School.

Keenan, who has authored over 200 peer-reviewed scholarly articles and six books on the Sahara-Sahel region, is an advisor on regional security issues to NATO, the US State Department, the EU, the UN, the British Foreign Office, and international oil companies.

The report reveals startling evidence that the attack was secretly organised by the DRS, Algeria’s notorious secret intelligence service. The idea was to convince Algeria’s Western allies to continue supporting the regime’s domestic and regional counter-terrorism programmes, amidst growing international scepticism about their success.

Algeria’s DRS maintained intimate ties with the terrorists behind the In Amenas attack, many of whom have been longstanding agents of the Algerian security services, the report says.

US, British and French intelligence services are aware of these connections, but are covering them up to protect their considerable oil and gas interests in the country.

Among the report’s most alarming revelations is that over the last decade, Algeria’s DRS has run a secret al-Qaeda training camp in the Tamouret region, with the knowledge of Western government security agencies.

Al-Qaeda camp — run by Algeria’s secret state

Over several years, Prof Keenan obtained direct eyewitness evidence from locals about the secret al-Qaeda camp in Tamouret, including from an AQIM member who trained there.

Its purpose is to recruit, indoctrinate and train marginalised youth from across North Africa into committing atrocities in Algerian communities — after which they would usually be executed.

According to Keenan’s eyewitness sources, the camp was visited almost daily “by high-ranking army and DRS officers… including General Rachid ‘Attafi’ Lallali, the head of the DRS’ External Security Directorate (DDSE).”

The camp was also directly supplied with arms and ammunition from Algerian army depots.

Detailed information on the identities of camp recruits, including DNA data, was routinely shared with Western intelligence agencies according to sources familiar with the camp.

Trainee terrorists at Tamouret were schooled in sniping and throat-slitting. The camp was provided with a continual supply of prisoners — mostly criminals and dissenting soldiers — purely for the purpose of being killed during training.

Over a seven month period, one eyewitness said, about 180 murders had taken place at the camp during such routine practice sessions.

In Amenas — a DRS operation

Keenan’s report for the International State Crime Initiative points to disturbing evidence of Algerian intelligence services’ direct sponsorship of al-Qaeda terror.

On 27 August 2015, senior DRS commander General “Hassan” Abdelkader Aït Ouarabi was arrested by Algerian authorities. The arrest was based on allegations from three terrorists captured at the In Amenas gas facility, who claimed they had received arms from General Hassan.

On the same day as Gen Hassan’s arrest, the US Director of National Intelligence (DNI), James Clapper, flew into Algiers for high-level government meetings.

The FBI had also been given access to the three terrorists making these allegations before July 2013.

Corroborating this information, the report refers to the testimony of former DRS captain, H. Haroune, and a former captain and instructor in the Special Forces under DRS command at the time, A. Chouchan. The two former DRS operatives have claimed that “General Mediène [then DRS chief] ordered the attack on In Amenas (presumably planned to be a hostage-taking mission that the army would resolve as it did at Gharis in 2003).”

What did BP know?

Astonishingly, the report reveals that before the attack, BP and Statoil had a three year contract with a transport services company, BAAT SARL, owned by Mohamed Ghadir, the brother of al-Qaeda terrorist Abdelhamid Abou Zaïd — the head of AQIM in the Sahara, and chief of the DRS-run AQIM training camp at Tamouret.

At the London inquest last year, BP was never questioned about this contract, despite it involving a company tied to the very al-Qaeda group that attacked the gas plant.

In the years preceding the attack, Keenan himself — in his capacity as a security consultant — repeatedly warned BP that the facility would be attacked by Islamist terrorists with the covert support of the Algerian government.

Keenan suggests that BP’s inexplicable lack of concern about the matter was because the firm had been given security assurances from Algerian or Western authorities that AQIM would not attack the plant.

BP did not respond to request for comment.

Gary Rose, an emergency response advisor who worked at the In Amenas facility, said that BP’s onsite security “was incredibly poor and relied totally on the untested and unknown capabilities of the Algerian military.” Rose narrowly avoided the attack having left the site two days earlier.

Rose, who gave evidence at the London Inquest, was especially damning about BP’s approach. The firm “did nowhere near enough to protect the facility, even with the most basic and credible scenarios in their own emergency response plans…

“The risk assessment process was flawed, inadequate and done from a view of process safety not human safety. Physical security was constantly breached by the local staff and was out of direct expatriate control, the physical barriers and warning/protection systems were wholly inadequate. I know exactly what systems we did and did not have, and management on site were aware of all the failings too. After the fall of Libya there should have been a massive review of security, but instead we handed over more control to poorly trained Algerian security guards. We were all aware of bandits and arms trafficking in the desert regions but were just relying on the Algerian military to manage this, maybe by force or maybe by negotiation?”

According to Rose, the most appropriate way of dealing with the risk would have required abandoning the site to conduct a full review and reinforcement.

But shutting down and abandoning the facility, or any other such facilities, “was never an option due to the huge amount of revenue and European reliance on external hydrocarbons: it’s economy over safety and that’s how the petroleum industry works.”

Complicity in Algeria’s reign of terror

The draft report by Queen Mary University’s ISCI refers to recent revelations from Habib Souaïdia, a former Algerian army officer.

According to Souaïdia:

“… he had been informed by many of his former colleagues [in the Algerian Special Forces] that the leaders of some of the jihadist groups sowing terror in Tunisia ‘take their orders from Algiers.’”
In 2015, Tunisia experienced two major terrorist attacks, in which a total of 61 civilians were killed by gunmen with ties to Algeria.

Souaïdia reported that mobile phones and SIM cards of AQIM jihadists killed in Tunisia’s Mount Chaambi border area, obtained by the Tunisian army, “revealed their communications with DRS officials in Algiers, including their phone numbers and even their nicknames.”

In late 2013, the information about the SIM cards was handed over to US intelligence, which demanded Algeria’s army chiefs put a stop to the support for jihadists in Tunisia. But, Keenan says, a related US concern was to prevent information on the DRS’ dealings with terrorists falling into the public domain:

“The reason for that was because US intelligences services and the DRS had been working together as close allies in the so-called war on terror since 2002 and would inevitably, and quite correctly, be seen as having been complicit in whatever ‘false-flag’ and other such questionable operations had been conducted by the DRS since 2002.”

The AQIM-backed insurgency in Mali was also being supported by Algeria’s intelligence services. A Nigerian military officer told Keenan that AQIM forces in Mali were being supplied food and fuel by the DRS.

Throughout the DRS’ sponsorship of regional al-Qaeda terrorist activity, the US, Britain and France have worked closely with the very same DRS on regional ‘counter-terrorism’ — despite being privy to damning intelligence on Algeria’s double-game.

The Clinton files

Direct confirmation of high-level US knowledge of the Algerian regime’s relationship with the terrorists behind the In Amenas attack came from emails leaked from Hillary Clinton’s private server, published by Wikileaks in March 2016.

An email dated 17 January 2013 to Clinton from her aide Sidney Blumenthal, noted that the alleged leader of the In Amenas attack, AQIM terrorist Mokhtar Belmokhtar [MBM], had a secret agreement with Algerian intelligence. Under the agreement, Belmokhtar would pursue al-Qaeda destabilisation operations in Mali and the Western Sahara:

“According to sources with access to the Algerian DGSE [the DRS], the Bouteflika government reached a highly secret understanding with Belmokhtar after the kidnapping in April 2012 of the Algerian consul in Gao (Mali). Under this agreement Belmokhtar concentrated his operations in Mali, and occasionally, with the encouragement of the Algerian DGSE, attack Moroccan interests in Western Sahara, where the Algerians have territorial claims.”

Mokhtar Belmokhtar was also, according to Keenan’s eyewitness sources, in charge of logistics for the al-Qaeda training camp in Tamouret, which he visited every two weeks.

A further email dated 19 January 2013 from Blumenthal to Clinton reported that French intelligence had learnt from a source “with access to the highest levels of the Algerian army” that:

“… officers of the Algerian DGSE [DRS] are looking to secretly meet Belmokhtar or one of his lieutenants in northern Mauritania in the immediate future. They have been ordered to find out why Belmokhtar violated their two-year-old secret agreement and launched attacks inside Algeria.”

There is no evidence that such a meeting actually took place, suggesting that the DRS was not really interested in finding the answer.

In any case, Clinton forwarded Blumenthal’s email to Robert Russo, her assistant in the US Department of State — which means the US government was aware of the agreement between AQIM’s Belmokhtar and Algerian intelligence.

Keenan points out that these emails must be placed in context with the evidence that the DRS itself had sponsored the In Amenas attack in the first place:

“We therefore had a situation in which the presidency, the army high command and, most likely, western oil companies, knew there was a secret agreement with MBM not to attack installations within Algeria. The DRS, which would have been the agency that made the deal with MBM, would have assured the presidency and army command that such an agreement had been made. What neither the presidency, army nor foreign oil companies knew, although they may have suspected, was that they had effectively been double-crossed by the DRS.”

In either case, it seems that the State Department was aware that Algerian intelligence was sponsoring Islamist terror across North Africa.

When asked what the State Department did with the information it had received via Hillary Clinton, a spokesperson, Pooja Jhunjhunwala said:

“As a matter of policy, the Department of State does not comment on materials, including classified documents, which may have been leaked.”

However, when asked about the State Department’s position on public record evidence of Algerian intelligence support to jihadists supplied by Prof Keenan — who has previously consulted on regional security issues for the State Department — she simply declined to comment.

Cover-up?

Much of this information was passed on by Keenan to the London Inquest into the attack on the Tigantourine gas plant. Yet the Inquest, which delivered its verdict in February 2015, excluded this evidence from the proceedings. Keenan himself was blocked from giving evidence at the Inquest.

The Addendum to the Queen Mary University report includes the full text of a letter dated 30 April 2015 sent by Prof Keenan to Detective Constable William Wixey of the SO15 Counter Terrorism Command, summarising his available evidence.

Keenan’s letter offered to provide access to multiple witnesses, two of whom would be non-Algerian citizens, who would expose the leader of the In Amenas attack as an “agent” of Algeria’s secret intelligence service.

On 13 May, DC Wixey replied to Keenan’s letter to explain that the Coroner’s office was “of the view that they do not wish to take this matter further at this stage.”

The Metropolitan Police failed to respond to a request for comment on the decision to block Keenan’s evidence from the Inquest.

In addition to blocking Keenan’s evidence, the British government used Public Interest Immunity — the withdrawal of information on grounds of ‘national security’ — to suppress the disclosure of key documents at the Inquest on what the government knew, and when.

The use of Public Interest Immunity was “very suspicious,” London Inquest witness Gary Rose said:

“Now we are not able to know what is being withheld and there is little that can be done about that.”

In his report for Queen Mary University, Prof Keenan concludes that the government had sought not only to cover up “its own incompetency with regard to the FCO”, but also to avoid questions about the government’s “possible complicity in [Algerian] state crimes.”

The government’s goal was to withhold any information alluding to British intelligence collusion with the DRS, including evidence that MI6 had been “complicit in activity that could be construed as criminal.”

In the absence of a further inquiry, there seems little prospect that the questions Keenan raises will be answered by officialdom. Yet his forthcoming report goes some way toward uncovering the real reasons that the threat of terrorism is escalating in North Africa.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed is an award-winning 15-year investigative journalist, international security scholar, bestselling author, and film-maker.

He is the creator of INSURGEintelligence, a crowdfunded public interest investigative journalism project, ‘System Shift’ columnist at VICE, and a weekly columnist at Middle East Eye. He is Global Editor at The Canary. Previously, Nafeez wrote The Guardian’s ‘Earth insight’ blog.

His work has been published in The Guardian, VICE, Independent on Sunday, The Independent, The Scotsman, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Foreign Policy, The Atlantic, Quartz, The New Statesman, Prospect, Le Monde diplomatique, Raw Story, New Internationalist, Huffington Post UK, Al-Arabiya English, AlterNet, The Ecologist, and Asia Times, among other places.

Exclusive stories broken by Nafeez via INSURGEintelligence have been covered by USA Today, Global Post, The Guardian, The Independent, Washington Post, The Metro, The Week, News Corp’s news.com.au, Discovery News, Channel 4 News, Forbes, Columbia Journalism Review, Gigaom, FutureZone, among others.

In 2015, Nafeez won the Project Censored Award for Outstanding Investigative Journalism for his Guardian story on the energy politics of the Ukraine crisis. The previous year he won another Project Censored Award, known popularly as the ‘Alternative Pulitzer’, for his Guardian article on climate-induced food crises and civil unrest.

In 2010, Nafeez won the Routledge-GCPS Essay Prize for his academic paper on the ‘Crisis of Civilisation’ published in the journal Global Change, Peace and Security. He also won the Premio Napoli (Naples Prize) in 2003, Italy’s most prestigious literary award created by decree of the President of the Republic.

Nafeez has twice been featured in the Evening Standard’s ‘Top 1,000’ list of most influential people in London, in 2014 and 2015.

Nafeez is the author of A User’s Guide to the Crisis of Civilization: And How to Save It (2010), and the scifi thriller novel ZERO POINT, among other books. His work on the root causes and covert operations linked to international terrorism officially contributed to the 9/11 Commission and the 7/7 Coroner’s Inquest.

This story is being released for free in the public interest, and was enabled by crowdfunding. I’d like to thank my amazing community of patrons for their support, which gave me the opportunity to work on this story. Please support independent, investigative journalism for the global commons via www.patreon.com/nafeez (https://www.patreon.com/nafeez), where you can donate as much or as little as you like.

Source (https://medium.com/insurge-intelligence/intelligence-agencies-are-running-al-qaeda-camps-in-north-africa-un-consultant-exclusive-6e19eec5d834#.pbkg3ulk8)

Sueanne47

4th November 2016, 22:21

RT crew comes under fire in Aleppo :

bd44-VgfoIM

Sueanne47

4th November 2016, 23:46

Russian Pilots cheat death as helicopter hit by ISIS Missile :

BvWZcRHLIY8

TODD & NORA

5th November 2016, 00:06

Prepare for fallout from the election...events will unfold in ways you do NOT expect after Trump is elected.

Sueanne47

5th November 2016, 12:57

Is US planning to attack Russia's Electric grid? :

kJOCs3vmlk4

Sophocles

6th November 2016, 15:02

UK military intelligence issues warning over Russian supertank threat (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/11/05/uk-military-intelligence-issues-warning-over-russian-super-tank/)

Telegraph.co.uk
By Robert Mendick, Chief Reporter Ben Farmer Roland Oliphant
6 November 2016 • 1:15pm

British military intelligence has issued a warning over a ground-breaking tank being developed by Russia, according to a leaked document seen by The Telegraph.

The Ministry of Defence internal briefing paper raises doubts over the UK’s ability to combat the threat posed by the Kremlin’s new Armata tank.

It also questions why the Government has no plans for a rival tank for at least 20 years.

"Without hyperbole, Armata represents the most revolutionary step change in tank design in the last half century." Military intelligence report

The internal document, written by a senior Army intelligence officer, states: “Without hyperbole, Armata represents the most revolutionary step change in tank design in the last half century.”

It adds: “Unsurprisingly, the tank has caused a sensation,” and it goes on to question the failure of current defence strategy to plan for a new tank that can compete.

There is growing alarm among military chiefs that a presidential victory for Donald Trump, who has criticised US funding of Nato, could leave the West badly exposed to Vladimir Putin’s aggression, especially in the vulnerable Baltic states.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2016/11/05/armata2-large_trans++NT1wfaitlIE3XPy4LA6h-UeMKOEZjO1BJIXDI1j8sYE.jpg
Credit: Sasha Mordovets/Getty Images

A prototype of the Armata was rolled out last year at the annual May Day parade in Moscow, prompting the commissioning of the five-page intelligence report. The tank is pioneering, according to the document, because of a revolutionary turret design that makes crew less vulnerable under fire.

The tank is also reckoned to be lighter, faster and lower in profile than Western rivals.

The document also suggests the tank will be kitted out with a radar system currently used on state-of-the-art Russian fighter jets and new composite armour. It has a “reported higher muzzle velocity” gun and the possibility of an upgraded missile system.

“As a complete package, Armata certainly deserves its billing as the most revolutionary tank in a generation,” concludes the intelligence briefing paper.

“For the first time, a fully automated, digitised, unmanned turret has been incorporated into a main battle tank. And for the first time a tank crew is embedded within an armoured capsule in the hull front.”

"Are we on the cusp of a new technological arms race? Has an understandable focus on defeating the single threat of IEDs distracted Western military vehicle designers?" Military intelligence report

The Army intelligence officer says UK defence strategy has concentrated on the threat from improvised explosive devices deployed by insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan and ignored the danger posed by tanks.

The paper asks: “Are we on the cusp of a new technological arms race? Has an understandable focus on defeating the single threat of IEDs distracted Western military vehicle designers? Challenger 2 [the British tank], with life extension programmes, is currently due to remain in service until 2035. Is it time to rethink?”

The paper also raises concern over the Scout, a light armoured fighting vehicle due to be introduced for British forces from next year. “In a familiar story of measure and countermeasure, the intelligence assumptions that informed the procurement of Scout as a superior battle-winning platform may now be open to question.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2016/11/05/armata3-large_trans++L85OJQZ4-S-zbSKdb7KVF0YaPjumMbaEqReu0wfQXC8.jpg

The document says that on top of the Armata tank, Russia is adding “six additional armoured vehicles to the stable”, including a heavy infantry fighting vehicle and a self-propelled artillery system.

The intelligence report, which it stresses should “not be interpreted as an official MoD statement”, also raises the spectre of far superior Russian tank numbers, with plans to build 120 Armata tanks a year from 2018.

It points out Russia already has a fleet of 2,500 tanks with a reserve of 12,500, which is “35 times the size of the fleet in the British Army”.

“With such numbers, decisive effect is credibly achievable and losses are less important,” says the document.

The conclusions will ring alarm bells, not least following Russia’s annexation of the Crimea and the threat to the Baltic states.

Analysis for Western military leaders has suggested Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – all Nato member states – would be overrun by Russian tanks within 60 hours of an invasion. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/12139050/Nato-cannot-stop-Russian-tanks-in-the-Baltics-wargames-predict.html)

Brigadier Ben Barry, a land warfare specialist at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said two features on the Armata would threaten Nato forces.

“Firstly, it is the first tank designed with an unmanned turret. This will potentially improve crew survivability,” he said. “The turret also looks to have the stretch potential to accommodate a larger-calibre gun of up to 150mm. If fielded, this would overmatch the guns and armour on existing Nato tanks.

“Secondly, it appears to be the first tank designed from the outset with an active protection system, to intercept incoming anti-tank guided missiles and shoulder-launched anti-tank weapons.”

He added: “This has the potential to greatly reduce the firepower of Nato infantry. Of course, there are few Armata yet, and it is not clear how rapidly they will enter service. But as they do, they will increase the effectiveness of Russian armoured forces.”

The Russian defence ministry announced in September that it had signed a contract for the delivery of the first 100 Armata tanks. Another 2,200 are expected to follow.

By contrast, the British Army has 227 Challenger 2 main battle tanks, dating from 1998. Germany has 410 Leopard 2 tanks, and France has 200 Leclerc tanks. America has 2,338 M1 Abrams main battle tanks – although just 250 tanks and armoured fighting vehicles are stationed in Eastern Europe.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2016/10/26/111609023_Putin_foreign-large_trans++ZgEkZX3M936N5BQK4Va8Rf0QuvV9b2Cg7c0YjRks5eM.jpg
Vladimir Putin

The Ukrainian government estimates that Russian-backed separatists in their country have 700 tanks.

Lord West of Spithead, a former First Sea Lord, said he was “very concerned” about Russian rearmament. “At the moment, their economy is a war economy,” he said. “They have got the GDP of Italy and they are trying to spend the same on defence as America. What they are doing is unsupportable and when something is unsupportable, then anything could happen.”

Fears over Russia’s tank programme have intensified over the prospect of a Trump win in Tuesday’s US election.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2016/10/29/112409456_Republican_presidential_nominee_Donald_Trump-large_trans++wD2sfO9joeQ6RY-qlTATNFWKLvNrYJz7KQiMCFYKiFQ.jpg
Donald Trump Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Mr Trump has threatened to abandon a core tenet of Nato – that an attack on one member is an attack on all under article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty – over his belief that Washington is shouldering too much of the financial burden for the military alliance.

General Sir Richard Shirreff, the former deputy supreme allied Commander Europe, said: “Here we are days from the election and that’s a real, real threat – Trump saying he might not commit to article 5.

“The defence of Europe during the Cold War depended on total certainty that whichever president was in the Oval Office, of whatever party, [the US] would come to Europe’s defence.”

Source (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/11/05/uk-military-intelligence-issues-warning-over-russian-super-tank/)

Hervé

7th November 2016, 14:32

[...]
“The defence of Europe during the Cold War depended on total certainty that whichever president was in the Oval Office, of whatever party, [the US] would come to Europe’s defence.”
[...]

If I am not mistaken, that's called a racket (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racket_(crime))... you know... gangsters... mafia type of "protection"...

I guess Trump is very reluctant to touch that kind of dough, even via a 10' pole :)

PS: See this thread "ALL WAR is a RACKET (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?372-ALL-WAR-is-a-RACKET)" as well.

Hervé

7th November 2016, 14:47

HRW calls attack on Idlib school ‘war crime,’ Russian MoD slams report as work of ‘liar or madman’ (https://www.rt.com/news/365582-idlib-russia-hrw-fake/)

RT (https://www.rt.com/news/365582-idlib-russia-hrw-fake/) Published time: 7 Nov, 2016 08:25
Get short URL (http://on.rt.com/7u32)

https://img.rt.com/files/2016.11/original/582029a2c46188d83d8b4585.jpg
© Russian Defense Ministry

The Russian Defense Ministry has slammed a recent Human Rights Watch report that calls the alleged October 26 bombing of a school in Syria’s Idlib province a possible “war crime,” stating it is nothing more than another information attack.

The HRW report in question, published on Sunday, November 6, assumes without question or hard evidence that the attack on the school in Idlib province, which it claimed “could constitute a war crime,” had been carried out by “the joint Russian-Syrian military,” merely citing ‘witness accounts’ it apparently got over the telephone.
“Airstrikes by the joint Russian-Syrian military operation that killed dozens of civilians, mostly schoolchildren, in the northern, opposition-controlled Syrian governorate of Idlib on October 26, 2016, could constitute a war crime. […]

“The repeated striking of a large school complex in a residential area indicate the attacks were unlawful, being either indiscriminate or deliberately targeting civilians. Serious violations of international humanitarian law (the laws of war), when committed with criminal intent, amount to war crimes,” the report from HRW reads (https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/11/06/syria/russia-school-attack-possible-war-crime).
The Russian Defense Ministry, however, denounced the report.
“The Human Rights Watch publication of yet another accusation of a ‘war crime,’ which comes more than a week [after the incident] and contains some phone ‘interviews’ with seven victims as new ‘evidence,’ does not hold up to criticism and is just another information attack,” Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov said in a statement on Monday.
Initial reports (https://www.rt.com/news/364253-school-strike-idlib-syria/) on the attack on the school in the village of Al-Hasa in Idlib province, where some 28 civilians are said to have been killed, came from the controversial London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and opposition activists from the Western-funded Civil Defense Network, also known as the White Helmets, who published pictures of the aftermath of an alleged attack and were quick to pin the blame on either Russian or Syrian warplanes.

However, the Russian Defense Ministry dispatched a drone to analyze the site of the alleged bombing on the same day and found no evidence of airstrikes.
“The Ministry of Defense already published comprehensive and absolute drone-filmed photographic facts on October 27, which showed the absence of any traces of bombing at the school complex in Al-Hasa,” the statement from the ministry noted.
Konashenkov also said earlier that the ministry had analyzed the photo and video ‘evidence’ from the supposed attack, which had been presented by the White Helmets and published in a range of Western media outlets, and found it to consist of “more than 10 different shots, filmed at different times of the day and in different resolutions, that were edited into a single clip.” Overall, the Russian Defense Ministry said (https://www.rt.com/news/364454-russia-idlib-school-comment/) the alleged evidence did not amount to proof that the school had suffered from an airstrike, while noting that no Russian Air Force planes had even been in the vicinity of the school on the morning of the supposed attack.

For some time now, Idlib province has been under the control of the Army of Conquest, an anti-government alliance of rebel groups run by Al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria, the Al-Nusra terror group, which has recently rebranded by renaming itself Jabhat Fateh al-Sham Front. The Russian Defense Ministry pointed out that, given these circumstances, it is “foolish” to think that secular schools are still operating in the area, and therefore doubted that there were, in fact, any children in the vicinity of the school complex at the time of the incident.
“I would like to remind the so-called ‘human rights defenders’ from the ‘Human Rights Watch’ that the province of Idlib, including the settlement of Al-Hasa, has been under the full control of Al-Nusra terrorists for over a year… Moreover, there has not yet been any even indirect evidence that children were, in fact, present there at all, not only in those buildings, but in Al-Hasa village in general. Therefore, one has to be an explicit liar or a madman to say that secular schools built by [President Bashar] Assad’s government are continuing to operate on territory controlled by the Syrian branch of ‘Al-Qaeda’ and under constant battle action,” the Defense Ministry statement read.
Russian military officials say the attack on the Idlib school had been deliberately made to look like an airstrike. They also identified several schools in Syria that actually have been targeted, but by rebel fire. One such attack, which militants carried out on a school in government-controlled western Aleppo, claimed the lives of at least six children.

Related:
School in Syria’s Idlib province not hit by airstrike, drone photos show – Russian MoD (https://www.rt.com/news/364454-russia-idlib-school-comment/)
6 children killed, over a dozen injured in rebel shelling of Aleppo school (VIDEO) (https://www.rt.com/news/364494-aleppo-school-shelling-rebels/)

Also, see this thread: How CNN fakes news reports: must see (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?94269-How-CNN-fakes-news-reports-must-see)

Baby Steps

7th November 2016, 14:54

A POSSIBLE FLASH-POINT - SNAKE ISLAND IN THE BLACK SEA

Certainly this is strategically important. I have been struck by hearing (from A Romanian) that this tiny island has been recently annexed by Ukraine, yet all the material I find states that it has been Ukrainian since the days of the Soviet Union.

Swedish experts: Russia can occupy snake island
Instead of offensive operations on land against Ukraine in 2016, Putin can resort to offensive sea and capture the snake island, cutting off the Odessa sea trading port from the message with the world.
This scenario does not exclude the former Advisor to ex-Minister of foreign Affairs of Sweden Aaron Korewa in its publication «Which means 2016 for Ukraine» on the website «the Atlantic Council».
«Instead of a new ground military offensive, Putin is testing his luck at sea. 14 December Russia stole two Jack-up rigs that were in Ukrainian territorial waters near the natural gas fields of Odessa in the Black sea 100 km East from the coast of Ukraine», — says the expert.
West of the fields, not far from Western Ukrainian Black sea coast, there is a tiny snake island, a former Soviet base with a population of 100 people, he says.
«If Russia were to occupy the island, the port of Odessa can be cut; this will close Ukraine is almost all the way out to sea, as Russia holds Crimea and gas field between him and Snake island,» notes Corea.
According to him, it can happen in 2016 about the same as was implemented Crimean scenario. This time you may experience «freedom fighters «Odessa», which is «actually are Russian military Navy unmarked, capture the island and declare it a part of «Odessa national Republic».
Russia can then there to send «humanitarian convoys» or «civil activists» from the Crimea. «Such convoys are likely to need «protection» by Russian naval vessels», — said the expert.
If Russia were to occupy snake island, it can be turned into a naval base, where «little green men» will act on motor boats, armed with Kalashnikovs and RPGs. It can be a nightmare for merchant shipping.
«It sounds crazy and far-fetched? Maybe, but also saw the seizure of Crimea by Russia two years ago,» says Corea.
We will remind, on December 15, the State border service of Ukraine said on violation by the Russian Federation international Maritime law and legislation of Ukraine during the move two Jack-up drilling rigs «Petro Godovanets» and «Ukraine», which in 2014 were illegally seized by Russia during the annexation of Crimea.

http://en.reporter-ua.ru/swedish-experts-russia-can-occupy-snake-island.html

http://www.languagesoftheworld.info/russia-ukraine-and-the-caucasus/ukraine-romania-border-conflict-islands.html

http://www.qatarliving.com/forum/politics/posts/hague03feb-2009-romania-won-snakes-island

https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2012/10/30/18724802.php

Sueanne47

7th November 2016, 19:56

NATO High Alert 300,000 troops :

h12AL7Xb45Y

Cara

8th November 2016, 10:00

Just came across an interesting email from Wikileaks re the UAE, Erik Prince and mercenaries in the Middle East. I am not sure this is the best place for it but I couldn't find a more appropriate thread.

https://wikileaks.org/hackingteam/emails/emailid/574850

Secret Desert Force Set Up by Blackwater’s Founder
Email-ID 574850
Date 2011-05-15 17:19:14 UTC
From vince@hackingteam.it
To mork@ork.it, costa@hackingteam.it, emanuele.levi@360capitalpartners.com, rsales@hackingteam.it

La nuova "Legione Straniera" , con forti aspirazioni in tutti i paesi nel Golfo Persico.

[Translation:
La nuova "Legione Straniera" , con forti aspirazioni in tutti i paesi nel Golfo Persico. = The new "Foreign Legion", with strong aspirations in all the countries in the Persian Gulf.]

David

Secret Desert Force Set Up by Blackwater’s Founder Adam Ferguson/VII Network
Erik Prince, the founder of Blackwater, has a new project.

By MARK MAZZETTI and EMILY B. HAGER
Published: May 14, 2011

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Late one night last November, a plane carrying dozens of Colombian men touched down in this glittering seaside capital. Whisked through customs by an Emirati intelligence officer, the group boarded an unmarked bus and drove roughly 20 miles to a windswept military complex in the desert sand.
Doug Mills/The New York Times

Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan of Abu Dhabi hired Erik Prince to build a fighting force.

The army is based in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, but will serve all the emirates.

The Colombians had entered the United Arab Emirates posing as construction workers. In fact, they were soldiers for a secret American-led mercenary army being built by Erik Prince, the billionaire founder of Blackwater Worldwide, with $529 million from the oil-soaked sheikdom.

Mr. Prince, who resettled here last year after his security business faced mounting legal problems in the United States, was hired by the crown prince of Abu Dhabi to put together an 800-member battalion of foreign troops for the U.A.E., according to former employees on the project, American officials and corporate documents obtained by The New York Times.

The force is intended to conduct special operations missions inside and outside the country, defend oil pipelines and skyscrapers from terrorist attacks and put down internal revolts, the documents show. Such troops could be deployed if the Emirates faced unrest in their crowded labor camps or were challenged by pro-democracy protests like those sweeping the Arab world this year.

The U.A.E.’s rulers, viewing their own military as inadequate, also hope that the troops could blunt the regional aggression of Iran, the country’s biggest foe, the former employees said. The training camp, located on a sprawling Emirati base called Zayed Military City, is hidden behind concrete walls laced with barbed wire. Photographs show rows of identical yellow temporary buildings, used for barracks and mess halls, and a motor pool, which houses Humvees and fuel trucks. The Colombians, along with South African and other foreign troops, are trained by retired American soldiers and veterans of the German and British special operations units and the French Foreign Legion, according to the former employees and American officials.

In outsourcing critical parts of their defense to mercenaries — the soldiers of choice for medieval kings, Italian Renaissance dukes and African dictators — the Emiratis have begun a new era in the boom in wartime contracting that began after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. And by relying on a force largely created by Americans, they have introduced a volatile element in an already combustible region where the United States is widely viewed with suspicion.

The United Arab Emirates — an autocracy with the sheen of a progressive, modern state — are closely allied with the United States, and American officials indicated that the battalion program had some support in Washington.

“The gulf countries, and the U.A.E. in particular, don’t have a lot of military experience. It would make sense if they looked outside their borders for help,” said one Obama administration official who knew of the operation. “They might want to show that they are not to be messed with.”

Still, it is not clear whether the project has the United States’ official blessing. Legal experts and government officials said some of those involved with the battalion might be breaking federal laws that prohibit American citizens from training foreign troops if they did not secure a license from the State Department.

Mark C. Toner, a spokesman for the department, would not confirm whether Mr. Prince’s company had obtained such a license, but he said the department was investigating to see if the training effort was in violation of American laws. Mr. Toner pointed out that Blackwater (which renamed itself Xe Services ) paid $42 million in fines last year for training foreign troops in Jordan and other countries over the years.

The U.A.E.’s ambassador to Washington, Yousef al-Otaiba, declined to comment for this article. A spokesman for Mr. Prince also did not comment.

For Mr. Prince, the foreign battalion is a bold attempt at reinvention. He is hoping to build an empire in the desert, far from the trial lawyers, Congressional investigators and Justice Department officials he is convinced worked in league to portray Blackwater as reckless. He sold the company last year, but in April, a federal appeals court reopened the case against four Blackwater guards accused of killing 17 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad in 2007.

To help fulfill his ambitions, Mr. Prince’s new company, Reflex Responses, obtained another multimillion-dollar contract to protect a string of planned nuclear power plants and to provide cybersecurity. He hopes to earn billions more, the former employees said, by assembling additional battalions of Latin American troops for the Emiratis and opening a giant complex where his company can train troops for other governments.

Knowing that his ventures are magnets for controversy, Mr. Prince has masked his involvement with the mercenary battalion. His name is not included on contracts and most other corporate documents, and company insiders have at times tried to hide his identity by referring to him by the code name “Kingfish.” But three former employees, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of confidentiality agreements, and two people involved in security contracting described Mr. Prince’s central role.

The former employees said that in recruiting the Colombians and others from halfway around the world, Mr. Prince’s subordinates were following his strict rule: hire no Muslims.

Muslim soldiers, Mr. Prince warned, could not be counted on to kill fellow Muslims.

A Lucrative Deal

Last spring, as waiters in the lobby of the Park Arjaan by Rotana Hotel passed by carrying cups of Turkish coffee, a small team of Blackwater and American military veterans huddled over plans for the foreign battalion. Armed with a black suitcase stuffed with several hundred thousand dollars’ worth of dirhams, the local currency, they began paying the first bills.

The company, often called R2, was licensed last March with 51 percent local ownership, a typical arrangement in the Emirates. It received about $21 million in start-up capital from the U.A.E., the former employees said.

Mr. Prince made the deal with Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and the de facto ruler of the United Arab Emirates. The two men had known each other for several years, and it was the prince’s idea to build a foreign commando force for his country.

Savvy and pro-Western, the prince was educated at the Sandhurst military academy in Britain and formed close ties with American military officials. He is also one of the region’s staunchest hawks on Iran and is skeptical that his giant neighbor across the Strait of Hormuz will give up its nuclear program.

“He sees the logic of war dominating the region, and this thinking explains his near-obsessive efforts to build up his armed forces,” said a November 2009 cable from the American Embassy in Abu Dhabi that was obtained by the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks.

For Mr. Prince, a 41-year-old former member of the Navy Seals, the battalion was an opportunity to turn vision into reality. At Blackwater, which had collected billions of dollars in security contracts from the United States government, he had hoped to build an army for hire that could be deployed to crisis zones in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. He even had proposed that the Central Intelligence Agency use his company for special operations missions around the globe, but to no avail. In Abu Dhabi, which he praised in an Emirati newspaper interview last year for its “pro-business” climate, he got another chance.

Mr. Prince’s exploits, both real and rumored, are the subject of fevered discussions in the private security world. He has worked with the Emirati government on various ventures in the past year, including an operation using South African mercenaries to train Somalis to fight pirates. There was talk, too, that he was hatching a scheme last year to cap the Icelandic volcano then spewing ash across Northern Europe.

The team in the hotel lobby was led by Ricky Chambers, known as C. T., a former agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation who had worked for Mr. Prince for years; most recently, he had run a program training Afghan troops for a Blackwater subsidiary called Paravant.

He was among the half-dozen or so Americans who would serve as top managers of the project, receiving nearly $300,000 in annual compensation. Mr. Chambers and Mr. Prince soon began quietly luring American contractors from Afghanistan, Iraq and other danger spots with pay packages that topped out at more than $200,000 a year, according to a budget document. Many of those who signed on as trainers — which eventually included more than 40 veteran American, European and South African commandos — did not know of Mr. Prince’s involvement, the former employees said.

Mr. Chambers did not respond to requests for comment.

He and Mr. Prince also began looking for soldiers. They lined up Thor Global Enterprises, a company on the Caribbean island of Tortola specializing in “placing foreign servicemen in private security positions overseas,” according to a contract signed last May. The recruits would be paid about $150 a day.

Within months, large tracts of desert were bulldozed and barracks constructed. The Emirates were to provide weapons and equipment for the mercenary force, supplying everything from M-16 rifles to mortars, Leatherman knives to Land Rovers. They agreed to buy parachutes, motorcycles, rucksacks — and 24,000 pairs of socks.

To keep a low profile, Mr. Prince rarely visited the camp or a cluster of luxury villas near the Abu Dhabi airport, where R2 executives and Emirati military officers fine-tune the training schedules and arrange weapons deliveries for the battalion, former employees said. He would show up, they said, in an office suite at the DAS Tower — a skyscraper just steps from Abu Dhabi’s Corniche beach, where sunbathers lounge as cigarette boats and water scooters whiz by. Staff members there manage a number of companies that the former employees say are carrying out secret work for the Emirati government.

Emirati law prohibits disclosure of incorporation records for businesses, which typically list company officers, but it does require them to post company names on offices and storefronts. Over the past year, the sign outside the suite has changed at least twice — it now says Assurance Management Consulting.

While the documents — including contracts, budget sheets and blueprints — obtained by The Times do not mention Mr. Prince, the former employees said he negotiated the U.A.E. deal. Corporate documents describe the battalion’s possible tasks: intelligence gathering, urban combat, the securing of nuclear and radioactive materials, humanitarian missions and special operations “to destroy enemy personnel and equipment.”

One document describes “crowd-control operations” where the crowd “is not armed with firearms but does pose a risk using improvised weapons (clubs and stones).”

People involved in the project and American officials said that the Emiratis were interested in deploying the battalion to respond to terrorist attacks and put down uprisings inside the country’s sprawling labor camps, which house the Pakistanis, Filipinos and other foreigners who make up the bulk of the country’s work force. The foreign military force was planned months before the so-called Arab Spring revolts that many experts believe are unlikely to spread to the U.A.E. Iran was a particular concern.

An Eye on Iran

Although there was no expectation that the mercenary troops would be used for a stealth attack on Iran, Emirati officials talked of using them for a possible maritime and air assault to reclaim a chain of islands, mostly uninhabited, in the Persian Gulf that are the subject of a dispute between Iran and the U.A.E., the former employees said. Iran has sent military forces to at least one of the islands, Abu Musa, and Emirati officials have long been eager to retake the islands and tap their potential oil reserves.

The Emirates have a small military that includes army, air force and naval units as well as a small special operations contingent, which served in Afghanistan, but over all, their forces are considered inexperienced.

In recent years, the Emirati government has showered American defense companies with billions of dollars to help strengthen the country’s security. A company run by Richard A. Clarke, a former counterterrorism adviser during the Clinton and Bush administrations, has won several lucrative contracts to advise the U.A.E. on how to protect its infrastructure.

Some security consultants believe that Mr. Prince’s efforts to bolster the Emirates’ defenses against an Iranian threat might yield some benefits for the American government, which shares the U.A.E.’s concern about creeping Iranian influence in the region.

“As much as Erik Prince is a pariah in the United States, he may be just what the doctor ordered in the U.A.E.,” said an American security consultant with knowledge of R2’s work.

The contract includes a one-paragraph legal and ethics policy noting that R2 should institute accountability and disciplinary procedures. “The overall goal,” the contract states, “is to ensure that the team members supporting this effort continuously cast the program in a professional and moral light that will hold up to a level of media scrutiny.”

But former employees said that R2’s leaders never directly grappled with some fundamental questions about the operation. International laws governing private armies and mercenaries are murky, but would the Americans overseeing the training of a foreign army on foreign soil be breaking United States law?

Susan Kovarovics, an international trade lawyer who advises companies about export controls, said that because Reflex Responses was an Emirati company it might not need State Department authorization for its activities.

But she said that any Americans working on the project might run legal risks if they did not get government approval to participate in training the foreign troops.

Basic operational issues, too, were not addressed, the former employees said. What were the battalion’s rules of engagement? What if civilians were killed during an operation? And could a Latin American commando force deployed in the Middle East really be kept a secret?

Imported Soldiers

The first waves of mercenaries began arriving last summer. Among them was a 13-year veteran of Colombia’s National Police force named Calixto Rincón, 42, who joined the operation with hopes of providing for his family and seeing a new part of the world.

“We were practically an army for the Emirates,” Mr. Rincón, now back in Bogotá, Colombia, said in an interview. “They wanted people who had a lot of experience in countries with conflicts, like Colombia.”

Mr. Rincón’s visa carried a special stamp from the U.A.E. military intelligence branch, which is overseeing the entire project, that allowed him to move through customs and immigration without being questioned.

He soon found himself in the midst of the camp’s daily routines, which mirrored those of American military training. “We would get up at 5 a.m. and we would start physical exercises,” Mr. Rincón said. His assignment included manual labor at the expanding complex, he said. Other former employees said the troops — outfitted in Emirati military uniforms — were split into companies to work on basic infantry maneuvers, learn navigation skills and practice sniper training.

R2 spends roughly $9 million per month maintaining the battalion, which includes expenditures for employee salaries, ammunition and wages for dozens of domestic workers who cook meals, wash clothes and clean the camp, a former employee said. Mr. Rincón said that he and his companions never wanted for anything, and that their American leaders even arranged to have a chef travel from Colombia to make traditional soups.

But the secrecy of the project has sometimes created a prisonlike environment. “We didn’t have permission to even look through the door,” Mr. Rincón said. “We were only allowed outside for our morning jog, and all we could see was sand everywhere.”

The Emirates wanted the troops to be ready to deploy just weeks after stepping off the plane, but it quickly became clear that the Colombians’ military skills fell far below expectations. “Some of these kids couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn,” said a former employee. Other recruits admitted to never having fired a weapon.

Rethinking Roles

As a result, the veteran American and foreign commandos training the battalion have had to rethink their roles. They had planned to act only as “advisers” during missions — meaning they would not fire weapons — but over time, they realized that they would have to fight side by side with their troops, former officials said.

Making matters worse, the recruitment pipeline began drying up. Former employees said that Thor struggled to sign up, and keep, enough men on the ground. Mr. Rincón developed a hernia and was forced to return to Colombia, while others were dismissed from the program for drug use or poor conduct.

And R2’s own corporate leadership has also been in flux. Mr. Chambers, who helped develop the project, left after several months. A handful of other top executives, some of them former Blackwater employees, have been hired, then fired within weeks.

To bolster the force, R2 recruited a platoon of South African mercenaries, including some veterans of Executive Outcomes, a South African company notorious for staging coup attempts or suppressing rebellions against African strongmen in the 1990s. The platoon was to function as a quick-reaction force, American officials and former employees said, and began training for a practice mission: a terrorist attack on the Burj Khalifa skyscraper in Dubai, the world’s tallest building. They would secure the situation before quietly handing over control to Emirati troops.

But by last November, the battalion was officially behind schedule. The original goal was for the 800-man force to be ready by March 31; recently, former employees said, the battalion’s size was reduced to about 580 men.

Emirati military officials had promised that if this first battalion was a success, they would pay for an entire brigade of several thousand men. The new contracts would be worth billions, and would help with Mr. Prince’s next big project: a desert training complex for foreign troops patterned after Blackwater’s compound in Moyock, N.C. But before moving ahead, U.A.E. military officials have insisted that the battalion prove itself in a “real world mission.”

That has yet to happen. So far, the Latin American troops have been taken off the base only to shop and for occasional entertainment.

On a recent spring night though, after months stationed in the desert, they boarded an unmarked bus and were driven to hotels in central Dubai, a former employee said. There, some R2 executives had arranged for them to spend the evening with prostitutes.

Mark Mazzetti reported from Abu Dhabi and Washington, and Emily B. Hager from New York. Jenny Carolina González and Simon Romero contributed reporting from Bogotá, Colombia. Kitty Bennett contributed research from Washington.

A version of this article appeared in print on May 15, 2011, on page A1 of the New York edition with the headline: Secret Desert Force Set Up By Blackwater’s Founder.
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Among many other interesting things from this article: I have seen it reported that the Saudi's are using Colombian mercenaries in the war in Yemen. Perhaps this is where that plan originated and the UAE, in "support" of its larger looming neighbour, handed over the troops for this?
Seems the use of Colombian mercenaries met with mixed/poor results in the initial stages as reported above - which does not bode well for either side fighting in the Yemen.