Ukraine, Crimea, Syria, Israel, Iran, Turkey, Putin, China, and World War III [Archive] - Page 9

Hervé

26th November 2018, 10:48

About the latest Ukronazi provocation in the Kerch strait (http://thesaker.is/about-the-latest-ukronazi-provocation-in-the-kerch-strait/)

The Saker
November 26, 2018

First, here is a pretty good summary of what has taken place (including videos) posted by RT:

https://www.rt.com/news/444853-russia-ukraine-ships-conflict/
https://www.rt.com/news/444857-russia-ukraine-kerch-strait-standoff/

I will just add that at the time of writing (07:38 UTC) the cargo ship blocking the passage under the bridge has been removed, traffic has resumed and the situation has returned to normal.

Second, let me give you the single most important element to understand what is (and what is not) taking place: the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea are, in military terms, “Russian lakes”. That means that Russia has the means to destroy any and all ships (or aircraft) over these two seas: on the Black Sea the life expectancy of any intruder would be measured in minutes, on the Sea of Azov in seconds. Let me repeat here that any and all ships deployed in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov are detected and tracked by Russia and they can all easily be destroyed. The Russians know that, the Ukrainians know that and, of course, the Empire knows that. Again, keep that in mind when trying to make sense of what happened.

Third, whether the waters in which the incident happened belong to Russia or not is entirely irrelevant. Everybody knows that Russia considers these waters are belonging to her and those disagreeing with this have plenty of options to express their disagreement and challenge the legality of the Russian position. Trying to break through waters Russia considers her own with several armed military vessels is simply irresponsible and, frankly, plain stupid (especially considering point #2 above). That is simply not how civilized nations behave (and there are plenty of contested waters on our planet).

Fourth, one should not be too quick in dismissing Poroshenko’s latest plan to introduce martial law for the next 60 days (https://sputniknews.com/europe/201811261070125114-ukraine-kerch-strait-crisis-martial-law-poroshenko/). Albeit Poroshenko himself declared that this mobilization does not mean that the Ukronazi regime wants war with Russia, the fact is that the first-line reserves will be mobilized. This is important because the situation resulting from the introduction to martial law could be used to covertly increase the number of soldiers available for an attack on Novorussia or, God forbid, Russia herself. In fact, Poroshenko also officially appealed to the veterans of the war against Novorussia to be ready for deployment (https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/prezident-zvernuvsya-do-veteraniv-ato-ta-oos-budte-napogotov-51334).

Fifth, while there are all sorts of caveats offered by the Ukronazi regime about the introduction of the martial law, including that it will not mean war or infringe on the right of the people, the truth is very different. Here is what a memo by the Unian agency says about what martial law means in legal terms (https://www.unian.info/politics/10351710-poroshenko-speaks-up-for-martial-law-in-ukraine-parliament-to-have-its-say-on-monday.html): (emphasis added)
Martial law is a special legal regime that is introduced in Ukraine or its individual areas in the event of armed aggression or threat of attack, a threat to Ukraine’s state independence, its territorial integrity, and gives authorities, the military command and local self-government the powers that are necessary to prevent threats and ensure national security. It also foresees temporary threat-related limitations on constitutional rights and freedoms of a person and a citizen and the rights and legal interests of legal entities, indicating the duration of such restrictions (Article 1 of the Law on the Legal Regime of Martial Law).
Considering the current single-digit popularity rating of Poroshenko and the fact that he has no chance in hell to be re-elected (at least not in minimally credible elections) it is pretty darn obvious of why the Ukronazi regime in Kiev decided to trigger yet another crisis and then blame Russia for it. The very last thing Russia needs is yet another crisis, especially not before a possible Putin-Trump meeting at the G20 Buenos Aires summit later this month. In fact, Ukrainian bloggers immediately saw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiWCgq2FkjM&feature=youtu.be) this latest provocation as an attempt to scrap upcoming elections.

So what’s next?
Well, the most likely options is just one more Ukie bawling about the “Russian aggression” with the hope that this will a) raise the value of the Poroshenko regime in the eyes of the Empire and b) disrupt the planned Trump-Putin meeting.

I am not so sure that Poroshenko will be given the option to simply cancel the elections. Yes, he cannot win, but the Empire can replace him. Not only that, but outright canceling the elections would be a PR disaster (but one which is sometimes chosen by the Empire’s “sons of bitches” like, say, Mahmoud Abbas). Still there is also a very good chance that the Ukronazis regime feeling that it has nothing to lose would take such an unprecedented step.

Some kind of limited Ukronazi military operations against Russia, Novorussia, Crimea or the Kerch bridge would be militarily suicidal but political very profitable as it would allow Poroshenko to a) blame Russia for all the Ukrainian problems and b) demand even more aid to “resist against the Russian aggression”. The problem with that option is that there are good signs that a lot of the Ukrainian military personnel does not have the courage to actually fight the Russians (for ex: look how ALL the Ukie soldiers folded in Crimea; also, the blog of “Colonel Cassad” reports (https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/4603481.html) that of the three ships which tried to breach the Russian border, at least one had a captain who voluntarily surrendered his ship to the Russians; finally, one Ukrainian sailor has apparently been shot for refusing to open fire against the Russians). It is worth mentioning that on Sunday the Urkonazis sent a few more ships obviously to aid the ships intercepted by the Russians, but as soon as the Russians closed the passage and Russian Su-25s and Ka-52 appeared in the skies, they quickly stopped and eventually left the scene. Did they do that under order or because they did not want to die? We will never find out I suppose.

Finally, there is the very real possibility of a full-scale war against Russia. Yes, the Ukronazis would last just a couple of days, but keep in mind that their goal will not be to win, but to force Russia into an overt military operation which the entire “collective West” will have to condemn like what happened with the Georgian attack in 08.08.08. (you know, in the name of “solidarity” like during the Skripal false flag). As for the leaders of the Anglo-Zionist Empire, they will gladly fight Russia down to the very last Ukrainian solider, we all understand that.

Finally, let me address those who might think that Russia somehow over-reacted or should not have used force. First, let me remind you that we are talking about armed and military vessels, not fishing boats. Second, the Ukronazis have been daydreaming about bringing this bridge down even before it was built. So how where the Russians to know that these ships were not packed with explosives? Third, let me remind you that a few months ago the Ukronazis did send a few tiny military vessels under the bridge. That first time, they did ask for permission and even had a Russian pilot on board helping them to cross the narrow passage. Yet the regime in Kiev presented that a major “victory” against the Moskal’s. This time around tried to sneak by without asking. If the Russians had left them pass, what do you think they would have done the next time?

The truth is that the Ukronazi regime has been claiming for years now that it is at war against Russia, that Russia has invaded the Ukraine, that all those who oppose the regime or speak even the basic truth are “agents of the Kremlin/FSB. The funny thing is not just that this is the first time in Russian history that Russia is accused of waging a war which shes does not even participate in – it is even more hilarious that the Ukronazis claim to be at war with Russia but have a hissy fit when three of their (tiny) ships are arrested for violating the Russian border. Is there a war going on or not?! What the hell were they thinking when they tried to force their way through?!
[Sidebar: there is even a joke about this going around: Ukrainian military personnel are asked why they are fighting in the Donbass. They reply “because the Russians are there”. Then they are asked why they are *not* fighting in Crimea and they reply “because the Russians are truly there!!”. Bottom line: everybody knows full well that this is bull and that there are no Russian forces in Novorussia]
How do you prove that the other guy is an “aggressor state”? Simple – by forcing him to attack you. Considering the “selective blindness” of the collective West, the fact that you hit the other guy first makes absolutely no difference whatsoever (again, see 08.08.08).

It is obvious that the Nazi regime in Kiev is in a tailspin and that short of some dramatic action Poroshenko is a goner. Most of the gang around him won’t fare much better, especially not if Timoshenko ever gets the presidency (which might happen if the Empire decides to ditch Poroshenko). For them the options are either to leave the Ukraine or face some serious jail time (sort of the same situation as Saakashvili had to face).

We are entering a very dangerous time period, one in which a totally corrupt Nazi regime will fight with every trick imaginable to save itself. Whether this will result in a major war against Novorussia or Russia is impossible to predict, but we have to recognize that this is a distinct possibility.

The Saker

Sophocles

30th November 2018, 07:53

Found this article through Honesty`s thread Hal Turner on 'civil war' in Europe, a strike on Syria, and war in Israel. (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?104297-Hal-Turner-on-civil-war-in-Europe-a-strike-on-Syria-and-war-in-Israel) Thank you!:)

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WAR Being Planned by US for Ukraine/Russia - Job Ads seek "Combat Zone" Workers for "Classified Operations" with US Military in Ukraine (http://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/news/world-news/3512-war-being-planned-by-us-for-ukraine-russia-job-ads-seek-combat-zone-workers-for-classified-operations-with-us-military-in-ukraine)

Category: World News
Thursday, 29 November 2018 20:28
halturnerradioshow.com

Last Sunday's naval battle between three Ukrainian vessels and two Russian Coast Guard Vessels, which resulted in heavy gunfire and the capture of the 3 Ukrainian vessels, was part of an ongoing plan for VERY serious trouble to be foist upon Russia using Ukraine as a proxy to cause that trouble.

I can now report that CLASSIFIED war-like operations are actively being planned by the United States inside Ukraine and that Military Contractors are already hiring operators for "Combat Zone" work in Ukraine.

It turns out that over a week prior to the naval battle, US Military contractors began posting Help Wanted ads for "Classified Contingency Operations in support of the US Military in Ukraine." I have one of the ads . . .

Worse, the ad requires applicants to be able to deal inconspicuously with local population: and, even more dire, "have the ability to serve in a Combat Zone."

During my talk-radio show which aired last night (Wed. Nov. 28) I told my audience that the US government "needs a very big war, where our major cities are attacked and destroyed, thereby giving the federal government cause to tell creditors "Our cities are smashed, our people are dead, there's no way we can repay the $21 Trillion Dollar Debt, you have to write it off." I also told my audience that in a major war, the first targets are the major cities, and that's where the overwhelming majority of welfare recipients live. So the feds look at a war as a two-fold "win" -- they get out of $21 Trillion in debt and they kill off a slew of the useless eaters they've been paying money to!

Now, we see that actual planning for an actual war with Russia, inside Ukraine, is already weeks-in-the-works . . . See for yourselves below the ad.

[...]

It's that simple. It's that real. We are already actively HIRING people to work in a combat zone in Ukraine. God help us all.

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See ad and full article here (http://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/news/world-news/3512-war-being-planned-by-us-for-ukraine-russia-job-ads-seek-combat-zone-workers-for-classified-operations-with-us-military-in-ukraine)

Tintin

30th November 2018, 11:32

"Please note that Ukrainian ships have the right of innocent passage through the Kerch Strait irrespective of whether the Crimean side is viewed as Ukrainian or Russian. "

Published by Craig Murray (https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2018/11/the-murky-sea-of-azov/) [yesterday, November 29th] some important facts to consider.

[The author of this article, Craig Murray is a former Head of the Maritime Section of the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and former Alternate Head of the United Kingdom Delegation to the United Nations Preparatory Commission on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. He is a retired British Ambassador.]

________________________________________

The Murky Sea of Azov
29 Nov, 2018 in Uncategorized by craig

Prima facie, it is Russia which is acting illegally in the Kerch Strait. As I wrote [June 2016] when it was the Russians who were being harassed (https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2016/06/uk-illegally-harasses-russian-submarine-engaged-lawful-passage-english-channel/) in the English Channel:

Contrary to Article 44 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (http://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/unclos_e.pdf), to which the UK and Russia are both party, the UK has engaged in extensive illegal harassment of a Russian naval submarine engaged in fully lawful transit of the Dover Strait.

A Russian naval vessel en route between the Baltic and Black Seas is fully and specifically entitled under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea Articles 37 and 38 to the right of passage through the strait. This is in addition to the general right of passage through the territorial sea at Article 17. The Russian navy was in full compliance with the provision at Article 20 that, while in territorial waters, the submarine must be on the surface and displaying its flag, and in compliance with Articles 29 to 32 on warships.

Not only does the Russian Navy have every right to sail through the Dover strait on passage, it has been exercising that right – along with many other navies – for over a hundred years. The decision of the British government now to employ military harassment and threat is not only illegal, it is a gross and entirely deliberate act of provocation designed to sour international relations and disturb the atmosphere of world peace.

Russia is very definitely acting illegally in putting military personnel of another state on television to make statements, whether coerced or not (personally I found them precisely as believable – no more and no less – as Yulia Skripal’s strained statement to British TV).

Please note that Ukrainian ships have the right of innocent passage through the Kerch Strait irrespective of whether the Crimean side is viewed as Ukrainian or Russian.

The coastal state does have the right to make arrangements for maritime safety which may include designating sea lanes and a notification regime akin to air traffic control. If Ukraine violated these provisions, (which seems probable), Russia had a right to take enforcement action. But that enforcement action specifically does not extend to substantive detention of vessels and crew.

The situation changes if Russia genuinely has evidence that the military vessels were engaged in a military attack. But it only changes, and the civilian rules only cease to apply, if one side or the other acknowledges that a state of war now exits. Ukraine came close to this by demanding that its servicemen be treated as prisoners of war.

There is no option to treat uniformed military personnel of another state as terrorists. But if Russia does not acknowledge a state of war, it has to let them go. Russia is certainly not entitled to impose a wider blockade of the strait to shipping to or from Ukraine – any more than Israel is entitled to blockade Gaza.

Given that Russia appears on the face of it to be very much in the wrong, the western powers have been remarkably quiet. I suspect this indicates knowledge that Poroshenko was indeed engaged in some sort of stupid stunt. In which case the Russians have played into his hands by a disproportionate reaction.

Poroshenko’s own action in declaring martial law is of course also wildly disproportionate. My sense is that we have here two Presidents each with slipping popularity ratings, deliberately escalating a crisis as it suits each domestically. Such playing with fire is wildly irresponsible, far too many people have died in Ukraine already.

I expect the usual howls of protest from people for whom the application of impartial international law is anathema, who believe you must be on the side of the “goodies” against the “baddies”. I am aware that rationality and impartiality are not much valued in political discourse nowadays. I shall however stick to them with stoic resolve.

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Tintin

30th November 2018, 16:26

Sophocles

8th December 2018, 17:13

Sophocles

11th December 2018, 14:59

Emergency briefing of the head of Donetsk People’s Republic Militia Basurin on the situation on 10.12.2018 (http://thesaker.is/emergency-briefing-of-the-head-of-donetsk-peoples-republic-militia-basurin-on-the-situation-on-10-12-2018/)

December 11, 2018
The Saker

Emergency briefing of the head of Donetsk People’s Republic Militia Eduard Basurin on the situation on 10.12.2018: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=30&v=LTjCkyTczXk)
LTjCkyTczXk

Transcript:

I would like to make the following statement. Our intelligence obtained irrefutable evidence about the Armed Forces of Ukraine AFU preparation to attack us at the direction of Mariupol. The information obtained from reliable sources fully reveals the plans of the Ukrainian security forces.

The purpose of this planned attack is to seize the territory of Novoazovsky and Telmanovsky districts and establish control over the section of the border between the DPR and Russia in the area of villages Konkovo and Kholodnoye.

The enemy offensive strike group has been already formed in total of more than 12 thousand people. It’s concentrated along the line of contact near the village of Novotroitskoe, Shirokino, and Rovnopol.

The strike group consists of more than 50 tanks, 40 multiple launch rocket systems, 180 guns and mortars, all are concentrated here at this location.

The first echelon consists of the 128th Mountain Assault and 79th Assault brigades. The second echelon includes the 56th Infantry Brigade and the 36th Marine Brigade.

The basis of the artillery group consists of two divisions of The 27th Rocket Artillery Brigade “Sumy” and a rocket division of the 15th artillery regiment. In addition, 12 units of MLRS “Smerch” of the 40th Artillery Brigade had been urgently transferred to the area of the village Volodarskoye.

In the reserve of this strike group tactical group “Mariupol” is deployed consisting of the 73rd Naval Special Purpose Center from Ochakiv (the US Navy base) of about 500 troops, in addition to two self-propelled howitzer battalions of the 1st and 406th Artillery Brigades.

The functions of a detachments assigned to the bandits of the Azov regiment.

According to the plan of the Ukrainian command, on the morning of December 14th, after artillery preparation, the advance elements of the 128th and 79th brigades will to go on the offensive from the line of Granite — Shirokino in the direction of village Klinkino with the task to get to the state border of the DPR near villages Konkovo and Holodnoe, by the end of December 15th.

For further development of this offensive operation and to cover the advancing units of the 79th Brigade, the second echelon of this strike group consisting the 56th infantry brigade is planed to enter the battle at the direction of Primorskoe — Shevchenko in the direction of the village Klinkino.

To disrupt the command and operational control of our troops possible subversive actions will be carried out by the forces of the “Mariupol” tactical group.

After completion of the operation on the occupied territory, the forces of the Nazi regiment ” Azov” and also raid units of the 36th brigade of the Marine corps, it is planned to conduct ethnic cleansing of the occupied villages from “undesirable,” in their opinion,” elements ” and those opponents of the Ukrainian occupation.

The command of this criminal enterprise assigned to a war criminal Moisuk, who has been bestowed upon a rank of general on December 6th for his dedication to Poroshenko.

As an excuse for this armed aggression, (the Kiev regime) will use a terror attack committed by the Ukrainian special services in Mariupol. This will take place a few days before the planned invasion and will carried out against one of the industrial production facilities by explosion of a chemical storage.

It is possible that (this will be done) with the use of unmanned aerial vehicles adapted for dumping mines and hand grenades.

As a result, there expected to be a release of toxic substances. According to the information available to us, which is now being checked, the sabotage is planned at the Ilyich Iron and Steel Works Metallurgical Plant of Mariupol. The large stocks of ammonia stored there for an industrial production. In the case of a terror attack, the area of possible contamination can be up to 15 square kilometers.

The area of contamination will cover a part of Mariupol with a population of about 50 thousand people.

In the future, Poroshenko’s regime plans to lay on the Donetsk Republic all responsibility for this terror act. These actions will be accompanied by hysteria in the Ukrainian media, designed to convince the Ukrainians and the international community that the unleashing aggression against us is “just and justifiable.”

Obviously, Kiev expects that in these circumstances the issue of gross violation of the Minsk agreements by the OSCE will not be raised and the international community will once again close its eyes to the bloody crimes of Poroshenko’s regime.

It is no coincidence that the date of completion of the operation of the Ukrainian military is December 15th. Apparently, Poroshenko cannot wait for his schismatic meeting, which he announced to take place on the same day, to report to the schismatics, in fact, to the traitors of Ukrainian people, which he himself is, about his military “victories.”

Actually, this is the main reason for the provocation conceived by the Kiev authorities, in spite of everything to demonstrate PEREMOGA. Because Naev and Moisuk, seeking to curry favor, don’t feel sorry for soldiers to carry out criminal orders of his president.

The DPR calls on the OSCE observers to pay attention to the military preparations of the AFU and stop the aggression.

I appeal to the residents of Mariupol. Brothers and sisters, be vigilant. In case we fail to prevent the SBU diversion, do not panic. Stay calm.

Try in the period from December 11th to 14th not to be near industrial facilities that store chemicals like chlorine, ammonia and others. Take care of your children. They are the least protected in these conditions.

Strangely enough as it will sound, I urge the Ukrainian police to increase vigilance and try to prevent the terrorist acts planned by SBU. Remember, you do not serve the criminals who came to power as a result of a coup, you serve the people of Ukraine.

In conclusion I will add that the People’s Militia of the DPR is ready to meet uninvited guests. We will protect our citizens! The enemy will not pass!

Sophocles

17th December 2018, 14:18

Ukraine reveals the motive behind the incident at Kertch (http://www.voltairenet.org/article204371.html)

Voltaire Network | 14 December 2018

http://www.voltairenet.org/local/cache-vignettes/L400xH250/arton204371-f34e7.jpg

In 1997, Ukraine and Russia concluded a Treaty of Friendship which entered into force in 1999. This document was supposed to be automatically renewed every 10 years unless it was denounced by one party or the other.

In October 2018, Ukraine decided to denounce this treaty. Then it organized the incident at Kertch. Furthermore, President Petro Poroshenko gave his administration the task of listing all the agreements concluded with Russia and identifying those that he should denounce.

One of the provisions of the Treaty of Friendship and its extension in 2003 provide that the Sea of Azov falls within the territorial waters of Russia and Ukraine. As such, warships cannot enter these waters without the authorization of both states. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 does not apply in this case.

Once the treaty and its extension is repealed, the Azov Sea will be governed by international law, with the Ukrainian and Russian territorial waters as well as an internationalized part. As a consequence, Nato ships will no longer need Russia’s consent to enter.

This explains why Nato is involved in the preparation of the incident at Kertch.

Translation
Anoosha Boralessa

Source (http://www.voltairenet.org/article204371.html)

Hervé

22nd December 2018, 13:52

Why is the United States suddenly withdrawing from Syria? (http://www.voltairenet.org/article204433.html)

by Valentin Vasilescu

Voltaire Network | Bucharest (Romania) | 21 December 2018

http://www.voltairenet.org/squelettes/elements/images/ligne-rouge.gif

français (http://www.voltairenet.org/article204426.html) română (http://www.voltairenet.org/article204428.html) Deutsch (http://www.voltairenet.org/article204431.html) Türkçe (http://www.voltairenet.org/article204432.html)italiano (http://www.voltairenet.org/article204434.html) Español (http://www.voltairenet.org/article204442.html) Português (http://www.voltairenet.org/article204443.html)ε λληνικά (http://www.voltairenet.org/article204446.html)

The US Air Force is condemned to defeat if it confronts the Syrian Arab Army, which now has in its possession Russian anti-air materials, the best in the world. The US’s only viable option is to leave, sparing itself any humiliation.

History is repeating itself. Once before, in Iraq, the United States had used Kurdish combattants, promising them a State before letting them be massacred by Saddam Hussein. Today the US lets other Kurds to whom it has also promised a State, face up to Turkey alone. _ In a few months the war will be over. After eight years of fighting and tens of thousands of Islamist mercenaries being sacrificed, Nato’s dream of destroying Syria’s state structures will have failed.

http://www.voltairenet.org/local/cache-vignettes/L400xH300/204426-3ed90.jpg

A week ago, two S-300 rocket missiles were deployed in Deir Ez-zor, in East Syria. Immediately after, the intensity of the US-led coalition flights decreased by 80% in North East Syria. Since 18 September 2018, the Israeli Air Force has not carried out any more raids in Syria’s airspace.

A delegation from the Israeli army, led by General Major Aharon Haliva (Head of Operations), went to Moscow for talks with Major General Vasily Trushin (Joint Chief of Operations of the Russian Army). Relations between the two armies have deteriorated after the destruction of the Russian airplane IL-20 during the attack on Syrian targets near the Russian air base of Hmeymim by the Israeli F-16.

The Israeli delegation went to Moscow because it had not succeeded in finding the gaps in the no fly zone, imposed by the new system of Syrian Defense delivered by Russia. The Israelis thought they could coax the Russians to obtain the security codes for Syrian missiles. Russia, quite clearly, refused to give these codes to them.

What are the elements of the automatized management of the Syrian air space that prevent the Israelis and Americans from acting? Syria has received 6 to 8 S-300/PMU2 missiles, with an action range of 250 km. The missiles guarantee the security of planes and Syrian military land targets. However, they are not the most important element.

Management is assured by the automatized management system, Polyana D4M1. The role of the automatized management system is a necessary interface for the Syrian air units and anti-Air Defense apparatus to work at the same time. Polyana D4M1 can cover an area of 800 km2, following 500 air targets and ballistic missiles and establishing 250 of them. It is thanks to the Polyana D4M1 that command centres of the army of the Syrian Air Force also receive external information from the Russian airplane A-50U (AWACS) and Russian satellites of surveillance.

The memory of the Polyana D4M1 computer servers stock the radar imprint of all the air targets including the cruise missiles and the allegedly “invisible” F-35 plane.

When an air target is detected by a radar in Syria, the automatized system Polyana D4M1 posts information for all the detection radars and systems for guiding planes and Syrian and Russian anti-air artillery. Once identified, the air targets are automatically assigned to be struck down. This automatized system ensures that the oldest Syrian missiles of the Soviet era (S-200, S-75, S-125, etc.) become almost as precise as the S-300 missile.

The Polyana D4M1 network also includes the following:
• the Krasukha-4 for jamming the radars on the ground
• AWACS aircrafts
• reconnaissance planes with or without pilots.
The network also uses the Zhitel R-330ZH systems for interfering with NAVSTAR (GPS), the apparatus of navigation. This equips the means of attack (planes, helicopters, cruise missiles, guided bombs, etc.).

What is the consequence of Russia implementing the automatized management of the Syrian air space?

The US military air bases in Syria consist essentially of troops for special operations. By this we mean a light infantry, without any armour or support. They could not therefore ward off any land attack carried out by the Syrian army supported by the Air Force. Having understood that the US Air Force will not be able to pass the Syrian anti-air barrage without unacceptable losses, any US intervention becomes inappropriate. This is why the US has just announced that it will start to withdraw 2,000 soldiers from Syria [1 (http://www.voltairenet.org/article204433.html#nb1)]. At the same time, Turkey, supported by Russia, is getting ready to launch a new offensive against the YPG in Northern Syria. These new circumstances ensure the Syrian Army will fight on the side of Turkey. The YPG, trained and supported by the United States, is quickly losing all the territories that it had taken from the Islamic State which itself had taken from Syria.

Valentin Vasilescu (http://www.voltairenet.org/auteur126088.html?lang=en)

Translation Anoosha Boralessa (http://www.voltairenet.org/auteur126167.html?lang=en)

Sophocles

25th December 2018, 14:26

Blocking Nord Stream 2: To Fight “Russian Dictatorship,” US Dictates to Europe (https://journal-neo.org/2018/12/19/blocking-nord-stream-2-to-fight-russian-dictatorship-us-dictates-to-europe/)

19.12.2018
Author: Tony Cartalucci
journal-neo.org

Rarely is irony and hypocrisy so thoroughly combined as it was when the US House of Representatives passed resolution 1035 – “Expressing opposition to the completion of Nord Stream II” (.pdf) (http://https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hres1035/BILLS-115hres1035ih.pdf).

Bloomberg in its article, “U.S. House Passes Resolution Opposing Russian Gas Pipeline (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-11/u-s-house-passes-resolution-opposing-russian-gas-pipeline),” would report:

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a largely symbolic resolution expressing opposition to Gazprom PJSC’s $11 billion Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline, on concerns that the project will boost the Kremlin’s control over Europe’s energy supplies.

Bloomberg would also report (emphasis added):

While the resolution is non-binding, it highlights growing Congressional opposition to the Russian project. The Trump administration is reviewing potential sanctions against the European companies involved. The pipeline, which would send Russian gas to Germany, has financing agreements with Engie SA and Royal Dutch Shell Plc, among others.

By passing this resolution, the United States presumes to dictate to all of Europe who they can and cannot do business with.

And while the resolution itself is “non-binding,” the resolution itself admits it:

…supports the imposition of sanctions with respect to Nord Stream II under section 232 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (22 U.S.C. 9526).

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline circumvents Ukraine through which Russia had previously shipped natural gas to the rest of Europe. The Russian Federation, and before that, the Soviet Union had for decades reliably supplied Europe with natural gas through Ukraine.

It was not until an openly US-backed putsch swept the elected government of Ukraine from power in 2014 and transformed Ukrainian foreign policy into being openly hostile toward Moscow, that gas flow was jeopardized, prompting Russia to pursue alternatives – including Nord Stream 2.

US Dictates to Europe to Save it from a “Russian Dictatorship?”

Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline is not a unilateral project – it includes partners from Germany such as Uniper SE and Wintershall, as well as Dutch natural gas infrastructure and transportation company, Gasunie.

The pipeline has also been approved by the elected German government itself.

German public media, Deutsche Welle (DW), in an article titled, “Germany approves Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline (https://www.dw.com/en/germany-approves-nord-stream-2-gas-pipeline/a-43156602),” would report:

Germany has given a green light to the construction of the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea, the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency said Tuesday.

The decision means all legal hurdles to building a 31-kilometer (20 mile) section of the pipeline in Germany’s exclusive economic zone have been cleared. In January, authorities approved construction of a gas pipeline segment in German territorial waters.

In what is essentially a bilateral deal between Germany and Russia, the US – from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – “expresses opposition” to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and is preparing to target companies involved to prevent the pipeline’s completion and use.

It is the ultimate irony and the pinnacle of hypocrisy that the US claims in its own resolution that Russia seeks to “control” European energy markets while the US House resolution itself is an open demonstration of Washington’s desire to control European energy policy.

Where Europe buys its energy would presumably be Europe’s – not Washington’s – business. It is unlikely that Washington would respond well to Europe attempting to pressure the United States into drastically changing its energy policy for whatever reason – particularly through coercive economic sanctions.

“Diversifying” Means Buying Anglo-American Petrochemicals

The US resolution mentions the Southern Gas Corridor as part of US “policy to support European energy security through diversification of supplies.”

That pipeline connects gas taken mostly from the Shah Deniz gas field in Azerbaijan which is jointly owned by British Petroleum and the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), but also Turkish and Russian interests as well.

What the US resolution does not mention – likely recognizing just how transparent US motivations would be if it did – is the other option the US is promoting EU energy diversification with.

In Politico’s 2014 article, “US pushes for EU energy diversification (https://www.politico.eu/article/us-pushes-for-eu-energy-diversification/),” this other option would be spelled out. The article would admit (emphasis added):

In a joint statement issued this morning, the US and EU said that both sides underlined the importance of co-operation on smart grids, energy storage, nuclear fusion, hydrogen and fuel cells, energy efficiency, nuclear and unconventional hydrocarbons (shale gas).

By 2018, Forbes would report in its article, “The U.S. Is Still The Global Natural Gas King (https://www.forbes.com/sites/rrapier/2018/07/29/the-u-s-is-still-the-global-natural-gas-king/#7199b83e6f90),” that:

In 2017, the U.S. produced an average of 71.1 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas. That’s a 1.0% increase from 2016 production, but not quite good enough to beat the 2015 record of 71.6 Bcf/d.

Forbes would put the numbers in perspective, reporting:

…natural gas production for the entire Middle East was 63.8 Bcf/d. Russia, in second place among countries, saw its natural gas production surge by 8.2%, but at 61.5 Bcf/d that was still well behind the U.S.

But two fundamental problems impede US energy dominance in Europe.

First, Russia has more proven natural gas reserves than the US. Forbes itself would admit that US domination of gas production would only last a few more years.

Second, transporting gas across the Atlantic Ocean as liquid natural gas (LNG) is more expensive than through existing pipelines delivering Russian gas to Europe.

These are not conclusions drawn by Gazprom executives or the Kremlin, but rather America’s own corporate-funded policymakers.

A 2014 Brookings Institution report titled, “Why Russian Natural Gas Will Dominate European Markets (https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/why-russian-natural-gas-will-dominate-european-markets/),” would admit:

LNG is more expensive, and it will take many years to get other competitive supplies, for instance from the Caspian region, into the market.

If the US cannot possibly compete in free and fair markets, why is Washington so confident it can still “support European energy security through diversification of supplies?”

US Uses Coercion/Conflict to Compensate for Inability to Compete

To compensate for America’s inability to compete through free and fair markets, Washington has resorted to a number of more dubious measures. The 2014 violent overthrow of the Ukrainian government and the subsequently hostile regime Washington is backing in Kiev is one part of this equation.

Provocations including the more recent Kerch Strait incident (https://journal-neo.org/2018/11/26/ukraine-provokes-russia-to-what-end/) help maintain political pressure on Moscow and attempt to ratchet up tensions between Moscow and its European energy partners.

Moving NATO up to Russia’s borders through such provocations helps produce and maintain wider tensions and instability amid Russian-European ties. Passing resolutions opposing Russian pipelines and threatening economic sanctions against companies based in supposedly “allied” states is another measure.

The now 2-year-long “Russiagate” disinformation campaign, vilifying Russia is yet another.

Articles and editorials across the Western media are piggybacking on the “Russiagate” narrative and resulting Russophobia to sell America’s rationale for undermining European sovereignty by dictating who European nations can and cannot do business with.

US State Department-funded and directed Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) in its September 2018 article, “Pipeline From Hell? Nord Stream 2 And Why It’s So Contentious (https://www.rferl.org/a/29486007.html),” is one such example.

The article claims:

Nord Stream 2 has been sharply criticized by several countries, both within the EU and abroad. Opponents of the project fear the pipeline will increase the bloc’s substantial dependence on Russian gas and argue that it runs counter to international sanctions imposed on Russia following its annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula.

The article eventually admits nations “sharply criticizing” Nord Stream 2 “both within the EU and abroad,” are actually the United States and its US-NATO proxies in Poland, the Baltic states, and of course Ukraine.

The article admits:

Germany, Italy, and others still appear to be happy to make deals with Russian gas monopoly Gazprom, but countries from the former Eastern Bloc, such as Poland, have become especially wary of Moscow’s growing influence.

It also admits:

Latvia and Estonia have echoed Polish and Lithuanian concerns. All three Baltic states and Poland have signed a joint letter that calls Nord Stream 2 “an instrument of Russian state policy,” which “should be seen in the broader context of today’s Russian information and cyber-hostilities and military aggression.”

While the article – and many others like it – suggest Nord Stream 2 is an “instrument of Russian state policy” and represents a threat to Europe’s independence, US opposition to the pipeline and Russian energy supplies to Europe in general have manifested itself in the form of political meddling, economic coercion, and even violent coups and conflict as seen in Ukraine from 2014 onward.

At the end of the day, if “Germany, Italy and others are happy to make deals” with Russia, why would the US – self-appointed arbiter of global freedom and democracy – presume to have a say otherwise?

How do deep economic ties between Europe and Russia pose a problem to regional or global peace when the alternative – as the US clearly demonstrates – is not only a growing political, economic, and even military confrontation with Russia – but also the economic coercion and threatening of America’s own European allies?

Little adds up regarding America’s narrative regarding Nord Stream 2. What is clear through objective observation is Washington’s desire to eliminate a competitor at all costs – and to do so not through actual competition, but through coercion and the threat of increasingly dangerous conflict specifically because it cannot compete economically.

Since the US admittedly cannot compete economically, its success or failure will depend entirely on its ability to wield its wide arsenal of “soft power” weaponry – coercion, subversion, sanctions, and conflict by proxy. How far the US will go to ensure success is a matter only time can tell.

Tony Cartalucci, Bangkok-based geopolitical researcher and writer, especially for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook (https://journal-neo.org/)”.

Source (https://journal-neo.org/2018/12/19/blocking-nord-stream-2-to-fight-russian-dictatorship-us-dictates-to-europe/)

Sophocles

25th December 2018, 23:59

Another article from Tony Cartalucci (https://journal-neo.org/author/tony-cartalucci/):

US Withdrawal From Syria Paves Way for Israeli Strikes
(https://journal-neo.org/2018/12/25/us-withdrawal-from-syria-paves-way-for-israeli-strikes/)
25.12.2018
Author: Tony Cartalucci
journal-neo.org

https://journal-neo.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/F121119ZEL15.jpg

The US suddenly and unexpectedly announced the withdrawal of US troops from Syria after years of illegally occupying the country. The US presence aimed at ousting the Syrian government, boosting militant groups the US and its partners have armed and backed since the 2011 conflict started, and denying Damascus access to its own resources, particularly oil concentrated east of the Euphrates River.

The US occupation of Syria is only one part of a much larger, decades-long campaign of achieving, maintaining, and expanding US hegemony across North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia – as well as the ultimate goal of encircling and containing both Russia and China.

A genuine withdrawal from the Syrian conflict would signal a seismic shift in US foreign policy and mark an irreversible decline in American hegemony.

It is difficult to believe such a seismic shift could happen, and so suddenly.

It is also a shift not founded in US foreign policy or fact.

There are several key possibilities to consider:

A US withdrawal paves way for unilateral Israeli strikes;
It also paves the way for an expanded Turkish incursion;
US troops won’t be on the ground as targets in the immediate aftermath of any wider conflict Israel or Turkey provokes;
US troops can re-enter theater with renewed pretext to fight Damascus directly in defense of allies Israel or Turkey and;
US troops can re-enter theater along the better formed and protected front Turkey seeks to create.

The above possibilities are drawn not from speculation, but from multiple US policy papers spanning decades.

US Withdrawal From Syria Removes Obstructions to Escalation, Not Peace

US policymakers have drawn up plans for years regarding US primacy in the Middle East. In the 2009 policy paper published by corporate-financier funded think tank – the Brookings Institution – the use of US proxies like Israel to carry out major attacks on Iran were given its own chapter.

However, the only obstruction to this option was the necessity of Israeli warplanes to fly over either US-ally Jordan or US-occupied Iraq.

The report would claim under a chapter titled, “Leave it to Bibi: Allowing or Encouraging an Israeli Military Strike” (.pdf) (https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/06_iran_strategy.pdf) that (emphasis added):

An Israeli air campaign against Iran would have a number of very important differences from an American campaign. First, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) has the problem of overflight transit from Israel to Iran. Israel has no aircraft carriers, so its planes must take off from Israeli air bases. It also does not possess long-range bombers like the B-1 or B-2, or huge fleets of refueling tankers, all of which means that unlike the United States, Israel cannot avoid flying through someone’s air space. The most direct route from Israel to Iran’s Natanz facility is roughly 1,750 kilometers across Jordan and Iraq. As the occupying power in Iraq, the United States is responsible for defending Iraqi airspace.

It would also state (emphasis added):

From the American perspective, this negates the whole point of the option—distancing the United States from culpability—and it could jeopardize American efforts in Iraq, thus making it a possible nonstarter for Washington. Finally, Israeli violation of Jordanian airspace would likely create political problems for King Abdullah of Jordan, one of America’s (and Israel’s) closest Arab friends in the region. Thus it is exceedingly unlikely that the United States would allow Israel to overfly Iraq, and because of the problems it would create for Washington and Amman, it is unlikely that Israel would try to fly over Jordan.

And finally, the Brookings paper would claim (emphasis added):

An Israeli attack on Iran would directly affect key American strategic interests. If Israel were to overfly Iraq, both the Iranians and the vast majority of people around the world would see the strike as abetted, if not authorized, by the United States. Even if Israel were to use another route, many Iranians would still see the attack as American supported or even American orchestrated. After all, the aircraft in any strike would be American produced, supplied, and funded F-15s and F-16s, and much of the ordnance would be American made. In fact, $3 billion dollars in U.S. assistance annually sustains the IDF’s conventional superiority in the region.

Thus, by removing US troops from Iraq regarding 2009 US plans to have Israel strike Iran then – or to have US troops withdrawn from Syria to distance the US from culpability ahead of Israeli strikes in the near future – the US can remove this critical obstruction toward greater escalation and even major war – not toward peace.

As to what the US would do in the wake of a supposedly “unilateral” Israeli strike – Brookings had an answer for that too (emphasis added):

However, as noted in the previous chapter, the airstrikes themselves are really just the start of this policy. Again, the Iranians would doubtless rebuild their nuclear sites. They would probably retaliate against Israel, and they might retaliate against the United States, too (which might create a pretext for American airstrikes or even an invasion). And it seems unlikely that they would cease their support for violent extremist groups or efforts to overturn the regional status quo in the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes. Their opposition to an Arab-Israeli peace treaty would likely be redoubled. Hence the United States would still need a strategy to handle Iran after completion of the Israeli airstrikes, and this could mean a much longer time frame to achieve all of America’s goals.

This policy within a Syrian context could mean major, unprecedented Israeli strikes on Syrian targets – a major escalation from previous and more limited strikes – but avoiding Russian targets, under the assumption Moscow will fall short of retaliating to avoid full-scale war.

Israel has already made its intentions clear that it will continue confronting “Iran” in Syria after the withdrawal of US forces.

Any retaliation by Damascus – real or staged – will be used to bring the US back into the conflict with a wider claimed pretext to take on Damascus directly – with the added benefit of not having US troops on the ground serving as easy targets in the immediate fallout of a much larger conflict.

Turkey Too?

There is also Turkey to consider – a nation that has played a central role in facilitating the proxy war against Syria since it began in 2011. US policymakers have included Turkey in tandem with Israel as two coordinating pressure points against Damascus for decades.

A 1983 document signed by former CIA officer Graham Fuller titled, “Bringing Real Muscle to Bear Against Syria” (PDF) (https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP88B00443R001404090133-0.pdf), states (their emphasis):

Syria at present has a hammerlock on US interests both in Lebanon and in the Gulf — through closure of Iraq’s pipeline thereby threatening Iraqi internationalization of the [Iran-Iraq] war. The US should consider sharply escalating the pressures against Assad [Sr.] through covertly orchestrating simultaneous military threats against Syria from three border states hostile to Syria: Iraq, Israel and Turkey.

The report also states:

If Israel were to increase tensions against Syria simultaneously with an Iraqi initiative, the pressures on Assad would escalate rapidly. A Turkish move would psychologically press him further.
More recently, US policymakers in 2012 Brookings Institution document titled, “Saving Syria: Assessing Options for Regime Change” (PDF) (https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/0315_syria_saban.pdf), which stated (emphasis added):

Some voices in Washington and Jerusalem are exploring whether Israel could contribute to coercing Syrian elites to remove Asad.

The report continues by explaining (emphasis added):

Israel could posture forces on or near the Golan Heights and, in so doing, might divert regime forces from suppressing the opposition. This posture may conjure fears in the Asad regime of a multi-front war, particularly if Turkey is willing to do the same on its border and if the Syrian opposition is being fed a steady diet of arms and training. Such a mobilization could perhaps persuade Syria’s military leadership to oust Asad in order to preserve itself.

Regarding events on the ground now – Turkey is already signaling its intentions to enter Syria east of the Euphrates and expand its military occupation across more Syrian territory.

Turkish forces entering into Syria would serve as a front against Syrian forces in the outbreak of wider war with supply lines protected all the way to the Turkish border and deep into Turkish territory. US forces re-entering the theater can do so from Turkey and avoid being cut off in US bases currently scattered across eastern Syria.

Whether or not Russia and Iran have created a sufficient amount of incentives and deterrents to place between Turkey and its continued role in destabilizing Syria since then remains to be seen. Only Moscow, Tehran, and Damascus can know what deals they have with Ankara and where its apparent plans to enter Syrian territory fit into them.

Empire Dies Hard

US involvement in Syria was always aimed at eventually undermining, encircling, containing, and eventually overthrowing first Iran, then closing around Russia further.

Unless we are to believe the US has abandoned its wider hegemonic ambitions – and there is no evidence to suggest that it has – it is irrational and ill-advised to believe the US is truly walking away from Syria without plans to dangerously escalate the conflict while minimizing its own culpability.

The United States has gone from an uncontested global superpower at the end of the Cold War, to an increasing dangerous, desperate fading hegemon today. The weaker it appears, the more unpredictable and dangerous its actions are becoming. A genuine withdrawal from Syria would neither fit America’s current global ambitions, nor fit its recent pattern of increasingly dangerous and desperate policies implemented from Eastern Europe to the Middle East and North Africa, into Central Asia, and across East Asia.

A skeptical public leaves no room for the US to capitalize on the apparent “good will” the US is trying to cultivate through its supposed withdrawal from Syria ahead of provocations by proxy it will have fully underwritten and will immediately move to exploit toward greater war.

Source (https://journal-neo.org/2018/12/25/us-withdrawal-from-syria-paves-way-for-israeli-strikes/)

Hervé

12th January 2019, 16:56

The Clinton memo that killed half a million people in Syria (https://russia-insider.com/en/politics/clinton-memo-killed-half-million-people-syria/ri25874)

Daniel Lazare Russia Insider (https://russia-insider.com/en/politics/clinton-memo-killed-half-million-people-syria/ri25874)
Fri, 11 Jan 2019 10:42 UTC

Note: The following article, published at Consortium News, was taken down hours after it was published today (1/11/19) -RI.

https://www.sott.net/image/s25/505409/large/clinton2.jpg (https://www.sott.net/image/s25/505409/full/clinton2.jpg)
Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta talks with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, April 18, 2012. © DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

A Hillary Clinton memo that Wikileaks made public in 2016 has not gotten the attention it deserves.

It takes us back to 2012 and the early phase of the Syrian war.

At that point, it was largely an internal affair, although Saudi arms shipments (https://foreignpolicy.com/2012/02/27/saudi-arabia-is-arming-the-syrian-opposition/) were playing a greater and greater role in bolstering rebel forces. But once the Obama administration decided in favor of intervention, the conflict was quickly internationalized as thousands of holy warriors flooded in from as far away as western China.

The 1,200-word memo by then-Secretary of State Clinton begins with the subject of Iran, an important patron of Syria.

She dismisses any notion that nuclear talks will stop Iran "from improving the crucial part of any nuclear weapons program-the capability to enrich uranium." If it does get the bomb, it goes on, Israel will suffer a strategic setback since it will no longer be able to "respond to provocations with conventional military strikes on Syria and Lebanon, as it can today." Denied the ability to bomb at will, Israel might leave off secondary targets and strike at the main enemy instead.

Consequently, Clinton argues that the U.S. should topple the Assad regime so as to weaken Iran and allay the fears of Israel, which has long regarded the Islamic republic as its primary enemy. As the memo puts it:
"Bringing down Assad would not only be a massive boon to Israel's security, it would also ease Israel's understandable fear of losing its nuclear monopoly. Then, Israel and the United States might be able to develop a common view of when the Iranian program is so dangerous that military action could be warranted." This document (https://wikileaks.org/clinton-emails/emailid/18328) making the case to arm Syrian rebels may have been largely overlooked because of the dates, which appear to be inaccurate.

One line gives the time as "2001-01-01 03:00" even though Clinton was still a New York senator-elect at that point. That date is also out of synch with the timeline (https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheet/Timeline-of-Nuclear-Diplomacy-With-Iran) of nuclear diplomacy with Iran.

Another contains a State Department case and document number and a date of Nov. 30, 2015. But that's incorrect as well since it postdates Clinton's resignation as secretary of state by better than two and a half years.

Central to the Great Debate
Consequently, anyone stumbling across the memo in the Wikileaks archives would have no idea of how its rather loopy logic figures in the great debate about whether to use force to bring down Syrian President Bashir al-Assad. But textual clues provide an answer. The second paragraph refers to nuclear talks with Iran "that began in Istanbul this April and will continue in Baghdad in May," events (https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/world/europe/iran-begins-nuclear-talks-with-six-nations.html) that took place in 2012. The sixth invokes an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour conducted with then-Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak "last week." Since the interview (http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1204/19/ampr.01.html) took place on April 19, 2012, the memo can therefore be dated to the fourth week in April. This is shortly before Clinton joined forces with then-CIA Director David Petraeus to push for an aggressive program of rebel military aid (https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/03/us/politics/in-behind-scene-blows-and-triumphs-sense-of-clinton-future.html?module=inline).

Needless to say, Clinton's skepticism about negotiating with Iran proved to be unwarranted since Iran eventually agreed to shut down its nuclear program. The memo thus illustrates her hawkishness along with her conviction that Israeli security trumps all other considerations even if it means setting fire to a region that's been burned over more than once.

But the memo illustrates much else besides: Clinton's recklessness, her lack of realism and her almost mystical belief that everything will fall neatly into place once the United States flexes its muscle. Overthrowing Assad would be nothing less than "transformative," she writes:
"...Iran would be strategically isolated, unable to exert its influence in the Middle East. The resulting regime in Syria will see the United States as a friend, not an enemy. Washington would gain substantial recognition as fighting for the people in the Arab world, not the corrupt regimes. For Israel, the rationale for a bolt from the blue attack on Iran's nuclear facilities would be eased. And a new Syrian regime might well be open to early action on the frozen peace talks with Israel. Hezbollah in Lebanon would be cut off from its Iranian sponsor since Syria would no longer be a transit point for Iranian training, assistance and missiles." It was "a low-cost high-payoff approach," she writes, that would eliminate one enemy, weaken two more, and generate such joy among ordinary Syrians that peace talks between Damascus and Tel Aviv will spring back to life. The risks were nil. Since "the Libyan operation had no long-lasting consequences for the region," the memo says, referring to the overthrow of strongman Muammer Gaddafi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muammar_Gaddafi) six months earlier, the Syrian operation wouldn't either:
"Some argue that U.S. involvement risks a wider war with Russia. But the Kosovo example shows otherwise. In that case, Russia had genuine ethnic and political ties to the Serbs, which don't exist between Russia and Syria, and even then Russia did little more than complain. Russian officials have already acknowledged they won't stand in the way if intervention comes."
https://www.sott.net/image/s25/505408/large/clinton_saudi_king.jpg (https://www.sott.net/image/s25/505408/full/clinton_saudi_king.jpg)
Hillary Clinton meets with Saudi King Abdullah in Riyadh on March 30, 2012. © State Department

So, there was nothing to worry about. Sixty-five years of Arab-Israeli conflict would fall by the wayside while Russia remains safely marginalized.

How it Turned Out
Needless to say, that's not how things turned out. At that moment, Libya seemed under control. But three or four months later, it would explode as Western-backed Islamist militias blasted away at one another, imposing strict Sharia law, re-instituting slavery and rolling back decades of social progress. Once President Barack Obama approved a modified version of the Clinton-Petraeus plan, Syria would plunge into the same abyss as jihadis funded by Saudi Arabia and the other oil monarchies spread sectarian violence and fear.

Clinton's assumption that the U.S. could neatly and cleanly decapitate the Syrian government without having to worry about broader consequences was little short of deluded.

The notion that ordinary Syrians would fall to their knees in gratitude was ludicrous while her disregard for the intricacies of Syrian politics was astonishing.

Then there's the memo's blithe suggestion that Washington "work with regional allies like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar to organize, train, and arm Syrian rebel forces."

In late 2009, Clinton wrote in another diplomatic memo (https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09STATE131801_a.html) made public by Wikileaks that "donors in Saudi Arabia constitute the most significant source of funding to Sunni terrorist groups worldwide." So what made her think two years later that the kingdom would not fund Syrian jihadis of precisely the same ilk?

The 2009 memo slammed Qatar for allowing Al Qaeda, the Taliban and other terrorist groups to use the sheikdom "as a fundraising locale." So what made her think that a pro-Al Qaeda autocracy would now help Syrians "fight for their freedom," as the memo puts it? Wouldn't Qatar be more likely to remove what little freedom Syrians had left? Of course, it would.

There is a remarkable continuity between the Syria policy that Clinton was proposing and earlier policies in Afghanistan and Libya. In the first, U.S. military aid wound up flowing to the notorious warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a religious sectarian and raging anti-western xenophobe who nonetheless was "the most efficient at killing Soviets," as Steve Coll put it in "Ghost Wars (https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Wars-Afghanistan-Invasion-September/dp/0143034669/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1546958402&sr=1-1&keywords=Steve+Coll+Ghost+Wars)," his bestselling 2004 account of the CIA's love affair with jihad.

Hekmatyar's cutthroats wound up with the lion's share of American arms. More or less the same thing happened in Libya once Clinton persuaded (https://wikileaks.org/clinton-emails/emailid/23898) Qatar to join the anti-Gaddafi coalition. The sheikhdom seized the opportunity to distribute some $400 million to various rebel militias, many of them Islamist (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/oct/26/qatar-troops-libya-rebels-support). The Obama administration said nothing in response (https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/28/us/politics/libya-isis-hillary-clinton.html).

https://www.sott.net/image/s25/505407/large/ForeignFightersSyria_.jpg (https://www.sott.net/image/s25/505407/full/ForeignFightersSyria_.jpg)
British Fighters with International Freedom Battalion in northern Iraq. © Wikimedia

Once again, U.S. arms and materiel flowed to the most reactionary elements. The same would happen in Syria where U.S. and Saudi arms went to the local Al Qaeda affiliate, known as Jabhat al-Nusra, and even to ISIS, as a meticulous report (http://www.conflictarm.com/reports/weapons-of-the-islamic-state/) by Conflict Armament Research, a Swiss and EU-funded study group in London, has shown. (See "Did Obama Arm Islamic State Killers (https://consortiumnews.com/2017/12/21/did-obama-arm-islamic-state-killers/?print=print)?" Consortium News, Dec. 21, 2017.)

Insurgency Mix
By August 2012, a secret Defense Intelligence Agency report (https://www.judicialwatch.org/document-archive/pgs-287-293-291-jw-v-dod-and-state-14-812-2/) found that Salafists, the Muslim Brotherhood, and Al Qaeda were already "the major forces driving the insurgency" and that the U.S. and Gulf states backed them regardless. Speechwriter Ben Rhodes summed up the problem of "moderate" rebels who were indistinguishable from Al Qaeda in his White House memoir, "The World As It Is (https://www.amazon.com/World-Memoir-Obama-White-House/dp/0525509356/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1546896623&sr=1-1&keywords=ben+rhodes+world+as+it+is)." In that, he writes that "Al Nusra was probably the strongest fighting force within the opposition, and while there were extremist elements in the group, it was also clear that the more moderate opposition was fighting side by side with al Nusra. I argued that labeling al Nusra as terrorists would alienate the same people we want to help, while giving al Nusra less incentive to avoid extremist affiliations."

The problem was how to separate the "good" Al Qaeda fighters from the "bad." Rhodes later complained when Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he and his fellow Obama officials were "trying to climb a spruce tree naked without scratching our ass." This was "smug," Rhodes says. But Putin was merely using a colorful expression to say that the policy made no sense; which it didn't.

The cost, half a dozen years after the Clinton email, is staggering. As many as 560,000 people have died (http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=108723), half the population has been displaced, while the World Bank has estimated total war damage at $226 billion (https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/syria/publication/the-toll-of-war-the-economic-and-social-consequences-of-the-conflict-in-syria), roughly six years' income for every Syrian man, woman, and child. A cockeyed memo thus unleashed a real-life catastrophe that refuses to go away. It's a nightmare from which President Donald Trump is struggling to escape in his confused and deluded way and that the Deep State - everyone from arch-neocon John Bolton to "liberal" Nancy Pelosi (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3Y_kaU2Ntc) - is determined to renew.
[I]Daniel Lazare is the author of "The Frozen Republic: How the Constitution Is Paralyzing Democracy" (Harcourt Brace, 1996) and other books about American politics. He has written for a wide variety of publications from The Nation to Le Monde Diplomatique and blogs about the Constitution and related matters at Daniellazare.com (https://daniellazare.com/).

Related:

What the media misses in the Syrian bloodbath: a 'thank you' to Hillary from Israel (https://www.sott.net/article/326282-What-the-media-misses-in-the-Syrian-bloodbath-a-thank-you-to-Hillary-from-Israel)

Memo reveals Killary emails were accessed by 'foreign actors' (https://www.sott.net/article/388281-Memo-reveals-Killary-emails-were-accessed-by-foreign-actors)

WikiLeaks Clinton cables portray Saudi Arabia as a cash machine for terrorists (https://www.sott.net/article/315063-WikiLeaks-Clinton-cables-portray-Saudi-Arabia-as-a-cash-machine-for-terrorists)

Akasha

12th February 2019, 19:03

US has no evidence of Syrian use of sarin gas, Mattis says

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has no evidence to confirm reports from aid groups and others that the Syrian government has used the deadly chemical sarin on its citizens, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Friday.

“We have other reports from the battlefield from people who claim it’s been used,” Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon. “We do not have evidence of it.”

He said he was not rebutting the reports. .....More here (https://apnews.com/bd533182b7f244a4b771c73a0b601ec5)

The same topic from Newsweek's P.O.V:

Now Mattis Admits There Was No Evidence Assad Used Poison Gas on His People: Opinion

Lost in the hyper-politicized hullabaloo surrounding the Nunes Memorandum and the Steele Dossier was the striking statement by Secretary of Defense James Mattis that the U.S. has “no evidence” that the Syrian government used the banned nerve agent Sarin against its own people.

This assertion flies in the face of the White House (NSC) Memorandum which was rapidly produced and declassified to justify an American Tomahawk missile strike against the Shayrat airbase in Syria.

Mattis offered no temporal qualifications, which means that both the 2017 event in Khan Sheikhoun and the 2013 tragedy in Ghouta are unsolved cases in the eyes of the Defense Department and Defense Intelligence Agency. .....More here (https://www.newsweek.com/now-mattis-admits-there-was-no-evidence-assad-using-poison-gas-his-people-801542?fbclid=IwAR2Pso5BRTJACoZXA0hmx7BUD3CMj-wwLhxYrXlM_P_-WzqVAUpLd_potlo%5C)

Tintin

6th March 2019, 13:42

OPCW report
REPORT OF THE FACT-FINDING MISSION REGARDING THE INCIDENT
OF ALLEGED USE OF TOXIC CHEMICALS AS A WEAPON
IN DOUMA, SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC, ON 7 APRIL 2018

Dated and released March 1st here's the OPCW Douma Report (https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/2019/03/s-1731-2019%28e%29.pdf) and a supporting article published today (March 6th) in 21st Century Wire (HTTPS://21STCENTURYWIRE.COM/2019/03/06/OPCW-DOUMA-REPORT-INDICATES-US-UK-FRANCE-MAY-HAVE-ATTACKED-SYRIA-ON-FALSE-PRETEXT/).

Author Iain Davis is a contributor to 21WIRE and is the author of the new book, 'A Dangerous Ideology', as well as an independent researcher and short filmmaker. See more of Iain’s work at his blog site In This Together (https://in-this-together.com/the-opcw-douma-findings/) and follow him at Twitter & Steemit & MINDS. Also you can watch his short films and videos on YouTube, DTube and BitChute. An original version of the article was previously published at In This Together.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BREAKING RANK: BBC researcher and producer Riam Dalati stated that after 6 months of investigation, he believed that the Douma hospital scene was faked.

40108

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Hervé

18th April 2019, 00:03

A follow up with James (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?69621-Ukraine-Crimea-Syria-Israel-Iran-Putin-and-World-War-III&p=1034201&viewfull=1#post1034201) and Joanne Moriarty (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?69621-Ukraine-Crimea-Syria-Israel-Iran-Putin-and-World-War-III&p=1193161&viewfull=1#post1193161)'s witnessing of what happened in Benghazi and Libya:

NewsReal: Interview With The Moriartys - New Light on Benghazi, And Liberating Libya (https://www.sott.net/article/411350-NewsReal-Interview-With-The-Moriartys-New-Light-on-Benghazi-And-Liberating-Libya#)

Sott.net (https://www.sott.net/article/411350-NewsReal-Interview-With-The-Moriartys-New-Light-on-Benghazi-And-Liberating-Libya#)
Wed, 17 Apr 2019 22:45 UTC

https://www.sott.net/image/s25/518561/large/NRW_190417.jpg (https://www.sott.net/image/s25/518561/full/NRW_190417.jpg)

On this NewsReal, Joe & Niall interview James & JoAnne Moriarty, a couple who witnessed the mayhem unleashed on Libya in 2011, and who have since dedicated their lives to speaking out about what's really happening to that country.

Libya has been in the news recently because of a huge push by forces loyal to General Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army to retake Tripoli - a development that could end 8 years of hell for the Libyan people.

The Moriartys had much to tell us on that front, but they also wanted to share vital new information on the 'Battle of Benghazi', the attack on 9/11/12 at two classified US compounds that killed US Ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, and three other Americans.

xoDh5_WMeC4
Running Time: 01:32:21

Download: MP3 (https://media.sott.net/srn/20190417nrw-interview-with-the-moriartys-new-light-on-benghazi-and-liberating-libya.mp3) - 84.6 MB

[Interview conducted April 9th, 2019]

Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zeYZfndVfU) of a Benghazi perpetrator confessing to the murder of Ambassador Stevens on TV news

Excerpt (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr58FYRvtm0) of the Moriartys' joint interview with a Benghazi eyewitness in 2014

Visit the Moriartys' website: libyanwarthetruth.com (http://libyanwarthetruth.com/)

Support the Moriartys via Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/JamesandJoAnneMoriarty)

Our previous interviews with the Moriartys:

Behind the Headlines: NATO Slaughter - James and Joanne Moriarty expose the truth about what happened in Libya (https://www.sott.net/article/298448-Behind-the-Headlines-NATO-Slaughter-James-and-Joanne-Moriarty-expose-the-truth-about-what-happened-in-Libya#)

Behind the Headlines: Libyan 'Islamic State', with James & JoAnne Moriarty (https://www.sott.net/article/314409-Behind-the-Headlines-Libyan-Islamic-State-with-James-JoAnne-Moriarty#)

Western media AWOL as 'Islamic State' regroups in Libya: Interview with James & Joanne Moriarty (https://www.sott.net/article/309627-Western-media-AWOL-as-Islamic-State-regroups-in-Libya-Interview-with-James-Joanne-Moriarty#)

The Truth Perspective: Libya Ruined: Interview with Sheikh Khalid Tantoush - Introduced by Jim & JoAnne Moriarty (https://www.sott.net/article/341699-The-Truth-Perspective-Libya-Ruined-Interview-with-Sheikh-Khalid-Tantoush-Introduced-by-Jim-JoAnne-Moriarty#)

Didgevillage

18th April 2019, 01:18

Anglo-Saxon plan?
Guess who the Windsors are allied with?
The Bank of England (or the Rothschilds).

They plan ahead.

There was an alliance forged between England and Japan, believe it or not, in 1902.
The sole purpose was to use Japan (a new emerging military power in the Far East, run by Japanese Freemasons) to keep Russia in check. Sure enough, Japan provoked Russia to an internecine war without a real cause 1904-1905 which severely damaged the prestige of the Romanovs, paving the way for a Bolshevik revolution. Consequently, this English-Japanese alliance was short-lived, exactly as planned.

After the Rotschild-sponsored Bolshevik Revolution, the US and Japan sent troops to mother Russia, supposedly to help the Whites, but the real reason was to cause the average Russians to rally behind the Reds against foreign invaders.

Japan invaded China in the 1930s and quickly got mired partly because the whole idea behind the scenes was to promote the average Chinese to rally behind Mao's communist party against the invader. Guess who was behind Mao. The Rothschilds.

It is no secret that the Rothschilds created Israel. There were Israeli-trained snipers during the Maidan protest in 2014 against the pro-Russian President of Ukraine, shooting at the police and the protesters. No surprise.

You want peace? Expose and get rid of the Rothschilds.

“If my sons did not want wars, there would be none.”
--- Gutle Rothschild

ThePythonicCow

18th April 2019, 23:17

Here's a long, and so far as I know, most informative interview of Dmitry Orlov by The Saker on all matters regarding the Ukraine: The Saker Interviews Dmitry Orlov (http://www.unz.com/tsaker/the-saker-interviews-dmitry-orlov/).

It's well worth a read if you're still baffled as I have been as to what's going on in the Ukraine.

Here are the questions that The Saker asks Dmitry (the answers are rather too long to make a good post here):

How would you assess the current situation in the Ukraine in terms of social, economic and political collapse?
What about the Donbas republics? How would you compare the situation in Novorussia with what is taking place in the Ukraine?
What is your take on the first round of Presidential elections in the Ukraine?
Where is, in your opinion, the Ukraine heading? What is your best “guesstimate” of what will happen in the short-to-medium term future?
What about the EU and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe? Where is the EU heading in your opinion?
What will happen once Nord Stream II is finished? Where is Europe heading next, especially in its relationship with the US and Russia?
How do you see the political climate in Russia? I hear very often that while Putin personally and the Kremlin’s foreign policy enjoy a great deal of support, the pension reform really hurt Putin and that there is now an internal “patriotic opposition” (as opposed to paid and purchased for by the CIA & Co,. which is becoming more vocal. Is that true?
You recently wrote an article titled “Is the USS Ship of Fools Taking on Water?” in which you discuss the high level of stupidity in modern US politics? I have a simple question for you: do you think the Empire can survive Trump and, if so, for how long?
Lastly, a similar but fundamentally different question: can the US (as opposed to the Empire) survive Trump and, if so, how? Will there be a civil war? A military coup? Insurrection? Strikes? A US version of the Yellow Vests?
The Saker: Dmitry, thank you so much for your time and for a most interesting interview!

Didgevillage

19th April 2019, 03:58

Russia, in comparison with the west, is a poor country, still recovering from 70 years of communist mismanagement and 10 years of corrupt Yeltsin rule.
It is understandable that many Russian citizens are not happy with the welfare system, especially in terms of monies paid to them. Nonetheless, there is money to be made, if they are able-bodied and smart enough to find the right niches.

Belarus is still more backward in rural areas, but it is working with China in the industry sector. Both Russia and Belarus have resident Chinese engineers and their families in the heavy industry regions like Ural.

Ukraine has nobody to turn to given its flop-flopping between Russia and the west and there is a mistrust of the Kiev regime both in Russia and in the west. Ukrainian-speaking Ukrainians need to understand that it was the Bolsheviks who oppressed Ukraine, not the average Russians. (Many Ukrainians welcomed the Nazi troops as their liberators from the Bolsheviks.)

There is a double standard in the west: Kosovo declared itself independent and the west welcomed it.
On the other hand, when the vast majority of Crimeans voted to secede from Ukraine (having seen what Kiev had done to Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine after the unconstitutional Maidan coup), and to join Russia, the west is screaming foul.

Sure enough, Kiev cut off the road to the peninsula and supply of energy in 2014. But Putin acted fast and started building a bridge and the economy of Crimea is booming thanks to the heavy traffic using the bridge.

What is REALLY at stake?
Israel sees its days as numbered and is exploring Plan B and Plan C.
Plan B is mass migration of Ashkenazi Jews to Ukraine where their ancestor Khazar had its empire.
Plan C is mass migration Ashkenazi Jews to northeast China where Khazar (Gokturks) originated.

Akasha

21st April 2019, 18:31

Speaking of Ukraine, Comedian Zelensky just became the Ukrainian president. I guess that just goes to show how bad Poroshenko was if folk are willing to elect a comedian rather than have him for another term:

bWga9hLGDjA

Didgevillage

21st April 2019, 20:12

Ukraine became a totally failed state after the Maidan coup, backed by Zionist forces (inclusive of NATO).
The only way for Ukraine to survive is to make constitutional changes to be a loose federation, giving more autonomy to Russian-speaking Donbas (or let it become independent states).

Forget Crimea, because it was the whim of Khrushchev to place it under Ukraine without much thought, although it made little difference within the Soviet Union.

Be wary that Ashkenazi Jews want to come back from Israel, another failed state. Though Ukraine is a large country, can it afford to have a large Jewish presence in its midst?

Strengthen cultural and political ties with Russia, and forget about westernization. The west is corrupt.

Hervé

22nd April 2019, 11:50

Ukraine’s president-in-waiting Zelensky vows to end conflict in Donbass with ‘POWERFUL INFOWAR’ (https://www.rt.com/news/457172-ukraine-zelensky-powerful-infowar/)

RT
Published time: 21 Apr, 2019 20:04
Edited time: 22 Apr, 2019 08:04
Get short URL (https://on.rt.com/9sr8)

https://cdni.rt.com/files/2019.04/article/5cbcc832fc7e93b8768b45bc.JPG
Ukrainian presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks at his campaign headquarters in Kiev, Ukraine on April 21, 2019. © Reuters / Valentyn Ogirenko

Comedian-turned-politician Volodymyr Zelensky, set for a landslide win in Ukraine’s presidential vote, stayed true to character at his first press conference, dropping some flashy promises but refusing to go into boring detail.

Shortly after claiming electoral victory, Zelensky held a Q&A session with reporters at his campaign HQ in a Kiev business center. While the official results of the elections have yet to be announced, multiple exit polls suggest he secured more than 72 percent of votes.

Zelensky addressed the media in an easy-going manner. He spoke in a mix of Ukrainian and Russian, switching between the two languages, sometimes in one sentence. He also talked English a bit. But if the press hoped to shed light on the policies of the incoming president and his team, the conference actually generated more questions than answers.

Bringing the civil war in eastern Ukraine to an end appears to be one of the top priorities for Zelensky. Promising to announce some kind of a plan shortly, he asked the reporters for help in the upcoming “infowar” that he says would help end the conflict, which, since 2014, has been raging between Kiev’s troops and the rebel self-proclaimed republics.
We will launch a very powerful information war to end the war in Donbass.
He then vowed to “act within the Normandy format,” referring to the French-German-Russian-Ukrainian talks on war in Donbass, saying that “we will continue the Minsk process, we will restart it.”

Next up, Zelensky did not rule out – even if half-jokingly – that the outvoted president Petro Poroshenko could gain a government post if the public “asks so.”
Do you want me to appoint him? Then I will ask society… If they tell me that they want to see Petro Poroshenko in one post or another – maybe, I don't know.
Zelensky added, though, that he would like to try “new people” first. But the very team of the soon-to-be president still remains a mystery, as he’s refusing to provide any names, be it the new administration, the judiciary, or the country’s military.
“We have very serious acting generals who have authority in the army, you will definitely see them. I have no right to give the names of these people now, as there is an agreement with the generals,” Zelensky said cryptically, likewise not revealing his candidate for prosecutor general.
For now, Zelensky and his Servant of the People party – notably named after his own comedy show where he played a schoolteacher-turned-president – are promising to introduce the team “in the near future.”

Sophocles

22nd April 2019, 18:19

Bjørn Nistad (https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bj%C3%B8rn_Nistad) has some points to add (full article in Norwegian here (https://nistadblog.wordpress.com/2019/04/22/har-vladimir-zelenskij-en-sjanse/)):

However, the challenges facing Zelensky are enormous. He must put the oligarchs in place. He must clean up corruption and mismanagement. He must disarm the right-wing extremist bands that terrorize the population. He must rebuild a broken economy. He must solve the national question. He must make peace with the rebellious people of eastern Ukraine. He must find a solution to Ukraine's foreign policy challenges, which mean that the country ceases to be a ping-pong ball in major politics. He must free himself from the United States. And he must make an agreement with Putin.

When Ukraine became an independent state in 1991, the country was industrially well developed, and the standard of living was higher than in Russia. However, as in other former Soviet republics, the so-called oligarchs, a group of unscrupulous realms, managed to gain power in politics, community life and economics. And the result was corruption and mismanagement. An important reason for this to happen was that one failed to solve the national question, with endless disputes over language and culture that failed to gather the population to put the oligarchs in place as a result.

If Zelensky is to become anything but another failed Ukrainian head of state, he must resolve the national question.

And the only way to solve the national question in a country such as Ukraine - which is so complex that there is hardly any country - is to make the country a loose federation like Switzerland where the most important languages are equal, and where the people of the different regions has extensive autonomy in relation to language, culture and other issues.

[…]

Zelensky has to enter into an agreement with Putin. Ending the civil war in Ukraine and making the economy work again is not possible without getting into cooperation with Russia. As long as one considers Russia as an enemy, it will hardly be possible to solve the national question.

[…]

An indication of what we can expect from Zelensky will be his first state visit after the inauguration as president.

He should go to Moscow and make an appointment with Putin. But it will hardly happen. What we can hope for is that he goes to Berlin or Paris as a sign that he is trying to get European support to revive the collapsed Minsk agreements on how to end the civil war in Ukraine through political reform and decentralization. The worst thing is that Zelensky is going to Washington. It will be a sign that he has already become an American puppet like Poroshenko, with continued war and resolution as a result.

Didgevillage

22nd April 2019, 18:36

From (crypto-Jew) oligarch to Jewish comedian...
Too funny to laugh, too sad to cry.
Not even a light at the end of the tunnel for Ukraine.

Sophocles

26th April 2019, 11:45

The Rada continues to push for full Ukrainiazation through law. More from Bjørn Nistad (full article (https://nistadblog.wordpress.com/2019/04/26/politikerne-folket-sa-nei-til-kaster-ukraina-ut-i-opplosning-og-krig/) in Norwegian):

Only four days after the election, April 25, the Rada, with 270 against 39 votes (and 4 abstentions), passed a law that would impose full Ukrainianization and stamping of Russian-speaking Ukrainians as other rank citizens. The consequences will be continued dissolution and war. And maybe the downfall of the Ukrainian state.

In the autumn of 2018, the Rada voted for a law intended to make Ukrainian the only language in Ukraine, and this language law has now been finalized.

According to the adopted law, all public servants, including professionals such as teachers and health professionals, should speak exclusively Ukrainian, both in the service and when acting publicly. The mass media must be Ukrainian. Employees in shops and restaurants must answer Ukrainian if they are approached in Ukrainian. Own language inspectors will be employed. And for violations of the language law there are high fines.

School and education must be Ukrainian. During a transitional period, the teaching of lower grade levels may partly take place in the languages of national minorities.

The purpose of the Duma decision is, according to political commentators, to place Zelensky in a difficult situation. If he endorses the language law, the promises of national reconciliation will appear to be false, and his support in the population will be drastically reduced. If he departs from the language law, he will conflict with nationalist elements, including gangs of armed high-nationalists.

To dissolve the Rada and print new elections so that a new Rada can be chosen that can revoke the language law, Zelensky hardly has the opportunity. The plan from Poroshenko and the Rada is to postpone the official proclamation of the election results and the inauguration of a new president so long as Zelensky does not have the opportunity to write new elections. Rada cannot be dissolved later than six months before an ordinary election. This means that if Zelensky is not a president before May 27, he will not be able to dissolve the Rada and print new elections.

Zelensky will probably be forced to live with a Rada elected after the coup d'état in 2014 until the autumn of 2019, which represents a completely different policy than the national reconciliation he chose.

The politicians in the Duma have six months to adopt laws that restrict the president's power. And when the regular Duma election comes in October 2019, Zelensky is likely to be far less popular than today.

There is no doubt that the dissolution of Ukraine will be reinforced as a result of the adopted language and Ukrainian law. The majority of Ukrainians are Russian-speaking. That people in cities such as Kharkov and Odessa - or for that matter Kiev - want to be citizens of a state saying they speak the wrong language is questionable.

No responsible Russian government will allow the build-up of a Ukraine where Russian language and culture is eradicated. The full Ukrainian decision therefore raises the question of liquidation of the Ukrainian state. Or at least a replacement of today's Russian hostile regime.

A few days ago, Russian authorities declared that it would be easier to obtain Russian citizenship for people resident in the rebellious public Donetsk and Lugansk. Of course, the decision has a humanitarian dimension. And it can be interpreted as a signal to Zelensky that he should abide by the Minsk agreements to end the civil war in Ukraine through decentralization and political reforms if he wants to stay on the Donbass. But it can also be seen as a sign that the Russian side intends to annex Donbass. And since an annexation of the Donbass which handed over the rest of the Russian-speaking East Ukraine to Ukrainianization would be meaningless, we must assume that at least one annexation of much of Eastern Ukraine is being considered in the Kremlin.

One possible scenario is that in response to a Russian annexation of Donbass, Kiev is launching a military operation that gives Russia a pretext to occupy and annex much of Eastern Ukraine.

Or one can - and probably is more likely - from the Russian side to commit to producing so much dissatisfaction and chaos in Ukraine that today's Russian hostile regime breaks down. With a Rada and political elite apparently doing what they can to humiliate both Ukraine's newly elected president and the majority of Ukrainians, and with a Ukrainian economy in disintegration, it should not be particularly difficult.

Hervé

26th April 2019, 21:37

More Than 40 Members of the White Helmets Admit to Staging of Chemical Attacks in Syria (https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201904251074466112-40-members-white-helmets-admit-staging-syria-chemical-attacks/)

Sputnik (https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201904251074466112-40-members-white-helmets-admit-staging-syria-chemical-attacks/)
Thu, 25 Apr 2019 23:09 UTC

https://www.sott.net/image/s25/519695/large/1064298039.jpg (https://www.sott.net/image/s25/519695/full/1064298039.jpg)
© AP Photo / Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets

At least 40 members of the White Helmets organization have admitted during recent interviews that they staged chemical attacks in Syria to provoke retaliation against President Bashar Assad, Foundation for the Study of Democracy Director Maxim Grigoriev said on Thursday as he unveiled the results of a new study at the UN.

"We have interviewed ... 40 members of the White Helmets, including those from Douma, who provided a detailed description of their methods commonly used by their organization to fake scenes," Grigoriev said.

The foundation conducted a fact-finding mission in Syria and located both White Helmets members and dozens of other people who participated in the staged attacks, Grigoriev said.
"Those people told us in detail how they had to participate in the staging for few dollars to buy some food for their families," he said.
One woman recounted how she was given white burial shroud to wrap herself up in and then told to lay on the ground and smear her mouth with toothpaste, Grigoriev said.

Another recalled being told to "close his eyes" as he was filmed being taken to a medical center by members of the White Helmets.

"Amar Al Mustafa Ibn Mohammad from Aleppo saw with his own eyes how they simulated a chemical attack, they brought children, laid them down, put civilians away and filmed children as if they died in the chemical attack," Grigoriev said.

A White Helmets member in Douma told the investigators that local children were given candies as rewards for their participation in the staged videos.

Grigoriev pointed out that the investigation cast considerable doubt on the findings of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which blamed Assad for chemical attacks in Syria's Douma in 2018.

The OPCW's conclusions relied on falsified facts and untrustworthy or unidentified sources, he noted.

In March, the OPCW issued its final report on the investigation regarding the incident of alleged use of toxic chemicals as a weapon in Duma, Syria, in April 2018, which identified chlorine as "most likely" chemical agent used in the attack.

The facts presented in the foundation's investigation "confirm that the OPCW has deliberately failed to conduct an impartial assessment of the incident in Douma and raise doubts as to what else the organization is capable of making... in the future," Grigoriev said.

The Foundation for the Study of Democracy interviewed 15 witnesses at the site of the Douma attack, 40 members of the White Helmets who admitted faking attacks, and more than 25 others who saw the White Helmets stage the attacks. It also analyzed photographs and videos of the incident.

The White Helmets, also known as Syria Civil Defence (SCD), operates in parts of rebel-controlled Syria and Turkey and claims to be a group of volunteer rescue workers.

The Syrian and Russian governments have accused the White Helmets of staging several provocations involving chemical weapons to justify potential foreign interventions and the presence of foreign forces in Syria, as well as carry arms and support terrorist groups.

The OPCW investigation was launched after the White Helmets group published a video of the reported attack in Douma, which is located in the Damascus neighborhood of Eastern Ghouta. The video showed local residents, both adults and children, being treated in the hospital after the alleged attack.

The reports about the attack and the publication of the footage by the White Helmets prompted missile strikes by France, the United Kingdom and the United States on alleged chemical weapons production facilities in Damascus.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has said that the claims about the alleged use of toxic chemicals by the Syrian government were aimed at justifying external military action.

Related:

Russian UN rep in Geneva: 'Truth about White Helmets is gradually emerging' (https://www.sott.net/article/409101-Russian-UN-rep-in-Geneva-Truth-about-White-Helmets-is-gradually-emerging)

Ominous casting call: Russian MOD says White Helmets hiring locals for staged chemical attacks, paying in food (https://www.sott.net/article/399585-Ominous-casting-call-Russian-MOD-says-White-Helmets-hiring-locals-for-staged-chemical-attacks-paying-in-food)

Russian UN envoy: White Helmets working on a new false-flag chemical attack in Idlib province, Syria (https://www.sott.net/article/411823-Russian-UN-envoy-White-Helmets-working-on-a-new-false-flag-chemical-attack-in-Idlib-province-Syria)

The White Helmets, alleged organ traders & child kidnappers who should be condemned, instead receive praise from mainstream media (https://www.sott.net/article/405664-The-White-Helmets-alleged-organ-traders-child-kidnappers-who-should-be-condemned-instead-receive-praise-from-mainstream-media)

Russian military: White Helmets have shot at least nine chemical weapons videos & are staging rehearsals of alleged chemical attack (https://www.sott.net/article/395743-Russian-military-White-Helmets-have-shot-at-least-nine-chemical-weapons-videos-are-staging-rehearsals-of-alleged-chemical-attack)

Syrian Foreign Minister warns White Helmets kidnapped 44 children to stage chemical attack in Idlib (https://www.sott.net/article/394781-Syrian-Foreign-Minister-warns-White-Helmets-kidnapped-44-children-to-stage-chemical-attack-in-Idlib)

Showing their true colors: Remaining Syrian White Helmets want evacuation to Al-Qaeda-held Idlib province (https://www.sott.net/article/392138-Showing-their-true-colors-Remaining-Syrian-White-Helmets-want-evacuation-to-Al-Qaeda-held-Idlib-province)

Ben Swann's Reality Check: Who's funding the White Helmets? (https://www.sott.net/article/384718-Ben-Swanns-Reality-Check-Whos-funding-the-White-Helmets)

Didgevillage

27th April 2019, 01:11

This is the reality of Kurdistan, Iraq.
These new western-style shopping malls, new housing developments, European cars, rampant consumerism...

This is not what we (generally) expect from "Iraq." It probably explains why there were Iraq Wars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIrKP0KxGOU

Hervé

11th May 2019, 16:38

A Week In The Life Of The Empire (http://www.unz.com/tsaker/a-week-in-the-life-of-the-empire/)

The Saker (http://www.unz.com/author/the-saker/)
May 9, 2019

http://www.unz.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Maybe_next_time-600x776.jpg

Introduction

It is sometimes helpful not to look at any one specific issue in detail, but rather make a survey of ongoing processes instead. The resulting picture is neither better nor worse, it is simply different. This is what I want to do today: to take a bird’s eye view of our suffering planet.

Putin trolls the Empire
It is all really simple: if the Ukrainians will give passports to Russian citizens, and we in Russia will be handing out passports to the Ukrainians, then sooner or later will will reach the expected result: everybody will have the same citizenship. This is something which we have to welcome.
Vladimir Putin
It appears that the Kremlin is very slowly changing its approach to the Ukrainian issue and is now relying more on unilateral actions. The first two measures taken by the Russians are maybe not “too little too late”, but certainly “just the bare minimum and at that, rather late”. Still, I can only salute the Kremlin’s newly found determination. Specifically, the Kremlin has banned the export of energy products to the Ukraine (special exemptions can still be granted on a case by case basis) and the Russians have decided to distribute Russian passports to the people of Novorussia. Good.

Zelenskii’s reaction to this decision came as the first clear sign that the poor man has no idea what he is doing and no plan as to how to deal with the Russians. He decided to crack a joke, (which he is reportedly good at), and declare that the Ukrainian passport was much better than the Russian one and that the Ukraine will start delivering Ukrainian passports to Russian citizens. Putin immediately replied with one of his typical comebacks declaring that he supports Zelenskii and that he looks forward to the day when Russians and Ukrainians will have the same citizenship again. Zelenskii had nothing to say to that.

Zelenskii finally finds something common to Russia and the Ukraine
I have been thinking long about this “a lot in common” between Ukraine and Russia. The reality is that today, after the annexation of the Crimea and the aggression in the Donbas, of the “common” things we have only one thing left – this is the state border. And control of every inch on the Ukrainian side, must be returned by Russia. Only then will we be able to continue the search for [things in] “common”
Vladimir Zelenskii
Well, almost. He did eventually make a Facebook post in which he declared that all that Russia and the Ukraine had in common was a border. This instantly made him the object of jokes and memes, since all Russians or Ukrainians know that Russia and the Ukraine have many old bonds which even 5 years of a vicious civil war and 5 years of hysterically anti-Russian propaganda could not sever. They range from having close relatives in the other country, to numerous trade and commercial transactions, to a common language. The closest thing to a real Ukrainian language would be the Surzhik which is roughly 50/50 in terms of vocabulary and whose pronunciation is closer to the south Russian one than to the Zapadenskii regional dialect spoken in the western Ukraine and which is used (and currently imposed) by the Ukronazi junta in Kiev.

The malignant manatee threatens the planet with fire and brimstone
We have Pompeo, a malignant manatee looking to start wars in which he will not risk his flabby amorphous ass also parading his Christianity. Bolton, a mean sonofabitch who belongs in a strait jacket, at least doesn’t pose as someone having a soul. And the Golden Tufted Cockatoo, too weak to control those around him, preening and tweeting. God save us.
Fred Reed
The term “malignant manatee” is not from me, the brilliant Fred Reed came up with this one, but I can only fully endorse it because it fits. Perfectly. And our malignant manatee sure is on a roll! Just this week he managed to threaten Venezuela (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-05/pompeo-says-all-venezuela-options-open-including-military-ones), Iran (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-iran-pompeo/pompeo-says-us-sees-activity-indicating-possible-escalation-from-iran-idUSKCN1SC1UP), and even Russia and China together (https://www.rt.com/news/458497-pompeo-arctic-russia-china/). I think that it is high time to declare that Pompeo is a bona fide nutcase, a dangerous, arrogant and ignorant psychopath whose crazy statements represent a direct threat to the entire planet. Not to say that his pal Bolton is any less crazy. Now combine these two rabid thugs with the spineless “Golden Tufted Cockatoo” (to use Fred Reed’s equally hilarious but accurate characterization) and you see that the planet is in big, big trouble.

Turns out that Putin is a crypto-Zionist and an Israeli puppet.

http://www.unz.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Putin-and-Russians-Jews.jpg

Here I won’t even bother with any quotes. The alternative Internet/blogosphere has, again, been hit by a wave of articles declaring that Putin is Netanyahu’s puppet and a crypto-Zionist. I have debunked that nonsense in the past (see here (http://thesaker.is/putin-and-israel-a-complex-and-multi-layered-relationship/) and here (https://thesaker.is/why-is-putin-allowing-israel-to-bomb-syria/)) and I won’t repeat it all here. Besides, what this surge in “Putin the Zionist” propaganda is, is not so much the result of a gradual realization about the true agenda or Putin himself as much as it is, yet again, a desperate scramble for clicks. I already discussed that recently too (see here (http://thesaker.is/beware-of-clickbaiting-sensationalism-baseless-rumors-etc/)). I will just reiterate my conclusion here: clickbaiters are never experts and experts are never clickbaiters.

Frankly, to all those who email me and ask “Is it really true? Putin is an Israeli puppet? He helps Netanyahu in Syria, does he not?!” I would suggest simply looking at what the Israelis and Zionists write about Putin (for starters, you can click here (https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5106748,00.html), here (https://www.timesofisrael.com/ajc-says-putins-comments-on-jews-like-protocols-of-the-elders-of-zion/) or here (https://zoa.org/2018/03/10377753-zoa-urges-trump-condemn-putins-slur-on-jews-other-groups/)). Even better, ask the defenders of Putin the crytpo-Zionist to explain the hysterically anti-Putin campaign the US legacy Ziomedia has been engaged in for the past years! But don’t hold your breath for an answer – since Russia has comprehensively foiled all Israel’s many plans for Syria, it takes a remarkable determination not to see that Putin is hated by Neocons and Zionists alike, and for good cause, I would add.

Oh, and Putin is a crypto-Muslim too!

http://www.unz.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Putin-and-Russians-Muslims-1024x627.png

Yes, besides being a crypto-Zionist, Putin is also a crypto-Muslim. This latest nonsense usually comes from Alt-Right circles who can forgive Putin his friendliness to Israel, but not to Islam. These are the folks who believe that Putin is not a real defender of the “White Race”. They are opposed by those who believe that Putin and the Moscow Patriarchate will somehow jump-start the “Christian West”. We are talking about some hardcore “single-issue” folks here whose main disagreement is whether Jews or Muslims are to be hated (and feared!) most.

[Having had to deal with both groups myself – I have been accused of being a Jew, a Jew lover and a Muslim and a Muslim lover many times! – I know that reasoning with these folks is a total waste of time. Their paranoid hatred is completely incompatible with any fact-based and logical discussion. Besides, by arguing with them you threaten their income and livelihood – which due to their lack of expertise depends entirely on their ability to generate clickbait revenue. If you do engage with them, they will call you a Jew-lover or an Islam-lover and that’s it. Not worth your time IMHO].

The quasi-comical truth is that the Alt-Righters don’t get Russia *at all*. They keep transposing their narrow horizons on a nation with which they have absolutely nothing in common, not even religiously or racially (even if they think otherwise). Hence their love-hate relationship with Putin: on one hand, they would love to have a champion like Putin (Ann Coulter or Milo Yiannopoulos do not qualify), but on the other, they hate Putin for not endorsing their racist and fascist agenda. Truth be told: Russia has no use for these intellectual midgets.

Russia is “selling out” to the Taliban?
Well, since we are making a (tongue-in-cheek) “inventory” of all of Putin’s (and even Russia’s) sins, let’s include cozying up to the Taliban (who even agreed to put on Saint George’s Ribbons!) and… … and what exactly is happening here?

How about trying to bring peace back to Afghanistan? You know – the same thing Russia is doing in Venezuela, in Syria and elsewhere. This implies talking to the other side, and even striking smiling poses when asked by the press.

http://www.unz.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Taliban_with_Saint_George_ribbon.jpg

Needless to say, the thugs running the AngloZionst Empire have accused Russia or aiding and even arming the Taliban (https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/03/26/596933077/top-u-s-commander-in-afghanistan-accuses-russia-of-aiding-taliban). And why not? This is no more ridiculous than saying that Saddam and Iran are helping al-Qaeda, or than saying that Russia “hacked” DNC computers, or told Maduro not to run for his life. Hey! We are living in “Skripal times” and the rules of evidence have changed to “highly likely” – so why not claim that Russia is also selling out to the Taliban (maybe even on Netanyahu’s orders?).

In the meantime, Russian soldiers are busy ducking missiles…
Yep, apparently unaware that their Commander-in-Chief is a puppet of both Israel and the worldwide Islamic Ummah, Russian servicemen are ducking missiles in Syria. The latest attack saw them shoot 36 missiles (and one targeting drone) out of the sky (https://www.rt.com/news/458510-russian-khmeimim-base-syria-shelling/). This is good news, of course, but this just goes to show that these (US and Israel backed) Islamists shooting these missiles have not been informed that the Russian military in Syria is here to help Netanyahu and Trump. Somebody should probably tell them.

Conclusion: just one more crazy and terrifying week, with many more to come
I tried to be a little tongue-in-cheek here, but the reality is that what is taking place before our eyes is both absolutely insane and most terrifying. Why? Because the world is now ruled by a most dangerous gang of ignorant thugs who are very rapidly losing their grip on our planet and who is simply neither intellectually equipped to understand, nor deal with this very complex and rapidly changing situation.

What we are seeing is a full-spectrum collapse of the unipolar world and its gradual, but also inexorable, replacement with a multi-polar world in which things like “speaking with your adversaries or even enemies” becomes the norm rather than the exception. Even more importantly, this is a world in which US threats always fall on deaf ears simply because nobody takes the US seriously anymore. While the US military probably has the capability to re-invade Grenada or “bring democracy” to the inhabitants of the North Sentinel Island – no adults in the room will be impressed (least of all the Iranians!).

It is this quiet indifference which enrages the likes of Pompeo, Bolton or Trump – for all their narcissistic chest-thumping – they are, and will forever remain, the ultimate losers – folks who simply couldn’t get *anything* done. Even more terrifying is their sense of total impunity. If Obama was “democracy with a human face” then Trump is “democracy with a simian face” – not much better.

When I think that a “Golden Tufted Cockatoo” (to use Fred Reeds wonderful image) has the authority to press the nuclear button I feel terrified. I also realize that the survival of the human species will depend on Putin and Xi and their ability to gradually disarm or neutralize the US threat without triggering a nuclear war.

These are truly terrifying times. If you are not terrified, then you are delusional.

http://www.unz.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Maduro_and_his_soldiers-300x200.jpg

But if being terrified is a natural and absolutely normal reaction, we need to overcome it and fearlessly resist. Like Maduro does, surrounded by his men.

This refusal to be afraid, even while being terrified, is how we will eventually defeat the Empire!

Venezuela is, by far, the weakest link in the chain of resistance to the Empire. But look at these faces! All I can say is this: may the courage of the kids protecting not only Maduro, but also the sovereignty of their country, be an inspiration to us all, no matter how terrified we are.

UPDATE: turns out that it was not Russia or Cuba which are responsible for the failed coup. According to Neocon US Senator from Florida, Venezuela regime change crusader Marco Rubio, it’s the Chinese! I wonder whom the US leaders are going to blame next? Any guesses?

Ba-ba-Ra

11th May 2019, 16:59

Thanks for the above post Herve.

It made me laugh, it made me cry and in the end I realized that what I should be doing is praying!~

Hervé

12th May 2019, 17:38

Jim Stone thinking some out of the box ready made false flag:

FALSE FLAG ON IRAN PLAN BLOWN TO H*LL (http://82.221.129.208/.wl6.html)

Want to stop a false flag? Just report it a few hours before it is supposed to happen!

The plan was to blow up oil tankers in a UAE operated port in the strait of Hormuz, and blame it on Iran.

PROBLEM:
The Lebanese media jumped the gun, and released news of the attack before American planes which were witnessed by "numerous people" dropped their bombs. They could not overcome the social media backlash from this and called off the attacks.

That's the only thing that fits.

Here is the story, according to Sputnik: (https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201905121074933103-uae-port-explosions-oil-tankers-fujairah/)
"Several heavy explosions occurred early on Sunday in the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, a number of media reports say. The reports, citing eyewitnesses, further suggested that American and French warplanes have been seen flying over the port at the time of the incident.

The government of Fujairah denied on Sunday media reports about several heavy explosions taking place at the emirate's port, insisting that the port is functioning as usual.

"The press service of the Fujairah government denied media reports about powerful explosions in the emirate's port earlier this day and confirmed that ship traffic is as usual," the state-run WAM news agency reports.

Earlier in the day, the Lebanon-based al-Mayadeen broadcaster said, citing local media that several heavy explosions occurred in the port of Fujairah.

The blasts were heard between 4:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. local time (00:00 — 03:00 GMT), the broadcaster reported, adding that from seven to 10 oil tankers were in flames. The broadcaster continued by saying that the real cause of the incident has still been unknown."
http://82.221.129.208/pages/haha.png

Jim's comment: So there you have it. Here's what I think:
Someone spilled the beans because they did not want this to go forward as planned. The U.S. was not going to have who did it identified so clearly, so they called it off.

Fact: You can't see "French and American" planes during such an attack, let alone at the time the report states the attack happened because it was dark so someone who knew who was going to do this ratted it out and to make sense of it all, the reports said people saw the planes, when in fact no one did but someone knew. That's the only explanation that fits.
UPDATE: I know when the false flag was supposed to happen. It was supposed to happen at 8:30 AM CST, just on time for the American news feed. I am not going to say how I came up with the exact time. I am now totally convinced there really was going to be a false flag attack to kick off a war with Iran this morning (Sunday) and someone BLEW IT.

I am not going to say how I know.

Yep, MILK THAT RAMADAN FATIGUE just like prime a-holes would. And they then bitch about a Yom Kippur war.

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

If Jim's thinking is correct, then someone got clever and wagged the dog first :)

Didgevillage

12th May 2019, 18:35

Neither Putin nor Trump has the total control of respective countries. There are all kinds of forces (not necessarily military) at work.

A few things to consider if Putin puts on yarmulka and Muslim headgear, so to speak.
Slavic Russians comprise only 80% of the Russian Federation.
Putin doesn't want a violent destruction of Israel, given the presence of Russians living there who are not necessarily Jewish.

There is a strong presence of Muslims in Russia, only a few hundred miles east of Moscow (Tatarstan), in addition to other Muslim minorities from Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Ukraine is not really a foreign country for Russians and vice versa. "Ukraine" literally meant "borderland" and Kiev is the "mother of Russian cities"

Cara

13th May 2019, 05:55

I am in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This is what the local daily newspaper (The National) is reporting on this incident. It is the lead story on The National’s website.

++++++++++

Two Saudi tankers off Fujairah coast targets of 'sabotage attack'

https://www.thenational.ae/image/policy:1.860501:1557680901/Al%20Mayadeen.JPG?$p=39045bf&w=2048&$w=dbf56c5
Al Mayadeen used graphics and breaking news banners to claim Fujairah port and tankers anchored just off the coast were on fire.

The National
May 13, 2019

Two Saudi oil tankers came under "sabotage attack" off the UAE coast, the official Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday, quoting the Saudi energy minister.

"Two Saudi oil tankers were subjected to a sabotage attack in the exclusive economic zone of the United Arab Emirates, off the coast of the Emirate of Fujairah, while on their way to cross into the Arabian Gulf," SPA cited Khalid Al Falih as saying.

The UAE on Sunday said the sabotage targeted four boats (https://www.thenational.ae/uae/uae-says-four-cargo-vessels-sabotaged-off-fujairah-coast-1.860279), without elaborating or naming suspects. It came just hours after Iranian and Lebanese media outlets aired false reports of explosions at the nearby Emirati port in Fujairah, which bunkers and ships oil.

He said one tanker was en route to the kingdom to be loaded with Saudi crude oil to be sent to the United States.

He did not identify the tankers.

He said: "Fortunately, the attack didn't lead to any casualties or oil spill; however, it caused significant damage to the structures of the two vessels."

The US has issued a new alert to maritime traffic over alleged "acts of sabotage" of ships off the coast of the UAE amid heightened regional tensions between American and Iran.

The US Maritime Administration, which stressing the incidents had not been confirmed, warned shippers early on Monday to exercise caution when travelling past Fujairah, a port city on the eastern edge of the UAE on the Gulf of Oman.

It gave co-ordinates of the alleged sabotage, putting it just north of Fujairah.

No one was hurt and Abu Dhabi called on world powers to help keep maritime traffic safe.

Fujairah port is the only terminal in the UAE located on the Arabian Sea coast, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, through which most Gulf oil exports pass, and which Iran has repeatedly threatened to close in case of a military confrontation with Washington.

The small emirate has an oil terminal and a pipeline that delivers crude oil from Abu Dhabi which sits on the majority of UAE oil reserves.

The Pentagon said Friday that it was deploying an amphibious assault ship and a Patriot missile battery to the Middle East to bolster an aircraft carrier force sent to counter alleged threats from Iran.

The increasing tensions come as Tehran said Wednesday it had stopped respecting limits on its nuclear activities agreed under a 2015 deal with major powers.

Iran said it was responding to the sweeping unilateral sanctions that Washington has re-imposed since it quit the agreement one year ago, which have dealt a severe blow to the Iranian economy.

Updated: May 13, 2019 08:55 AM

+++++++++++

From here: https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/two-saudi-tankers-off-fujairah-coast-targets-of-sabotage-attack-1.860663

Hervé

22nd May 2019, 15:14

Leaked Douma Report: Establishment Narrative Managers struggle with new Syria plot holes (https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2019/05/21/establishment-narrative-managers-struggle-with-new-syria-plot-holes/)

Caitlin Johnstone CaitlinJohnstone.com (https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2019/05/21/establishment-narrative-managers-struggle-with-new-syria-plot-holes/)
Tue, 21 May 2019 00:00 UTC

https://www.sott.net/image/s26/523233/large/Screen_Shot_2019_05_21_at_8_27.jpg (https://www.sott.net/image/s26/523233/full/Screen_Shot_2019_05_21_at_8_27.jpg)
Elliot Higgins - Idrees Ahmad

It has been about a week since the Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media (WGSPM) published (http://syriapropagandamedia.org/working-papers/assessment-by-the-engineering-sub-team-of-the-opcw-fact-finding-mission-investigating-the-alleged-chemical-attack-in-douma-in-april-2018) a leaked internal document (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ayBv-nEOMTtIc-QOvejQBdCnZQXTuJ5z/view) from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) investigation into an alleged chemical attack in Douma, Syria last year. The document, whose authenticity the OPCW has confirmed (https://medium.com/@caityjohnstone/confirmed-chemical-weapons-assessment-contradicting-official-syria-narrative-is-authentic-fbcbf7ef281a), contends that the official story which was used to justify an air strike by the US, UK and France about poison gas being dropped on civilians from Syrian government helicopters is scientifically implausible, saying

"In summary, observations at the scene of the two locations, together with subsequent analysis, suggest that there is a higher probability that both cylinders were manually placed at those two locations rather than being delivered from aircraft."
The document, titled "Engineering Assessment of Two Cylinders Observed at the Douma Incident", was signed by a man named Ian Henderson, whose name is seen listed in expert leadership positions on OPCW documents from as far back as 1998 (http://www.sussex.ac.uk/Units/spru/hsp/documents/cbwcb39.pdf) and as recently as 2018 (https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/SAB/en/sab-27-wp01_e_.pdf). The OPCW hid this information from the public, for reasons it has yet to attempt to justify.

The fact that a longtime OPCW-trained investigator wildly dissented with the OPCW's official conclusions (https://www.opcw.org/media-centre/news/2019/03/opcw-issues-fact-finding-mission-report-chemical-weapons-use-allegation) within the OPCW's own investigation should obviously have been made public knowledge, and this revelation should obviously have made headline news throughout the western media. Instead, it's been completely ignored. Only a few alternative media outlets and the usual Russian publications have covered it.

"According to ProQuest database, [Peter] Hitchens' piece is the only mention in any UK corporate newspaper so far," tweeted (https://twitter.com/medialens/status/1130372865969274880) media analysis site Media Lens yesterday.

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1128585209245511680/coXwQI9Y_normal.png (https://twitter.com/medialens) Media Lens @medialens
(https://twitter.com/medialens)
According to ProQuest database, Hitchens' piece is the only mention in any UK corporate newspaper so far. Impressive discipline. https://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/2019/05/peter-hitchens-empty-green-seats-that-prove-we-are-careering-towards-a-catastrophe.html … (https://t.co/iNcmO0pnVd)

Peter Hitchens ✔ @ClarkeMicah (https://twitter.com/ClarkeMicah/status/1130071328034308099)

Kind of you to say so, but I have done very little, simply reported on the emergence of an important document, information about which was readily available to any alert reporter, or even a dozy one like me. . https://twitter.com/IsabelO20183051/status/1130070499277660160 …
(https://twitter.com/ClarkeMicah/status/1130071328034308099)
9:21 AM - May 20, 2019 (https://twitter.com/medialens/status/1130372865969274880)
So there's a total media blackout on this story from the usual plutocratic news outlets, which is a huge story in and of itself. Just as significantly, the less well-known propagandists who are typically the first to attack any argument which casts doubt on the "Assad is a child-gassing monster who must be stopped at all cost" imperial narrative have been incredibly feeble in their attempts to dispute this new revelation.

Bellingcat is a pro-NATO narrative management firm which has defended ridiculous Syria regime change propaganda (https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2016/12/14/bana-alabed-verification-using-open-source-information/) like the Bana Alabed psyop (https://medium.com/@caityjohnstone/the-bana-alabed-psy-op-proves-the-west-is-saturated-in-war-propaganda-74c66df02990), and is consistently elevated with fawning puff pieces (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/oct/13/citizen-journalists-open-source-investigation-bellingcat) and collaborative reports (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/06/25/world/middleeast/syria-chemical-attack-douma.html) from major mass media outlets like the Guardian and the New York Times. As of this writing it has published absolutely nothing on the Engineering Assessment. Nothing for, nothing against. Nothing. The outlet's incredibly shady founder (http://archive.is/tkVFe), Eliot Higgins, has responded to this new revelation by pinning (https://twitter.com/2ndNewMoon/status/1129903955922903042)a tweet (https://twitter.com/EliotHiggins/status/1129398851725664256) citing a completely baseless theory that the WGSPM "got played by a disgruntled OPCW employee."
"This reporting by @Brian_Whit on the leaked Douma report that the conspiracy theorists and chemical weapon denialists are so excited about is consistent with what I'm hearing. Looks like they all got played by a disgruntled OPCW employee," Higgins tweeted (https://twitter.com/EliotHiggins/status/1129398851725664256) with a link to a Medium article (https://medium.com/@Brian_Whit/leaked-document-revives-controversy-over-syria-chemical-attacks-a40f06a9a13d) by UK reporter and virulent Syria regime change cheerleader Brian Whitaker, adding,

"This is why the Syrian Propaganda Group needs to work on verifying things it decides to republish, even if it fits with their attempts to deny chemical weapon use in Syria, otherwise they just get played by people with their own agenda."
The silliness of this argument was pointed out by journalist Aaron Maté, who responded (https://twitter.com/aaronjmate/status/1129503959046152193), "What 'reporting'? He's citing rumors that he acknowledges are 'not confirmed.' Regardless, the document comes from OPCW, as Whitaker's update notes. The question now is whose findings are accurate - and there's nothing in this article that challenges the leaked findings."

Maté highlighted portions of the text that Higgins shared from Whitaker's article, which I will put in bold here:

"One story circulating in the chemical weapons community (though not confirmed) is that Henderson had wanted to join the FFM and got rebuffed but was then given permission to do some investigating on the sidelines of the FFM. The suggestion (again, not confirmed) is that this was a way of extending his contract at the OPCW. If true, it might explain how he appeared to be working with the FFM while not (according to the OPCW press office) actually being part of it." Even if all of the completely unconfirmed things Whitaker is speculating are true, it wouldn't actually negate the importance of the Engineering Assessment; this is merely an attempt to divert attention from the message to the messenger. And, again, this was a post that Higgins pinned to the top of his Twitter profile. It was his very best argument.

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1048948642231570437/rJyDfAOW_normal.jpg (https://twitter.com/EliotHiggins) Eliot Higgins ✔ @EliotHiggins
(https://twitter.com/EliotHiggins) · May 17, 2019 (https://twitter.com/EliotHiggins/status/1129399416404758530)

Replying to @EliotHiggins (https://twitter.com/_/status/1129398851725664256)
This is why the Syrian Propaganda Group needs to work on verifying things it decides to republish, even if it fits with their attempts to deny chemical weapon use in Syria, otherwise they just get played by people with their own agenda.

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1007772461071519745/yhsgXeWQ_normal.jpg (https://twitter.com/aaronjmate) Aaron Maté ✔ @aaronjmate
(https://twitter.com/aaronjmate)
What "reporting"? He's citing rumors that he acknowledges are "not confirmed." Regardless, the document comes from OPCW, as Whitaker's update notes. The question now is whose findings are accurate -- and there's nothing in this article that challenges the leaked findings. pic.twitter.com/vK2s2Aar9V (https://t.co/vK2s2Aar9V)

11:48 PM - May 17, 2019 (https://twitter.com/aaronjmate/status/1129503959046152193)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D6zNp5MW4AUC1u0?format=jpg&name=360x360 (https://twitter.com/aaronjmate/status/1129503959046152193/photo/1) https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D6zNrPaXsAE0_tW?format=jpg&name=360x360 (https://twitter.com/aaronjmate/status/1129503959046152193/photo/1)

It is not terribly surprising that Higgins has struggled to address this new revelation, partly because there's not much ground upon which for him to do so, and partly because in the midst of an online debate in the wake of the alleged Douma attacks he already conceded that one of the gas cylinders may have been manually placed where it was photographed.

"Again, you're assuming it was photographed in its original resting place and not moved. Keep up," Higgins tweeted (https://twitter.com/EliotHiggins/status/983342414055211008) following the April 2018 incident in response to someone questioning the strange placement and circumstances of one of the cylinders. It was lying on an unbroken bed in relatively good condition and people were rightly perplexed as to why it hadn't shattered the bed base upon impact.

Idrees Ahmad, a particularly loathsome (https://twitter.com/MaxBlumenthal/status/784101948391886848) anti-Assad regime change propagandist who has smoothly transitioned (https://twitter.com/im_PULSE/status/1116036651913023490) into an anti-Maduro regime change propagandist (https://twitter.com/im_PULSE/status/1124676768772841472) as well when the US empire focused its crosshairs on Venezuela, has had similar difficulty in addressing the leaked document. Ahmad flipped out and posted dozens (https://twitter.com/search?q=to%3Asusansarandon%20from%3Aim_PULSE&src=typd) of tweets (https://twitter.com/search?l=&q=sarandon%20from%3Aim_PULSE&src=typd) in response (https://twitter.com/search?q=%40susansarandon%20from%3Aim_PULSE&src=typd) to Susan Sarandon sharing my article (https://twitter.com/SusanSarandon/status/1129428836448440320) about the OPCW's admission that the Henderson report is legitimate. His arguments range in brilliance from falsely claiming (https://twitter.com/im_PULSE/status/1129909394311995394) that I am an "Australian fascist", to repeatedly (https://twitter.com/im_PULSE/status/1129533252438450176) arguing (https://twitter.com/im_PULSE/status/1129513596608761858) that Henderson's conclusions differ from the official OPCW report (duh), to repeatedly (https://twitter.com/im_PULSE/status/1129829608948404225) regurgitating (https://twitter.com/im_PULSE/status/1130290921822724096) Higgins' aforementioned baseless argument about Henderson being a "disgruntled OPCW employee".

So they've really got nothing. There is no actual argument to be made that the OPCW had any business keeping the public in the dark about a dissenting assessment about the Douma incident signed by a longtime OPCW investigator. Or if there is I haven't seen it, and I've been looking in all the usual places one might expect such an argument to appear.

There are still plenty of unanswered questions about the Douma incident. The leaked document doesn't by itself prove that the Engineering Assessment is correct and the official OPCW findings are incorrect, it just proves that there were other analyses which differed sharply with the official conclusions we've been permitted to see, and that we weren't permitted to see those analyses. In a post-Iraq invasion world, this by itself is entirely unacceptable. And, rather than pushing for answers and accountability, the so-called journalists of the largest media outlets in the west are completely ignoring it.

Related:

OPCW confirms leak of covered-up report, suggesting Douma incident 'false-flag' is genuine (https://www.sott.net/article/413225-OPCW-confirms-leak-of-covered-up-report-suggesting-Douma-incident-false-flag-is-genuine)

'Unpublished OPCW report' implies 'chemical attack' in Syria's Douma was staged (https://www.sott.net/article/413072-Unpublished-OPCW-report-implies-chemical-attack-in-Syrias-Douma-was-staged)

Summary of OPCW's Douma, Syria Report: No Sarin or Chlorine deaths (https://www.sott.net/article/408901-Summary-of-OPCWs-Douma-Syria-Report-No-Sarin-or-Chlorine-deaths)

Hervé

31st May 2019, 16:27

Ukraine’s own examination found that the use of the UAF against the population of Donbass is illegal

The Saker
Translated by Ollie Richardson and Angelina Siard
Source: http://alternatio.org/events/all/item/70936-ekspertiza-gpu-ustanovila-chto-ispolzovanie-vsu-protiv-naseleniya-donbassa-nezakonno (http://alternatio.org/events/all/item/70936-ekspertiza-gpu-ustanovila-chto-ispolzovanie-vsu-protiv-naseleniya-donbassa-nezakonno?fbclid=IwAR2pH2Ck-6O2hc-dztB8CakSe6XBpk8bQ87og1V2hdTk-AIs1h6p7AQzMyA)

May 30, 2019

http://dxczjjuegupb.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ollies-macbookuserso-richdownloads79_main-1-864x400_c.jpeg

The Armed Forces of Ukraine in Donbass are being used illegally ― such a conclusion, shocking for “patriots”, was made by experts of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine.

According to Oleg Zhivotov, the lawyer of the former head of the General Staff of the UAF Vladimir Zamana, who is suspected of committing treason and dismantling the Ukrainian army during the period from 2011 to 2013, when he allegedly reduced the number of UAF troops, the results of the examination are contained in the notice of suspicion handed to his client. He stressed that the conclusions of experts of the Prosecutor General’s Office completely confirm the accusations of Russia about the illegality of Ukraine’s use of the army against its own people.

“For the first time in the history of Ukraine, in this case I do not know whom the experts and prosecutors of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine work for. We have this examination, and its name and conclusion were directly rammed into the notice of suspicion handed to Vladimir Mikhaylovich; this phrase is included.

For the first time in the history of Ukraine experts have established that, according to Article 17 of the Constitution of Ukraine, the Armed Forces of Ukraine cannot be used in any conflict inside the country. They are intended only for repelling external aggression,” said Zhivotov during a press conference in Kiev.

“What Russian propaganda repeatedly spoke about – that our Armed Forces are involved in the ATO [anti-terrorist operation] illegally; in Ukraine an examination has established this for the first time in the country’s history. Nobody pays attention to all the remarks made by the defence to the court – that we ourselves document ourselves for the International Court of Justice concerning such crimes,” he complained.

Zhivotov considers that the result of the examination endangers Ukraine. In addition, the conclusions of the examination cannot be cancelled, since they have already been documented.

“There was an examination, it cannot be cancelled, and it is impossible to withdraw it too. I.e., we have an official procedural document in the case which now any enemy can refer to and accuse any serviceman who has been involved in the ATO,” stressed the lawyer. After all, it turns out that everyone who fought in Donbass has violated the Constitution of Ukraine. This threatens any Ukrainian soldier, National Guard soldier, or volunteer.

The Ukrainian soldiers who fought in Donbass can become even more vulnerable during their trips abroad. The National Guard soldier and participant of war Vitaly Markiv [accused of killing the photographer Andrea Rocchelli and his Russian translator Andrey Mironov in Donbass – ed] has been in prison in the city of Pavia in Italy for two years. According to the Italian charges, the National Guard was an illegal armed group, and not a state structure, and Markiv acted not as the serviceman, but as an armed militant.

Such precedents await Ukrainian military personnel in other countries too, and now it is possible to also refer to the conclusions of Ukraine’s own examinations. This will help interested persons prosecute Ukrainian military personnel.

However, the Geneva Convention can come to the rescue of soldiers – after all, they were under the oath and acted in accordance with orders. But Petro Poroshenko, as the Supreme Commander, is not protected by the convention.

c0rv0

7th June 2019, 15:25

Since 2009, when Bill published The Anglo-Saxon Mission I been following the evolution of the "plan". Whoever is involved with PMOs (program Management Office)know that plans need continuously to be adjusted and adapted to the current situation.
In the Thread American Exceptionalism and new World Order: the Political side of Disclosure (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?107280-American-Exceptionalism-and-new-World-Order-the-Political-side-of-Disclosure) I suggest that the current "War Disclosure" by TTSA is part of a bigger political move to empower the USA (and other Anglo Friends) to take over the the "enemy" (China, Russia, Iran) and unify the world.
This key quote from Tom DeLonge explain it all:

The United States is the leader, it's doing the majority of the work and it's pushing everybody. We're the first country for the free mind, for the free people. There's a reason. It's because we were the enlightened idea of a people. And that idea spread. We call it democracy, we call it Western civilization. Even on this pretty big ugly deal, America is working for the countries that hate it. We're out there fighting something for them. It's unreal. It's really inspiring.

War is coming for sure, what I wonder is if this will start where everyone is looking (Iran, Syria, Ukraine and so on) or will surprise all with something completely unexpected....

silvanelf

8th June 2019, 07:34

War is coming for sure, what I wonder is if this will start where everyone is looking (Iran, Syria, Ukraine and so on) or will surprise all with something completely unexpected....

"They" won't start a war unless they are nearly sure of the outcome.

But there was at least one incident when WW3 was avoided at the last moment. Obviously we don't know when "they" think that they can control the outcome of a large scale warfare or even WW3.

Hervé

8th June 2019, 14:25

silvanelf

8th June 2019, 17:58

[...]
"They" won't start a war unless they are nearly sure of the outcome.

But there was at least one incident when WW3 was avoided at the last moment. Obviously we don't know when "they" think that they can control the outcome of a large scale warfare or even WW3.It would help if you could fluff your opinion with references/links...

At first I couldn't remember sufficient details to retrieve the news report, therefore I could not provide a link.

Ok, I've found it now. Emphasis mine.

RUSSIA SITREP April 12, 2016 by Scott

Hours after the Russia-bound Metrojet flight 9268 A321 with Russian vacationers exploded in the sky over Sinai on October 31st, 2015, President Putin had not come on TV to address the people of Russia. Many immediately questioned why. Many observers had also noticed that before this act of terror and hours after it there was a coordinated influx of messages on social media declaring that Russian planes would be dropping down from the skies everywhere until, mind you, Russians surrender to some mysterious forces. If you go back on Twitter and search for those messages you might still find some of them, but the majority of them mysteriously vanished just as coordinated as they appeared. Russian planes have not been dropping from the skies by the hundreds, as it was projected.

So… Where was President Putin for several hours between the explosion of the plane and him talking to the Minister of Defense, Shoigu, on the news?

Minutes after the terror attack on the Russian passenger jet, the airborne strategic command center aboard an Ilyushin Il-80 aircraft, took off.

Immediately after, far away in the US, Obama was whisked away from Washington on his helicopter and the US “Doomsday plane” took off and started circling around. Russia’s nuclear forces took aim at major US targets. Apparently, some exchange of words took place between the Russians and Washingtonians.

When President Putin was finally seen on the news many people commented that he looked like he was “just taken off a cross.”

Whatever gleeful reaction was expressed by some Europeans and Americans on the account of the death of many Russian passengers, they apparently didn’t realize that these could be their last day on earth.

I am bringing up this little known factoid to illustrate that Russia’s government is not going to dance around when it comes to the preservation of peace and stability in the country. And that any attempt of such will be immediately forwarded back to Washington, militarily speaking. This all in accord with Russia’s new Military Doctrine 2014.

-- snip --

https://thesaker.is/russia-sitrep-april-12-2016-by-scott/

Hervé

13th June 2019, 11:53

‘Suspicious doesn’t begin to describe what happened’: Iran’s FM on tanker ‘attacks’ in Gulf of Oman (https://www.rt.com/news/461758-zarif-tanker-attack-suspicious/)

RT
Published time: 13 Jun, 2019 10:41
Edited time: 13 Jun, 2019 11:33
Get short URL (https://on.rt.com/9wam)

https://cdni.rt.com/files/2019.06/article/5d022919dda4c884348b456a.jpg
Image reportedly showing smoke coming from one of the tankers said to have been attacked, May 13, 2019 © AFP PHOTO / HO / IRIB

Iran’s foreign minister has labeled the reported attack on two “Japan-related” oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman as “suspicious,” occurring just as Japanese Prime Minister Abe came to Tehran for major talks.

Expressing his misgivings on Twitter, Javad Zarif noted that the incidents on the two vessels on Thursday, one of which had been reportedly struck by a torpedo, had occurred as Abe sat down for “extensive and friendly” discussions with Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/919044790129479680/ynB-VNL-_normal.jpg (https://twitter.com/JZarif) Javad Zarif ✔ @JZarif
(https://twitter.com/JZarif)
Reported attacks on Japan-related tankers occurred while PM @AbeShinzo (https://twitter.com/AbeShinzo) was meeting with Ayatollah @khamenei_ir (https://twitter.com/khamenei_ir) for extensive and friendly talks.

Suspicious doesn't begin to describe what likely transpired this morning.

Iran's proposed Regional Dialogue Forum is imperative.

765 (https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=1139108730996477952)
11:54 AM - Jun 13, 2019 (https://twitter.com/JZarif/status/1139108730996477952)
"Suspicious doesn’t begin to describe what likely transpired this morning"
He added that it is “imperative” that regional talks proposed by Tehran and aimed at de-escalating tensions in the Gulf go ahead.

Earlier in the day, Iran said it rescued 44 sailors from two tankers named as Front Altair and Kokuka Courageous. One of them was reportedly hit with a torpedo, but there is no official confirmation of the claim.

In May, four oil tankers were targeted off the coast of the UAE, with exact details of the incident still shrouded in secrecy. Bolton has laid the blame (https://www.rt.com/news/460512-bolton-iran-ships-uae/) for the assault on Iran, yet Washington, to date, has failed to provide any evidence of complicity.

DETAILS TO FOLLOW

Related:
Iran says it rescued 44 sailors after 2 tankers were ‘reportedly attacked’ in Gulf of Oman (https://www.rt.com/news/461745-oil-tanker-torpedo-uae/)

Hervé

13th June 2019, 20:53

Persian Gulf tanker attacks: Israel has silent underwater nuclear submarines (https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/israel-underwater-nuclear-power-thanks-german-submarines-57517)

Sebastien Roblin The National Interest (https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/israel-underwater-nuclear-power-thanks-german-submarines-57517)
Tue, 14 May 2019 18:20 UTC
The 2,400 ton Dolphin 2 model is based on the state-of-the-art Type 212 submarine (http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/why-germanys-new-super-stealth-submarines-could-take-any-21021), which features Air-Independent Propulsion technology (http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/did-sweden-make-americas-nuclear-submarines-obsolete-18908) and swim faster at twenty-five knots. While diesel submarines rely on noisy air-consuming diesel generators which require the submarine to regularly surface or snorkel, AIP-powered submarines can swim underwater very quietly at low speeds for weeks at a time.

(This article first appeared last year.)
https://www.sott.net/image/s26/526073/large/israel_dolphin_submarine_nucle.jpg (https://www.sott.net/image/s26/526073/full/israel_dolphin_submarine_nucle.jpg)
One of Israel's Dolphin-class nuclear submarines © Reuters

Israel has never officially admitted to possessing nuclear weapons.

Unofficially, Tel Aviv wants everyone to know it has them, and doesn't hesitate to make thinly-veiled references to its willingness to use them if confronted by an existential threat. Estimates on the size of Tel Aviv's nuclear stockpile range from 80 to 300 nuclear weapons, the latter number exceeding China's arsenal.

Originally, Israel's nuclear forces relied on air-dropped nuclear bombs and Jericho ballistic missiles. For example, when Egyptian and Syrian armies attacked Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, a squadron of eight Israeli F-4 Phantom jets loaded with nuclear bombs was placed on alert by Prime Minister Golda Meir, ready to unleash nuclear bombs on Cairo and Damascus should the Arab armies break through.

Though Israel is the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East, Tel Aviv is preoccupied by the fear that an adversary might one day attempt a first strike to destroy its nuclear missiles and strike planes on the ground before they can retaliate. Currently, the only hostile states likely to acquire such a capability are Iran or Syria.

To forestall such a strategy, Israeli has aggressively targeted missile and nuclear technology programs in Iraq, Syria and Iran with air raids, sabotage and assassination campaigns (http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/how-israel-tried-destroy-irans-nuclear-program-assassinate-26085). However, it also has developed a second-strike capability - that is, a survivable weapon which promises certain nuclear retaliation no matter how effective an enemy's first strike.

Most nuclear powers operate nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/why-russia-china-fear-americas-ohio-class-submarines-19120) which can spend months quietly submerged deep underwater and at any moment unleash ocean-spanning ballistic missiles to rain apocalyptic destruction on an adversary's major centers. Because there's little chance of finding all of these subs before they fire, they serve as one hell of a disincentive to even think about a first strike.

But nuclear-powered submarines and SLBMs are prohibitively expensive for a country with the population of New Jersey - so Israeli found a more affordable alternative.

Berlin's Unconventional Apology
During the 1991 Gulf War, it emerged that German scientists and firms had played a role in dispersing ballistic missile and chemical weapons technology to various Arab governments-technology which aided Saddam Hussein in bombarding Israel with Scud missiles (http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/what-the-great-scud-hunt-tells-about-war-north-korea-22637). This in fact was a long-running sore point: in the early 1960s, Israeli agents even carried out assassination attempts, kidnappings and bombings targeting German weapons scientists working on behalf of Arab governments.

Chancellor Helmut Kohl hatched a plan to simultaneously compensate Israel for the damages, while generating business for German shipbuilders suffering a downturn due to post-Cold War defense cuts. Starting in the 1970s, German shipbuilder HDW began churning Type 209 diesel electric submarines for export, with nearly 60 still operational around the globe. One Type 209, the San Luis, managed to ambush (http://nationalinterest.org/blog/how-the-falklands-war-thanks-stealthy-submarine-could-have-18495) Royal Navy vessels twice during the Falkland War, though it failed to sink any ship due to the defective torpedoes.

Kohl offered to fully-subsidize the construction of two enlarged Type 209s, designated the Dolphin-class, as well as cover 50 percent of the cost of a third boat in 1994. The Dolphins displaced 1,900-tons while submerged, measured 57-meters long and are manned by a crew of 35-though they can accommodate up to ten special forces personnel. These entered service 1999-2000 as the INS Dolphin, Leviathan and Tekumah ("Revival").

Each Dolphin came equipped with six regular tubes for firing 533-millimeter DM2A4 heavyweight fiber-optic guided torpedoes and Harpoon anti-ship missiles-as well as four 650-millimeter mega-sized tubes, which are rare in modern submarines. These tubes can be used to deploy naval commandos for reconnaissance and sabotage missions, which have played a major role in Israeli submarine operations.

However, the plus-size torpedo tubes have a useful additional function: they can accommodate especially large submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCM) - missiles large enough to carry a nuclear warhead. While a ballistic missile arcs into space traveling at many times the speed of sound, cruise missiles fly much slower and skim low over the earth's surface.

In the 1990s the United States declined to provide Israel with submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles due to the rules of the Missile Technology Control Regime prohibiting transfer of cruise missile with a range exceeding 300 miles.

Instead, Tel Aviv went ahead and developed their own. In 2000, U.S. Navy radars detected test launches of Israeli SLCMs in the Indian Ocean that struck a target 930 miles away. The weapon is generally believed to be the Popeye Turbo - an adaptation of a subsonic air-launched cruise missile that can allegedly carry a 200-kiloton nuclear warhead. However, the SLCM's characteristics are veiled in secrecy and some sources suggest a different missile type entirely is used. An Israeli Dolphin submarine may have struck the Syrian port of Latakia with a conventional cruise missile (https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4404541,00.html) in 2013 due to reports of a shipment of Russian P-800 anti-ship missiles.

Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu then purchased three more German submarines, arousing considerable controversy as many felt additional boats were unnecessary (http://nationalinterest.org/feature/donald-trump-should-halt-israels-new-submarine-program-18471). In 2012, Der Spiegel published an expose (http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/israel-deploys-nuclear-weapons-on-german-built-submarines-a-836784.html) detailing how German engineers were well-aware of the Dolphin 2's intended role as nuclear-weapon delivery system, arousing some controversy with the public, as Chancellor Merkel supposedly agreed to the sale in exchange for unrealized promises from Netanyahu to adopt a more conciliatory policy towards the Palestinians. Israel has nonetheless received two of the Dolphin 2s, the Rahav ('Neptune') and Tanin ('Crocodile') with the Dakar expected in 2018 or 2019.

The 2,400 ton Dolphin 2 model is based on the state-of-the-art Type 212 submarine (http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/why-germanys-new-super-stealth-submarines-could-take-any-21021), which features Air-Independent Propulsion technology (http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/did-sweden-make-americas-nuclear-submarines-obsolete-18908) and swim faster at twenty-five knots. While diesel submarines rely on noisy air-consuming diesel generators which require the submarine to regularly surface or snorkel, AIP-powered submarines can swim underwater very quietly at low speeds for weeks at a time.

This not only means they are stealthier sea-control platforms, but makes them more viable for lengthy nuclear deterrence patrols. Currently, the Chinese AIP-powered Type 32 Qing-class (http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/china-has-built-the-biggest-baddest-conventional-submarine-18629) is the only AIP-powered submarine in service armed with ballistic missiles.

However, as fellow TNI writer Robert Farley points out (http://nationalinterest.org/feature/nukes-the-high-seas-israels-underwater-atomic-arsenal-11434/page/0/1), there are geographic obstacles that diminish the practicality of Israel's sea-based nuclear deterrence. For now, there is only one intended target: Iran, a country which lies hundreds of miles away from Israel. While Tehran lies barely within the supposed 930-mile range of an Israeli submarine deployed from their base in Haifa into the Mediterranean Sea, the missiles would have to spend over an hour overflying Syria and Iraq, posing navigational and survivability challenges.

A closer avenue for attack would lie in the Persian Gulf, but this would involve transiting the submarines through the Suez Canal (controlled by Egypt), around Africa (impractically far for the Dolphin-class), or stationing some at the naval base at Eilat, which faces the Gulf of Aqaba on the southern tip of Israel and is surrounded by Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. In short, deploying Israeli submarines to Iran's southern flank would require some degree of cooperation and logistical support from other Middle Eastern states that might not be forthcoming in a crisis scenario.

Farley is probably correct in arguing that the Israel's nuclear-tipped SLCMs are less practical than Tel Aviv's other nuclear-delivery platforms. For that matter, Israel doesn't currently face any adversaries with nuclear capabilities to deter against. However, like the idea of second-strike capability in general, the threat of sea-launched nukes may be more intended political weapon than one strictly intended for its military effectiveness.
About the author:
Sébastien Roblin holds a master's degree in conflict resolution from Georgetown University and served as a university instructor for the Peace Corps in China. He has also worked in education, editing, and refugee resettlement in France and the United States. He currently writes on security and military history for War Is Boring (https://warisboring.com/).

Related: One month after 4 merchant ships are "sabotaged"...

Another false-flag: Two more oil tankers attacked in Gulf of Oman, possibly with torpedoes (https://www.sott.net/article/414906-Another-false-flag-Two-more-oil-tankers-attacked-in-Gulf-of-Oman-possibly-with-torpedoes)

silvanelf

13th June 2019, 22:56

The last word says it all: ... poof.

:ROFL:

Pompeo said earlier that the US was in possession of "intelligence" suggesting Iran is behind the attack...but he neglected to offer any poof.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-06-13/2-tankers-damaged-after-suspected-torpedo-attack-near-strait-hormuz-oil-soars

ThePythonicCow

13th June 2019, 23:42

Gregory Mannarino predicts "Now... Expect Imminent US Military Strike On Iran." His forecasting record, especially regarding the Federal Reserve and the New York stock markets, but also related matters, is better than most of us.
dR1F_WvSSJU
Damn, just damn.

(I also posted this at Explosions hit two large oil tankers in Sea of Oman -- Post #6 (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?107391-Explosions-hit-two-large-oil-tankers-in-Sea-of-Oman&p=1296950&viewfull=1#post1296950).)

silvanelf

14th June 2019, 13:11

‘Suspicious doesn’t begin to describe what happened’: Iran’s FM on tanker ‘attacks’ in Gulf of Oman (https://www.rt.com/news/461758-zarif-tanker-attack-suspicious/)

RT
Published time: 13 Jun, 2019 10:41
Edited time: 13 Jun, 2019 11:33
Get short URL (https://on.rt.com/9wam)

https://cdni.rt.com/files/2019.06/article/5d022919dda4c884348b456a.jpg
Image reportedly showing smoke coming from one of the tankers said to have been attacked, May 13, 2019 © AFP PHOTO / HO / IRIB

Iran’s foreign minister has labeled the reported attack on two “Japan-related” oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman as “suspicious,” occurring just as Japanese Prime Minister Abe came to Tehran for major talks.

[...]

There are serious doubts regarding the alleged torpedo attacks. On the web users are debating several possibilities:

torpedos
anti-ship missiles
mines
drones equipped with an explosive payload

All quotes below are reader comments from the "Moon of Alabama" article, see link at the bottom.

First of all, even a single torpedo will cause tremendous damage -- in other words the hole would be very large. Nevertheless, there are some disagreements about this question on the web, see the second quote:

You honestly believe that a supertanker can take three torpedoes and still stay afloat? Really?

In general, sinking a large tanker ship is hard, it is divided lengthwise into multiple compartments, I guess there are parallel tanks too, so even if you create a large hole, or several, the ship is floating.

But here is the crucial point:

If it took a torpedo hit then the damage will be below the waterline and the hull plates will be bent inwards.

The key will be where the damage is: above the waterline, or below the waterline.
[...]
Damage below the waterline could be Iran, or a competent false-flag.
Damage above the waterline suggests an incompetent false-flag.

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2019/06/todays-attacks-on-ships-in-the-gulf-of-oman-are-not-in-irans-interest.html#more

silvanelf

14th June 2019, 13:21

Breaking news from reuters -- a few minutes ago:

'Flying objects' damaged Japanese tanker during attack in Gulf of Oman

TOKYO (Reuters) - Two “flying objects” damaged a Japanese tanker owned by Kokuka Sangyo Co in an attack on Thursday in the Gulf of Oman, but there was no damage to the cargo of methanol, the company president said on Friday.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-tanker-japan-damage/flying-objects-damaged-japanese-tanker-in-gulf-of-oman-shipping-company-president-idUSKCN1TF0M9

Wait a moment -- yesterday the US claimed to know that these were torpedo attacks, now they are talking about mines:

Gulf of Oman tanker attacks: US says video shows Iran removing mine

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-48633016

edit: they say the tanker was struck above the waterline ...

The Kokuka Courageous was damaged in a suspected attack that breached the hull above the waterline while en route from Saudi Arabia to Singapore, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement said. “The ship is safely afloat,” it added.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/13/oil-tankers-blasts-reports-gulf-of-oman-us-navy

Tintin

14th June 2019, 13:37

Echoing my sentiments entirely, in lieu of viewing the above shared video commentaries, the one and only Craig Murray (and posted from here (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?107391-Explosions-hit-two-large-oil-tankers-in-Sea-of-Oman&p=1297050&viewfull=1#post1297050))

——————————————

The Gulf of Credibility
14 Jun, 2019 by Craig Murray (https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2019/06/the-gulf-of-credibility/)

I really cannot begin to fathom how stupid you would have to be to believe that Iran would attack a Japanese oil tanker at the very moment that the Japanese Prime Minister was sitting down to friendly, US-disapproved talks in Tehran on economic cooperation that can help Iran survive the effects of US economic sanctions.

The Japanese-owned Kokuka Courageous was holed above the water line (https://in.reuters.com/article/mideast-tanker-evacuation/bernhard-shulte-says-its-tanker-kokuka-courageous-damaged-after-suspected-attack-idINKCN1TE0UY). That rules out a torpedo attack, which is the explanation being touted by the neo-cons.

The second vessel, the Front Altair, is Norwegian owned and 50% Russian crewed (the others being Filipinos). It is owned by Frontline, a massive tanker leasing company that also has a specific record (https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703691804575254554231664686) of being helpful to Iran in continuing to ship oil despite sanctions.

It was Iran that rescued the crews and helped bring the damaged vessels under control.

That Iran would target a Japanese ship and a friendly Russian crewed ship is a ludicrous allegation. They are however very much the targets that the USA allies in the region – the Saudis, their Gulf Cooperation Council colleagues, and Israel – would target for a false flag. It is worth noting that John Bolton was meeting with United Arab Emirates ministers two weeks ago – both ships had just left the UAE.

The USA and their UK stooges have both immediately leapt in to blame Iran. The media is amplifying this with almost none of the scepticism which is required. I cannot think of a single reason why anybody would believe this particular false flag. It is notable that neither Norway nor Japan has joined in with this ridiculous assertion.

——————————————

Hervé

14th June 2019, 15:50

...

... anyone NOT confused yet?

From Jim Stone:
Something is SERIOUSLY AMISS with the oil tanker reports from ALL sources (http://82.221.129.208/.wi7.html)

There are TONS of inconsistencies. Some sources are saying one of the ships (the one I showed yesterday) sank, yet the ship's operator says it is floating fine, but on fire.

Some sources say the Iranians saved the crews of both ships, other sources are saying The Americans saved the crew of at least one of the ships and the Koreans rescued the crew of the other ship, which begs the question: Why then are both crews sitting in Iran?

Lots of reports are claiming torpedoes. Other reports are claiming Limpet mines. And other reports are claiming "flying objects" hit the ships while Iran is now claiming that upon investigation, it looks like technical issues caused the fires. (http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13980324000337)That's not a done deal yet, and HIGHLY suspicious.

Some reports have both tankers carrying crude oil. Some reports have one carrying gasoline and the other one alcohol. And other reports are claiming one was carrying naptha.

It is very difficult to assess what is going on with all the conflicting crap out there.

The only thing consistent so far is that there are no crews on these ships, Iranian investigators are on at least one of the ships, and it appears everything happened above the water line which means yesterday America's MSM was posting bull**** photos of damaged hulls.

I think Iran's claims that both tankers had "technical issues" are LUDICROUS. They are not done yet, we'll have to see where these stories go.

silvanelf

15th June 2019, 20:28

The neocons drove the Iranians into a corner, that's a dangerous escalation. Trump has no plan B, he seems to be sure that the Iranians will cave in. But all evidence indicates the opposite -- Iran is ready to "go all in."

Russia and China have a strong interest to avoid a Middle East escalation. It will be interesting to see how they try do defuse the situation.

Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo conveyed a message from US President Donald Trump to the Iranian leadership, asking the release of 5 US prisoners and inviting Iran to sit around a negotiation table, adding “he [Donald Trump] would be ready to suspend all sanctions only during the negotiations”. No guarantee was offered to freeze or revoke the sanctions. Sayyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the revolution, rejected the message and any dialogue with the US President and told his guest that he considers Trump unworthy to “to exchange a message with”.

Informed sources close to Iranian decision makers repeated the words of President Hassan Rouhani and the Iranian advisor to Sayyed Khamenei for international affairs, Ali Akbar Velayati, namely that “if Iran can’t export oil through the Persian Gulf, no-one in the Middle East will be able do this”. The source “expects further attacks in the future, given the US decision to stop the flow of oil by all means at all costs. Thus, oil will stop being delivered to the world if Iran can’t export its two million barrels per day”.

-- snip --

https://ejmagnier.com/2019/06/15/trump-offered-to-suspend-sanctions-while-negotiating-with-iran-khamenei-rejected-the-offer-more-attacks-expected/

Hervé

18th June 2019, 14:29

The Broader View Reveals the Ugliest of Prospects (https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2019/06/the-broader-view-reveals-the-ugliest-of-prospects/)

by craig (https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/author/craigm/)
17 Jun, 2019 (https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2019/06/17/)

Standing back a little and surveying the events of the last couple of weeks, gives a bleak view of the current state of western democracy.

We have seen what appears to be the most unconvincing of false flags in the Gulf. I pointed out (https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2019/06/the-gulf-of-credibility) why it was improbable Iran would attack these particular ships. Since then we have had American military sources pointing to video evidence of a packed small Iranian boat allegedly removing a limpet mine from the ship the Iranians helped to rescue, which was somehow supposed to prove it was the Iranians who planted the alleged device. We also have had the Japanese owner specifically contradict (https://www.businessinsider.com/oil-tanker-owner-flying-objects-hit-ship-us-mine-claim-2019-6?r=US&IR=T) the American account and say that the ship was hit by flying objects.

The Iranians certainly have a strange method of bomb disposal if they carry it out using unarmoured personnel, with as many as possible crammed into a small boat in immediate contact with the “mine”. It is also hard to understand why the alleged “limpet mines” would be four feet above the waterline.

Limpet mines are placed below the waterline. There are numerous reasons for this. Firstly, holes above the waterline will not sink a ship. Secondly, the weight of the water helps contain the blast against the ship. Thirdly, it is obviously harder to detect both the diver placing the mine and the mine once placed if it is below the water. In fact it would be very difficult for a diver to place a limpet mine four feet above the waterline, even if they wanted to.

There seems to be a remarkable disconnect between the widespread popular disdain at yet another fake western power casus belli in the Middle East, and the near universal complicity of the UK political and media class in promoting this transparent lie. It is as though even pretending to have any respect for truth and fact has simply been discarded within the UK’s governmental system. Which ought to worry us a lot.
The second development ought to have been the biggest media story of the decade in the UK, if we had anything like a free and honest media. Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State, made plain (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/pompeo-pledges-not-to-wait-for-britains-elections-to-push-back-against-corbyn-and-anti-semitism/2019/06/07/dfeaa180-9c27-4495-9322-3d16b7d1541a_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.c213275fea9a) the Trump administration’s intent to prevent the election of Jeremy Corbyn as Prime Minister. Pompeo told a meeting of Jewish leaders:
It could be that Mr. Corbyn manages to run the gantlet and get elected. It’s possible. You should know, we won’t wait for him to do those things to begin to push back.
This blatant interference by a foreign power in the UK’s democracy is an absolute scandal. Compare the lack of media outrage at Pompeo’s intervention with the ludicrous claims made about much less high profile Russian attempts at influence. This incident provides incontrovertible proof that the world does indeed operate in the way that I have been explaining here for a decade. It is not a “conspiracy theory” that democracy is manipulated by hidden powers, it is fact. Pompeo’s description of Corbyn’s route to election as “running the gauntlet” is particularly revealing. Even more so is the cursory coverage this story was given, and I have seen no evidence to date of any MSM “journalist” attempting any follow-up investigation on the methods the US are planning to employ – or more likely already employing – against Corbyn.

Everybody should be incandescent at this, no matter who they vote for.

Something else which revealed the truth of the way the political world now operates, and which again did not get nearly the media attention it deserves, was Matt Kennard’s stunning revelation (https://twitter.com/DCKennard/status/1138493594728304640) of the way the Guardian has been taken over by the security services. I have been explaining for years that the Guardian has become the security services’ news outlet of choice, and it is very helpful to have documentation to prove it.

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Screenshot-835.png

It is worth noting that the Guardian obeyed completely the DSMA committee ban on mentioning Pablo Miller in reporting the security service fantasy version of the Skripal story. As Kennard points out, it is also very interesting indeed that the Guardian published Luke Harding’s front page fabrication (https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2018/11/assange-never-met-manafort-luke-harding-and-the-guardian-publish-still-more-blatant-mi6-lies/) of Manafort/Assange meetings two weeks after MOD Director Dominic Wilson congratulated Guardian deputy editor Paul Johnson on “re-establishing links” with the security services. The Guardian is, like other British newspapers, as controlled by the military and security services just like in any other decent autocracy.

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Screenshot-836.png

Incidentally, I cannot find Matt Kennard’s excellent work set out anywhere, except in that twitter stream. Surely there is an article on a website somewhere? I cannot find anything on Google, but as it is exactly the kind of information Google routinely suppresses, that does not mean it is not out there. Anyone seen it?

Finally, we have of course seen Sajid Javid sign the extradition warrant for Julian Assange to be sent to the United States for the “crime” of publishing truthful information about US government illegalities. Julian’s extradition hearing was, contrary to normal practice, held despite the fact he was too sick to attend in person. And it was presided over by Judge Arbuthnot, despite the fact that her husband is a former Tory defence minister who started a (https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2018/02/assange-judges-husband-runs-security-firm-ex-head-mi6/) “security consultancy” in partnership with a former head of MI6, the war criminal John Scarlett who oversaw the fabrication of the dossier of lies about Iraqi WMD, in order to launch an illegal war of aggression that killed and maimed millions. The Assange team had asked her to recuse herself on that pretty obvious basis, but she had refused. At an earlier hearing she taunted Assange with the observation that he could get adequate exercise in the Embassy on a 1.5 meter Juliet balcony.

Just as the Guardian has never apologised for, nor withdrawn, the utter lie of the Assange/Manafort story, so the identity politics promoting, false “left” has never apologised for its pursuit of Assange over sexual allegations in Sweden, which were obvious on the slightest scrutiny to be only a fit-up designed to get him into custody. Those figures like David Allen Green, Joan Smith and David Aaronovitch, among scores of other pustulous hacks, who mocked and scorned those of us who always said that Assange faced not extradition to Sweden but to the United States for publishing, have been shown up as, at the very best, stupid naive and unwitting tools of the state, and more likely, insincere and vicious propagandists.

This brief review of current issues reveal that not only do western governments lie and fake, they have really given up on trying to pretend that they do not. The abuse of power is naked and the propaganda is revealed by the lightest effort to brush away the veneer of democracy.

I find it hard to believe that I live in times where Assange suffers as he does for telling the truth, where a dedicated anti-racist like Corbyn is subjected to daily false accusations of racism and to US and security service backed efforts to thwart his democratic prospects, where the most laughable false flag is paraded to move us towards war with Iran, and where there is no semblance of a genuinely independent media. But, starkly, that is where we are. This is not unrelated to the massive and fast growing inequality of wealth; the erosion of freedom is the necessary precondition that allows the ultra-wealthy to loot the rest of us. It remains my hope there will eventually come a public reaction against the political classes as strong as the situation demands.

Ba-ba-Ra

18th June 2019, 19:05

This angle on the Iranian incident which many of us may not have been aware of. From Joseph Farrell
(always layers, eh)

A brief report from AntiWar.com's Eric Garris suggests Thursday's tanker attack incident in the Gulf of Oman which the United States promptly blamed on Iran has directly impacted bills placed before the Senate which would ban US arms sales to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar.

Garris wrote of the vote which came hours after the Gulf tankers incident: "Both votes were considered highly likely to pass up until they were rushed to the floor today. The timing appears almost certainly to have been related to Thursday tanker bombings in the Gulf of Oman, and shifted a number of Senators’ votes in favor of continuing the arms sales." He noted that "some senators switched sides to kill the bills" following news of the tanker attacks.

https://gizadeathstar.com/2019/06/a-bit-of-confirmation-about-those-persian-gulf-attacks/

Hervé

20th June 2019, 17:17

Downed US drone turned off ‘all identifying equipment’ in violation of intl rules, Tehran says (https://www.rt.com/news/462299-us-drone-tracking-equipment/)

RT
Published time: 20 Jun, 2019 12:17
Get short URL (https://on.rt.com/9wpn)

https://cdni.rt.com/files/2019.06/article/5d0b7449dda4c863178b458b.JPG
FILE PHOTO: A US RQ-4 Global Hawk © Reuters / US Navy / Erik Hildebrandt / Northrop Grumman / Handout

A US spy drone downed by Iran had its tracking equipment turned off, contravening aviation rules, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has said.

“The drone took off from a US base in the southern Persian Gulf,” according to a statement by the elite unit. While in the air, the US allegedly attempted to make the drone appear invisible to radar.
It had turned off all its identifying equipment in violation of aviation rules and was moving in full secrecy.
Earlier, Tehran said its air defenses had shot down a US RQ-4 Global Hawk reconnaissance drone overnight, after it illegally entered Iranian airspace over southern Iran.

The US confirmed the incident but insisted the UAV did not cross into Iran. The IRGC commander-in-chief, Hossein Salami, for his part said the aircraft violated the Iranian airspace. He stressed that the response was meant to send “a clear message” to Washington that Tehran was prepared to respond to any further attacks on its soil.

The incident comes as US-Iran tensions continue to simmer with Washington sending additional military resources such as an aircraft carrier fleet, Patriot air defenses, and 1,000 additional troops to the Gulf region.

Related:

US claims Iran downed drone in ‘unprovoked’ act as Tehran warns against crossing ‘red lines’ (https://www.rt.com/usa/462298-us-confirms-drone-downed-iran/)

Downing of US drone a ‘clear message’ to Washington — Iran’s IRGC commander (https://www.rt.com/news/462277-iran-us-drone-message/)

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

It had turned off all its identifying equipment in violation of aviation rules and was moving in full secrecy.Isn't that full stealth mode?

I bet the US didn't expect it to be detected... much less shot down.

Addendum:
According to Jim Stone (http://82.221.129.208/.wi0.html):
If Iran shot down a global hawk, it means they can shoot down an F-35 or any other American stealth aircraft. The global hawk is designed to be a max stealth aircraft and the one shot down was the most current model, entering service in 2015. The United States had only 11 of this $250,000,000 model, now 10. It cost a LOT more than an F-35.
This lends credence to Iran's claim:
Iran unveils homebuilt air defense missile system to destroy ‘stealth targets’ (https://usahitman.com/iuhadstdst/)

silvanelf

20th June 2019, 20:19

I bet the US didn't expect it to be detected... much less shot down.

Addendum:
According to Jim Stone (http://82.221.129.208/.wi0.html):
If Iran shot down a global hawk, it means they can shoot down an F-35 or any other American stealth aircraft. The global hawk is designed to be a max stealth aircraft and the one shot down was the most current model, entering service in 2015. The United States had only 11 of this $250,000,000 model, now 10. It cost a LOT more than an F-35.
This lends credence to Iran's claim:
Iran unveils homebuilt air defense missile system to destroy ‘stealth targets’ (https://usahitman.com/iuhadstdst/)

According to some sources on the web, the drone was flying at an altitude of 60,000 ft.

The loss of the Global Hawk drone is significant. These huge birds, with a wingspan larger than a Boeing 737, are considered strategic assets. They were built as replacements for the infamous U-2 spy planes. They carry highly classified sensors and cost more than $120 million a piece.

Size comparison: Global Hawk (white) vs Boeing 737 (grey) -- left bottom, smaller plane (white): Predator drone

https://www.moonofalabama.org/images8/globalhawk-s.jpg

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2019/06/iran-shoots-down-strategic-us-drone-is-ready-for-war-puts-maximum-pressure-on-trump-.html#more

Hervé

21st June 2019, 14:01

Iran Refrained From Attacking US Plane Accompanying Downed Drone, IRGC Claims (https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201906211076008026-iran-refrained-from-downing-us-plane-that-was-accompanying-drone-irgc-claims/)

Sputnik Middle East (https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/)
14:49 21.06.2019
(updated 15:28 21.06.2019)

https://cdn5.img.sputniknews.com/images/105320/29/1053202981.jpg
© AFP 2019 / Greg WOOD

Earlier, the Iranian foreign ministry said Tehran had "indisputable" proof that the US shot down by an Iranian SAM had violated Iranian airspace. Washington challenged the claim, saying the incident took place over international waters in the Strait of Hormuz.

A US reconnaisance plane was flying not far from the drone which was shot down in the Strait of Hormuz by an Iranian missile and could have been destroyed as well, but Iran's air defence troops refrained from doing so, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force commander Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh said.

"At the moment when the US spy drone was shot down, another American reconnaisance aircraft was near it, which we did not shoot down," Hajizadeh said, speaking to reporters on Friday, according to Fars.

The commander said the plane accompanying the drone was a Boeing P-8 Poseidon with 35 airmen onboard. "This aircraft also violated our air borders. We could have shot it down, but did not do so, because, having shot down the drone, we sent a warning to the American terrorist forces," he said, as quoted by Tasnim.

The US has yet to comment on the IRGC commander's claims.

Hajizadeh also told reporters that Iran had provided the US military with two warnings before shooting down the drone itself. "Unfortunately, when they failed to reply...and the aircraft made no change to its trajectory...we were obliged to shoot it down," the commander said, as cited by AFP.

The IRGC aerospace chief appeared at a media event on Friday, inspecting what appeared to be the remnants of the downed a Northrop Grumman Global Hawk drone, an advanced $130 million surveillance system that's packed with advanced sensors and larger than some small planes.

On Friday, The New York Times reported (https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201906211075998209-trump-approves-strikes-against-iran-on-thursday-but-abruptly-backtracks-on-his-decision---report/), citing a senior Trump administration official, that the president initially approved attacks against a series of Iranian targets in response to the drone shoot down, but backed down just as aircraft and ships set to be involved in the strikes were moved into position to fire.

The two countries have issued disputing claims about where the drone was when it was hit, with Iran saying it has "indisputable" (https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201906211076004933-iran-protest-drone-incident-swiss-envoy/) evidence that the aircraft violated Iranian airspace, and the Pentagon releasing an alleged map (https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201906211075994988-pentagon-releases-flight-path-image-of-downed-drone/) of the plane's flight path showing it skimming the Iranian maritime border in the Strait of Hormuz.

The drone incident is just the latest ramping up of tensions between Tehran and Washington. Last month, the US substantially ramped up its presence in the Middle East, deploying a carrier group, fighters, bombers, air defence systems, and thousands of additional troops to the region amid claims of an 'imminent' Iranian threat against US interests. On Thursday, Iran's defence chief accused (https://sputniknews.com/world/201906211076007822-iran-us-drone-incident-talks/) the US of ramping up tensions in a bid to force Tehran into talks on US terms.

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

That would explain Trump's cryptic comment to the effect of: "There was no one in the drone." (unmanned UAV)

It also underlines another of Iran's targeting missile capabilities: The specific selective detection of the drone in stealth mode as compared to the accompanying Boeing P-8 Poseidon with 35 airmen onboard. Indeed, that's a serious warning!

silvanelf

22nd June 2019, 13:54

The meaning of the word "obliteration" seems obvious: "obliteration like you've never seen before" means a massive nuclear strike. Is it just saber rattling? I don't know what to make of it.

Trump says he doesn't want war with Iran, but there will be 'obliteration' if it comes

President Donald Trump said Friday that he doesn't want war with Iran, but if it comes there will be "obliteration like you've never seen before."

"But I'm not looking to do that," the president added in and exclusive interview with NBC's Chuck Todd for "Meet the Press."

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-says-he-did-not-given-final-approval-iran-strikes-n1020386

Hervé

24th June 2019, 23:19

Don't Assume Tanker Attacks are False Flags (https://www.henrymakow.com/2019/06/Dont-Assume-Tanker-Attacks-are-False-Flags%20.html)

by Brabantian
(henrymakow.com)
June 25, 2019

https://www.henrymakow.com/upload_images/TANKER.jpg

The tanker attacks and the shootdown of the drone may be analogous to Pearl Harbor where the US goaded Japan into attacking.

Russia and China are notably standoffish. Iran may call Trump's bluff.

The Illuminati may be setting the stage for a major war or even World War Three.

Trump's re-election may be expandable to the Greater Cause, Israeli domination of the Middle East and culling more goyim.
"The 'false flag' discussion is distracting us from the bigger moral point, that the USA massively blockading Iran's oil sales and economy. This is itself an act of war and in this case an aggressive war crime."

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

by Brabantian
(henrymakow.com)

As we approach a US-Iran conflict, dissident thinkers have jumped on the idea that the attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf are 'false flags' run by US-Israel & allies in order to wrongly accuse Iran.

Given the long record of USA false flags going back to the 1800s, now adding the 'Greater Israel' agenda etc., the 'false flag blaming Iran' idea makes sense.

But we need to take a broader perspective here, of what the satanic forces are scheming ... the Iran situation may be different than most have yet realised.

Iran has been pushed to the wall by the years of sanctions that are starving and mauling Iran's people. What we may have here, is something more parallel to USA-Japan in 1941, where the USA and Britain blockaded Japan's oil acquisition, pushing Japan into the attack on Pearl Harbor, and start what the Japanese saw as a war of sheer survival. https://www.henrymakow.com/2018/12/pearl-harbor-how-the-illuminati-start-wars.html

The 'false flag' discussion is distracting us from the bigger moral point, that the USA massively blockading Iran's oil sales and economy. This is itself an act of war and in this case an aggressive war crime.

Iran now is in a corner where it must fight back just to survive. Indeed, in both legal and moral senses, Iran has a right to fight back, and maybe they are doing so - as any of us might do.

In fact, Iran has been warning of this since 2018:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-oil-iran/if-iran-cant-export-oil-from-gulf-no-other-country-can-irans-president-says-idUSKBN1O30MI

https://www.henrymakow.com/upload_images/200px-Hassan_Rouhani%20%281%29.jpg

Early 2018 - "If Iran can't export oil no-one in Middle East will" Tehran warned Dec 2018. Iran's President Rouhani repeated: "If one day they want to prevent the export of Iran's oil, then no oil will be exported from the Persian Gulf."

April 2019 - Iran's Major General Mohammed Hossein Bagheri said, "If our oil fails to go through the Strait, others' crude will not either."

Iran's warnings were ignored ... that is, until the 'mysterious' attacks by 'unknown parties', began, in May 2019 against tankers anchored near Fjairah UAE, and in June against the Norwegian & Japanese tankers in the Gulf of Oman ... and in between an attack on Saudi oil pipeline pumping stations.

Now the world is noticing, at last, as Iran perhaps plays out the most dangerous game of all.

Iran fully realises the consequences, the risk of all-out regional war, and of millions of Iranians being killed.

But Iran needs to stop those sanctions strangling its people and killing its children. Millions of Iranians are ready to die as martyrs if it comes down to that.

WORKING THROUGH PROXIES
According to sources inside Iran cultivated by senior mid-east journalist Elijah Magnier - associated with Kuwait's Al Rai media - this is precisely what is happening, with Iran acting through proxies, seeking to make the shipping attacks 'deniable':
https://ejmagnier.com/2019/06/21/iran-and-trump-on-the-edge-of-the-abyss/

Magnier is supported here by Bernd Neuner of Moon of Alabama
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2019/06/iran-decided-to-put-maximum-pressure-on-trump-here-is-how-it-will-do-it.html

What is the reason for USA neo-cons to push for destructive war on Iran? There are several:
- The Greater Israel project, the Oded Yinon plan, the desire to demolish the most powerful of Israel's neighbours - Iran

- Iran's support for Palestinians and the military groups who have been most successful against Israel, Lebanon's Hezbollah, as well as generally against US-Saudi-Israeli forces ... this is the basis of the accusations that 'Iran supports terrorism'

- The fragile state of the global economic machine, saddled with $250 trillion of debt, most of which can never be repaid, a debt house of cards destined for collapse not long from now ... a big war is the best cover for the economic crisis, and also allows the Satanists to pick a more precise time of the collapse, so they can profit from higher oil prices etc. Iran here is the 'right enemy at the right time'.
Also significant here is that with Iran being ravaged by the sanctions of the USA economic war ... the EU, Russia, and China are not doing much to help Iran, despite the Iran 'deal' they all approved in 2015.

The EU made a 'vehicle' to transfer funds with Iran ... but refused to protect EU companies and executives who would be attacked by the US government, so the 'vehicle' was worthless.

Russia & China don't step up here either ... when really, China should buy all of Iran's oil, and Russian ships should protect the transit ... Instead of banding together against the US bully, the East is letting this sanctions-and-war drama continue ... letting Iran be starved and pushed into war ... Russia & China allowing this satanic drama to play out whilst Iran suffers.

https://www.henrymakow.com/upload_images/iran_parliament%20%281%29.jpg

BIZARRE GOVERNMENT

Iran's government is itself a bizarre creation, arguably a somewhat satanic government imposed on a deeply-cultured people. Iran's parliament meeting in a Masonic pyramid. Iranian society - with many practices of Islamic torture, stoning, flogging, amputations, slow-torture short-rope hangings by the hundreds each year - is hugely dysfunctional.

Iran's Shia Islam, with modern technology, has created a strange kind of satanic experiment in family life, in large part due to the Shia practice of 'temporary marriage' for the weekend etc., followed by instant divorce ... a kind of mosque-authorised prostitution for poor Muslim women.

The consequence is that Iran's fertility rate is as bad as the worst of Europe. Iran's millions of military-age men are not being replaced, and soon it will be too late for any fight ... For Iran, it is now or never, and they must risk everything to even have a future.

Many Iranians are wonderful people, and good things in their culture go back millennia ... May God help them, and help us all.

You can find this article permanently at https://www.henrymakow.com/2019/06/Dont-Assume-Tanker-Attacks-are-False-Flags .html

Hervé

25th June 2019, 19:06

...

Pepe Escobar expanding on a similar theme as in the above post:

Escobar: One Quadrillion Reasons Why Washington Fears Iran's "Maximum Counter-Pressure" (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-06-23/escobar-one-quadrillion-reasons-why-washington-fears-irans-maximum-counter-pressure)

https://zh-prod-1cc738ca-7d3b-4a72-b792-20bd8d8fa069.storage.googleapis.com/s3fs-public/styles/thumbnail/public/pictures/picture-5.jpg?itok=LY4e264- (https://www.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden) by Tyler Durden (https://www.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)
Sun, 06/23/2019 - 23:30

Authored by Pepe Escobar via The Strategic Culture Foundation, (https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2019/06/20/iran-goes-for-maximum-counter-pressure/)

Sooner or later the US “maximum pressure” on Iran would inevitably be met by “maximum counter-pressure”. Sparks are ominously bound to fly...

https://zh-prod-1cc738ca-7d3b-4a72-b792-20bd8d8fa069.storage.googleapis.com/s3fs-public/inline-images/pepe200619-930x520.jpg

For the past few days, intelligence circles across Eurasia had been prodding Tehran to consider a quite straightforward scenario. There would be no need to shut down the Strait of Hormuz if Quds Force commander, General Qasem Soleimani, the ultimate Pentagon bête noire, explained in detail, on global media, that Washington simply does not have the military capacity to keep the Strait open.

As I previously reported (https://www.asiatimes.com/2019/06/article/why-trump-now-wants-talks-with-iran/), shutting down the Strait of Hormuz would destroy the American economy by detonating the $1.2 quadrillion derivatives market; and that would collapse the world banking system, crushing the world’s $80 trillion GDP and causing an unprecedented depression.

Soleimani should also state bluntly that Iran may in fact shut down the Strait of Hormuz if the nation is prevented from exporting essential two million barrels of oil a day, mostly to Asia. Exports, which before illegal US sanctions and de facto blockade would normally reach 2.5 million barrels a day, now may be down to only 400,000.

Soleimani’s intervention would align with consistent signs already coming from the IRGC. The Persian Gulf is being described as an imminent “shooting gallery.” Brigadier General Hossein Salami stressed that Iran’s ballistic missiles (https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/iran-s-most-powerful-ballistic-missile-khorramshahr-how-north-korea-s-musudan-was-adapted-for-middle-eastern-requirements) are capable of hitting “carriers in the sea” with pinpoint precision. The whole northern border of the Persian Gulf, on Iranian territory, is lined up with anti-ship missiles – as I confirmed (https://consortiumnews.com/2019/04/24/pepe-escobar-war-on-iran-calling-americas-bluff/) with IRGC-related sources.

We’ll let you know when it’s closed
Then, it happened.

Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Major General Mohammad Baqeri, went straight to the point (https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2019/06/17/598733/Baqeri-Oman-Sea-Persian-Gulf-oil-tankers); “If the Islamic Republic of Iran were determined to prevent export of oil from the Persian Gulf, that determination would be realized in full and announced in public, in view of the power of the country and its Armed Forces.”

The facts are stark. Tehran simply won’t accept all-out economic war lying down – prevented to export the oil that protects its economic survival. The Strait of Hormuz question has been officially addressed. Now it’s time for the derivatives.

Presenting detailed derivatives analysis plus military analysis to global media would force the media pack, mostly Western, to go to Warren Buffett to see if it is true. And it is true. Soleimani, according to this scenario, should say as much and recommend that the media go talk to Warren Buffett.

The extent of a possible derivatives crisis is an uber-taboo theme for the Washington consensus institutions. According to one of my American banking sources, the most accurate figure – $1.2 quadrillion – comes from a Swiss banker, off the record. He should know; the Bank of International Settlements (BIS) – the central bank of central banks – is in Basle.

The key point is it doesn’t matter how the Strait of Hormuz is blocked.

It could be a false flag. Or it could be because the Iranian government feels it’s going to be attacked and then sinks a cargo ship or two. What matters is the final result; any blocking of the energy flow will lead the price of oil to reach $200 a barrel, $500 or even, according to some Goldman Sachs projections, $1,000.

Another US banking source explains:
“The key in the analysis is what is called notional. They are so far out of the money that they are said to mean nothing. But in a crisis the notional can become real. For example, if I buy a call for a million barrels of oil at $300 a barrel, my cost will not be very great as it is thought to be inconceivable that the price will go that high. That is notional. But if the Strait is closed, that can become a stupendous figure.”
BIS will only commit, officially, to indicate the total notional amount outstanding for contracts in derivatives markers is an estimated $542.4 trillion. But this is just an estimate.

The banking source adds,
“Even here it is the notional that has meaning. Huge amounts are interest rate derivatives. Most are notional but if oil goes to a thousand dollars a barrel, then this will affect interest rates if 45% of the world’s GDP is oil. This is what is called in business a contingent liability.”
Goldman Sachs has projected a feasible, possible $1,000 a barrel a few weeks after the Strait of Hormuz being shut down. This figure, times 100 million barrels of oil produced per day, leads us to 45% of the $80 trillion global GDP. It’s self-evident the world economy would collapse based on just that alone.

War dogs barking mad
As much as 30% of the world’s oil supply transits the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Wily Persian Gulf traders – who know better – are virtually unanimous; if Tehran was really responsible for the Gulf of Oman tanker incident, oil prices would be going through the roof by now. They aren’t.

Iran’s territorial waters in the Strait of Hormuz amount to 12 nautical miles (22 km). Since 1959, Iran recognizes only non-military naval transit.

Since 1972, Oman’s territorial waters in the Strait of Hormuz also amount to 12 nautical miles. At its narrowest, the width of the Strait is 21 nautical miles (39 km). That means, crucially, that half of the Strait of Hormuz is in Iranian territorial waters, and the other half in Oman’s. There are no “international waters”.

And that adds to Tehran now openly saying that Iran may decide to close the Strait of Hormuz publicly – and not by stealth.

Iran’s indirect, asymmetric warfare response to any US adventure will be very painful. Prof. Mohammad Marandi of the University of Tehran once again reconfirmed, “even a limited strike will be met by a major and disproportionate response.” And that means gloves off, big time; anything from really blowing up tankers to, in Marandi’s words, “Saudi and UAE oil facilities in flames”.

Hezbollah will launch tens of thousands of missiles against Israel. As Hezbollah’s secretary-general Hasan Nasrallah has been stressing in his speeches, “war on Iran will not remain within that country’s borders, rather it will mean that the entire [Middle East] region will be set ablaze. All of the American forces and interests in the region will be wiped out, and with them the conspirators, first among them Israel and the Saudi ruling family.”

It’s quite enlightening to pay close attention to what this Israel intel op is saying (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw0DuAh5Rg8&feature=youtu.be). The dogs of war though are barking mad (https://www.jpost.com/printarticle.aspx?id=592832).

Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo jetted to CENTCOM in Tampa to discuss “regional security concerns and ongoing operations” with – skeptical – generals, a euphemism for “maxim pressure” eventually leading to war on Iran.

Iranian diplomacy, discreetly, has already informed the EU – and the Swiss – about their ability to crash the entire world economy. But still that was not enough to remove US sanctions.

War zone in effect
As it stands in Trumpland, former CIA Mike “We lied, We cheated, We stole” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5NkAnmhP1w) Pompeo – America’s “top diplomat” – is virtually running the Pentagon. “Acting” secretary Shanahan performed self-immolation. Pompeo continues to actively sell the notion the “intelligence community is convinced” Iran is responsible for the Gulf of Oman tanker incident. Washington is ablaze with rumors of an ominous double bill in the near future; Pompeo as head of the Pentagon and Psycho John Bolton as Secretary of State. That would spell out War.

Yet even before sparks start to fly, Iran could declare that the Persian Gulf is in a state of war; declare that the Strait of Hormuz is a war zone; and then ban all “hostile” military and civilian traffic in its half of the Strait. Without firing a single shot, no shipping company on the planet would have oil tankers transiting the Persian Gulf.

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

I vaguely recall Bill Deagle mentioning that WW III will start in the Straight of Ormuz with some US aircraft carrier being sunk and the straight being closed to maritime traffic... not a pretty vision.

Hervé

1st July 2019, 13:05

Israeli airstrikes on Syria kills 4 civilians, including toddler - As fourth and final S-300 became operational (https://www.rt.com/news/463081-syria-air-defenses-explosions/)

RT (https://www.rt.com/news/463081-syria-air-defenses-explosions/)
Sun, 30 Jun 2019 21:53 UTC

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FILE PHOTO: © Reuters / Ammar Awad

Syrian air defenses have responded to apparent missile attacks in the vicinity of Damascus and Homs, SANA reports, with its military source claiming that a number of 'hostile targets' have been intercepted.

At least 4 people, including a baby, were killed in the strikes on the Damascus countryside, while 21 others suffered injuries, according to state TV. One of those injured is a month-old baby girl, who suffered burns and facial wounds. Besides the casualties, a number of houses on the outskirts of Damascus suffered "material damage."

The missiles were launched from Lebanese airspace, where Israeli aircraft were spotted making low-altitude flights around the time of the incident, according to TV channel Al-Mayadeen, Al-Masdar News, and other regional sources.

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/778373218084282369/viY9zAxZ_bigger.jpg Eva J. Koulouriotis - إيفا كولوريوتي‏ @evacool_ (https://twitter.com/evacool_)

#BREAKING (https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash) #NOW (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NOW?src=hash) A number of explosions rocked the Syrian capital #Damascus (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Damascus?src=hash). #Syria (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Syria?src=hash) #Israel (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Israel?src=hash) #IDF (https://twitter.com/hashtag/IDF?src=hash) #IAF (https://twitter.com/hashtag/IAF?src=hash) #Iran (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iran?src=hash) #IRGC (https://twitter.com/hashtag/IRGC?src=hash) #Russia (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Russia?src=hash) #USA (https://twitter.com/hashtag/USA?src=hash)

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2:39 PM - 30 Jun 2019

4 replies 66 retweets 62 likes
The targets allegedly included Mezzeh military airport near Damascus, as well as the nearby towns of Jamraya, Sahnaya, and Daraya. Another site was also targeted in Homs Governorate, near the Lebanese border.

Israel has repeatedly carried out cross-border raids into Syria in the past, but has rarely admitted this. It has yet to comment on the latest incident. However, in recent weeks, Tel Aviv confirmed striking multiple Syrian Army installations in retaliation for cross-border tensions surrounding the occupied Golan Heights.

Damascus has urged the UN to put an end to these blatant sovereignty violations by Israel on several occasions. The Syrian government believes that Israeli strikes only bolster the fighting spirit of the remaining terrorists in the country.

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1065632758406569984/QZBw2fIh_bigger.jpg H.K (https://twitter.com/Ibra_Joudeh) Verified account @Ibra_Joudeh (https://twitter.com/Ibra_Joudeh) 15h15 hours ago (https://twitter.com/Ibra_Joudeh/status/1145448493466738688)

Some missiles landed in residential areas.

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https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D-VzUsWWsAA4XEV.jpg

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8 replies 118 retweets 88 likes

H.K (https://twitter.com/Ibra_Joudeh) Verified account @Ibra_Joudeh (https://twitter.com/Ibra_Joudeh)

More pics, some missiles hit Mazzeh airbase in Damascus city.

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3:02 PM - 30 Jun 2019
5 replies 50 retweets 39 likes

Qp9aXUUu2O0

Related:
Fort Russ provides more details (https://www.fort-russ.com/2019/07/breaking-video-israel-air-force-raid-on-damascus-homs-hama/):
At midnight, the Israeli aviation and fleet carried out a combined attack on Syrian territory of great proportions with dozens of missiles launched, of which it is part of cruisers from ships. The missiles were flying from Lebanon.

In the video below, Syrian air defense systems can be seen shooting down eleven (11) missiles.

You can watch the video here (https://www.fort-russ.com/2019/07/breaking-video-israel-air-force-raid-on-damascus-homs-hama/).

The rampage above the Syrian sky lasted more than an hour. The Syrian PVO (air defense) has intercepted more than 50% of the rockets. Locations that are battered are found in the provinces of Damascus, Homs and Hama. Several rockets hit the base Mezeh south of Damascus, a warehouse near the Syrian-Lebanese border. The Syrian army operated the S-200 large-scale systems from the province of Homs in the direction of Lebanon.

Syria is using the S-200's for a number of reasons. The S-300 Favorite of the PMU is in Hama but has a 200km range. The cruise missiles are coming from a bigger range than that. But this attacks with curse missiles are not effective. Therefore they can not attack with reasonable accuracy from the distance that Israel is firing from. Still, Syria has managed to down more than 60% of the Israeli missiles. The Syrian army unfortunately can not attack Israel planes in Lebanon air space, even though Lebanon has either allowed Israel to use its Airspace, or while Lebanon is in no position to counter Israeli presence in its airspace.Still Israel is frustrated that they can not penetrate the A2-ad zone to start a more serious air raid at a closer range, that is within 200 km, because their planes would be decimated.

Sputnik (https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201907011076108858-syrian-air-defence-respond-to-rocket-attacks-near-damascus-homs/):
A correspondent from the scene also reported that a series of powerful blasts had rocked the skies over Damascus.

According to a Syrian military source, the missile attacks were carried out by the Israeli Air Force. There was no immediate confirmation on that matter from Israel.

"The Syrian Air Defence Force repelled the attack of missiles launched by Israeli military aircraft from Lebanese airspace in the direction of our military positions in Homs and near Damascus", the source said.

The attack resulted in four people being killed, while 21 more were wounded, local media reported on Monday.

Lebanese TV-channel Al-Mayadeen, meanwhile, has reported that explosions also heard on the Syria-Lebanon border, correspond in time with Israeli aviation's low-altitude flights in the south of Lebanon.

Later, a source at Beirut International Airport also said that the attack had been conducted by the Israeli military from Lebanon.

"We observed that before the attack on Syria ten or more Israeli military aircraft entered the airspace", the source said.

Tel Aviv has previously admitted to carrying out "hundreds" of air attacks against Syria in recent years, and said that the strikes are aimed at countering an alleged Iranian and Iranian-linked presence in the war-torn country. Damascus has condemned the attacks as a blatant violation of international law. Iran has said that its presence in Syria has been limited to helping Damascus fight Daesh (ISIS)*, al-Qaeda,* and other terrorist groups.

Zero Hedge notes (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-06-30/major-israeli-airstrikes-syria-just-s-300-missiles-were-reported-operational) these attacks occurred just as the S-300s became operational:
Syrian state media published footage showing missile intercepts of inbound projectiles.

It is also as yet unknown if the S-300s were active during the air strikes, however, Israeli media reports suggested that newly installed S-300s at several sites as well as Iranian troop presence was a prime cause behind the Israeli action, despite the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) neither confirming nor denying the strikes (https://www.timesofisrael.com/syria-says-israeli-jets-hit-targets-in-homs-and-damascus/):
The reported strikes came just hours after an Israeli satellite imagery analysis company said Syria's entire S-300 air defense system appeared to be operational (https://www.timesofisrael.com/satellite-intel-firm-syrias-entire-s-300-air-defenses-likely-operational/), indicating a greater threat to Israel's ability to conduct airstrikes against Iranian and pro-Iranian forces in the country.

Until now, only three of the country's four surface-to-air missile launchers had been seen fully erected at the Masyaf base in northwestern Syria.

Israel has threatened to destroy the S-300 system (https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-believes-iran-pulling-forces-in-syria-away-from-israel-border-due-to-strikes/) if it is used against its fighter jets, regardless of the potential blowback from Russia. Journalist Danny Makki called the overnight air strikes "certainly one of the biggest Israeli attacks on Syria this year" - given that two provinces were targeted, as well as multiple installations and a civilian neighborhood being hit.

Also:

The Real Story Behind Israel's Attack on "Iranian" Targets in Syria and Trump's Abandonment of the Iran Deal (https://www.sott.net/article/385248-The-Real-Story-Behind-Israels-Attack-on-Iranian-Targets-in-Syria-and-Trumps-Abandonment-of-the-Iran-Deal#)

Akasha

18th July 2019, 08:29

Youtube channel If Americans Knew (https://www.youtube.com/user/IfAmericansKnewVideo/videos)'s video How Israel Censors the Internet (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq0Jg0ZyS4k) was recently removed from Youtube amid allegations of hate speech. In fact it is nothing of the sort, instead accurately documenting Israel's own comments and statements on the subject of social media influence and information control, and so, under appeal the video was reinstated but with an age restriction which was also appealed leading to Youtube dropping that restriction too.

Kudos to If Americans Knew for their perseverance. Many would have just buckled under the pressure of this media giant.

Hq0Jg0ZyS4k

It should also be noted that just in case Youtube renege again and remove the video a third time, it has been backed up on what is rapidly becoming, due to their draconian content policies, their nemesis in the arena of uncensored reportage, namely 153news.net (https://153news.net/):

If Americans Knew - How Israel Censors the Internet (https://153news.net/watch_video.php?v=G4GWR8W21R7R)

Hervé

8th September 2019, 14:13

Pepe Escobar interviews Brazil's Lula: The Iran deal (https://www.asiatimes.com/2019/09/article/inside-story-of-the-first-iran-nuclear-deal/)

Pepe Escobar Asia Times (https://www.asiatimes.com/2019/09/article/inside-story-of-the-first-iran-nuclear-deal/)
Fri, 06 Sep 2019 19:47 UTC

https://www.sott.net/image/s26/537264/large/iran_900x540.jpg (https://www.sott.net/image/s26/537264/full/iran_900x540.jpg)
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, with Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, center, and Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan celebrate the signing of a nuclear fuel swap deal in Tehran in May 2010. © AFP / Wilson Pedrosa / Agenciia Estado

As we advanced past the first hour of a historic interview - see here (https://www.asiatimes.com/2019/08/article/lula-from-jail-tells-world-hes-back-in-the-game/) and here (https://www.asiatimes.com/2019/08/article/brics-was-created-as-a-tool-of-attack-lula/) - at a Federal Police building in Curitiba, southern Brazil, where Lula has been incarcerated for over 500 days as part of the lawfare endgame (https://theintercept.com/2019/06/09/brazil-archive-operation-car-wash/) in a complex coup, former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was on a roll.

"Let me tell you about Iran."

He felt relaxed enough to start telling stories of political negotiation at the highest level. He had already set the context. Nuggets abounded - especially focusing on the sometimes rocky relationship between Brasilia and Washington. Here are only three examples:

1) On the overall relationship with the US: "People think that I'm angry at the Americans. On the contrary, we had a very healthy political relationship with the US, and that should be the case for Brazil. But to be subservient, never."

Fights with Hillary
2) On dealing with George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton: "Bush accepted ideas with more fluidity than Obama. Obama was much tougher with Brazil. I'm certain that Hillary Clinton does not like Latin America, and she didn't like Brazil. I had two big fights with her, one in a meeting in Trinidad-Tobago and another in Copenhagen [at the climate conference COP-15]. She arrived late, bossing everyone around. I said, 'Lady, hang on. Wait for your turn. I've been here for three days.' The petulance and arrogance of the Americans disturbs me, even if I think that the United States is always an important nation, and we should always maintain a good relationship."

3) On hybrid war: "We tried to organize intelligence in the Air Force, the Navy, along with Federal Police intel, but among them there were some pretty serious fights. Whoever has intel has power, so no one wants to relay information to the competitor.... I imagined that after it was clear [from Edward Snowden's revelations (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/30/brazil-dilma-rousseff-obama-nsa-spying-apology) about National Security Agency surveillance] that ... the United States was investigating Brazil ... I imagined we would have a tougher position, maybe talking to the Russians and the Chinese, to create another system of protection. Our main political gesture was Dilma [Rousseff, then the Brazilian president] traveling to the US, but Obama, it seems to me, had very little influence.

Obama 'too young'
"It was fantastic, Obama's capacity to deliver beautiful speeches, but the next day nothing happened, nothing, nothing. I think the United States was too big for Obama, he was too young, too inexperienced. And you know that the US State Department is very powerful.... I think Obama was a good man. When I went to visit him the first time ... I left with a lingering doubt: there was no one remotely similar to him in the meeting. I said to myself, 'This guy has no one matching him here.' And in our conversation, I said, 'Obama, you may be the President of the United States who has the greatest possibility to effect change in this country. Because you only need to have the audacity that black people had to vote for you. The people have already granted you the audacity. Make the best of it.'... But then, nothing much happened."

And that would set the scene for the inside story of the first Iran nuclear deal, clinched in Tehran in 2010 by Iran, Brazil and Turkey, and centered on a nuclear fuel swap, years before the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action reached in Vienna in 2015 by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany.

History will register that as Donald Trump smashed the JCPOA, Hillary Clinton scotched the original deal less than 24 hours after it was clinched, calling instead for a new round of sanctions against Iran at the UN Security Council.

This (https://web.archive.org/web/20100523235350/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/LE22Ak01.html≈ç) is how I reported it for Asia Times. Lula, in early 2010, had already told Hillary in person it was not "prudent to push Iran against the wall."

So what really happened in Tehran?

Meeting Khamenei, Ahmadinejad
"I was in New York. And [then Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad didn't like me. He showed respect, but his preferential relationship here in the continent was with Evo Morales and my friend [Venezuela's Hugo] Chavez... Then one day in New York, I decided to talk to Ahmadinejad, because he had said it was a lie that six million Jews had died. And then I said, 'Look, Ahmadinejad, I came here because I wanted to know if it's true that you said that the Jews want to be heroes because they died in the war. I wanna tell you something: The Jews did not die in the war. The Jews were victims of a genocide. They were not soldiers fighting. They were free men, women and children who were taken to concentration camps and killed, that's different.'

"He said, 'I know,' and I said, 'If you know, tell it to everyone, it's not possible to deny that six million people were killed.' ... Well, during this conversation I said, 'I'd like to go to Tehran to talk to you about the nuclear bomb. What do I want from you? I want you to have the same right that Brazil has. Brazil enriches uranium for scientific and peaceful purposes. I want you to do enrichment the same way as Brazil. But if there's an atomic bomb, I'm against it.'

https://www.sott.net/image/s26/537265/large/Iran_Ayatollah_e1549951035949.jpg (https://www.sott.net/image/s26/537265/full/Iran_Ayatollah_e1549951035949.jpg)
Iran's religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks in Tehran on February 2019.© AFP / Anadolu / Religious Leader's Press Office

"Then I sent [Foreign Minister] Celso Amorim ahead, a few times. We cultivated a relationship with Turkey. It was something very funny. I met the great Ayatollah Khamenei, I had a meeting with him, I think he fell in love with me because I told him my life story. When I told him that I ate bread for the first time when I was seven years old, I thought, 'I think I won this guy.' He lavished extraordinary attention on us. We talked for over two hours. Then I left Khamenei and went to talk to the president of their congress; he looked like a czar. Then I went to dinner with Ahmadinejad, while Celso Amorim was negotiating with their prime minister.

"Ahmadinejad was not getting to the point, and I said, 'Let me tell you something.' And we had two interpreters: one who translated him into English, and Celso, who translated from English to me. I said, 'You know that I'm here being bashed by the Americans. Hillary Clinton called the Emir of Qatar to tell me that I could not come, to tell me that I would be fooled. When I arrived in Moscow, [then-president Dmitri Medvedev said, 'Hillary called, asking me to tell you not to go the Iranians are liars.' There was even a media joke: They were asking about the chance of a deal. Medvedev said '10%,' and I said '99% - we are going there and we are going to do it.'

[B]Obama nervous
"Then I arrived, I was sitting down with Ahmadinejad, and I said, 'Hey, little guy [laughs], you know that I'm here, I'm losing my friends. Obama is nervous with me - Obama was the most nervous among them all, Angela Merkel does not want me to be here. The only one more or less favorable was [then-French president Nicholas] Sarkozy, and I came here because I think Iran is a very important country, not only from the point of view of your population but from the point of view of your culture. And I want Iran not to suffer the consequences of an embargo because an embargo is worse than war. In war, you kill soldiers. With an embargo you kill children, you kill people with serious illnesses.'

"It was already 10pm at night and I said, 'I'm not leaving here without a deal.' Up to this moment, there was no chance of a deal. Around midnight I was discussing things with my aides at the hotel. I was even imagining the headlines in Brazil, against my trip. Then Celso arrived at one in the morning and said, 'There'll be a deal.'

"Then we went there the next day, lots of talking, there was this guy who was an aide to Ahmadinejad and was always whispering in his ear, and Ahmadinejad demanded to change a word. So I told him, 'Damn, get this guy outta here. Every time he comes here you change your mind.' Then he said, 'Lula, can we make a deal without signing it?' And I said, 'Nah.... Do you know what Sarkozy thinks about you? Do you know what Obama thinks about you? Do you know what Angela Merkel thinks about you? They all think Iranians are liars. So, in Brazil, we've got a thing called 'black on white'. You gotta sign.' So he agreed. We signed, Brazil, him and Turkey.

https://www.sott.net/image/s26/537266/large/Lula_and_Obama_at_Copenhagen_2.jpg (https://www.sott.net/image/s26/537266/full/Lula_and_Obama_at_Copenhagen_2.jpg)
Lula and US President Barack Obama, on left, meet with other leaders in Copenhagen in December 2009 at the COP15 Climate Conference. © AFP

[B]No talk, no deal
"I imagined I would be invited to the White House, or to Berlin by Angela Merkel.... So imagine my surprise when they were so nervous. You know that kid that goes to school, gets an 'A,' tells his mother and the mother thinks it's a bad thing? I think they were pissed because Brazil could not possibly have achieved what they did not. They started to diss us, so what did I do? I took a letter that comrade Obama had sent, saying what would be good for the United States. And the Reuters news agency released Obama's letter. And the letter was the same thing as the deal we clinched.

"It happened that Mrs. Hillary didn't know about Obama's letter.... Later, I was at a G-20 meeting, I approached Angela Merkel and said, 'Have you talked to Ahmadinejad?' I talked to Sarzoky, said, 'Have you talked to Ahmadinejad?' No. Approached Obama, said, 'Have you talked to Ahmadinejad?' 'No.' 'Damn, how come you want a deal, but you don't talk? You subcontract the negotiation? Then I understood that the world in the past had had leadership much, much more competent, left and right, people who knew how to discuss foreign policy."

After hearing this story I asked Lula - the ultimate instinctive politician - if he felt Obama had stabbed him in the back: "No," he replied. "I think, have you ever received a gift you didn't know how to put it together?"

[I]This is the last of a three-part series from a world exclusive interview with Lula, the former Brazilian president, who remains in jail.

Related:

The economic entrails at the heart of the 'deal of the century' (https://www.sott.net/article/415636-The-economic-entrails-at-the-heart-of-the-deal-of-the-century)

EU and China oppose and will ignore US sanctions against Iranian Foreign Minister (https://www.sott.net/article/417809-EU-and-China-oppose-and-will-ignore-US-sanctions-against-Iranian-Foreign-Minister)

'Ghosting': Iran delivers 1 million barrels of oil to fuel starved Syria in defiance of sanctions (https://www.sott.net/article/412890-Ghosting-Iran-delivers-1-million-barrels-of-oil-to-fuel-starved-Syria-in-defiance-of-sanctions)

Hervé

9th September 2019, 16:47

To understand what’s going on now, see the British struggle to overthrow Gamel Abdel Nasser (https://www.fort-russ.com/2019/09/to-understand-whats-going-on-now-see-the-british-struggle-to-overthrow-gamel-abdel-nasser/)

https://www.fort-russ.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Capture-1-150x150.jpgBy Tom Winter
(https://www.fort-russ.com/author/tom-winter/)
Last updated Sep 9, 2019

https://www.fort-russ.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Screen-Shot-2019-09-09-at-7.24.23-AM-750x430.png
PM Eden had to work for his war

A motto for Fort Russ readers: “Prudens est, qui futura ex preteritis providere posit” One is prudent, who can foresee oncoming things from past ones.
Again and again, we see that in the western MSM, a “fascist dictator” is a leader who desires 1) to throw off the yoke of colonialism, and 2) to have the resources of his own country benefit his own country, not your country.

Now, when the US is attempting economic war on Venezuela and Iran, and economic and shooting war on Syria, it clarifies matters to see, as this documentary reveals, the economic and then shooting war on Egypt, as Egypt attempted to modernize and upgrade the life of its citizens.

When the West’s economic war against Egypt led Gamel Abdel Nasser to acquire the transit fees from the canal that transited his country, push came to shove. He nationalized the Suez Canal. And what was the reaction of the British Prime Minister? “We all know this is how fascist dictators behave.”

When the BBC was still the BBC

ETOUALw2EIs
Watch this old BBC documentary and see how the still-colonial powers behave. It gives a better understanding of what is going on today. In modern terms, if you’ve already seen this movie, you know how it’s going to wind up. Prudence is the skill of seeing forward. A contraction of pro “forward” and seeing “videre.” No better definition of prudence exists than given by Pliny the Younger. Here is the defining passage:
“but, as I often say, I’m waiting for Mauritius. The guy is heavy, prudent, learned from living through so much and who can foresee [providere] future things from past events.”
[Verum, ut idem saepius dicam, exspecto Mauricum. Vir est gravis prudens, multis experimentis eruditus et qui futura possit ex praeteritis providere.]

Hervé

16th September 2019, 17:52

NEO – The Strange Case of the Burning Saudi Refineries (https://www.veteranstoday.com/2019/09/16/neo-the-strange-case-of-the-burning-saudi-refineries/)

By Gordon Duff, Senior Editor (https://www.veteranstoday.com/author/gordonduff/) -
September 16, 2019 1969

https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_02-Sep.-15-11.15.jpg

[ Editor’s Note: VT has pinged all if its sources and the concensus is a question. How could a swarm missile/drone attack get through the air defenses of the Saudis who spent big money for them?

If the incoming missiles were tracked, why were not they printed out like the Iranians did in their shoot down of the US drone over the Gulf, something that most American have never seen or heard because US media blacked it out?

The Houthis were quick this morning for claiming full credit for the attack, and even warning foreigners to stay away from ARAMCO facilities, as they have promised more attacks, stating that Saudi Arabia has no way of stopping them.

There is also the possibility that the Houthis did launch an attack and someone else took advantage to attack as well to make sure the damages was huge and blame on Iran to stimulate a US retaliation response.

Gosh, what part in the Mideast would do something like that? On Gordon’s list is the Israelis, not because he is mean, but because they have the F-35 and they might be using their stealth capabilities to have them called drone attacks.

As Gordon has published before, the F-35 cannot carry a large weapons load, but can do fine for example of taking out the four Iran warehouses in the al-Bakumal border crossing area. Who stands to gain the most by stirring the war pot now, just before the Israeli elections?… Jim W. Dean (https://www.veteranstoday.com/editorial-board/) ]

https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/127aff74-e4a7-46cc-8dba-a3fbaf3ffe46-640x360.jpg
ARAMCO burns

First published … September 16, 2019 –

The September 2019 attack that cut Saudi Arabia’s oil production by up to 60% and has thrown the world into chaos was not a surprise. The claim by US Secretary of State that “Iran did it” is no surprise as well.

That Yemen did it, destroyed the world’s largest oil refinery that has the world’s best air defenses, almost, is a surprise. It is also quite possible that some other “player” is responsible. Let’s postulate about that a bit, perhaps even delving into the kind of conspiracy theories that, of late, have turned out to be correct over and over.

First of all, Saudi Arabia had recently asked Russia for the S400 air defense system. Saudi Arabia has spent endless billions on air defenses and, periodically, drones and missiles from Yemen get through.

The same thing happens to Israel as well, which has led that nation to making “under the table” deals with Hamas over and over while the Likudists play out their “goosestepping” militarist roles for Israel’s misled population, one subject to military censorship over everything they read and see.

You see, the S400 is for defense against lots of things, but for Saudi Arabia with highly robust defenses already, the S400 would be used to stave off attacks from stealth aircraft, its specialty. Of regional players, only Israel has such aircraft.

But then, aren’t Saudi Arabia and Israel good friends, after all, each secretly aided ISIS and al Qaeda for years. But are they really friends or was this a “marriage of convenience? For those who read MSM, even those questions will be unfamiliar as the terror pact between those nations has been censored widely.

What might drive things to get to the point where Israel might bomb Saudi Arabia? Well, Israel is facing an election and a key part of that election is the meltdown Israel is having over its “first couple,” the Netanyahus.

Money dictates politics there as everywhere else and the Adelson family, richest Israelis, have been picking up the political bills for the Netanyahus for years. That’s over. The Adelsons now say the Netanyahus are crazy and Miriam Adelson is a psychologist. This is no small problem as the Adelsons are the biggest political contributors in the US as well.

To get past this, Netanyahu promised to declare most if not all the West Bank as part of Israel, a deal breaker for nations that had, temporarily at least, begun looking at rebuilding relations with Israel, that being Turkey, Saudi Arabia and maybe even Iraq. That’s all done now.

Then the issue of random and continual bombing of Syria by Israel, bombing attacks supposedly on Iranian troops but too often killing civilians or clearly intended to aid operations of terror groups.

Let us add, by terror groups, we mean groups officially banned in Russia as terror groups, a list you don’t casually get on as in the US. Russia really hunts down terrorists.

According to reports from the Jerusalem Post, Russia has expressed extreme “concern” of not only Israel’s attacks on Syria but their move to seize the ad hoc Palestinian State on the West Bank and “ethnically cleanse” its Palestinian population, causing an unprecedented humanitarian disaster.

Netanyahu returned from his September 2019 visit to Moscow with his tail between his legs, all reports indicating that he was deeply chastised by Putin.

Then there’s the loss of John Bolton, former presidential advisor who, for the past few decades, has been on the payroll of one Israeli run special interest group or the other, a man many if not most Americans consider the worst presidential advisor ever, one that keeps coming back to life like a zombie.

The answer was simple. Israel is at the end of the road with Saudi Arabia. ISIS is defeated and their cooperation in backing ISIS against Syria and Iraq is now an embarrassment. Saudi Arabia is now seeking peace with Yemen, a disaster for Israel’s regional policy of “keep all wars going.”

Worst still, the UAE and Iran are now openly cooperating in Persian Gulf security. Thus, when a huge Saudi oil complex was hit over and over in a 9/11 style attack, figuring out who might well have done this is relatively easy.

It doesn’t benefit Iran. This would be a direct attack on Saudi Arabia and Iran has been winning the political war, not just with the UAE but Russia and the EU as well along with continued support from China. Iran had no reason to attack.

Yemen is at war with Saudi Arabia and has some capabilities but not these capabilities, not to obliterate the biggest cash producer Saudi Arabia has. Only one nation in the region has the F35, a plane designed to take out oil facilities.

You see, along with stealth, the F35 has limitations. If it operates without other aircraft along, like the F15E bomber, the limited bomb load of the F35 is only useful against targets that are vulnerable to smaller weapons, targets like oil refineries.

This proves capability. I think we have more than proven Israel’s motivation and timing. We can still claim Yemen did it and Yemen would be happy to take credit except no military expert remotely accepts that Yemen did this.

We do know that, for Iran, there would have been no reason. Iran was already winning. We could also look for recent analogues. Why did Syria turn to poison gas whenever they were in the last stages of crushing areas controlled by terrorists closely tied to Israel?

What are we saying or perhaps not saying here?

Thus, when Russia took 40 members of the White Helmets organization to The Hague to testify to their complicity in staging fake gas attacks on behalf of unnamed Western powers and Israel, when dozens of witnesses, parents of children kidnapped by the White Helmets or doctors threatened by them testified, the press blacked it out.

In the long run, the now two-decade war that involves fake terror events, staged color revolutions and endless political misdeeds, at the center of it all we find Israel and their political allies who hold power in the US, Britain and France due to financial support from sectors tied to Israel, not just lobbyists but criminal groups as well.

Keeping the lid on this is the army of fake think tanks, bribed and blackmailed politicians, press operatives, wholly owned media groups and politicized social media monoliths.

Still, in the end, Israel seems to be circling the drain, more hated than ever, more Isolated and, oddly enough, less and less of a “Jewish state” and more of a “criminal state.”

Proving this point, we need only refer to the statements by Donald Trump of the betrayal of Israel by American Jews, people who put ethics above politics, who put America before a brutal Israeli regime.

Trump calls American Jews “traitors.” Some simply call them Americans like others. At one time, Israel was defended by its ability to draw on the holocaust and smears of anti-Semitism when their brutality against their own people was exposed.

Time is now closing in. Did Israel bomb Saudi Arabia? Will Israel’s remaining “man in Washington,” Mike Pompeo get the war Israel is asking for, a war where Israel will be destroyed as well?

Wait, who would want Israel destroyed to save himself? Are the Netanyahus as “crazy” as Shelly and Miriam Adelson claim?

Would they “burn Israel to the ground” to save themselves from prison for corruption charges? Who benefits if even Israel is destroyed in a war seemingly begun to advance Israel’s interests?

Do understand this, it is necessary to think of the world as being in a “post-nation-state” phase. When one does that, conspiracies are easier to understand and accept.

Related:

Israel stages F35 Saudi attack after Putin’s smackdown of Netanyahu over Syria (https://www.veteranstoday.com/2019/09/15/israel-stages-f35-saudi-attack-after-putins-smackdown-of-netanyahu-over-syria/)

Hervé

16th September 2019, 20:47

US defense failure… Why Washington has to blame Iran over Saudi attacks (https://www.rt.com/op-ed/468935-saudi-oil-field-drone-attack/)

RT
By Finian Cunningham
Published time: 16 Sep, 2019 16:06

Edited time: 16 Sep, 2019 16:16
Get short URL (https://on.rt.com/a1tz)

https://cdni.rt.com/files/2019.09/article/5d7fa27a85f54040ac2568b8.jpg
Smoke billows from an Aramco oil facility in Abqaiq © AFP

The devastating blitz on Saudi Arabia’s oil industry has led to a flurry of accusations from US officials blaming Iran. The reason for the finger-pointing is simple:
Washington’s spectacular failure to protect its Saudi ally.
The Trump administration needs to scapegoat Iran for the latest military assault on Saudi Arabia because to acknowledge that the Houthi rebels mounted such an audacious assault on the oil kingdom’s heartland would be an admission of American inadequacy.

Saudi Arabia has spent billions of dollars in recent years purchasing US Patriot missile defense systems and supposedly cutting-edge radar technology from the Pentagon. If the Yemeni rebels can fly combat drones up to 1,000 kilometers into Saudi territory and knock out the linchpin production sites in the kingdom’s oil industry, then that should be a matter of huge embarrassment for US “protectors.”

American defense of Saudi Arabia is germane to their historical relationship. Saudi oil exports nominated in dollars for trade – the biggest on the planet – are vital for maintaining the petrodollar global market, which is in turn crucial for American economic power. In return, the US is obligated to be a protector of the Saudi monarchy, which comes with the lucrative added benefit of selling the kingdom weapons worth billions of dollars every year.

According to (https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2019/world-military-expenditure-grows-18-trillion-2018) the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Saudi Arabia has the world’s third biggest military budget, behind the US and China. With an annual spend of around $68 billion, it is the world’s number one in terms of percentage of gross domestic product (8.8 per cent). Most of the Saudi arms are sourced from the US, with Patriot missile systems in particular being a recent big-ticket item.

Yet for all that financial largesse and the finest American military technology, the oil kingdom just witnessed a potentially crippling wave of air assaults on its vital oil industry. Saudi oil production at its mammoth refinery complex at Abqaiq, 205 miles (330 kms) east of the capital Riyadh, was down 50 per cent after it was engulfed by flames following air strikes. One of the Saudi’s biggest oilfields, at Khurais, also in the Eastern Province, was also partially closed.

There are credible reports (https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2019/09/15/606284/Saudi-oil-facilities-massive-damage-yemen-drone-attack) that the damage is much more serious than the Saudi officials are conceding. These key industrial sites may take weeks to repair.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo got it half right when he claimed, “Iran launched an unprecedented attack on the world’s energy supply”.

Yes, it is unprecedented. But Pompeo and other US officials have most likely got it wrong about blaming Iran.

Some Trump administration officials told (https://abcnews.go.com/International/iran-fired-cruise-missiles-attack-saudi-oil-facility/story?id=65632653) US media that “cruise missiles” were responsible for the giant fireballs seen over the Saudi oil facilities. One was quoted anonymously as saying: “There’s no doubt that Iran is responsible for this… there’s no escaping it. There is no other candidate.”

In a hurried effort to substantiate accusations against Iran, satellite images were released which show what appears to be the aftermath of the air strike on the Abqaiq refinery complex. US officials claim the location of the explosions indicate the weapons originated not from Yemen to the south, but from either Iran or Iraq.

Even the normally dutiful New York Times expressed doubt about that claim, commenting (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/15/world/middleeast/iran-us-saudi-arabia-attack.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage&te=1&nl=morning-briefing&emc=edit_MBE_p_20190916&section=topNews?campaign_id=51&instance_id=12410&segment_id=17052&user_id=ade7f49dcd26312e695b1d9810638625&regi_id=654646660916&section=topNews) in its report:
“The satellite photographs released on Sunday did not appear as clear cut as officials suggested, with some appearing to show damage on the western side of facilities, not from the direction of Iran or Iraq.”
The accusations made by Pompeo and others are assertions in place of substantiated claims.

It is noteworthy that President Donald Trump refrained from openly blaming Iran by name, merely hinting at the possibility. If Pompeo is so adamant in fingering Iran, why didn’t Trump? Also, the president made a telling remark when he said he was “waiting for verification” from Saudi Arabia “as to who they believe was the cause of the attack.” Again, if US officials are explicitly accusing Iran then why is Trump saying he wants “verification” from the Saudis?

For its part, Iran has flatly dismissed the allegations that it had any involvement, saying that statements by Pompeo were “blind” and tantamount to setting up a conflict.

Iraq’s Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi also rejected claims that his country’s territory might have been used by pro-Iranian Shia militants to launch the air strikes.

The Houthi rebels in Yemen have issued unambiguous statements claiming (https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2019/09/16/606300/Yemen-Hiuthis-Saudi-Arabia-cowardice-Iran-Aramco-attack) responsibility for the air raids on the Saudi oil installations. They were specific that the weapons were drones, not missiles, adding with details that 10 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were deployed.

Notably too, most US media reported (https://www.foxnews.com/world/drone-attack-saudi-oil-facility-iran-rebels) initially that the attacks were by drones flown from Yemen. Associated Press reported (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/14/major-saudi-arabia-oil-facilities-hit-by-drone-strikes) a level of sophistication in the attacks whereby drones were used first to disable the US Patriot radar systems before other UAVs proceeded to execute the air strikes.

It therefore seems that US officials are attempting to switch the story by blaming Iran. It is reckless scapegoating because the logical consequence could elicit a military attack against Iran, in which event Tehran has warned it is ready for war.

The rationale for blaming Iran is that the Yemeni rebels (which Iran supports politically) are just not capable of using drones with such dramatic success against the Saudi oil industry. The culprit must be Iran, so the rationale goes. This is a follow-on from alleged sabotage by Iran against oil tankers in the Persian Gulf earlier this summer.

However, a timeline (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/09/timeline-houthis-drone-missile-attacks-saudi-targets-190914102845479.html) shows that the Houthis are more than capable of launching ever-more powerful ballistic missiles and deeper penetrating drones into Saudi territory. The rebels have been using drones from the beginning of the war which the US-backed Saudi-UAE coalition launched on the southern Arabian country in March 2015.

Over the past four years, the Houthi aerial firepower has gradually improved. Earlier, the Saudis, with American defense systems, were able to intercept drones and missiles from Yemen. But over the last year, the rebels have increased their success rate for hitting targets in the Saudi interior, including the capital Riyadh.

In May this year, Houthi drones hit Saudi Arabia’s crucial east-west pipeline. Then in August, drones and ballistic missiles were reported to have struck the Shaybah oil field near the border with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as well as the Dammam exporting complex in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.

The Yemenis claim they are taking the war to Saudi Arabia and the UAE after years of relentless air strikes on their homeland which have resulted in nearly 90,000 dead. A recent UN report (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/03/uk-us-and-france-may-be-complicit-in-yemen-war-crimes-un-report) censured the US, Britain and France for possible complicity in war crimes through their military support for the Saudi coalition.

There must be trepidation among the monarchs in Saudi Arabia and the UAE that the rebels from war-torn and starving Yemen are now coming after them with drones that could demolish their oil economies. What’s more, the much-vaunted American protector is not able to deliver on its strategic bargain, despite billions of dollars of Pentagon weaponry. That’s why Washington has to find an excuse by casting Iran as the villain.

Related:

See post #2060 (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?69621-Ukraine-Crimea-Syria-Israel-Iran-Putin-and-World-War-III&p=1314355&viewfull=1#post1314355)

Putin to Saudi Arabia: Our air defenses can protect you, like they do Turkey and Iran (https://www.rt.com/news/468948-putin-saudi-arabia-missiles/)

Hervé

17th September 2019, 12:55

...

... adding Jim Stone salt grain (http://82.221.129.208/.wb6.html):
Look in the lower right hand corner of the photo. There is a car or pickup truck there. That shows how large the tanks are.

Iran's smallest cruise missile has approximately a 290 pound warhead. If an Iranian cruise missile hit those tanks (as some have claimed) the hole would be approximately as far across as 5 of those cars if the tank was robustly built, and more if it was not.

AND IF there was no additional explosive effects provided by the fuel in the tank. The entire story line for the refinery attack is an obvious hoax. There's no way a 290 pound warhead hit that tank.

I AM CALLING IT:

THERE WERE NO DRONES AND NO MISSILES USED AGAINST SAUDI REFINERY
Obviously there's no way to be 100 percent certain with this, but a referee would certainly call it for the following reasons:

There was no damage to the oil facility. At least no damage to speak of. They can patch it up and get it going STAT because it was extremely minimal damage that did not wipe out actual refining capabilities, all it did was light big fires (that are already completely out) and make a bunch of smoke. If this was for real, it would not be put out already.

Another very suspicious aspect of this was how precise the "hits" were. It looks as if someone went up on the tanks with a man lift that could access the same spot on each tank easily, and put the absolute minimal explosive there manually that would be needed to blow the tank, without actually destroying the tank.

There's not a chance in hell it was cruise missiles because if it was, there would be nothing left of the tanks. Instead, they are all neatly poked in exactly the same spot on each tank. The tanks obviously only need to be patched, they don't need to be replaced.

Here's a HUGE reason to call the attacks totally FAKE, and I know this cinches it -

First, an explanation to prove the scenario here -

In industry, when repairs have to be made to any tank filled with anything that can explode when mixed with air - if it needs to be welded, welding can be done without worry provided the welding is done below the level of the liquid in the tank, down below where the air can reach it. This is even true on gasoline tanks. As long as you don't puncture the tank or weld where the air is, there's no chance at all of there being a problem from being welded, welding can be done below the level of whatever liquid is in the tank.
THIS IS EXACTLY HOW EVERY SINGLE "DRONE AND CRUISE MISSILE" HIT THESE TANKS.

Take a look at this picture. All the tanks were hit the same way in exactly the same spot, with precision that is not attainable by those accused, as well as precise limited damage not attainable by those accused.

http://82.221.129.208/pages/nowayiran.jpg

This attack was prepared for, because NONE of the tanks exploded, all were full to above the level of impact. What are the chances of that happening at random? I'd say zilch, and am probably right.

AND HOW THE HELL ARE THE FIRES OUT SO SOON AFTER THE "ATTACK" THAT A PHOTO LIKE THIS COULD BE TAKEN RIGHT AWAY? These fires were out in ONE DAY. That needs some explaining, - explaining that can't be done outside of this attack being hoaxed for max impression and minimal damage.

BOTTOM LINE: If it is all out so quickly and the damage is that uniform and the damage is that minimal, first of all Iranian cruise missiles did not do this because the damage is not enough (all of them carry 130 KG (286 pound) warheads and up) which would obliterate a large section of those tanks and not just leave a little hole

(Oh, I know what did this, the Iranian navy put limpet mines on those tanks, YEP, that would end up looking like the photo) and magically and mysteriously got all of them right where they would not ignite any vapors and blow the whole thing. Forget about how they sailed into that refinery to do it, IRAN DID IT, IRAN DID IT, IRAN DID IT!!!!

The Yemenis did not do this either, they were simply not capable of that kind of precision. Even the U.S. would likely not have an attack pattern be so uniform and perfect, this looks like a hand placement job and someone was brainless about making it look credible. FINAL ANSWER.
=========================================

... I guess someone needed an oil price increase on the double...

Hervé

17th September 2019, 19:12

Oil supply is back to what it was before the attack, but we don't know yet who is responsible - Saudi energy minister

RT
Published time: 17 Sep, 2019 18:00
Edited time: 17 Sep, 2019 18:52
Get short URL (https://on.rt.com/a1wb)

https://cdni.rt.com/files/2019.09/article/5d8122ee203027509909e20d.JPG
FILE PHOTO: Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery and oil terminal in Saudi Arabia © Reuters / Ahmed Jadallah

Saudi Arabia’s energy minister said that its oil supplies had resumed and that its oil market would be “fully back online” by the end of September following attacks which Washington blames on Iran while Riyadh is still probing.

Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman told the media that oil production in October would reach 9.89 million barrels per day and 12 million bpd by the end of November.

He said Riyadh did not yet know who was responsible for the attacks, though Washington has pointed the finger at Tehran.

Iran has denied involvement inthe attacks and Houthi rebels in Yemen have taken responsibility, warning that more could be forthcoming.

The attacks on refineries at Abqaiq and Khurais slashed Riyadh’s output by 50 percent and knocked out more than five percent of global daily production. Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser says, however, that it is now producing “two million barrels” from Abqaiq.

Nasser said Saudi Aramco is still in the process of estimating the repair work that needs to be carried out on the refineries. He also said the kingdom's petroleum reserves were effective in coping with the crisis.

New messages Aramco is the company "that you can trust the most in the world," he said. Nasser also said the company is committed to a planned IPO listing and "will be ready" for it any time in the coming 12 months "as per market opportunity."

Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif said on Tuesday that the US was "in denial" over its suggestion of Iranian involvement in the attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities.

Washington is in denial “if it thinks that Yemeni victims of 4.5 yrs of the worst war crimes wouldn't do all to strike back,” he said in a tweet, adding that “blaming Iran” would not change that.

Hervé

19th September 2019, 15:24

A Reader Questions the Saudi Attacks…Is Trump Peddling Fake Evidence Again? (https://www.veteranstoday.com/2019/09/16/a-reader-questions-the-saudi-attacks-is-trump-peddling-fake-evidence-again/)

By VT Editors (https://www.veteranstoday.com/author/editor/) -
September 16, 2019 15 (https://www.veteranstoday.com/2019/09/16/a-reader-questions-the-saudi-attacks-is-trump-peddling-fake-evidence-again/#comments)

https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_09-Sep.-16-23.32.jpg

…from Ron in Australia

I have been trying to piece together some discrepancies I noticed when I compared the media pictures of the refineries burning with actual Google Earth images. What I noticed is a couple of problems with the official report – you can look for yourself on the attached PDF file.

The burning images are gas flares – not actually the refineries themselves as you would think.

Anyway, food for thought.

https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_09-Sep.-16-23.32.jpg (https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_09-Sep.-16-23.32.jpg)

https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_10-Sep.-16-23.32.jpg (https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_10-Sep.-16-23.32.jpg)

https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_11-Sep.-16-23.32.jpg (https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_11-Sep.-16-23.32.jpg)

https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_12-Sep.-16-23.32.jpg (https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_12-Sep.-16-23.32.jpg)

https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_13-Sep.-16-23.32.jpg (https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_13-Sep.-16-23.32.jpg)

https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_13-Sep.-16-23.33.jpg (https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_13-Sep.-16-23.33.jpg)

Hervé

20th September 2019, 14:24

CIA Top Secret File: the Us war in Syria planned since 1983 (https://www.veteranstoday.com/2019/09/19/cia-top-secret-file-the-us-war-in-syria-planned-since-1983/)

VT
By Fabio Giuseppe Carlo Carisio (https://www.veteranstoday.com/author/fabio-carisio/) -
September 19, 2019

https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/cia-paper.jpg

An unsealed document of American intelligence signed by the former Central Agency officer Graham Fuller confirms the bloody project with Israel and Turkey for Assad’s opposition to Muslim Brotherhood pipeline

by Fabio Giuseppe Carlo Carisio for VT Italia

«Syria at present has a hammerlock on US interests both in Lebanon and in Gulf, through closure of Iraq’s pipeline thereby threatening Iraqi internationalization of war. The US should consider sharply escalating the pressure against al Assad through covertly orchestrating simultaneous threats against Syria from three border states hostile to Syria: Iraq, Israel and Turkey».

In a paper of the American CIA (Central Intelligence Agency), declassified on May 27, 2008 and therefore available as Open Source Intelligence (Osint), the occult project of military aggression against Syria by the US is described and also the reasons for doing so.

Signing the document is not just any secret agent but Graham E. Fuller, operating in the Middle East during the administration of President Ronald Reagan (1981-1989), who later became CIA office in Washington and vice president of the US National Intelligence Council.

There are certainties that emerge from the document: the need to threaten the Syrian president of that time Hafiz Al Assad, father of Bashar, for his hostility to the Iraqi gas pipeline Qatar-Turkey strongly backed by the Muslim Brotherhood of Sunnite Islamic confession, and therefore enemies of the Shiite Alawites who support the head of Syrian government, the rooting of American terrorists as a force of provocation, and the pushing for military action by Iraq, Israel and Turkey.

http://www.gospanews.net/en/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Cia-Syrian-report.jpg
The first page of CIA unsealed document

It's disconcerting that the CIA document (PDF link below article) dates back to September 14, 1983, 23 years before the official start of US State Department funding for anti-Assad rebels, as revealed in a previous report based on a thorough investigation by the British newspaper The Guardian (https://www.gospanews.net/2018/09/07/i-cospiratori-contro-assad/).

THE CONSPIRATORS AGAINST ASSAD (https://www.gospanews.net/2018/09/07/i-cospiratori-contro-assad/)
In 2019, after about half a million deaths in the Syrian civil war still in existence in the governorates of Idlib and Deir Ezzor, due to the presence of armed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham HTS jihadists armed from Turkey in the north and the US-backed SDF Kurds in the Euphrates valley, very rich of oil now smuggling by US with terrorists help. (https://www.gospanews.net/2019/08/24/siria-terroristi-usati-dagli-usa-per-contrabbando-di-petrolio/)

THE OIL SMUGGLING BY US ARMY WITH TERRORISTS HELP (https://www.gospanews.net/2019/08/24/siria-terroristi-usati-dagli-usa-per-contrabbando-di-petrolio/)
The CIA plan can be considered fulfilled as regards the role of Israel, which for years has bombed Syria with the specious excuse of hitting the Lebanese Hezbollah and Pasdaran Iranian positions (https://www.gospanews.net/2019/01/21/israele-emula-hitler-nella-guerra-preventiva-alla-siria/) intervening to help Bashar al Assad against the Islamic State, and for that of Turkey which has conquered Afrin leaving it in the hands of ferocious jihadists who carry out every kind of abuse against the Kurds (https://www.gospanews.net/2019/06/01/siria-bambino-down-rapito-e-ucciso-dai-jihadisti-aiutati-dai-turchi/).

THE CIA PLAN AGAINST ASSAD AND SYRIA
The document of the secret agent Fuller, however, reveals an overly optimistic scenario on the role of Iraq that at that time was still ruled by the dictator Saddam Hussein, killed only in 2006 after the Second Gulf War that destroyed the country making it incapable to be acted against Syria.

For this in Mosul Al Baghdadi, the alleged CIA agent but also Mossad man according other sources, in 2011 founded, with the help of the US, the ISIS (Daesh in Arabic) (https://www.gospanews.net/2019/08/03/al-baghdadi-il-califfo-isis-e-agente-cia-nascosto-dagli-usa/) that conquered much of Syria before being defeated by the Syrian army SAA with the help of that of Russia and the Shiite militias.

AL BAGHDADI: ISIS CALIPH AND CIA AGENT (https://www.gospanews.net/2019/08/03/al-baghdadi-il-califfo-isis-e-agente-cia-nascosto-dagli-usa/)
To combat the Sunni jihadists of the Islamic State in Iraq, during the civil war following the fall of the despot, in 2014 the Hashd al-Sha’abi Popular Mobilization Forces, with a Shiite majority, were born and increasingly assumed power, favoring the hegemony of the Shiites in Baghdad and a new alliance between Iraqis and Iranians (https://www.gospanews.net/2019/05/17/golfo-persico-lanciamissili-usa-per-bloccare-laccordo-iran-irak/).

A similar collaboration was born between Syria and Lebanon since 2008 when the interim Lebanese president Michel Aoun, a Maronite Christian, met Assad, (https://www.gospanews.net/2019/08/31/razzi-sionisti-sul-libano-a-rischio-1-100-caschi-blu-italiani/) extremely tolerant of all religious denominations, to sanction peace between the two states previously engaged in a serious conflict.

Having said this, let us now see what the CIA wrote in 1983 by Graham Fuller. «Iraq, perceived to be increasingly desperate in the Gulf War, would undertake limited military (air) operations against Syria with the sole goal of the opening pipeline.

Although opening war on a second front against Syria poses considerable risk to Iraq- Syria would also face a two-front war since it is already heavily engaged in the Bekaa, on the Golan and in maintaining control over hostile and restive population inside Syria» wrote Graham Fuller in 1983 CIA secret act,

http://www.gospanews.net/en/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Graham-Fuller-sign.jpg
The CIA document with plan against Syria signed by Graham Fuller

«Israel would simultaneously rais tensions along Syria’s Lebanon front (https://www.gospanews.net/2019/08/25/il-gangster-sionista-netanyahu-attacca-la-siria-per-scatenare-linferno/) without actually going war. Turkey, angered by Syrian support to American terrorists operating our of northern Syria, has often considered launching unilateral operations against terrorist camps in northern Syria. Virtually all Arab states would have sympathy for Iraq» we can read in the unsealed document that is very important for high profile of the author.

THE GANGSTER NETANYAHU AGAINST SYRIA (https://www.gospanews.net/2019/08/25/il-gangster-sionista-netanyahu-attacca-la-siria-per-scatenare-linferno/)
Graham E. Fuller (born November 28, 1937) is an American author and political analyst, specializing in Islamic extremism. Formerly vice-chair of the National Intelligence Council, he also served as Station Chief in Kabul for the CIA. A “think piece” that Fuller wrote for the CIA was identified as instrumental in leading to the Iran–Contra affair.

http://www.gospanews.net/en/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Graham-E.-Fuller-20160809.jpeg
The former CIA agent Graham Fuller

He served 20 years as an operations officer in the CIA. Assignments include postings in: Germany, Turkey, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, North Yemen, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong. Fuller was Kabul CIA Station Chief until 1978, when he was brought to CIA headquarters in Washington, where he was appointed National Intelligence Officer for Near East and South Asia in 1982. In 1986, the CIA appointed him vice-chairman of the National Intelligence Council.

After a career in the United States State Department and CIA lasting 27 years, he joined Rand Corporation think-tank as senior political scientist specializing in the Middle East. As of 2006, he was affiliated with the Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia, as an adjunct professor of history. He is the author of a number of books, including The Future of Political Islam (https://www.gospanews.net/2019/08/04/jihad-saudita-top-secret-files-dai-detenuti-inviati-in-siria-alle-bombe-in-sri-lanka/).

THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD PIPELINE IN SYRIA
«Faced with three belligerent fronts, Assad (Hafiz – ed) would probably be forced to abandon his policy of closure of the pipeline. Such a concession would be bringing the war to an end. It would be a sharp blow to Syria’s prestige and could effect the equation of forces in Lebanon». The CIA secret agent wrote about the Qatar-Turkey pipeline.

That was a proposal to build a natural gas pipeline from the Iranian–Qatari South Pars/North Dome Gas-Condensate field towards Turkey, where it could connect with the Nabucco pipeline to supply European customers as well as Turkey.

One route to Turkey was via Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Syria, and another was through Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq. Syria’s rationale for rejecting the Qatar proposal was said to be “to protect the interests of its Russian ally, which is Europe’s top supplier of natural gas”.

http://www.gospanews.net/en/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Qatar-Turkey-pipeline.jpg
The Qatar-Turkey pipeline’s project

In 2012 an analyst cited by Ansa Mediterranean suggested that Qatar’s involvement in the Syrian Civil War was based in part on its desire to build a pipeline to Turkey through Syria:

“The discovery in 2009 of a new gas field near Israel, Lebanon, Cyprus, and Syria opened new possibilities to bypass the Saudi Barrier and to secure a new source of income. Pipelines are in place already in Turkey to receive the gas.
Only Al-Assad is in the way. Qatar along with the Turks would like to remove Al-Assad and install the Syrian chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood. It is the best organized political movement in the chaotic society and can block Saudi Arabia’s efforts to install a more fanatical Wahhabi based regime.

Once the Brotherhood is in power, the Emir’s broad connections with Brotherhood groups throughout the region should make it easy for him to find a friendly ear and an open hand in Damascus”.

THE “EXERTION OF REAL MUSCLE” AGAINST SYRIA
But now is the unsealed CIA paper that confirm this theory. «Syria continues to maintain a hammerlock on two key US interests in the Middle East: Syrian refusal to withdraw its troops from Lebanon ensures Israeli occupation in the south; Syrian closure of the Iraqi pipeline has been a key factor in bringing Iraq to its financial knees, impelling it towards dangerous internationalization of the war in the Gulf» wrote Fuller.

«Diplomatic initiatives to date have had little effect on Assad (Hafiz – ed) who has so far correctly calculated the play forces in the area and concluded that they are only weakly arrayed against him. If the US is to rein in Syria’s spoiling role (https://www.gospanews.net/2019/02/27/sporco-doppio-gioco-usa-isis-libero-in-cambio-di-oro/), i can only do so through exertion of the real muscle chich will pose a vital threat to Assad’s position and power» adds the CIA report.

«Such a threat must be primarily military in nature. At present there are three relatively hostile elements around Syria’s borders: Israel, Iraq and Turkey. Consideration must be given to orchestrating a credible military threat against Syria in order to induce at least some moderate change in its policies – highlights the American secret agent – This paper proposes serious explanation of the use of all three states – acting independently – to exert the necessary threat. Use of any of one state in isolation cannot create such credible threat».

Some years later in Syria exploded a bloody war with more than half of million deaths. Now we can thanks the CIA and the White House policies: «Bringing real muscle to bear against Syria». For stealing oil and increasing the zionist-freemason weapons lobby (https://www.gospanews.net/2019/04/02/lobby-armi-report-1-gli-usa-e-il-sionista-di-blackrock/).

Fabio Giuseppe Carlo Carisio
original italian version (https://www.gospanews.net/2019/09/17/cia-x-file-la-guerra-usa-in-siria-pianificata-dal-1983/)

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

... in a nutshell:

http://www.sott.net/image/s14/284243/full/gas_line_qatar.jpg

...

... always the same instigators and culprits for market manipulations, from (here) (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?p=1299618#post1299618):
Starting in 2014, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia flooded the market with cheap oil. This is not a mere business decision, but a calculated move coordinated with U.S. and Israeli foreign policy goals. Despite not just losing money, but even falling deep into debt, the Saudi monarchy continues to expand its oil production apparatus. The result has been driving the price of oil down from $110 per barrel, to $28 in the early months of this year. (http://www.wsj.com/articles/oil-prices-rise-on-output-uncertainty-1454993303) The goal is to weaken these opponents of Wall Street, London, and Tel Aviv, whose economies are centered around oil and natural gas exports.

And Venezuela is one of those countries. Saudi efforts to drive down oil prices have drastically reduced Venezuela's state budget and led to enormous consequences for the Venezuelan economy.
Now that sanctions are in place all over the place...

Hervé

21st September 2019, 18:37

We blame Iran, because Iranian arms were used! Saudis double down on claim as origin of oil-plant attack remains unclear (https://www.rt.com/news/469319-saudi-iran-oil-attack-responsibility/)

RT
Published time: 21 Sep, 2019 13:44
Edited time: 21 Sep, 2019 14:33
Get short URL (https://on.rt.com/a24n)

https://cdni.rt.com/files/2019.09/article/5d8626ea20302723cb5b3a9b.JPG
A damaged pipeline at Saudi Aramco oil facility in Khurais. © Reuters / Hamad l Mohammed

Saudi Arabia holds Tehran “responsible” for attacks on oil plants since “Iranian weaponry” was used, the Saudi foreign minister has said. An investigation into the attack is ongoing and Riyadh is discussing a response with allies.

The kingdom has been holding talks with its “allies and friends” to decide what to do in the aftermath of the attack, FM Adel al-Jubeir said during a press conference on Saturday.

While Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for the attack, Riyadh has refused to believe that they have such capability. Al-Jubeir said they are “certain that the attacks did not come from Yemen but from the north.”
The Aramco attacks were undertaken with Iranian weapons and for this reason we hold Iran accountable for them.
After claiming responsibility for the September 14 attack on the oil processing facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais, the Houthis threatened to send their attack drones to the UAE, another member of the Saudi-led coalition bombing Yemen. On Friday, the Yemeni rebels said they'd halted attacks on Saudi Arabia but were expecting a stop of the coalition's bombing campaign in return.

This is unlikely to happen, though, as the coalition just launched a massive military operation against “legitimate military targets” in southwestern Yemen.

Earlier this week, the Saudi military displayed wreckage of what it said were Iranian drones and cruise missiles, describing it as “undeniable” proof of Tehran’s sponsorship of the attack. Iran has rejected all Riyadh's allegations, mocking the display and stating that “even the Saudis themselves don't believe the fiction of Iranian involvement.”

Related:

Even Saudis don’t believe fiction of Iranian attacks on oil plants – Zarif (https://www.rt.com/news/469286-saudis-dont-believe-iran-attacks/)

Photos of damage to Saudis' Khurais oil field show strikes seem "suspiciously well-placed"- Did Houthis have 'insider help'? (https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/first-images-crippling-damage-giant-khurais-oil-field-revealed)

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

Now...

https://cdni.rt.com/files/2019.09/article/5d8626ea20302723cb5b3a9b.JPG

https://cdni.rt.com/files/2019.09/article/5d85be7585f5404d4e62632e.JPG

https://www.sott.net/image/s26/538971/large/Khurais4.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EExLyQ8X4AAq6g2.jpg

https://www.sott.net/image/s26/538970/large/abqaiq3.jpg

http://82.221.129.208/pages/nowayiran.jpg

https://dynaimage.cdn.cnn.com/cnn/c_fill,g_auto,w_1200,h_675,ar_16:9/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.cnn.com%2Fcnnnext%2Fdam%2Fassets%2F190915180503-01-saudi-refinery-attacks.jpg
[notice where North is indicated on the picture]

... I don't know about anyone else, but, to me, these things look punctured... no incendiary nor explosive ammunitions/bombs/missiles did that kind of damages...

... and that leads to: False Flag!

Ba-ba-Ra

21st September 2019, 19:40

Joseph Farrell discusses Saudi drone attack. Who benefits, who losses.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_V7SSpfeVc

Satori

21st September 2019, 20:08

SMOKE..... And.... MIRRORS.....

.....SMOKE........

A Reader Questions the Saudi Attacks…Is Trump Peddling Fake Evidence Again? (https://www.veteranstoday.com/2019/09/16/a-reader-questions-the-saudi-attacks-is-trump-peddling-fake-evidence-again/)

By VT Editors (https://www.veteranstoday.com/author/editor/) -
September 16, 2019 15 (https://www.veteranstoday.com/2019/09/16/a-reader-questions-the-saudi-attacks-is-trump-peddling-fake-evidence-again/#comments)

https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_09-Sep.-16-23.32.jpg

…from Ron in Australia

I have been trying to piece together some discrepancies I noticed when I compared the media pictures of the refineries burning with actual Google Earth images. What I noticed is a couple of problems with the official report – you can look for yourself on the attached PDF file.

The burning images are gas flares – not actually the refineries themselves as you would think.

Anyway, food for thought.

https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_09-Sep.-16-23.32.jpg (https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_09-Sep.-16-23.32.jpg)

https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_10-Sep.-16-23.32.jpg (https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_10-Sep.-16-23.32.jpg)

https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_11-Sep.-16-23.32.jpg (https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_11-Sep.-16-23.32.jpg)

https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_12-Sep.-16-23.32.jpg (https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_12-Sep.-16-23.32.jpg)

https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_13-Sep.-16-23.32.jpg (https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_13-Sep.-16-23.32.jpg)

https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_13-Sep.-16-23.33.jpg (https://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScreenHunter_13-Sep.-16-23.33.jpg)

...........AND MIRRORS............

¤=[Post Update]=¤

...

... adding Jim Stone salt grain (http://82.221.129.208/.wb6.html):
Look in the lower right hand corner of the photo. There is a car or pickup truck there. That shows how large the tanks are.

Iran's smallest cruise missile has approximately a 290 pound warhead. If an Iranian cruise missile hit those tanks (as some have claimed) the hole would be approximately as far across as 5 of those cars if the tank was robustly built, and more if it was not.

AND IF there was no additional explosive effects provided by the fuel in the tank. The entire story line for the refinery attack is an obvious hoax. There's no way a 290 pound warhead hit that tank.

I AM CALLING IT:

THERE WERE NO DRONES AND NO MISSILES USED AGAINST SAUDI REFINERY
Obviously there's no way to be 100 percent certain with this, but a referee would certainly call it for the following reasons:

There was no damage to the oil facility. At least no damage to speak of. They can patch it up and get it going STAT because it was extremely minimal damage that did not wipe out actual refining capabilities, all it did was light big fires (that are already completely out) and make a bunch of smoke. If this was for real, it would not be put out already.

Another very suspicious aspect of this was how precise the "hits" were. It looks as if someone went up on the tanks with a man lift that could access the same spot on each tank easily, and put the absolute minimal explosive there manually that would be needed to blow the tank, without actually destroying the tank.

There's not a chance in hell it was cruise missiles because if it was, there would be nothing left of the tanks. Instead, they are all neatly poked in exactly the same spot on each tank. The tanks obviously only need to be patched, they don't need to be replaced.

Here's a HUGE reason to call the attacks totally FAKE, and I know this cinches it -

First, an explanation to prove the scenario here -

In industry, when repairs have to be made to any tank filled with anything that can explode when mixed with air - if it needs to be welded, welding can be done without worry provided the welding is done below the level of the liquid in the tank, down below where the air can reach it. This is even true on gasoline tanks. As long as you don't puncture the tank or weld where the air is, there's no chance at all of there being a problem from being welded, welding can be done below the level of whatever liquid is in the tank.
THIS IS EXACTLY HOW EVERY SINGLE "DRONE AND CRUISE MISSILE" HIT THESE TANKS.

Take a look at this picture. All the tanks were hit the same way in exactly the same spot, with precision that is not attainable by those accused, as well as precise limited damage not attainable by those accused.

http://82.221.129.208/pages/nowayiran.jpg

[FONT=arial]
This attack was prepared for, because NONE of the tanks exploded, all were full to above the level of impact. What are the chances of that happening at random? I'd say zilch, and am probably right. [B]

AND HOW THE HELL ARE THE FIRES OUT SO SOON AFTER THE "ATTACK" THAT A PHOTO LIKE THIS COULD BE TAKEN RIGHT AWAY? These fires were out in ONE DAY. That needs some explaining, - explaining that can't be done outside of this attack being hoaxed for max impression and minimal damage."

Hervé

26th September 2019, 21:41

The simple truth about the Yemen catastrophe (https://journal-neo.org/2019/09/25/the-simple-truth-about-the-yemen-catastrophe/)

Phil Butler New Eastern Outlook (https://journal-neo.org/2019/09/25/the-simple-truth-about-the-yemen-catastrophe/)
Thu, 26 Sep 2019 20:38 UTC

https://www.sott.net/image/s26/539576/large/YEM4534533.jpg (https://www.sott.net/image/s26/539576/full/YEM4534533.jpg)

Yemen, Saudi Arabia's southern neighbor, is a human catastrophe that will go down in history as one of America's biggest policy mistakes. This poor Middle East country is the perfect reflection of failing U.S. strategies that will only balloon as the years draw on. Here is a candid look at another proxy war to perpetuate a misshapen dream.

The civil war in Yemen is about three things. Saudi/Israeli geostrategy, oil markets, and the geography of energy. Whatever else you hear about this most inhumane conflict, rest assured crude oil and natural gas are at the core of the conflict. With Saudi Arabia having already exhausted most of her oil reserves, only new finds in the region can prop up that ridiculous regime. I won't get into the term "peak oil" here, I've already covered this many times. The point is, the world's oil has to run out sooner or later, and places like Yemen are now becoming the battlegrounds for energy-dependent nations.

The Big Energy Grab
Yemen never was a big oil producer. Since the civil unrest began, the country's relatively small output has been choked down to a dribble. But Yemen is a very young territory for exploration, when compared to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE and others in the region. Two older fields that only came online in the mid-1980s reached peak production in 2001, and most experts say Yemen is one of those "post-peak" countries with no chance of a resurgent economy. I am not one of these analysts. The so-called frontier fields offshore are an energy bonanza I believe is fueling Saudi Arabia's and America's war on these people.

Yemen's offshore frontier basins, and to a lesser extent those onshore, are what the Saudi coalition is after. The idea that the Saudi's are deathly afraid of Iran is a construct built to separate people in every nation from the truth. Religious differences, Sunni versus Shia, Christian versus Muslim, they're a convenient excuse as has always been the case. Take a look at this report by Mustafa As-Saruri, Ph.D., and Rasoul Sorkhabi, Ph.D. at GEOExPro. Take note also, of the offshore blocks bid on by western oil giants recently. On offshore and other new discoveries, I quote from another GEOEx report from the mid-2000s:

"Yemen boasts twelve sedimentary basins, but oil production has come from only two of these, both lying in the center of the country, indicating that there is promising potential for further exploration both on and offshore Yemen."

Take note here, these new reserves would be sweet oil and not the sludge Saudi Arabia is thinning with seawater to get it to pump. I won't get into technicalities, but much of Yemen's oil wealth comes in the form of 41°API or above oil, which equates to quality and ease of extraction compared to what is currently coming out of Saudi Arabia.

Cold War II Geostrategy
This declassified (sanitized) CIA document tells us the Yemen situation in historical context, and show us U.S. policy toward the country is all about what I've suggested. Oil is a key factor, there is more oil than has been projected, and Yemen is part of a New Cold War hegemonic strategy by the U.S. and allies. Ironically, the CIA's information and recommendations on Yemen in the 1980s proved wrong on many accounts.

The experts creating these strategies were no less Anglo-European in their thinking than today's analysts. They got the oil part right and missed the Soviet influence and North and South Yemen's reunion totally. U.S. policy back then, as now, looked like cheerleading for big oil. In the aforementioned report, Hunt Oil, Amoco, and Texaco were the superheroes that would bring both Yemen into the U.S. stable of allied nations. Today, the strategy has only changed slightly.

Almost 17 million people in Yemen are unable sustain themselves, and the western narrative still relies on religious differences to explain the divide between Yemen and its neighbors. U.S. think tanks have Detche Welle convinced the catastrophe is a Sunni-Shiite conflict. Israel's Tel Aviv University's Moshe Dayan Center gives the same diagnosis. These vested interests all want you and I to believe that Saudi Arabia is trying to save Yemen from the same fate as Iraq! No, I am not kidding, read the DW story. And the Germans wonder why "peace is still elusive?"

Religion has precious little to do with the conflict in Yemen today. The root causes of this proxy war are as I have stated. Right behind the energy war, the battle for geostrategic posture has put the people of Yemen in extreme peril. To find the proof of this, we have to scan the western mainstream until we reach our old friends Al Jazeera. They tell half the story with:

"Reminiscent of the "Great Game" played out in Afghanistan between Great Britain and Russia more than a hundred years ago, Saudi Arabia and Iran are engaged in their own decades-long strategic rivalry for power and influence in the Middle East, stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf and Arabian Sea. It is built mostly along sectarian and ideological lines - Saudi Arabia as the leader of the Sunni Muslim world, and Iran as the leader of the Shia Muslim world."

The other half involves post-colonialist nations that always have a hand in the affairs of nations at cultural and economic crossroads. Insert Britain, France, Germany, and the United States, alongside China and Russia here. Of course, the Al Jazeera piece is slanted toward Saudi Arabia and the Israeli contingent, but the "Great Game" recollection is sound. Yemen controls the entrance to the Red Sea through the Gulf of Aden and the Suez Canal. When all is said and done, this is the only story. Cold War II - same as Cold War I.

Political Geo-Dynamics
When we think of places like Iraq, Kuwait, or even Russia, we often think of the energy and natural resources. That is, where economics and geostrategy are concerned. Transit routes are not so often discussed beyond choke points like the Persian Gulf or the Suez Canal etc. How oil or natural gas gets from one place to another is a bit too wide a topic for the average Washington Post reader, let's just face it. So, imagine how obtuse most Americans or Germans are when we talk about other market factors like OPEC's competition, and shale helping America reenter the energy game in a big way, most people just don't have the time to invest. Reading how Royal Dutch Shell, BP, and Exxon Mobil Corp. is doubling down on shale output, it's just not sexy for most people. On top of this, try to explain the complexities of global competition between Russia and the United States with Europe sitting in between, and you lose almost everyone.

If I may, a bit over oversimplification can help even the busiest reader understand what I mean by Political Geo-Dynamics. Geodynamics is about the processes which have shaped the Earth. So, if we overlay a political map on top of the quantities of natural resources on our planet, we end up with a pretty good idea where conflicts and other synergies will surface. Consumption/demand plays a major roll in how crises flux, as you can imagine. The Middle East had to become a crisis point for a number of reasons, not the least of which being OPEC's squeezing of America back in the 1970s. But let's not digress.

America and Europe need more gas, corporations want to maximize profits in fulfilling the demand. Russia and Gazprom making a trillion euro off of the Europeans, for instance, is not something that is going to make Dutch Royal Shell, BP, or Exxon happy. Iran getting rich off the world's biggest natural gas resources is not going to happen either. I won't even get into Germany and the world's most profitable energy company, E.ON. (2015 earnings $126.97bn) This is a topic all its own.

Yemen satisfies three of three qualifying characteristics to be a target for annihilation. If the western alliance cannot have a puppet government in place, and if BP, Total, and Exxon cannot share in the offshore oil riches, then the bombs are going to fall until they can. America is going to have the geostrategic location and the bases, or the blood will flow. Yemen was just unlucky enough to have jutted out of the primordial ooze in the wrong place. It would not matter if Yemenis were Southern Baptists or Episcopalians, Donald Trump or any U.S. president would be backing Saudi Arabia and Israel in destroying the place or controlling it. This is a simple truth. Yemen is about container shiploads of money. The religious aspect is just for headlines people can understand. Christian versus Muslim, Good Old Boys versus Terrorists, you know the game.

What bothers me most, besides the starving or blown to bits children, is that we cannot just come out and admit its about greed. Hitler was more honest than current leaders, at least. Lebensraum was about killing people in Eastern Europe to get their land. Why can't our killing Yemenis be about America maintaining power? I bet most Yemenis wish they'd been born in Nova Scotia.

Related:

Pepe Escobar: How Yemen's Houthis are bringing down a Goliath (https://www.sott.net/article/421054-Pepe-Escobar-How-Yemens-Houthis-are-bringing-down-a-Goliath)

The economic entrails at the heart of the 'deal of the century' (https://www.sott.net/article/415636-The-economic-entrails-at-the-heart-of-the-deal-of-the-century)

Alastair Crooke: Germany stalls and Europe craters (https://www.sott.net/article/418379-Alastair-Crooke-Germany-stalls-and-Europe-craters)

Hervé

19th October 2019, 12:16

Kurdistan, imagined by French colonialism (https://www.voltairenet.org/article207995.html)

All that is hidden from you about the Turkish Operation "Source of Peace" (2/3)

by Thierry Meyssan Voltaire Network
Damascus (Syria) 19 October 2019

Contrary to popular belief, Rojava is not a state for the Kurdish people, but a French fantasy of the interwar period. The aim was to create a rump state with Kurds equivalent to Greater Israel, which was being considered with Jews. This colonial objective was reactivated by Presidents Sarkozy, Hollande and Macron including the ethnic cleansing of the region intended to host it.

https://www.voltairenet.org/squelettes/elements/images/ligne-rouge.gif
ελληνικά (https://www.voltairenet.org/article207944.html) français (https://www.voltairenet.org/article207884.html) română (https://www.voltairenet.org/article207942.html) italiano (https://www.voltairenet.org/article207945.html) Português (https://www.voltairenet.org/article207946.html) Türkçe (https://www.voltairenet.org/article207947.html) Deutsch (https://www.voltairenet.org/article207964.html) Español (https://www.voltairenet.org/article207991.html)

https://www.voltairenet.org/local/cache-vignettes/L400xH300/207884-1-7-789d7.jpg
A Kurdish delegation was received at the Elysée by President François Hollande and his then Minister of Defence, Jean-Yves Le Drian, in the presence of Bernard-Henri Lévy, authorising officer of the Tunisian, Egyptian and Libyan disasters.

https://www.voltairenet.org/local/cache-vignettes/L220xH293/207884-2-7-ac623.jpg
The French High Commissioner in the Levant, General Henri Gouraud, with the help of the Turks, recruited 900 men from the Millis Kurdish clan to suppress the Arab nationalist rebellion in Aleppo and Raqqa. These mercenaries would fight as French gendarmes under what would become the flag of the current Syrian Free Army (Telegram of 5 January 1921).Source: Archives of the French Army.

The Kurdish people have never had a dream of unification, with the exception of the project of the Prince of Rewanduz. In the 19th century, it was inspired by the German conception of the Nation and therefore intended to unify the language as a priority. Even today, there are still several languages, leading to a very pronounced separation between the Kurmanjis, Sorani, Zazakis, and Gurani clans.

According to documents hitherto untapped and about which the Lebanese intellectual Hassan Hamadé is currently writing an astounding book, the President of the French Council of Ministers, Léon Blum, negotiated in 1936 with the head of the Jewish Agency, Chaim Wiezmann, and the British, the creation of a Great State of Israel from Palestine to the Euphrates, thus including Lebanon and Syria until then under French mandate. This project failed due to the furious opposition of the French High Commissioner to the Levant, Count Damien de Martel. France - and probably the United Kingdom - were considering at the time the creation of a Kurdish state in Syria east of the Euphrates.

https://www.voltairenet.org/local/cache-vignettes/L400xH299/207884-3-7-a109b.jpg
On 4 February 1994, President Mitterrand received a Kurdish delegation of members of the Turkish PKK.

The Kurdish question became a priority again with President François Mitterrand. In the middle of the Cold War, his wife, Danielle, became the "mother of the Kurds[of the Barzani clan]". On 14 and 15 October 1989, it organized a symposium in Paris: "The Kurds: cultural identity, respect for human rights". It played a role in the false attribution of the death of the Kurds in the village of Halabja during the Iraq-Iran war to the cruelty of President Saddam Hussein, while US Army reports attest that, on the contrary, the wind displaced Iranian gases during a terrible battle [1 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article207995.html#nb1)]. In 1992, she participated in the creation of a Kurdish puppet government in the Anglo-Saxon-occupied Iraqi area.

https://www.voltairenet.org/local/cache-vignettes/L400xH300/207884-4-7-c25c1.jpg
On 31 October 2014, François Hollande escorted Recep Tayyip Erdoğan back to the Elysée staircase. Another guest has just discreetly stepped out the back door, the pro-Turkish Kurdish Salih Muslim.

During Nicolas Sarkozy’s presidency in 2011, Alain Juppé concluded a secret protocol with Turkey for the creation of a pseudo-Kurdistan. Syria did not respond. Then, on October 31, 2014, President François Hollande officially received Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Elysée Palace with the unofficial co-president of the YPG, Salih Muslim, to finalize the dismemberment of Syria. The Kurdish fighters stopped recognizing themselves as Syrians and began their struggle for their own country. Syria immediately stopped paying their salaries.

https://www.voltairenet.org/local/cache-vignettes/L400xH300/207884-5-7-96235.jpg
At the end of the Battle of Kobane, François Hollande changed sides and expressed his support for the Kurds by receiving a pro-US delegation from the YPG at the Elysée on February 8, 2015.

However, a few months later, President Barack Obama called France to order. It was not up to Paris to negotiate a pseudo-Kurdistan based on its old colonial dreams, but only up to the Pentagon, according to the Rumsfeld/Cebrowski ethnic plan. François Hollande withdrew and received a pro-US Kurdish delegation of female fighters from Ain al-Arab ("Kobané" in German and not in Kurdish). Turkey refused to submit to Washington. This was the beginning of a long divergence between the members of the Atlantic Alliance. Considering that the French reversal violated the agreement of October 31, 2014, the Turkish secret services organised with Daesh the attacks of November 13, 2015 against France and March 22, 2016 against Belgium, which had just aligned itself with Washington [2 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article207995.html#nb2)]. President Erdoğan unequivocally announced the attacks against Belgium and his press claimed them. Finally, Salih Muslim organized the compulsory conscription of young Kurds and built his dictatorship, while Ankara issued an arrest warrant against him.

https://www.voltairenet.org/local/cache-vignettes/L200xH269/207884-6-7-53042.jpg
Decree of the forced kurdisation of northern Syria. This document, made public by the Assyrian Christian victims, attests to the ethnic cleansing perpetrated by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), under US military supervision.

In October 2015, the Pentagon created the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a unit of Turkish and Syrian Kurdish mercenaries, including some Arabs and Christians, in order to carry out ethnic cleansing without having to take public responsibility for it. The SDF expelled Arab and Assyrian Christian families. Fighters from Iraq and Turkey settled in their homes and took possession of their lands. The Syrian Catholic Archbishop of Hassaké-Nisibi, Bishop Jacques Behnan Hindo, attested several times that Kurdish leaders alluded in his presence to a plan to expel Christians from "Rojava". French special forces witnessed this crime against humanity without flinching. On March 17, 2016, the autonomy of "Rojava" (pseudo-Kurdistan in Syria) was declared [3 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article207995.html#nb3)]. Fearing the junction between the Turkish PKK and the Iraqi Barzani clan would pave the way for the creation of a Greater Kurdistan, the Iraqi government sent weapons to the PKK in order to overthrow the Barzanis. This was followed by a series of murders of Kurdish leaders by opposing clans.

At the end of 2016, the partial withdrawal of the Russian army followed by the liberation of Aleppo by the Syrian Arab Army marked the definitive turnaround of the war. They coincided, in January, 2017, with the arrival in the White House of President Donald Trump, whose election platform included the end of the Rumsfeld/Cebrowski strategy, the end of massive support for jihadists and the withdrawal of NATO and US troops from Syria. France facilitated the departure in Rojava of young anarchist fighters persuaded to defend the Kurdish cause while they were fighting for the Atlantic Alliance [4 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article207995.html#nb4)]. Returned to France, they would prove to be as uncontrollable as the young French jihadists. Thus, according to DGSI (Internal Intelligence), it was one of these fighters who would attempt to shoot down a gendarmerie helicopter during the evacuation of Notre-Dame-des-Landes airport [5 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article207995.html#nb5)].

In June of 2017, President Trump authorized a joint operation by the Syrian Arab Army (commanded by President Bashar al-Assad) and the SDF (i.e. pro-US Kurdish mercenaries) to free Raqqa, the capital of Daesh [6 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article207995.html#nb6)]. The war is over, but neither France nor Germany understands it that way.

Gradually, the United States lost control of the YPG and lost interest in it. The terrorist organization then became a French plaything, just as the Muslim Brotherhood is a British puppet.

https://www.voltairenet.org/local/cache-vignettes/L400xH390/207884-7-8-910af.jpg
This map was published by Anadolu Agency in January 2019. It shows 9 French military bases, 8 of which were deployed by President Emmanuel Macron.

Turkey then published through its official agency, Anadolu Agency, the map of the French military bases in Rojava, the number of which had been extended to nine under Emmanuel Macron’s presidency. Until then, we only knew the one of the Lafarge group’s cement plant. Ankara wished to point out that, contrary to its official statements and unlike the United States, France remained in favour of the partition of Syria.

We can also reveal that, asked by the Syrian intelligence services to recover its jihadists taken prisoner, France refused to repatriate them for trial. She asked that they be handed over to the Kurdish forces who would take care of them.

In February 2018, the Russian Federation’s Ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzia, revealed that Syrian Kurds had just pardoned 120 Daesh leaders and had incorporated them into the YPG.

As early as September 2018, President Trump was preparing to withdraw US troops from all of Syria [7 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article207995.html#nb7)]. The abandonment of "Rojava" was conditional upon the cutting of the Iranian road that could cross this territory to reach Lebanon. This would be committed to by President Erdoğan in August. The GIs then oversaw the destruction of the Kurds’ defensive works. An agreement was validated on September 16 by Russia, Turkey and Iran. Therefore, the end of this pseudo-Kurdistan is imminent. Understanding absolutely nothing that is going on, France is shocked when Turkish troops brutally invade this pseudo-autonomous state from which the illegally occupying population flees.

https://www.voltairenet.org/local/cache-vignettes/L400xH300/207884-8-7-1e9c0.jpg
Infatuated with himself and totally disconnected from reality, Jean-Yves le Drian assures on the France 2 plateau that France is safely pursuing its objectives in Syria.

Guest of the French TV news2, on September 10, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves le Drian, tries to reassure the French people about the consequences of this fiasco. He assures that France is in control of the situation: jihadists detained in Rojava will not be released, whereas there are no longer any institutions on the ground, but tried in this territory. He goes on to say that president Erdoğan is threatening France in a vacuum. Finally, he refused to answer a question about the mission of the French army on the spot, in the midst of a debacle.

If we ignore the fate of the jihadists who are prisoners as well as that of the civilian populations who stole this land, we have no news of the fate of the soldiers at the nine French military bases. They are caught in the crossfire, between the Turkish army that President Holland betrayed and the Kurds that President Macron abandoned and who once again pledged allegiance to the Syrian Arab Republic.

Thierry Meyssan (https://www.voltairenet.org/auteur29.html?lang=en)

Translation Roger Lagassé (https://www.voltairenet.org/auteur125483.html?lang=en)

[1 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article207995.html#nh1)] “A War Crime Or an Act of War ? (https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/31/opinion/a-war-crime-or-an-act-of-war.html)”, Stephen C. Pelletiere, The New York Times, January 31, 2003.

[2 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article207995.html#nh2)] Selon les experts anti-terroristes, ces attentats n’ont pas été effectués en recourant à un mode opératoire comparable à celui utilisé lors des autres attentats revendiqués par Daesh, mais portent la trace d’une organisation militaire minutieuse, d’un acte de guerre perpétré par un État. “The motive for the attacks in Paris and Brussels (https://www.voltairenet.org/article190968.html)”, by Thierry Meyssan, Translation Pete Kimberley, Voltaire Network, 28 March 2016.

[3 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article207995.html#nh3)] « Déclaration du Rojava pour une Syrie fédérale (https://www.voltairenet.org/article190862.html) », Réseau Voltaire, 17 mars 2016.

[4 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article207995.html#nh4)] “NATO’s Anarchist Brigades (https://www.voltairenet.org/article197831.html)”, by Thierry Meyssan, Translation Pete Kimberley, Voltaire Network, 12 September 2017.

[5 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article207995.html#nh5)] « Ces revenants du Rojava qui inquiètent les services de renseignement », Matthieu Suc et Jacques Massey, Médiapart, 2 septembre 2019.

[6 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article207995.html#nh6)] “Secret Russian-Kurdish-Syrian military cooperation is happening in Syria’s eastern desert (https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/syria-isis-russia-kurdish-ypg-happening-in-secret-a7857471.html)”, Robert Fisk, The Independent, July 24, 2017.

[7 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article207995.html#nh7)] “Trump eyeing Arab ‘boots on the ground’ to counter Iran in Syria (https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/trump-eyeing-arab-boots-on-the-ground-to-counter-iran-in-syria?)”, Travis J. Tritten, Washington Examiner, September 29, 2018.

Related:

All that is Hidden from you About Turkish operation "Source of Peace" (1/3)
The genealogy of the Kurdish question (https://www.voltairenet.org/article207992.html)

Chester

22nd October 2019, 13:48

I came upon the following article this morning -

The Turkish Invasion of Rojava (https://www.lewrockwell.com/2019/10/thierry-meyssan/the-turkish-invasion-of-rojava/)

author - Thierry Meyssan

...and I found the article had an aura of truth but also, was quite detailed. I felt it might belong somewhere on PA and so I did an advanced search with the term Syria in the title and found this thread. So with full intention to post the article, I came to the thread and noticed the last post was... well... just look - Posted by Herve of an article by...

Thierry Meyssan

This felt like a pretty cool confirmation my intuition was pretty accurate on this one and I say that because I have found Herve to be almost inhuman (meaning beyond human and in a good way) with regards to how he covers important world affairs and how he uncovers that which is not (ever) found in any "corporate owned media."

Hervé

26th October 2019, 11:51

Russian military releases satellite images confirming US smuggling of Syrian oil (https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201910261077154752-russian-military-releases-satellite-images-confirming-us-smuggling-of-syrian-oil/)

Sputnik (https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201910261077154752-russian-military-releases-satellite-images-confirming-us-smuggling-of-syrian-oil/)
Sat, 26 Oct 2019 10:20 UTC

https://www.sott.net/image/s27/543013/large/russian_military_release.jpg (https://www.sott.net/image/s27/543013/full/russian_military_release.jpg)
© Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation

The Russian Defense Ministry published satellite intelligence images proving that oil from Syria was sent abroad under the guard of US servicemen before and after the defeat of the Daesh terrorists, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Saturday.

The ministry said that "the space intelligence images showed that oil was actively extracted and massively exported for processing outside Syria, under the reliable protection of US troops, before and after the defeat of the Daesh* terrorists."

https://www.sott.net/image/s27/543014/large/russian_military_satellite.jpg (https://www.sott.net/image/s27/543014/full/russian_military_satellite.jpg)
Oil transit vehicles gather in Deir ez-Zor Province, Syria, 10 km east of Al Mayadin © Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation

https://www.sott.net/image/s27/543015/large/satellite_image_oil_smuggling.jpg (https://www.sott.net/image/s27/543015/full/satellite_image_oil_smuggling.jpg)
Oil transit vehicles gather near Al-Omar oil station in Deir ez-Zor Province, Syria, 14 km east of Al Mayadin © Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation

Pentagon chief Mark Esper said Friday that the US intended to take measures in the near future to strengthen its position in the Syrian region of Deir ez-Zor in order to prevent terrorists from accessing oil fields (https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201910211077111257-its-always-about-oil-huh-trump-mulls-keeping-syrian-crude-with-us-companys-help/). According to the defense secretary, Washington is studying how to move forces in the region so that "to ensure the safety of oil fields."

*Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) is a terrorist group banned in Russia

Mashika

26th October 2019, 12:04

Hervé

26th October 2019, 14:45

‘International State Banditism’: Russian Defence Ministry Explains What US Really Does to Syrian Oil (https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201910261077152862-international-state-banditism-russian-defence-ministry-explains-what-us-really-does-to-syrian-oil/)

Sputnik Middle East (https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/)
10:00 26.10.2019
(updated 10:02 26.10.2019)

https://cdn3.img.sputniknews.com/images/105172/17/1051721739.jpg
© Photo : Ministry of defence of the Russian Federation

Commenting on US Defence Secretary Mark T. Esper's statement that a group of US troops will remain in eastern Syria, allegedly to prevent Daesh from accessing the oil fields, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said the statement should not be a surprise.

In a statement, the chief spokesman for the Russian Defence Ministry, Igor Konashenkov, noted that the US' stated goal of protecting Syrian oil fields (https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201910251077149501-moscow-on-us-idea-to-deploy-500-more-troops-to-syria-washington-sending-mixed-signals/) from Daesh* fighters could not be farther from the truth.
“What Washington does now – the capture and holding under its armed control of oil fields in Eastern Syria is, simply speaking, an international state banditism,” he said, adding that Syrian oil reserves and other mineral resources belong solely to the Syrian Arab Republic, not to Daesh terrorists or to “American protectors from Daesh terrorists”.“Neither international law, nor the American legislation itself can justify the US troops’ goal to guard Syrian hydrocarbon reserves from Syria itself and its people,” the statement reads.

Citing intelligence obtained via Russian Defence Ministry surveillance satellites, both before and after the Daesh defeat north of the Euphrates (https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201910251077144862-russian-military-police-arrive-in-syria---video/), Syrian oil was being actively extracted and smuggled to other countries, while being guarded by US soldiers.

The oil was smuggled in tanker truck convoys, guarded both by US servicemen and the mercenaries of private military contractors (PMCs), the ministry spokesman said.
“Meanwhile, Washington imposed sanctions on shipping hydrocarbons to Syria, which spans not only US companies, but everyone else,” the statement says.Despite that, oil extraction is being conducted using equipment provided by "leading Amercian corporations", Konashenkov said.

In case of an attack on convoys, the US military immediately calls upon special operations forces (https://sputniknews.com/military/201910241077143027-us-likely-to-deploy-tanks-in-syria-to-guard-oil-fields--report/) and its air force for protection, he added.

According to the statement, oil extraction was conducted by a US-controlled company, created under the so-called “Autonomous Administration of East Syria”.

The smuggling revenue went through intermediary companies to US intelligence agency and PMC bank accounts, he said.
“Considering one barrel of Syrian oil costs $38, the monthly revenue of this ‘private enterprise’ of US intelligence agencies is more than $30 million,” the statement reads. “For such a constant flow of cash, free of state control and taxes, Pentagon and Langley management will be ready to guard Syrian oil wells from ‘hidden Daesh cells’ indefinitely.”On 9 October, Turkey announced its 'Operation Peace Spring' which aims to drive Kurdish militias and remaining Daesh fighters away from the border. On 13 October, US Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper said the US will withdraw all of its force of 1,000 soldiers from northeastern Syria. On 25 October, Esper said the US would maintain a "reduced presence" in Syria, citing concerns about Daesh terrorists taking control of the oil fields. His words contradict the Trump administration, which announced earlier this year that Daesh had been 100 percent defeated (https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-claims-100-percent-isis-caliphate-defeated-syria/story?id=61388529).
''The United States will maintain a reduced presence in Syria to deny ISIS access to oil revenue as we reposition for the next phase of the Defeat-ISIS campaign,'' Esper said (https://www.defense.gov/explore/story/Article/1999021/esper-details-moves-in-syria-discusses-nato-meetings/).*Daesh (ISIS/ISIL) is an international terrorist group which is banned in Russia

Related:

ISIS Oil Trade Full Frontal: "Raqqa's Rockefellers", Bilal Erdogan, KRG Crude, And The Israel Connection (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?69621-Ukraine-Crimea-Syria-Israel-Iran-Putin-and-World-War-III&p=1024390&viewfull=1#post1024390)

Hervé

27th October 2019, 14:14

US President Donald Trump Confirms Daesh Leader Baghdadi Has Been Eliminated (https://sputniknews.com/us/201910271077161181-us-president-donald-trump-confirms-daesh-leader-baghdadi-has-been-eliminated/)

Sputnik US (https://sputniknews.com/us/)
16:22 27.10.2019
(updated 16:53 27.10.2019)

https://cdn2.img.sputniknews.com/images/101322/35/1013223528.jpg
© Flickr / Thierry Ehrmann

On Saturday night, the president left a mysterious tweet, writing that "something very big has just happened," with the White House later saying he would make an announcement on Sunday morning.

President Trump has confirmed that US special forces have killed Daesh (ISIS) leader al-Baghdadi.
“Last night the US brought the world’s number one terrorist leader to justice. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead," he said, speaking from the White House on Sunday.Trump said no US special operations forces were killed in the operation, which was said to have taken place in northwestern Syria on Saturday night.

"The US personnel were incredible. I got to watch much of it. No personnel were lost in the operation, while a large number of Baghdadi's fighters and companions were killed with him," the president noted.

Trump said Baghdadi "died after running into a dead-end tunnel, whimpering and crying and screaming all the way."

According to the president, 11 young children had been moved out of the compound to safety. However, three children were said to have died after Baghdadi dragged them into the tunnel with him and blew up a suicide vest.
"His body was mutilated by the blast, the tunnel had caved in on it in addition, but test results gave certain, immediate and totally positive identification. It was him," Trump said.Trump said the operation took place over the space of two hours.

Saying the US "reach" against the terrorists was "very long," Trump recalled that the US had also confirmed killing Hamza bin Laden, son of al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, who was "saying very bad things about people, about our country, about the world."

As for Baghdadi, the president said his caliphate had been "obliterated 100 percent" in March, and the terrorist leader's death was "another reminder that we will continue to pursue the remaining ISIS terrorists to their brutal end."

Calling Baghdadi a "loser," Trump added that he was "vicious and violent and he died in a vicious and violent way as a coward running and crying."

Trump said the raid couldn't have taken place without the "acknowledgement and help of certain other nations and people."
"I want to thank the nations of Russia, Turkey, Syria and Iraq, and I also want to thank the Syrian Kurds for certain support they were able to give us," Trump said.Taking questions, Trump said al-Baghdadi had been under surveillance for a "couple of weeks" prior to the raid.

The president said "Russia treated us great. They opened up - we had to fly over certain Russia-held areas. Russia was great. Iraq was excellent. We really had great cooperation. And you have to understand, they didn't know what we were doing and where we were going exactly. But the ISIS fighters are hated as much by Russia and some of these other countries as they are by us."

Trump added that in the message to Russia, the US intimated that "'we think you're going to be very happy,' because you know again, they hate ISIS as much as we do."

The Kurds, he said, provided some "helpful" information, Trump said. Trump also confirmed that Turkey knew that the US was going in, and flew over Turkish-controlled airspace.

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

To be verified, confirmed, etc.... in the absence of a HD video showing the finger-printing of the remains...

Hervé

27th October 2019, 17:14

...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EH4p0LhW4A0grnM.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EH38qatXkAIbri_.jpg

Hervé

27th October 2019, 19:28

Russian MoD doubts Trump’s announcement of killing ISIS chief al-Baghdadi, rejects claims it assisted US forces in op (https://www.rt.com/russia/471984-trump-russia-baghdadi-killed-syria/)

RT
27 Oct, 2019 15:58
Updated 2 hours ago
Get short URL (https://on.rt.com/a46o)

https://cdni.rt.com/files/2019.10/article/5db5c96c203027541a699a9d.jpg
© Global Look Press / twitter.com/News_Executive

There’s no credible data to prove a successful American raid took place against Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Russia’s Defense Ministry said. The US coalition didn’t even carry out any airstrikes in Idlib recently.

Earlier, Trump made a rare Sunday address from the White House informing the world that al-Baghdadi was eliminated in northwest Syria in a “daring nighttime raid” with the involvement of US special forces, planes, helicopters and drones. The Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) leader met his end “crying and screaming” in the face of the Americans’ might, he said.

But the Russian Defense Ministry insisted that “there were legitimate questions and doubts about the very fact [of the US operation] and, especially, its success.”

Also on rt.com ‘He died like a dog, like a coward!’ Trump describes GRAPHIC death of ISIS leader al-Baghdadi (https://www.rt.com/news/471982-trump-isis-baghdadi-death-coward/)Moscow pointed out that it recorded no US coalition airstrikes in the Idlib area in northwest Syria on Saturday when the raid was held.

It also rejected Trump’s claims that Russian forces opened up the airspace under its control in Syria to American planes to facilitate the operation against the IS leader.

The ministry questioned the very possibility of al-Baghdadi’s presence in Idlib as the area is held by Al-Qaeda offshoot, Jabhat al-Nusra, who have always been mortal enemies of Islamic State.

Also on rt.com Trump thanks Russia, Turkey, Syria, Iraq & Kurds for aiding US operation that killed al-Baghdadi (https://www.rt.com/news/471978-russia-turkey-iraq-helped-kill-baghdadi/)Moscow noted that Islamic State was crushed in Syria in early 2018 in a joint effort by the government in Damascus and the Russian forces, meaning that yet another report of al-Baghdadi’s demise “bears no effect on the operational situation in Syria or on the actions of the remaining terrorists in Idlib.”

French Defense Minister Florence Parly also questioned the significance of the claimed US achievement, pointing out that the raid only marked “an early retirement for a terrorist [al-Baghdadi], but not for his organization.”

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

If a lie is intended... make sure it's big enough... Trump got the advantage of first impact on his audience... and any first impact can't help but trigger an ensuing wave of rebutals which, in turn, can't help but keep the lie alive... :facepalm:

Hervé

31st October 2019, 13:40

The Future of the Levant

by Thierry Meyssan Voltaire Network
Damascus (Syria) 30 October 2019

We can’t resist publishing Thierry Meyssan’s editorial in al-Watan, Syria’s leading daily newspaper. He describes the United States/Russia agreement for the Levant.

https://www.voltairenet.org/squelettes/elements/images/ligne-rouge.gif
عربي (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208153.html) français (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208131.html) Deutsch (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208171.html) italiano (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208175.html) Español (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208199.html) فارسى (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208203.html)

https://www.voltairenet.org/local/cache-vignettes/L400xH307/Voltairenet-org_-_1-968-83778-5ef74.jpg

Over the past century, the United Kingdom and then the United States have successively courted all states and faith groups in the Middle East. They have fuelled confessional conflicts in such a way as to make themselves indispensable, according to the old principle of "Divide and conquer".

President Trump was elected three years ago with the plan to end the US Empire and bring his country’s forces back to the service of his fellow citizens. According to the analysis of his ephemeral security adviser, General Michael Flynn, withdrawing his troops from the wider Middle East while bringing peace to it means ending religious conflicts and therefore giving priority to sectarian states. In other words, Saudi Arabia must be de-wahhabited, Israel must be de-jewed, Iran must be de-chiited and Gaza de-sunnised, and the sectarian constitutions of Lebanon and Iraq must be changed.

That is exactly what we are witnessing today.

Prince Mohamad Ben Salmane and King Salmane himself, although they derive their legitimacy from the Wahhabi Brotherhood, are constantly pushing it back in their country.

Avigdor Lieberman, president of the Russian-speaking Israel Beitenu party, has brought about the fall of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and has been calling for a government without religious parties for a year. Two legislative elections later, General Benny Gantz may form a secular government of national unity, including Lieberman and Netanyahu, but without the religious parties. Otherwise, third parliamentary elections will have to be held.

Iran has imprisoned the main collaborators of former secular President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The country is under financial pressure from the United States and Israel’s military. At some point, it will be preferable for it to change its own system of government and return to a nationalist policy.

While one half of the Palestinian Territories is secular, the other half is governed by Hamas. But the State of Palestine only exists because the rest of Palestine is a Jewish State. If Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to be a simple minister, he would quickly be caught by his country’s judiciary. His fall would not be that of the Likud, but that of the few supporters of the Greater Israel conqueror from the Nile to the Euphrates.

In Lebanon, despite massive demonstrations, it is impossible to reform the sectarian constitution that has plagued the country for three quarters of a century and a civil war. Indeed, a constituent commission can only be formed by respecting the sectarian balances and cannot therefore abolish them. And if a constituent assembly were to be elected, the sectarian parties would once again buy voters to maintain themselves. The only solution is the creation of a secular military government that reforms the Constitution itself before withdrawing for the benefit of elected civilians.

In Iraq, the situation is the same, although less caricatured. As in Lebanon, the protest is now led by the Shia majority. Despite the apparent contradictions, Moqtada el-Sadr is first a nationalist before being a Shiite. Just as in Lebanon, sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is first a nationalist before being a Shiite. It has always been said that Hezbollah would cease to exist in its current form when Israel was no longer a Jewish state.

This White House project meets that of the Russian Federation, which has always protected Christians, but has always opposed denominational states.

Thierry Meyssan (https://www.voltairenet.org/auteur29.html?lang=en)

Translation Roger Lagassé (https://www.voltairenet.org/auteur125483.html?lang=en)

Source: Al-Watan (Syria) (https://www.voltairenet.org/auteur125461.html?lang=en)

Iyakum

31st October 2019, 14:09

A question that I have been asking for quite some time.

I know that Iran has fighter fighters, types F4 / F5 / F14, but these are from the days when the country was still ruled by the Shah. Before the revolution, a deal with the US was imminent. The deal was that the US would sell the Iran F16 fighter. But according to my information, it did not come to the deal. There was a rumor in the country that Iran handled the deal, but that seems to be a rumor.

I am still investigating, some sources claim that Iran owns F16. But others write the opposite, that Iran does not own F16 but only F14. Today I searched again and found this here.

The Air Force has an estimated 460 combat aircraft and about 80 combat and 200 transport helicopters. The modern F-15 and F-16 jets can advance to a large number of distant and well-protected destinations.
(c) EPA (Israeli Defense Forces)

https://www.diepresse.com/742060/israel-iran-hightech-armee-gegen-riesen-streitmacht#slide-3

Now I wonder if Iran really owns F16 fighters. Then the question of whether they are ready for use. The sanctions and the first Gulf War would not be up to date.

The last question I have.
Is it really possible to attack Iran? The country is twice as big as Germany. The US has virtually encircled it, Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, in the Gulf, the Emirates, Saudis, Kuwait. But will the US really dare? I do not think Russia would intervene in case of war. Israel definitely as an ally of the United States.

Iyakum

31st October 2019, 14:33

@ Herve,

I am not sure if this really succeeds in what Trump has planned or is still planning. Forcing Iran to renounce Shiite faith will not work. There is too much fanaticism behind it.

Okay, let's assume that such a plan exists. But let's not forget that Iran has been suffering from Islam for 40 years. Anyone who dares even say a word against the Islamic Republic in public is shot dead, imprisoned and the whole family with them. I saw it myself, six-year-old little girls who were sent straight from school to jail. I heard their voices howling because they did not understand why they were in jail.

But even if it should succeed ... what then? Who should govern a country that consists of seven different cultures? Today, the son of Shah called "Reza Shah II aka Waliat" birthday. Should he rule the country? He is not even able to pay attention to his wallet, let alone rule a country, ...

My opinion. "no chance". I hate war, but in the case of Iran, there is no other way!

Hervé

31st October 2019, 14:48

@ Herve,
[...]Iyakum, have a look at this thread: When Vested Interests Take Education over... (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?89230-When-Vested-Interests-Take-Education-over...)

Hervé

1st November 2019, 10:20

‘Americans will RESPAWN al-Baghdadi’: Assad casts doubt on ISIS leader’s death, draws parallels with Bin Laden’s killing (https://www.rt.com/news/472338-americans-recreate-baghdadi-assad/)

RT
31 Oct, 2019 21:26
Updated 1 hour ago
Get short URL (https://on.rt.com/a4gi)

https://cdni.rt.com/files/2019.11/xxs/5dbbe9f985f54049b72e80ef.jpg
FILE PHOTO. © Sputnik / Mikhail Voskresenskiy / Global Look Press

Take any words from US politicians with a grain of salt, Syria’s Bashar Assad has urged, as he cast doubt on the story of the Islamic State leader being killed in US a raid, and compared it to the shady killing of Osama Bin Laden.

The widely publicized US special forces raid that allegedly killed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) terrorist group, left more questions than answers and it should not be taken at the face value, the Syrian President cautioned, during a lengthy interview with state media on Thursday.

Damascus did not participate in the raid by any means, Assad stated, adding that he'd learned about the claim only through media reports. Adding imaginary participants into the operation is likely supposed to give it credibility, he added, while countries on such a list would likely be flattered to be a “part of a ‘great’ operation.”
We do not need such credit. We are the ones fighting terrorism. We have no relations and have had no contact with any American institutions.

https://cdni.rt.com/files/2019.10/xxs/5db6adec20302776cb3208b6.jpg (https://www.rt.com/russia/471984-trump-russia-baghdadi-killed-syria/)

Washington’s loud praise of its own actions, a picture of the ‘hero dog’ that took part in the raid and footage purportedly of the aerial strikes have not convinced Assad if it “actually took place or not.” Moreover, he thought the whole affair suspiciously resembled the 2011 killing of another notorious terrorist – Al Qaeda’s head Osama Bin Laden.
“Why were the remains of Baghdadi not shown? This is the same scenario that was followed with Bin Laden. If they are going to use different pretexts in order not to show the remains, let us recall how [former Iraqi] President Saddam Hussein was captured and how the whole operation was shown from A to Z; they showed pictures and video clips after they captured him.”
The killing of Saddam’s sons was also well-documented and widely publicized, Assad went on to add, suggesting that the Americans “hide everything” about both the killing of bin Laden and that of al-Baghdadi for a reason.
This is part of the tricks played by the Americans. That is why we should not believe everything they say unless they come up with evidence. American politicians are actually guilty until proven innocent, not the other way around.
All in all, it’s unlikely that death of the IS leader – if he really was killed – and even the ultimate destruction of the terrorist group would change anything, Assad said. The root of the problem – the Wahhabi ideology that is “more than two centuries old” would not disappear at once. The radical Islamist thought and al-Baghdadi were merely US tools all along, Assad claimed, adding that those tools could easily be re-purposed elsewhere.
“I believe the whole thing regarding this operation is a trick. Baghdadi will be recreated under a different name, a different individual, or ISIS in its entirety might be reproduced as needed under a different name but with the same thought and the same purpose. The director of the whole scenario is the same, the Americans.”
Related:

‘He died like a dog, like a coward!’ Trump describes GRAPHIC death of ISIS leader al-Baghdadi (https://www.rt.com/news/471982-trump-isis-baghdadi-death-coward/)

Russian MoD doubts Trump’s announcement of killing ISIS chief al-Baghdadi, rejects claims it assisted US forces in op (https://www.rt.com/russia/471984-trump-russia-baghdadi-killed-syria/)

Akasha

3rd November 2019, 18:38

Mashika

5th November 2019, 06:11

pounamuknight

5th November 2019, 13:19

Only thing i would like to say is that mixing groups or generalizing is not a great way to make positions clear, i'm not quite sure about what you think of people from Israel due to this, as opposed to the government or some specific groups otherwise.

I mean i understand what's going on but i always noticed sometimes the line is blurred between exposing a corrupt group and basically pointing the finger to an entire country, regardless of what they did/did not or if they even support their government.

I have seen it and experienced it myself way too many times already so i always try to avoid falling into that situation

Akasha said "Zionist and Israel's advocacy groups..." Probably the same groups mentioned in The Lobby (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceCOhdgRBoc)

Nowhere in Akasha's post does he/she point at or blame the entire country of Israel

Hervé

12th November 2019, 11:19

The Insoluble Contradictions of Daesh and the PKK/YPG (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208284.html)

by Thierry Meyssan Voltaire Network

Damascus (Syria) 12 November 2019

We only know what is happening in the Levant through the war propaganda of the country in which we live. We ignore other points of view and, more importantly, how our armies have behaved. To disentangle the true from the false, historians will have to examine the available documents. However, what the Western military literature tells us contradicts the statements of politicians and the narrative in the newspapers. It is only by becoming aware of the existence of the Pentagon’s strategy since 2001 that we will be able to understand what really happened and why such contradictions are occurring today.

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عربي (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208293.html) Español (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208288.html) français (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208272.html) italiano (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208292.html) Português (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208294.html) română (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208289.html) Türkçe (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208291.html)ε (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208290.html) λληνικά (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208290.html)

https://www.voltairenet.org/local/cache-vignettes/L400xH300/208272-2-dfda6.jpg?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=2e2f026bdeaf8d0a66bb3eaae404a9beed138615-1574884388-0-ASvTx3PuPYL-ZuiPLI0weY5sUiZoRMnrKhSiCaueUc1mh-Q3a894U-LE1Cc5qK7EpbDqJ3YGrpapdOIw7_YqdHz9EtEcR65OulMEYMypmgafnGZoQ0dL2R2Yuk9uiLipSLEsi6megOWapsrBMH1Kq207j4 AT4CYzGR6FQgNdTKgP8rn0nAOUItV7JkMzNl8eKQa0ylbzHNlzoJlzJq9C0dmEanNY53BROf99a8EKwUYrYoc2GE6OllK40a6i5e JLvZj3ZyfSw_Jd_LB7XtVOXhHRk52cASBmRgfD3Qwxvv3P3_WbI4Tyo0sdYdxlAEatESJfqhQYZyAH2b6qeDt0yaw
The remodeling of the Levant according to the Pentagon headquarters in the Levant. This map was described by Colonel Ralph Peters in an article on September 13, 2001, but he did not publish it until 2006.

We do not understand what is happening in northern Syria because we believe a priori that there was a fight between the evil Daesh jihadists and the kind Kurds of the PKK/YPG. That is absolutely not true. This struggle existed only to limit their respective territories or out of ethnic solidarity, never for ideological or religious reasons.

On the other hand, we do not see the role played by Donald Trump. As the press spends its time insulting the President-elect of the United States, it cannot be counted on to analyze and understand its policy in the broader Middle East. However, it has a clear guideline: the end of the Rumsfeld/Cebrowski doctrine, a legacy of 9/11. In doing so, he opposes his generals - all trained under the Bush Jr and Obama mandates to govern the world - and the Western European political class.

To understand what is happening, we must take the facts upstream and not downstream. Let us return to the plan drawn up by the Pentagon at the beginning of the Bush administration in 2001 and revealed, two days after the attacks of September 11, by Colonel Ralph Peters in Parameters [1 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208284.html#nb1)], the review of the US Army: the "remodelling" of the world, starting with the broader Middle East. This plan was confirmed a month later by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, who appointed its main designer, Admiral Arthur Cebrowski, Director of the Force Transformation Office. It was explained by his assistant, Thomas Barnett, in 2005 in The Pentagon’s New Map [2 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208284.html#nb2)]. And illustrated by the same Ralph Peters when he published the map in the Armed Forces Journal in 2006 for the first episode: what the broader Middle East was to become [3 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208284.html#nb3)]. Given the difficulties encountered in the field, it was the subject of an amendment published by a Pentagon researcher, Robin Wright, in the Sunday supplement of the New York Times [4 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208284.html#nb4)] in 2013.

According to these documents, five States were to be dismembered into fourteen entities: Syria and Iraq, Yemen, Libya and Saudi Arabia.

https://www.voltairenet.org/local/cache-vignettes/L400xH300/208272-1-8685b.jpg
Map published by Robin Wright in 2013, one year before Daesh’s transformation and before that of the PKK/YPG.

With regard to Syria and Iraq, these two States were to be divided into four. The map published in 2013 outlines a "Sunnistan" and a "Kurdistan", both straddling the two current states. The following year, the first was created by Daesh, the second by the YPG. At the time this map was published, Daesh was just one of hundreds of tiny anti-Syrian terrorist organizations; while the PYG was a pro-government militia whose fighters’ salaries were paid by the Syrian Arab Republic. There was nothing on the ground to predict the creation of the Caliphate and Rojava wanted by the Pentagon.

The Turkish Kurdish daily Özgür Gündem [5 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208284.html#nb5)] published the decision statement of the meeting during which the CIA prepared the way Daesh would invade Iraq from Raqqa. This document indicates that Masrour "Jomaaa" Barzani, then Head of Intelligence of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government, attended this planning meeting on 1 June 2014 in Amman, Jordan. He became Prime Minister of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government last July.

It is important to note that, according to Robin Wright’s map, US "Kurdistan" should include northeastern Syria (like French "Kurdistan" of 1936) and the Kurdish region of Iraq (which the French had not considered).

The support of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government for Daesh’s invasion of Iraq is indisputable: it allowed jihadists to massacre Kurds of Yazi religion in Sinjar and enslave their women. Those who were rescued were rescued by Turkish and Syrian Kurds who had come specially to assist them under the mocking eye of the peshmergas, the Iraqi Kurdish soldiers.

Daesh committed many atrocities, imposing its reign through terror. Il carried out a religious cleansing against the Yazidi Kurds, Assyrian Christians, Shia Arabs etc. These "rebels" have received financial and military assistance from the CIA, the Pentagon and at least 17 states, as reported and documented by the Bulgarian daily newspapers Trud [6 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208284.html#nb6)] and the Croatian Jutarnji list [7 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208284.html#nb7)]. With trained staff in Fort Benning (USA), Daesh collected taxes and opened public services until it became a "state" although no one recognized it as such.

We do not know how the PKK transformed itself in 2005 from a pro-Soviet Marxist-Leninist political party into a pro-Atlantic libertarian and environmentalist militia. And even less how the Syrian YPG operated its transformation in 2014. It came under the operational command of Turkish officers from the PKK and NATO. Depending on the side of the Turkish-Syrian border, the PKK-YPG is internationally qualified differently. If it is positioned in Turkey, it is "a terrorist organization", but if it is in Syria, it becomes "a political party opposed to the dictatorship". Yet until 2014, it did not see a dictatorship in Syria. It was fighting for the defence of the Syrian Arab Republic and the retention of President Bashar al-Assad in power.

The YPG has respected the laws of war and has not committed atrocities comparable to those of Daesh, but it has not hesitated to ethnically clean up the north-east of Syria to create the "Rojava", which constitutes a crime against humanity. It despoiled and expelled hundreds of thousands of Assyrians and Arabs. It thought it was fighting for its people, but it was only making the Pentagon’s dreams come true. To do so, it publicly benefited from the Pentagon’s armament, as well as the British military weekly Jane’s [8 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208284.html#nb8)] and the Italian daily Il Manifesto [9 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208284.html#nb9)] have shown, and France, as François Hollande has revealed. Rojava did not have time to merge with the Kurdish region of Iraq.

After the fall of the Caliphate, among other things under the blows of the PKK/PYG, the latter asked the Damascus government for permission to cross the lines of the Syrian Arab army to rescue the North-West Kurds threatened by the Turkish army. Permission was granted.. But when the PKK/YPG moved, it was transporting fugitive Daesh officers who were arrested by the Syrian Arab Republic.

These documents and facts do not tell us which protagonists are right or wrong, that is another matter. But on the ground, it is impossible to be both against Daesh and for the PKK/YPG without falling into irreconcilable contradictions.

Donald Trump’s actions consisted in destroying the pseudo-states manufactured by the Pentagon: the Caliphate and the Rojava; this does not mean the end of Daesh or the end of the PKK/YPG.

Thierry Meyssan (https://www.voltairenet.org/auteur29.html?lang=en)

Translation Roger Lagassé (https://www.voltairenet.org/auteur125483.html?lang=en)

[1 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208284.html#nh1)] “Stability, America’s Ennemy (https://books.google.com/books?id=GNpLAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA3-PA5&lpg=RA3-PA5&dq=%E2%80%9CStability,+America%E2%80%99s+Enemy&source=bl&ots=_K9wGh4tWy&sig=ACfU3U0KtylZIcGCWpuzzzAxZN3Ci7-BUg&hl=frsa=Xved=2ahUKEwjtgaf84OHlAhVRTxUIHfuTDSUQ6AEwBnoECAcQAQ#v=onepage&q=%E2%80%9CStability%2C%20America%E2%80%99s%20Enemy&f=false)”, Ralph Peters, Parameters, Winter 2001-02, pp. 5-20. Also in Beyond Terror: Strategy in a Changing World, Stackpole Books.

[2 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208284.html#nh2)] The Pentagon’s New Map, Thomas P. M. Barnett, Putnam Publishing Group, 2004.

[3 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208284.html#nh3)] “Blood borders - How a better Middle East would look (http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/blood-borders/)”, Colonel Ralph Peters, Armed Forces Journal, June 2006

[4 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208284.html#nh4)] “Imagining a Remapped Middle East (https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/opinion/sunday/imagining-a-remapped-middle-east.html)”, Robin Wright, The New York Times Sunday Review, 28 septembre 2013.

[5 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208284.html#nh5)] « Yer : Amman, Tarih : 1, Konu : Musul », Akif Serhat, Özgür Gündem, 6 temmuz 2014.

[6 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208284.html#nh6)] “350 diplomatic flights carry weapons for terrorists (https://trud.bg/350-diplomatic-flights-carry-weapons-for-terrorists/)”, Dilyana Gaytandzhieva, Trud, July 2, 2017.

[7 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208284.html#nh7)] “TAJNA LETOVA JORDANSKIH AVIONA S PLESA Sirijski pobunjenici dobivaju oružje preko Zagreba! (http://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/tajna-letova-jordanskih-aviona-s-plesa-sirijski-pobunjenici-dobivaju-oruzje-preko-zagreba/1202351/)”, Krešimir Žabec, Jutarnji list, 23 veljača 2013. «TRANSFER HRVATSKOG ORUŽJA POBUNJENICIMA U SIRIJI Sve je dogovoreno prošlog ljeta u Washingtonu! (http://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/transfer-hrvatskog-oruzja-pobunjenicima-u-siriji-sve-je-dogovoreno-proslog-ljeta-u-washingtonu/1203872/)», Krešimir Žabec, Jutarnji list, 26 veljača 2013. “VIDEO: JUTARNJI OTKRIVA U 4 mjeseca za Siriju sa zagrebačkog aerodroma Pleso otišlo 75 aviona sa 3000 tona oružja! (http://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/video-jutarnji-otkriva-u-4-mjeseca-za-siriju-sa-zagrebackog-aerodroma-pleso-otislo-75-aviona-sa-3000-tona-oruzja/1200824/)”, Krešimir Žabec, Jutarnji list, 7 ožujak 2013. “PUT KROZ ASADOVU SIRIJU Nevjerojatna priča o državi sravnjenoj sa zemljom i njezinim uništenim ljudima: ’Živote su nam ukrali, snove ubili...’ (http://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/svijet/put-kroz-asadovu-siriju-nevjerojatna-prica-o-drzavi-sravnjenoj-sa-zemljom-i-njezinim-unistenim-ljudima-zivote-su-nam-ukrali-snove-ubili/5733047/)”, Antonija Handabaka, Jutarnji list, 9 ožujak 2013.

[8 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208284.html#nh8)] “US arms shipment to Syrian rebels detailed (http://www.janes.com/article/59374/us-arms-shipment-to-syrian-rebels-detailed)”, Jeremy Binnie & Neil Gibson, Jane’s, April 7th, 2016.

[9 (https://www.voltairenet.org/article208284.html#nh9)] “Da Camp Darby armi Usa per la guerra in Siria e Yemen (https://ilmanifesto.it/da-camp-darby-armi-usa-per-la-guerra-in-siria-e-yemen/)”, Manlio Dinucci, Il Manifesto, 18 aprile 2017. English translation : “From Camp Darby US weapons for the war in Syria and Yemen (https://www.voltairenet.org/article196033.html)”, by Manlio Dinucci, Translation Anoosha Boralessa, Voltaire Network, 18 April 2017.

PathWalker

14th November 2019, 15:18

[QUOTE=Akasha;1321922]
I have seen it and experienced it myself way too many times already so i always try to avoid falling into that situation

By posting a response you are falling into that situation.
When you oppose or challenge an opinion here, you start a flaming war. Many time I prefer to be smart rather than correct.
Post for the guests not for the members.

Akasha

14th November 2019, 20:36

How is it that 3 years after the liberation of Aushwitz, there was a Nakba in Palestine?

A talk given by Gilad at Chester Interfaith Palestine 2019 (2.1.2019). Zionist and Israel's advocacy groups were desperate to cancel the scholarly oriented gathering of many local peace enthusiasts. But the pro- Israeli bigoted efforts backfired - - the interest in the conference grew immediately, the local community stood for palestine, peace and harmony...

pfxhicFBHSI

Only thing i would like to say is that mixing groups or generalizing is not a great way to make positions clear, i'm not quite sure about what you think of people from Israel due to this, as opposed to the government or some specific groups otherwise.

I mean i understand what's going on but i always noticed sometimes the line is blurred between exposing a corrupt group and basically pointing the finger to an entire country, regardless of what they did/did not or if they even support their government.

I have seen it and experienced it myself way too many times already so i always try to avoid falling into that situation

Hi Mashika :)

The words in my post, apart from the quote which was from Gilad during his presentation, were quickly cut and pasted from the “about” section below the video on Youtube. It is not in any way generalising but is a concise report on exactly what happened by those groups which identify under those labels as they tried (and failed) to silence Gilad (again).

Regarding what I think of people of Israel, I am disappointed that collectively, they seem happy, even proud of the apartheid perception they conjure to onlookers given their ongoing actions and attitude towards the Palestinians. Of course within that collective, I am extremely sympathetic to those who oppose the ongoing atrocities against the Palestinian people. Unfortunately though, it is all too clear that they are a minority.

If you haven’t already, please watch the video and, if you like, share your thoughts on what Gilad is saying.

All the best.

Akasha

14th November 2019, 22:03

.....five States were to be dismembered into fourteen entities: Syria and Iraq, Yemen, Libya and Saudi Arabia.....

Text book balkanization, or in other words and to quote Wiki' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkanization) (safely for once (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t52LB2fYhoY)),

.....the process of fragmentation or division of a region or state into smaller regions or states that are often hostile or uncooperative with one another.....

Many here will be familiar with Israeli foreign policy strategist, Oded Yinon, but for those who are not and for some invaluable context regarding the initial quote in this post, please read the following two articles:

Greater Israel and the Balkanization of the Middle East - Oden Yinon's Strategy for Israel (https://www.globalresearch.ca/greater-israel-and-the-balkanization-of-the-middle-east-oded-yinons-strategy-for-israel/5649059)

Greater Israel - The Zionist Plan for the Middle East (https://www.globalresearch.ca/greater-israel-the-zionist-plan-for-the-middle-east/5324815)

Franny

17th November 2019, 18:17

RAY McGOVERN: Ukraine For Dummies
November 14, 2019

Ray McGovern: Ukraine For Dummies (https://consortiumnews.com/2019/11/14/ray-mcgovern-ukraine-for-dummies/)

There was no excuse for Congress’ ignorance of Ukraine. Here is a guide to help.

By Ray McGovern
Special to Consortium News

At Wednesday’s debut of the impeachment hearings there was one issue upon which both sides of the aisle seemed to agree, and it was a comic-book caricature of reality.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff led off the proceedings with this: “In 2014, Russia invaded a United States ally, Ukraine, to reverse that nation’s embrace of the West, and to fulfill Vladimir Putin’s desire to rebuild a Russian empire…”

Five years ago, when Ukraine first came into the news, those Americans who thought Ukraine was an island in the Pacific can perhaps be forgiven. That members of the House Intelligence Committee don’t know — or pretend not to know — more accurate information about Ukraine is a scandal, and a consequential one.

As Professor Stephen Cohen has warned, if the impeachment process does not deal in objective fact, already high tensions with Russia are likely to become even more dangerous.

So here is a kind of primer for those who might be interested in some Ukraine history:

Late 1700s: Catherine the Great consolidated her rule; established Russia’s first and only warm-water naval base in Crimea.

In 1919, after the Bolshevik Revolution, Moscow defeated resistance in Ukraine and the country becomes one of 15 Republics of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

Khrushchev: Gave Crimea away. (Wikipedia)

In 1954, after Stalin’s death the year before, Nikita Khrushchev, a Ukrainian, assumed power. Pandering to Ukrainian supporters, he unilaterally decreed that henceforth Crimea would be part of the Ukrainian SSR, not the Russian SSR. Since all 15 Republics of the USSR were under tight rule from Moscow, the switch was a distinction without much of a difference — until later, when the USSR fell apart..

Nov. 1989: Berlin wall down.

Dec. 2-3, 1989: President George H. W. Bush invites Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to summit talks in Malta; reassures him “the U.S. will not take advantage” of Soviet troubles in Eastern Europe. Bush had already been pushing the idea of a Europe whole and free, from Portugal to Vladivostok.

A Consequential Quid Pro Quo

Feb. 7-10, 1990: Secretary of State James Baker negotiates a quid pro quo; Soviet acceptance of the bitter pill of a reunited Germany (inside NATO), in return for an oral U.S. promise not to enlarge NATO “one inch more” to the East.

Dec. 1991: the USSR falls apart. Suddenly it does matter that Khrushchev gave Crimea to the Ukrainian SSR; Moscow and Kyiv work out long-term arrangements for the Soviet navy to use the naval base at Sevastopol.

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The quid pro quo began to unravel in October 1996 during the last weeks of President Bill Clinton’s campaign when he said he would welcome Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic into NATO — the earlier promise to Moscow notwithstanding. Former U.S. Ambassador to the USSR Jack Matlock, who took part in both the Bush-Gorbachev early-December 1989 summit in Malta and the Baker-Gorbachev discussions in early February 1990, has said, “The language used was absolute, including no ‘taking advantage’ by the U.S. … I don’t see how anybody could view the subsequent expansion of NATO as anything but ‘taking advantage,’ particularly since, by then, Russia was hardly a credible threat.” (From 16 members in 1990, NATO has grown to 29 member states — the additional 13 all lie east of Germany.)

Feb. 1, 2008: Amid rumors of NATO planning to offer membership to Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warns U.S. Ambassador William Burns that “Nyet Means Nyet.” Russia will react strongly to any move to bring Ukraine or Georgia into NATO. Thanks to WikiLeaks, we have Burns’s original cable from embassy in Moscow.

April 3, 2008: Included in Final Declaration from NATO summit in Bucharest: “NATO welcomes Ukraine’s and Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations for membership in NATO. We agreed today that these countries will become members of NATO.”

Early September 2013: Putin helps Obama resist neocon demands to do “shock and awe” on Syria; Russians persuade President Bashar al-Assad to give up Syrian army chemical weapons for destruction on a U.S. ship outfitted for chemical weapons destruction. Neocons are outraged over failing to mousetrap Obama into attacking Syria.

Meanwhile in Ukraine

Nuland-Pyatt Leaked Phone Conversation
WV9J6sxCs5k

Dec. 2013: In a speech to the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation, Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Victoria Nuland says: “The United States has supported Ukraine’s European aspirations. … We have invested over $5 billion to assist Ukraine in these and other goals that will ensure a secure and prosperous and democratic Ukraine.”

Feb. 4, 2014: Amid rioting on the Maidan in Kiev, YouTube carries Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland’s last minute instructions to U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt regarding the U.S. pick for new Ukrainian prime minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk (aka “Yats”) and other plans for the imminent coup d’etat in Kiev. When Pyatt expresses concern about EU misgivings about mounting a coup, Nuland says “**** the EU.” She then apologizes to the EU a day or two later — for the profanity, not for the coup. She also says that Vice President Joe Biden will help “glue this thing together”, meaning the coup.

Feb. 22, 2014: Coup d’etat in Kyiv; appropriately labeled “the most blatant coup in history” by George Friedman, then President of the widely respected think-tank STRATFOR.

Feb. 23, 2014: The date that NATO, Western diplomats, and the corporate media have chosen – disingenuously – as the beginning of recent European history, with silence about the coup orchestrated in Kyiv the day before. President Vladimir Putin returns to Moscow from the winter olympics in Sochi; confers with advisers about Crimea, deciding — unlike Khrushchev in 1954 — to arrange a plebiscite to let the people of Crimea, most of whom strongly opposed the coup regime, decide their own future.

March 16, 2014: The official result from the voters in Crimea voted overwhelmingly for independence from Ukraine and to join Russia. Following the referendum, Crimea declared independence from Ukraine and asked to join the Russian Federation. On March 18, the Russian Federal Assembly ratified the incorporation of Crimea into Russia.

In the following days, Putin made it immediately (and publicly) clear that Yatsenyuk’s early statement about Ukraine joining NATO and – even more important – the U.S./NATO plans to deploy ABM systems around Russia’s western periphery and in the Black Sea, were the prime motivating forces behind the post-referendum re-incorporation of Crimea into Russia.

No one with rudimentary knowledge of Russian history should have been surprised that Moscow would take no chances of letting NATO grab Crimea and Russia’s only warm-water naval base. The Nuland neocons seized on the opportunity to accuse Russia of aggression and told obedient European governments to follow suit. Washington could not persuade its European allies to impose stringent sanctions on Russia, though, until the downing of Malaysian Airlines MH17 over Ukraine.

Airplane Downed; 298 Killed

July 17, 2014: MH 17 shot down

July 20, 2014: Secretary of State John Kerry told NBC’s David Gregory, “We picked up the imagery of this launch. We know the trajectory. We know where it came from. We know the timing. And it was exactly at the time that this aircraft disappeared from the radar.” The U.S., however, has not shared any evidence of this.

Given the way U.S. intelligence collectors had been focused, laser-like, on that part of the Ukrainian-Russian border at that time, it is a near certainty that the U.S. has highly relevant intelligence regarding what actually happened and who was most likely responsible. If that intelligence supported the accusations made by Kerry, it would almost certainly have been publicized.

Less than two weeks after the shoot-down, the Europeans were persuaded to impose sanctions that hurt their own businesses and economies about as much as they hurt Russia’s – and far more than they hurt the U.S. There is no sign that, in succumbing to U.S. pressure, the Europeans mustered the courage to ask for a peek at the “intelligence” Kerry bragged about on NBC TV.

Oct. 27, 2016: Putin speaks (http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-putin-obama-20161030-story.html) at the Valdai International Discussion Club.

How did the “growing trust” that Russian President Putin wrote about in his
September 11, 2013 New York Times op-ed (https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/12/opinion/putin-plea-for-caution-from-russia-on-syria.html) evaporate?

How did what Putin called his close “working and personal relationship with President Obama” change into today’s deep distrust and saber-rattling? A short three years later after the close collaboration to resolve the Syrian problem peacefully, Putin spoke of the “feverish” state of international relations and lamented: “My personal agreements with the President of the United States have not produced results.” And things have gone downhill from there.

Ray McGovern works with Tell the Word, a publishing arm of the ecumenical Church of the Saviour in inner-city Washington. His 27 years as a CIA analyst included leading the Soviet Foreign Policy Branch and conducting the morning briefings of the President’s Daily Brief. In retirement he co-founded Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS).

Consortium News does not necessarily agree or disagree with all positions taken by its columnists.

Akasha

25th November 2019, 18:49

Kevin Barrett and Gilad Atzmon on Netanyahu's Indictment (https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Netanyahu%27s+Indictment&t=h_&ia=news):

fzGABG_4PR4

Akasha

27th November 2019, 19:20

Hungarian Jewish physician and best-selling author, Gabor Maté shares his thoughts on the weaponisation of anti-semitism and how it is negatively affecting the diaspora’s perception of “The Promised Land”.

8TBBhPUwrCU

Sophocles

2nd December 2019, 22:28

With the scenario in mind of a Moscow-Kiev based axis the Ukranian-Israeli oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky in a New York Times interview recently said;

"Russian tanks will be stationed near Krakow and Warsaw. Your NATO will be soiling its pants and buying Pampers"

and;

"They’re stronger anyway,” he said of Moscow. “We have to improve our relations. People want peace, a good life, they don’t want to be at war. And you” – i.e. the United States – “are forcing us to be at war, and not even giving us the money for it."

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

The Oligarch Makes a Comeback in America’s ‘Strategic Ally’ Ukraine (http://https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2019/11/26/oligarch-makes-comeback-in-america-strategic-ally-ukraine/)

strategic-culture.org (https://www.strategic-culture.org/)
November 26, 2019
Daniel Lazare (https://www.strategic-culture.org/contributors/daniel-lazare/)

The New York Times is not known for its wit, but an interview (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/13/world/europe/ukraine-ihor-kolomoisky-russia.html?searchResultPosition=1)it recently published with the Ukrainian billionaire Ihor Kolomoisky was little less than side-splitting. A big bearish man who doesn’t believe in shades of gray – except when it comes to his own whiskers – Kolomoisky didn’t hold back when it came to American double-dealing and his belief that a rapprochement with Russia is the Ukraine’s only way out.

“They’re stronger anyway,” he said of Moscow. “We have to improve our relations. People want peace, a good life, they don’t want to be at war. And you” – i.e. the United States – “are forcing us to be at war, and not even giving us the money for it.”

That’s not what a parade of State Department personnel are telling the House intelligence committee these days. To a person, they agree that the US policy is tip-top, exemplary, brilliantly designed to help poor little Ukraine get back on its feet and fend off Russian aggression. Yet here was a Ukrainian oligarch saying the opposite: that Washington is using Kiev for its own selfish ends and that Moscow is looking better and better by comparison.

“You won’t all take us,” Kolomoisky said of NATO and the Ukraine’s long-standing bid for membership. “There’s no use in wasting time on empty talk. Whereas Russia would love to bring us into a new Warsaw Pact.”

Then came the kicker: if Kiev ends up joining forces with Moscow, then “Russian tanks will be stationed near Krakow and Warsaw. Your NATO will be soiling its pants and buying Pampers.”

Where the Polish-American strategist Zbigniew Brzezinski once advised using a pliant Ukraine to encircle Russia, Kolomoisky was now warning that Russia might join with the Ukraine in encircling Poland.

What makes this all the more extraordinary is that Kolomoisky is not some minor player, but the power behind the throne of an increasingly beleaguered Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelensky, of course, is the comedian who began his climb to fame on a Kolomoisky-owned TV channel known as 1+1 and who then used his hit sitcom, “Servant of the People,” a show about an ordinary man running for president, to launch his own real-life presidential bid.

Zelensky ran on an anti-corruption platform just as the fictional Zelensky did on TV, and he won handily just as he did on TV as well. It’s proof that if Paris was the surrealist capital of the world in the 1930s, Kiev is the same today.

The result is to make Zelensky doubly or even triply beholden to his former business partner. The New Yorker reports (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/11/04/how-trumps-emissaries-put-pressure-on-ukraines-new-president)that he’s flown thirteen times by private jet to Geneva and Tel Aviv where Kolomoisky has homes.

His fellow traveler on many of those flights, it adds, was Andriy Bohdan, Kolomoisky’s lawyer and now the president’s chief of staff. According to Ukrainian press reports (http://www.ukrweekly.com/uwwp/scandals-in-ukraine-overshadow-progress/), eleven members of Zelensky’s parliamentary faction may have accepted bribes of up to $30,000 to block an anti-corruption measure aimed at a Kolomoisky ally named Anton Yatsenko.

Then there’s Valeria Gontareva, former head of the Ukraine’s central bank, whom Kolomoisky’s supporters helped drive out of town in 2017. This was after she wrested away control of a financial institution known as PrivatBank from which Kolomoisky had allegedly looted $5.5 billion and all but driven into insolvency.

After Zelensky took office in May, a car plowed into the 55-year-old Gontareva as she was crossing a street in central London, putting her in a wheelchair. After that, someone set fire to her son’s car in Kiev. Then someone torched her family home.

“Revenge,” Gontareva calls it (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/12/revenge-ukraine-ex-central-banker-oligarch-attacks). Zelensky stayed mum while one of his old 1+1 pals regaled audiences with a satirical song about a house burning down and a woman “weeping in London (https://apnews.com/c41e9645460243b7bb92b060f5d34e18).”

Suggesting that the attacks were fake, Alexander Dubinsky, a 1+1 veteran who is a member of Zelensky’s parliamentary faction, urged his 130,000 Facebook followers to begin a letter-writing campaign to get Gontareva fired from the London School of Economics where she is on a fellowship.

All of which suggests that Kolomoisky is not the type to forgive or forget and that Zelensky is not the type to rein him in. If so, then Kolomoisky’s comments about US-Ukrainian relations are the opinion not of a lone individual, but of a major faction of the Ukrainian ruling class.

This is worth keeping in mind as one impeachment witness after another pillories Donald Trump for supposedly undermining the Ukraine. Based on Kolomoisky’s remarks to the Times, it’s not Trump who’s responsible for the Ukrainian disaster, but decades of US policy.

By pumping in $5 billion to “insure a secure and prosperous and democratic Ukraine,” as former State Department boss Victoria (“**** the EU (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26079957)”) Nuland put it (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2fYcHLouXY), the US triggered a cascade of events that were little short of catastrophic.

It encouraged the Nazi-spearheaded 2014 Euromaidan coup, which took a weak state and rendered it even weaker by triggered a parallel revolt in the Russian-speaking east. It tossed out a corrupt pro-Russian president named Viktor Yanukovych and brought in the pro-American president Petro Poroshenko, who may have been even worse.

Now it has brought in Zelensky, a nice guy who may well prove to be the most disastrous of all because he seems to be little more than a stand-in for an oligarch so outrageous that he puts all other oligarchs to shame.

It’s not as if the experts weren’t warned. Back in 2014, when the New York Times was celebrating (https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/09/world/europe/ukraines-jews-dismiss-claims-of-anti-semitism.html)Kolomoisky as a hero of the battle against anti-Semitism, the liberal Israeli daily Haaretz described (https://www.haaretz.com/.premium-the-most-powerful-jew-in-the-world-1.5315512)him much more accurately as a crude mob boss who spews profanities and insults; who keeps a massive shark-filled tank in his office so he can toss in live shrimp and watch how visitors react to the resultant feeding frenzy, and who was once spotted wearing a T-shirt with the inscription “Zhidobandera” – a double insult aimed at Jews (“Zhid” is an ethnic slur) and Ukrainian nationalists (known as “Banderovtzi” by opponents because they worship the World War II Nazi collaborator Stepan Bandera).

Vladimir Putin issued a similar warning around the same time. Kolomoisky’s crookedness, he said, was “unique.”

“He even managed to cheat our oligarch Roman Abramovich two or three years ago,” the Russian president observed of the billionaire owner of England’s Chelsea soccer team. “Scammed him, as our intellectuals like to say. They signed some deal, Abramovich transferred several billion dollars, while this guy never delivered and pocketed the money. When I asked, ‘Why did you do it?’ he [Abramovich] said, ‘I never thought this was possible.’”

But who listens to Putin? And who bothers to read Haaretz? If the Russians said that Kolomoisky was a no-goodnik, the State Department assumed that he had to be the opposite. But now that he turns out to be precisely the gonif that Putin said he was, the experts are blaming Trump, Zelensky, and Russia – everyone and anyone, that is, except themselves.

Source (https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2019/11/26/oligarch-makes-comeback-in-america-strategic-ally-ukraine/)

silvanelf

4th December 2019, 19:01

Vladimir Putin issued a similar warning around the same time. Kolomoisky’s crookedness, he said, was “unique.”

For sure! Kolomoisky stole about 5.6 billion USD from the US and IMF loans to Ukraine. The reason for Kolomoisky's sudden change of heart toward Russia is pretty obvious.

Emphasis is mine:

Waring Sides

Side 1: Igor Kolomoisky and allies

After the US refused to support Petro Poroshenko in the last presidential elections, leading to his defeat, Kolomoisky is the most powerful and most aggressive of what was left of Ukrainian post-Soviet oligarchy. Kolomoisky was a former ally of Poroshenko, he supported Western-backed Maidan coup of 2014, and then funded first neo-Nazi battalions for the civil war in the east of the country. In 2016 through his bank PrivatBank stole about 5.6 billion USD from the US and IMF loans to Ukraine with the help of then-president Poroshenko and head of Ukrainian national bank Valerya Hontareva. Kolomoisky then used money to buy different assets in the USA itself. That angered US government (back then during Barack Obama’s presidency) and IMF, who forced Poroshenko and Hontareva to nationalize PrivatBank, leading to the conflict between Poroshenko and Kolomoisky. The battle that Kolomoisky had lost and was forced to leave Ukrainian politics. Kolomoisky, Ukrainian government, PrivatBank, US government, and IMF fight over those 5.6 billion ever since in numerous court cases in Ukraine, Great Britain, and the USA.

After last elections of 2019 and the defeat of Poroshenko, Kolomoysky is back in power. He controls Ukrainian security and police apparatus via his ally Arsen Avakov -Ukrainian minister of internal affairs. He also controls largest faction inside ruling party of president Zelensky. Zelensky himself is close to Kolomoyski as he was working for TV channel owned by Kolomoisky. Work that made him popular in Ukraine. Popularity that in turn was crucial for his election victory. One can say that it was his work for Kolomoisky that made him president.

Arsen Avakov is a shadowy figure controlling not just Ukrainian security and police services and National Guard but also neo-Nazi and radical organizations and paramilitary formations in Ukraine. Avakov is also former Poroshenko’s ally and minister who played a crucial role in civil war and suppression of the opposition. However, sensing the changes in the political climate, he betrayed Poroshenko before elections and switched sides allying with Kolomoisky. As a result, he was able to keep his post as a minister of internal affairs in the new government.

--- snip ---

But that’s not all. Even more dangerous for Kolomoisky is that the FBI had instituted criminal proceedings concerning his shenanigans. The investigation that threatens Kolomoisky with extradition to the USA. The trip that he is unlikely to return from, regardless even of his Israeli citizenship. Thus Kolomoisky is fighting not just for his (stolen) money, but his very survival.

That’s also probably the reason for his sudden change of heart toward Russia in his well-timed interview to the Washington Post, although that’s nothing more than a rather weak and transparent attempt to scare his opponents in USA.

http://thesaker.is/war-in-ukraine-the-one-you-are-not-been-told-about/

Mashika

9th December 2019, 02:56

I believe this goes here

Newsweek reporter resigns after accusing outlet of SUPPRESSING story about OPCW leak that undermines Syria ‘gas attack’ narrative (https://www.rt.com/news/475331-opcw-syria-newsweek-resigns/)

A reporter for Newsweek says he has quit his job after his editor allegedly refused to publish an article about an internal email that raises serious questions about the OPCW’s findings on an alleged gas attack in Douma, Syria.
“Yesterday I resigned from Newsweek after my attempts to publish newsworthy revelations about the leaked OPCW letter were refused for no valid reason,” Tareq Haddad tweeted out on Saturday.

--

Reporter Accuses Newsweek of Muzzling 'Inconvenient Info' on OPCW Probe of Syrian Chemical Attack (https://sputniknews.com/world/201912081077516275-reporter-accuses-newsweek-of-muzzling-inconvenient-info-on-opcw-probe-of-syrian-chemical-attack/)

The journalist accused his former employer of acting in a biased way by "suppressing" his story about the leaked letter along with some evidence in another article, which contained "info inconvenient to the US government" despite it being "factually correct", while releasing other stories related to the OPCW probe. A Newsweek spokesperson commented on Haddad’s accusations in response to a Fox News’ request for comment, stating that "the writer pitched a conspiracy theory rather than an idea for objective reporting" and that this pitch was rejected by the outlet’s editors.

Haddad didn't elaborate any further on what information was allegedly muzzled by Newsweek, but announced his intention to publish the full story "shortly". He also showed interest in revealing facts proving that Newsweek had originally supressed the story, but said his former employer threatened him with legal action, citing "confidentiality clauses" in his contract.

Sophocles

21st December 2019, 07:27

The interview that Italian Rai News 24 refrained from broadcasting…President al-Assad: Europe was the main player in creating chaos in Syria-video (https://sana.sy/en/?p=180156)

https://sana.sy/en/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/888888.jpg

sana.sy/en
9 December، 2019

Damascus, SANA-President Bashar al-Assad said that Syria is going to come out of the war stronger and the future of Syria is promising and the situation is much better, pointing out to the achievements of the Syrian Arab army in the war against terrorism.

The President, in an interview given to Italian Rai News 24 TV on November 26,2019 and was expected to be broadcast on December 2nd and the Italian TV refrained from broadcasting it for non-understandable reasons, added that Europe was the main player in creating chaos in Syria and the problem of refugees in it was because of its direct support to terrorism along with the US, Turkey and many other countries.

President al-Assad stressed that since the beginning of the narrative regarding the chemical weapons, Syria has affirmed it didn’t use them.

The President affirmed that what the OPCW organization did was to fake and falsify the report about using chemical weapons, just because the Americans wanted them to do so. So, fortunately, this report proved that everything we said during the last few years, since 2013, is correct.

Following is the full text of the interview;

Question 1: Mr. President, thanks for having us here. Let us know please, what’s the situation in Syria now, what’s the situation on the ground, what is happening in the country?

President Assad: If we want to talk about Syrian society: the situation is much, much better, as we learned so many lessons from this war and I think the future of Syria is promising; we are going to come out of this war stronger.

Talking about the situation on the ground: The Syrian Army has been advancing for the last few years and has liberated many areas from the terrorists, there still remains Idleb where you have al-Nusra that’s being supported by the Turks, and you have the northern part of Syria where the Turks have invaded our territory last month.

So, regarding the political situation, you can say it’s becoming much more complicated, because you have many more players that are involved in the Syrian conflict in order to make it drag on and to turn it into a war of attrition.

Question 2: When you speak about liberating, we know that there is a military vision on that, but the point is: how is the situation now for the people that decided to be back in society? The process of reconciliation, now at what point? Is it working or not?

President Assad: Actually, the methodology that we adopted when we wanted to create let’s say, a good atmosphere – we called it reconciliation, for the people to live together, and for those people who lived outside the control of government areas to go back to the order of law and institutions. It was to give amnesty to anyone, who gives up his armament and obey the law. The situation is not complicated regarding this issue, if you have the chance to visit any area, you’ll see that life is getting back to normal.

The problem wasn’t people fighting with each other; it wasn’t like the Western narrative may have tried to show – as Syrians fighting with each other, or as they call it a “civil war,” which is misleading. The situation was terrorists taking control of areas, and implementing their rules. When you don’t have those terrorists, people will go back to their normal life and live with each other. There was no sectarian war, there was no ethnical war, there was no political war; it was terrorists supported by outside powers, they have money and armaments, and they occupy those areas.

Question 3: Aren’t you afraid that this kind of ideology that took place and, you know, was the basis of everyday life for people for so many years, in some ways can stay in the society and sooner or later will be back?

President Assad: This is one of the main challenges that we’ve been facing. What you’re asking about is very correct. You have two problems. Those areas that were out of the control of government were ruled by two things: chaos, because there is no law, so people – especially the younger generation – know nothing about the state and law and institutions.

The second thing, which is deeply rooted in the minds, is the ideology, the dark ideology, the Wahabi ideology – ISIS or al-Nusra or Ahrar al-Cham, or whatever kind of these Islamist terrorist extremist ideologies.

Now we have started dealing with this reality, because when you liberate an area you have to solve this problem otherwise what’s the meaning of liberating? The first part of the solution is religious, because this ideology is a religious ideology, and the Syrian religious clerics, or let’s say the religious institution in Syria, is making a very strong effort in this regard, and they have succeeded; they succeeded at helping those people understanding the real religion, not the religion that they’ve been taught by al-Nusra or ISIS or other factions.

Question 4: So basically, clerics and mosques are part of this reconciliation process?

President Assad: This is the most important part. The second part is the schools. In schools, you have teachers, you have education, and you have the national curriculum, and this curriculum is very important to change the minds of those young generations. Third, you have the culture, you have the role of arts, intellectuals, and so on. In some areas, it’s still difficult to play that role, so it was much easier for us to start with the religion, second with the schools.

Question 5: Mr. President, let me just go back to politics for an instant. You mentioned Turkey, okay? Russia has been your best ally these years, it’s not a secret, but now Russia is compromising with Turkey on some areas that are part of Syrian area, so how do you assess this?

President Assad: To understand the Russian role, we have to understand the Russian principles. For Russia, they believe that international law – and international order based on that law – is in the interest of Russia and in the interest of everybody in the world. So, for them, by supporting Syria they are supporting international law; this is one point. Secondly, being against the terrorists is in the interest of the Russian people and the rest of the world.

So, being with Turkey and making this compromise doesn’t mean they support the Turkish invasion; rather they wanted to play a role in order to convince the Turks that you have to leave Syria. They are not supporting the Turks, they don’t say “this is a good reality, we accept it and Syria must accept it.” No, they don’t. But because of the American negative role and the Western negative role regarding Turkey and the Kurds, the Russians stepped in, in order to balance that role, to make the situation… I wouldn’t say better, but less bad if you want to be more precise. So, in the meantime, that’s their role. In the future, their position is very clear: Syrian integrity and Syrian sovereignty. Syrian integrity and sovereignty are in contradiction with the Turkish invasion, that is very obvious and clear.

Question 6: So, you’re telling me that the Russians could compromise, but Syria is not going to compromise with Turkey. I mean, the relation is still quite tense.

President Assad: No, even the Russians didn’t make a compromise regarding the sovereignty. No, they deal with reality. Now, you have a bad reality, you have to be involved to make some… I wouldn’t say compromise because it’s not a final solution. It could be a compromise regarding the short-term situation, but in the long-term or the mid-term, Turkey should leave. There is no question about it.

Question 7: And in the long-term, any plan of discussions between you and Mr. Erdogan?

President Assad: I wouldn’t feel proud if I have to someday. I would feel disgusted to deal with those kinds of opportunistic Islamists, not Muslims, Islamists – it’s another term, it’s a political term. But again, I always say: my job is not to be happy with what I’m doing or not happy or whatever. It’s not about my feelings, it’s about the interests of Syria, so wherever our interests go, I will go.

Question 8: In this moment, when Europe looks at Syria, apart from the considerations about the country, there are two major issues: one is refugees, and the other one is the Jihadists or foreign fighters coming back to Europe. How do you see these European worries?

President Assad: We have to start with a simple question: who created this problem? Why do you have refugees in Europe? It’s a simple question: because of terrorism that’s being supported by Europe – and of course the United States and Turkey and others – but Europe was the main player in creating chaos in Syria. So, what goes around comes around.

Question 9: Why do you say it was the main player?

President Assad: Because they publicly supported, the EU supported the terrorists in Syria from day one, week one or from the very beginning. They blamed the Syrian government, and some regimes like the French regime sent armaments, they said – one of their officials – I think their Minister of Foreign Affairs, maybe Fabius said “we send.” They sent armaments; they created this chaos. That’s why a lot of people find it difficult to stay in Syria; millions of people couldn’t live here so they had to get out of Syria.

Question 10: In this moment, in the region, there are turmoil, and there is a certain chaos. One of the other allies of Syria is Iran, and the situation there is getting complicated. Does it have any reflection on the situation in Syria?

President Assad: Definitely, whenever you have chaos, it’s going to be bad for everyone, it’s going to have side-effects and repercussions, especially when there is external interference. If it’s spontaneous, if you talk about demonstrations and people asking for reform or for a better situation economically or any other rights, that’s positive. But when it’s for vandalism and destroying and killing and interfering from outside powers, then no – it’s definitely nothing but negative, nothing but bad, and a danger on everyone in this region.

Question 11: Are you worried about what’s happening in Lebanon, which is really the real neighbor?

President Assad: Yes, in the same way. Of course, Lebanon would affect Syria more than any other country because it is our direct neighbor. But again, if it’s spontaneous and it’s about reform and getting rid of the sectarian political system, that would be good for Lebanon. Again, that depends on the awareness of the Lebanese people in order not to allow anyone from the outside to try to manipulate the spontaneous movement or demonstrations in Lebanon.

Question 12: Let’s go back to what is happening in Syria. In June, Pope Francis wrote you a letter asking you to pay attention and to respect the population, especially in Idleb where the situation is still very tense, because there is fighting there, and when it comes even to the way prisoners are treated in jails. Did you answer him, and what did you answer?

President Assad: The letter of the Pope was about his worry for civilians in Syria and I had the impression that maybe the picture in the Vatican is not complete. That’s to be expected, since the mainstream narrative in the West is about this “bad government” killing the “good people;” as you see and hear in the same media – every bullet of the Syrian Army and every bomb only kills civilians and only hospitals! they don’t kill terrorists as they target those civilians! which is not correct.

So, I responded with a letter explaining to the Pope the reality in Syria – as we are the most, or the first to be concerned about civilian lives, because you cannot liberate an area while the people are against you. You cannot talk about liberation while the civilians are against you or the society. The most crucial part in liberating any area militarily is to have the support of the public in that area or in the region in general. That has been clear for the last nine years and that’s against our interests.

Question 13: But that kind of call, in some ways, made you also think again about the importance of protecting civilians and people of your country.

President Assad: No, this is something we think about every day, not only as morals, principles and values but as interests. As I just mentioned, without this support – without public support, you cannot achieve anything… you cannot advance politically, militarily, economically and in every aspect. We couldn’t withstand this war for nine years without the public support and you cannot have public support while you’re killing civilians. This is an equation, this is a self-evident equation, nobody can refute it. So, that’s why I said, regardless of this letter, this is our concern.

But again, the Vatican is a state, and we think that the role of any state – if they worry about those civilians, is to go to the main reason. The main reason is the Western role in supporting the terrorists, and it is the sanctions on the Syrian people that have made the situation much worse – and this is another reason for the refugees that you have in Europe now. You don’t want refugees but at the same time you create the situation or the atmosphere that will tell them “go outside Syria, somewhere else,” and of course they will go to Europe. So, this state, or any state, should deal with the reasons and we hope the Vatican can play that role within Europe and around the world; to convince many states that you should stop meddling in the Syrian issue, stop breaching international law. That’s enough, we only need people to follow international law. The civilians will be safe, the order will be back, everything will be fine. Nothing else.

Question 14: Mr. President, you’ve been accused several times of using chemical weapons, and this has been the instrument of many decisions and a key point, the red line, for many decisions. One year ago, more than one year ago, there has been the Douma event that has been considered another red line. After that, there has been bombings, and it could it have been even worse, but something stopped. These days, through WikiLeaks, it’s coming out that something wrong in the report could have taken place. So, nobody yet is be able to say what has happened, but something wrong in reporting what has happened could have taken place.

President Assad: We have always – since the beginning of this narrative regarding the chemical weapons – we have said that we didn’t use it; we cannot use it, it’s impossible to be used in our situation for many reasons, let’s say – logistical reasons.

Intervention: Give me one.

President Assad: One reason, a very simple one: when you’re advancing, why would you use chemical weapons?! We are advancing, why do we need to use it?! We are in a very good situation so why use it, especially in 2018? This is one reason.

Second, very concrete evidence that refutes this narrative: when you use chemical weapons – this is a weapon of mass destruction, you talk about thousands of dead or at least hundreds. That never happened, never – you only have these videos of staged chemical weapons attacks. In the recent report that you’ve mentioned, there’s a mismatch between what we saw in the video and what they saw as technicians or as experts. The amount of chlorine that they’ve been talking about: first of all, chlorine is not a mass destruction material, second, the amount that they found is the same amount that you can have in your house, it exists in many households and used maybe for cleaning and whatever. The same amount exactly. That’s what the OPCW organisation did – they faked and falsified the report, just because the Americans wanted them to do so. So, fortunately, this report proved that everything we said during the last few years, since 2013, is correct. We were right, they were wrong. This is proof, this is concrete proof regarding this issue. So, again, the OPCW is biased, is being politicized and is being immoral, and those organisations that should work in parallel with the United Nations to create more stability around the world – they’ve been used as American arms and Western arms to create more chaos.

Question 15: Mr. President, after nine years of war, you are speaking about the mistakes of the others. I would like you to speak about your own mistakes, if any. Is there something you would have done in a different way, and which is the lesson learned that can help your country?

President Assad: Definitely, for when you talk about doing anything, you always find mistakes; this is human nature. But when you talk about political practice, you have two things: you have strategies or big decisions, and you have tactics – or in this context, the implementation. So, our strategic decisions or main decisions were to stand against terrorism, to make reconciliation and to stand against the external meddling in our affairs. Today, after nine years, we still adopt the same policy; we are more adherent to this policy. If we thought it was wrong, we would have changed it; actually no, we don’t think there is anything wrong in this policy. We did our mission; we implemented the constitution by protecting the people.

Now, if you talk about mistakes in implementation, of course you have so many mistakes. I think if you want to talk about the mistakes regarding this war, we shouldn’t talk about the decisions taken during the war because the war – or part of it, is a result of something before.

Two things we faced during this war: the first one was extremism. The extremism started in this region in the late 60s and accelerated in the 80s, especially the Wahabi ideology. If you want to talk about mistakes in dealing with this issue: then yes, I will say we were very tolerant of something very dangerous. This is a big mistake we committed over decades; I’m talking about different governments, including myself before this war.

The second one, when you have people who are ready to revolt against the order, to destroy public properties, to commit vandalism and so on, they work against their country, they are ready to go and work for foreign powers – foreign intelligence, they ask for external military interference against their country. So, this is another question: how did we have those? If you ask me how, I would tell you that before the war we had more than 50,000 outlaws that weren’t captured by the police for example; for those outlaws, their natural enemy is the government because they don’t want to go to prison.

Question 16: And how about also the economic situation? Because part of it – I don’t know if it was a big or small part of it – but part of it has also been the discontent and the problems of population in certain areas in which economy was not working. Is it a lesson learned somewhere?

President Assad: It could be a factor, but definitely not a main factor. Some people talk about the four years of drought that pushed the people to leave their land in the rural areas to go to the city… it could be a problem, but this is not the main problem. They talked about the liberal policy… we didn’t have a liberal policy, we’re still socialist, we still have a public sector – a very big public sector in government. You cannot talk about liberal policy while you have a big public sector. We had growth, good growth.

Of course, in the implementation of our policy, again, you have mistakes. How can you create equal opportunities between people? Between rural areas and between the cities? When you open up the economy, the cities will benefit more, that will create more immigration from rural areas to the cities… these are factors, that could play some role, but this is not the issue. In the rural areas where you have more poverty, the money of the Qataris played a more actual role than in the cities, that’s natural. You pay them in half an hour what they get in one week; that’s very good for them.

Question 17: We are almost there, but there are two more questions that I want to ask you. One is about reconstruction, and reconstruction is going to be very costly. How can you imagine to afford this reconstruction, who could be your allies in reconstruction?

President Assad: We don’t have a big problem with that. Talking that Syria has no money… no, actually Syrians have a lot of money; the Syrian people around the world have a lot of money, and they want to come and build their country. Because when you talk about building the country, it is not giving money to the people, it’s about getting benefit – it’s a business. So, many people, not only Syrians, want to do business in Syria. So, talking about where you can have funds for this reconstruction, we already have, but the problem is that these sanctions prevent those businessmen or companies from coming and working in Syria. In spite of that, we started and in spite of that, some foreign companies have started finding ways to evade these sanctions and we have started planning. It’s going to be slow, without the sanctions we wouldn’t have a problem with funding.

Question 18: Ending on a very personal note, Mr. President; do you feel like a survivor?

President Assad: If you want to talk about a national war like this, where nearly every city has been harmed by terrorism or external bombardment and other things, then you can talk about all the Syrians as survivors. I think this is human nature: to be a survivor.

Intervention: And you yourself?

President Assad: I’m a part of those Syrians. I cannot be disconnected from them; I have the same feeling. Again, it’s not about being a strong person who is a survivor. If you don’t have this atmosphere, this society, or this incubator to survive, you cannot survive. It’s collective; it’s not a single person, it’s not a one-man show.

Journalist: Thank you very much, Mr. President.

President Assad: Thank you.

l-4kuVtqLFo

Sophocles

2nd March 2020, 15:53

Looks like things are getting pretty (bloody) serious at the Greek border after Erdogan opened Turkeys western borders:

Erdoğan says border will stay open as Greece tries to repel influx (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/29/erdogan-says-border-will-stay-open-as-greece-tries-to-repel-influx)

Thousands of migrants gather on Turkey-Greece border amid Erdogan threat (https://www.france24.com/en/20200229-greece-stops-4-000-migrants-at-turkey-border)

FIERCE clashes, tear gas at border as Greece vows to ‘turn back’ flow of migrants from Turkey (VIDEOS) (https://www.rt.com/news/482067-migrants-greece-border-turkey-clashes-tear-gas/)

Rocks vs. tear gas:
90yFFwQ2YAE

This Twitter link (https://twitter.com/BasedPoland/status/1234219357674209281) shows representatives of NGO’s arriving at Lesbos being sent home by locals.

This Twitter link (https://twitter.com/Holbornlolz/status/1234409204431151106?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1234409204431151106&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsamnytt.se%2Fgrekiska-armen-skickas-till-gransen-vi-ska-konfrontera-misaren-turkiet-skickat-pa-oss%2F) shows a short interview with an Afghan guy at the border. He says he was just released from Turkish prison after 1 month and wants to go to Europe for a better life. He also says they have no money or phones.

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

Added March 5. - EU statement:

While the Council acknowledges the increased migratory burden and risks Turkey is facing on its territory and the substantial efforts it has made in hosting 3,7 million migrants and refugees, it strongly rejects Turkey's use of migratory pressure for political purposes. This situation at EU’s external borders is not acceptable.

Full text (https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/03/04/statement-on-the-situation-at-the-eus-external-borders/)

Sophocles

14th March 2020, 06:42

Report exposes relations between Turkey and the Islamic State (https://anfenglishmobile.com/features/report-exposed-relations-between-turkey-and-the-islamic-state-36521)

Saturday, 27 Jul 2019
anfenglishmobile.com (https://anfenglishmobile.com/features/report-exposed-relations-between-turkey-and-the-islamic-state-36521)

The Rojava Center for Strategic Studies (NRLS) published a detailed report on the foreign relations of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization and the Turkish state.

https://anfenglishmobile.com/uploads/en/articles/2019/07/20190726-i-png-jpgc63ca3-image.jpg

The report showed with concrete evidences how the Erdogan regime played a central role also in ISIS increased financial and military strength.

These relations have a negative impact on stability and development in the Middle East, said the NRLS, causing "the loss of security and stability in Syria, the displacement of millions, the deaths of hundreds of thousands, massive destruction of infrastructure, and the loss of Syrian national identity."

The documentation of the relations between the Turkish state and the Islamic State relies on the testimonies of a number of IS elements and their families, interviews with prisoners, and the observations and research conducted by NRLS in the archives of military forces, security forces and news agencies operating in North and East Syria.

The documents that have been collected, said the report, "indicate the issues that determine the relationship between Turkey and IS."

The report exposed the reality of the security, military, economic and political relations between them. The most prominent feature, said the report, "is that the Turkish authorities allowed foreign fighters and their families to travel back and forth across the border with Syria, and also turned a blind eye to IS activities in Turkey while hardening repression on the political forces advocating democracy and human rights. They also provided military and security support to IS indirectly, and made security, financial, and business agreements with ISIS."

The report analyse above all three types of relations between Turkey and the Islamic State: security relations, military relations and financial and commercial relations.

Security Relations between Turkey and ISIS

The report states: "The documents in our possession contain a number of secret agreements, such as the facilitation of the passage of foreign jihadists and their families across the Turkish border into the areas controlled by ISIS in Syria and Iraq, the treatment of ISIS wounded in Turkish hospitals, overlooking ISIS activities in Turkey, attacking the Self-Administration in Rojava - North and East Syria, and carrying out massacres against the Kurds.

In exchange for these agreements, ISIS committed to handing over Turkish nationals to the Turkish authorities, not considering Turkey an enemy to ISIS, a monopoly of the oil trade and stolen antiquities, and most importantly, supporting the Turkish state policy aimed at preventing the establishment of any democratic entity which would the Kurds their rights, and carrying out military operations against them."

The report then lists a number of testimonies that confirm the links and relations.

Military relations

As to military relations perhaps one of the most interesting testimonies is that of Yaseen Akumi, known as Abu al-Battar al-Jabali, a prominent ISIS commander.

The report describes him like this: "Yaseen Akumi, known as Abu al-Battar al-Jabali, is a Moroccan born in 1989. He was the commander of the Saifullah al-Maslool Battalion, which included around 100 members of various nationalities. He joined ISIS in June 2013 and participated in the second massacre of civilians in Kobane in 2015, led by the commander of Kobane campaign Abu al-Battar al-Misri. He was aided by two commanders, a Chechen and Bosnian, at the command center in the city of Raqqa. He was captured by the YPG after the death of most of his group. He was described by the anti-terror units affiliated to SDF as a dangerous extremist and a suicide bomber."

The report quotes Akumi as confirming that "he had travelled from Casablanca airport in Morocco to Istanbul airport as a tourist, and was not subjected to any questioning or security procedures either at the airport or in the hotel. During his transport from Istanbul airport to the city of Antakya, there was no interference from Turkish border guards as he crossed the border through Mount Turkmen to Latakia via a Turkish smuggler whose Arabic language was weak."

Akumi also confirmed that "the main objective in taking control of the city of Kobane in June 2015 was to control the border gate between Kobane and Turkey, and stressed that the commander of the operation, Abu Hafsa, assured them that there would be no direct interference from Turkish authorities if ISIS controlled the border gate."

He also confirmed that "ISIS wounded members received the necessary medical care in Turkish hospitals, and that Turkish authorities were aware of this.

Furthermore Akumi confirmed that "ISIS used the money obtained from oil trade in the purchase of weapons; that Turkey is ready to agree with any faction, on the condition that they fight against Kurds; that Turkey employs jihadists to serve its policies. He stressed that Turkey cares about the Turkmen, Chinese, Kazakhs and others, and does not give importance to the Arab jihadists, but rather seeks to kill them in Syria by using them to fight their enemies and protect their interests."

Finally, Akumi underlined that "the sex-slave trade targeted only Kurdish Yezidi women, and no woman was taken as a captive from any other minority group. He said this was systematic against Yezidis. (This is consistent with the processes of demographic change and ethnic cleansing practiced by Turkey in the region of Afrin against the Kurdish people there, in particular the Yezidis.)"

Commercial and financial relations

The report said: "The obtainment of financial and logistic resources for ISIS is no less important than ISIS’s military activity. Through these resources, ISIS procured different weapons and financed their terrorist operations around world.

An organization without money cannot make travel arrangements for its members or buy necessary equipment like weapons, cars, and communication devices. In addition, it must propagandize and publishing its philosophy and ideology on paper and electronically, and finance its military operations. Giving any financial aid to ISIS is just as dangerous as giving direct military support.

Most of ISIS’s trade was done with Turkish individuals and companies, and it would never have happened if the Turkish authorities had not nipped this type of activity in the bud. Until now, Turkey applies martial law and anti-terrorism laws. Because of this, any type of activity cannot be done without the advance knowledge of Turkish intelligence – especially in the buying of electronic devices, weapons, oil, etc."

Source (https://anfenglishmobile.com/features/report-exposed-relations-between-turkey-and-the-islamic-state-36521)

Baby Steps

28th March 2020, 21:59

Developing story - in response to missile attacks on Riyadh and other cities, intercepted thankfully, the Saudis are mobilising their air force. Planes taking off now.

Tintin

11th April 2021, 17:45

A timely reminder for those of you who have yet to watch it that we have Zero Days (https://avalonlibrary.net/Zero_Days_dir._Alex_Gibney%20%282016%29.mp4) in the Avalon Library which is more than relevant to what has been reported here today in the Observer (Sunday Guardian) newspaper.

This is by all accounts an alarming story, with precedent.

ZERO DAYS - 2016 documentary directed by Alex Gibney

https://avalonlibrary.net/Zero_Days_dir._Alex_Gibney%20%282016%29.mp4

_____________

Israel appears to confirm it carried out cyberattack on Iran nuclear facility
Shutdown happened hours after Natanz reactor’s new centrifuges were started

Martin Chulov - Middle East correspondent
April 11, 2021

Source: Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/11/israel-appears-confirm-cyberattack-iran-nuclear-facility)

Israel appeared to confirm claims that it was behind a cyber-attack on Iran’s main nuclear facility on Sunday, which Tehran’s nuclear energy chief described as an act of terrorism that warranted a response against its perpetrators.

The apparent attack took place hours after officials at the Natanz reactor restarted spinning advanced centrifuges that could speed up the production of enriched uranium, in what had been billed as a pivotal moment in the country’s nuclear programme.

As Iranian authorities scrambled to deal with a large-scale blackout at Natanz, which the country’s Atomic Energy Agency acknowledged had damaged the electricity grid at the site, the Israeli defence chief, Aviv Kochavi, said the country’s “operations in the Middle East are not hidden from the eyes of the enemy”.

Israel imposed no censorship restrictions on coverage as it had often done after similar previous incidents and the apparent attack was widely covered by Israeli media. Public radio took the unusual step of claiming that the Mossad intelligence agency had played a central role.

The unexplained shutdown is thought to be the latest in a series of exchanges between the two arch-enemies, who have fought an extensive and escalating shadow war across the Middle East over more than decade, centred on Iran’s nuclear programme and its involvement in matters beyond its borders.

Clashes have more recently been fought in the open, with strikes against shipping, the execution of Iran’s chief nuclear scientist, hundreds of airstrikes against Iranian proxies in Syria, and even a mysterious oil spill in northern Israel, which officials there have claimed was environmental sabotage.

Natanz has remained a focal point of Israeli fears, with an explosion damaging a centrifuge assembly plant last July, and a combined CIA and Mossad cyber-attack using a computer virus called Stuxnet in 2010 that caused widespread disruption and delayed Iran’s nuclear programme for several years.

Iran’s nuclear chief, Ali Akbar Salehi, urged the international community and the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) to take action against the perpetrators of the attack. He confirmed that a “terrorist attack” had damaged the electricity grid of the Natanz site. The IAEA said it was aware of the reports but declined to comment further.

The developments came as US president Joe Biden prepared to reactivate a bitterly contested deal to offer sanctions relief in return for Tehran limiting its nuclear programme and not pursuing the development of a nuclear weapon. The 2015 pact was the foreign policy centrepiece of Barack Obama’s administration, but was quickly shredded by his successor, Donald Trump, who instead shifted to an aggressive posture to strangle Iran’s economy while bolstering its regional foes.

The US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, arrived in Tel Aviv on Sunday, partly to sell Washington’s new position to sceptical Israeli officials, who fear that even a scaled-back Iranian programme would offer cover for building a nuclear weapon capable of reaching the eastern Mediterranean.

After meeting Austin, Israel’s defence minister, Benny Gantz, said: “We will work closely with our American allies to ensure that any new agreement with Iran will secure the vital interests of the world, of the United States, prevent a dangerous arms race in our region, and protect the state of Israel.”

The attack on Natanz came five days after an apparent Israeli mine attack on an Iranian freighter in the Red Sea, which western intelligence officials have long claimed was a command and control vessel used to support the Tehran-backed Houthis in the war in Yemen.

The cargo ship, known as the Saviz, was seriously damaged by at least one mine, which detonated below the waterline. The ship sent several mayday calls, which were received by the nearby Saudi Arabian coastguard. The strike was the latest in a series of reprisal attacks on shipping from each country on regional waters over several years, much of which has gone unacknowledged.

It was followed by a series of Israeli airstrikes in Syria that damaged a military base near Damascus allegedly used by proxies loyal to Iran providing support to the Lebanese militia and political powerhouse, Hezbollah, which remains an essential arm of Iranian foreign policy.

Israel last year broke its silence on eight years of airstrikes in Syria, acknowledging that it had been responsible for about 1,000 attacks, which it says were primarily aimed at preventing Hezbollah from fitting advanced guidance systems to rudimentary rockets on Lebanese soil.

The Israeli strikes in Syria have caused widespread damage to the country’s military infrastructure, already ravaged by a decade of uprising and war, and have driven diplomatic efforts, led by the United Arab Emirates, to pressure the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, to sever an alliance with Iran that has helped him to remain as leader. Despite the urging of several trusted security officials, and the backing of Russia, which has also played a role in securing his regime, Assad has refused the overtures.

Hezbollah, which has provided military muscle on behalf of Iran, remains vehemently opposed to such a suggestion, with senior officials fearing that such a repositioning may be aimed at eventually forcing peace talks with its archfoe.

Western officials believe Israel has become increasingly brazen in its attempts to disrupt the Iranian programme, pointing to the killing of the country’s leading nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, last November, who was shot dead along with his bodyguards on a rural highway. Iran claims that artificial intelligence was used to identify Fakhrizadeh, who was gunned down by a remotely operated automatic weapon. The small lorry carrying the weapon then exploded.

Bill Ryan

11th June 2021, 12:23

Potentially extremely important, published yesterday. I have a lot of time for J.R. Nyquist, who's an excellent researcher who's always paid a LOT of attention to information revealed by defectors from Russia.

He argues, with some caveats, that it's entirely possible that there may be an imminent hot war between the US and both Russia and China. In his view, 'imminent' could be in the second half of this year (2021), maybe as early as October.

Nyquist shares a great deal of information and analysis in an intense 45 minutes, and suggests there are two things to watch for as trigger-indicators that a real shooting war may be next.

Many more cyberattacks, and
All kinds of explosive shocking dirt coming out on major figures, all at once (as with Fauci, but many others too).

Then, he says, the hot war is likely to begin very suddenly. It may start, he suggests, with a really serious targeted bioweapon release, and/or a nuclear attack.

Highly recommended. It's not for the faint-hearted, but it may be wise to pay some attention to this.

https://www.brighteon.com/56efa647-c0a5-44fa-9808-c17199225c4a

56efa647-c0a5-44fa-9808-c17199225c4a

jaybee

11th June 2021, 18:55

If the whole covid thing and then the 'vaccine' is a two part biological weapon - a WMD that leaves the land uncontaminated for the victors - then logically there will be no need for a hot war - in fact a regular type war could unite the people and that's the last thing the enemy wants...

I read a speech from a high up Chinese military person a while back and he was saying that American Land was needed to help feed the Chinese People - and so it would make no sense to contaminate it with nuclear weapons -

Logically - from a military point of view - biological weapons must be the weapon of choice but it had to be prepared and administered carefully (after internationally agreed conventions to ban biological weapon research) under the guise of an escaped man made vaccine virus and then a 'vaccine' to tackle the alleged escaped virus... ... and the whole thing has got mixed up with Globalism / depopulation / the Great Reset / Agenda 21.... and the afore mentioned could all be facets of the 'enemy' (of the people) each area feeding off the others... a kind of interdependent secret 'soft' army... lined up against the unsuspecting General Public...

I am opposed to all war in principle ... but

My first reaction to the prospect of kinetic war, as Mike Adams termed it - was that it would be preferable to the slow poisoning and genetic modification that is going on now.. . and that it would unite people who are disunited at the moment with all the relentless brainwashing re SARS-CoV-2 - it would / could stop the direction of technologically based global dictatorship on the horizon or at least pull the brakes on it... dunno...

Perhaps those who see what's happening DO want to steer things towards a good old fashioned hot war to thwart the Frankenstein Fascists from their Zombie Apocalypse Scenario...? and the Neo Communist take over.... but want to avoid the utter destruction of Nuclear War... (hopefully)

What JR Nyquist said about defectors warning that the CIA and FBI being extensively infiltrated - (and presumably all other Intelligence Services around the world)..... this would have to be the first thing the 'enemy' gets under control so there is no one to spy on the spies... I feel that ex CIA chief John Brennan is an obvious example of this - and although he is acting his socks off pretending to be a patriotic American - he is really just a spy who got to the top... Obama could also be in the same bracket.... ?

I know war is a dirty business... really dirty and built on propaganda and lies but what's happening at the moment looks like a secret biological war - that is just marching on and has the majority? of people fooled...

just having a ponder after watching the video in previous post...

Mashika

11th June 2021, 19:05

He is very correct in several points, however he seems to have missed a few historical facts:

1. The involvement of the US in the disbanding of the USSR, and what role Ukrania played on it, and how later on after the coup attempt against Russia the only country that remained unstable badly was Ukraine. The China-Russia plan he talks about around the dissolution of the USSR, could not have happened like that, because the US was very much involved from the beginning, and the coup has a lot to do with US support through Ukraine, so there is no way the US was going to fall for a trap of sorts, being that they helped orchestrate both the dissolution and the coup later on

2. I thing i posted this before, but both Russia and China are not real communist countries anymore, he says they are, and that they don't understand real capitalism, but he's still working from the mindset of the cold war era, he's missing a lot of what's going on really on Russia and China, and that's why they(people in charge in the US) can't figure out what really going on on this side. Attempting to apply knowledge about a country that doesn't exist anymore, to another country that has a different strategy? USSR was Bolshevik, Russia is Menshevik at its core, the "soviet man", does he knows the soviets are still around in Russia, have their own party and are very much rejected everywhere? have no one on the US gov realized this yet?. He should watch Putin talking about how Lenin was no good for Russia to get that current Russia is not following USSR steps at all. He's working under wrong assumptions again on that point, and this clouds his judgment around what Russia is doing with China

3. The current China started from a military coup the US acknowledge back then, throwing Taiwan to the curve so to speak (in the 70s). This "coup" based China has a military strategic mindset, it doesn't want war, what they are doing is trying to make the US outspend so much against China that it will go bankrupt and fall. Us is going just like the USSR did, in that he was partially correct. But for wrong reasons, he missed that China won't start a war, or Russia, There is no need! The US is falling on the trap on its own, losing power and eventually going against their own allies in several ways, which causes them to lose even more power. It's a matter of time if no one on the US reflects on this and backtrack.

The thread "the planned takedown of America" may be pertinent here
https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?111213-The-planned-takedown-of-America-now--June-2020--in-full-swing.&p=1423924&viewfull=1#post1423924

Why go to war, when the war can happen within and then you just sit and watch your enemy collapse on its own?

In that point, he got it a bit wrong i think, neither China or Russia or any other country the US sees as an "enemy" needs a war, or wants one. It doesn't help that the US continually references about those countries as "the enemy" in lots of internal documents, so it kind of pushes the division even further

My personal opinion is that the US needs urgently younger and capable people that have not been educated with a cold war mentality, because the strategies being used right now, don't seem to apply anymore. But all the people in charge are still working under a framework based on understandings from 40/50 years ago, which is not valid anymore, they need to look deeply into this and figure out that things have changed and repeating the same approaches to obsolete scenarios is only going to lead to self destruction

My opinion only, don't shoot me please

Potentially extremely important, published yesterday. I have a lot of time for J.R. Nyquist, who's an excellent researcher who's always paid a LOT of attention to information revealed by defectors from Russia.

He argues, with some caveats, that it's entirely possible that there may be an imminent hot war between the US and both Russia and China. In his view, 'imminent' could be in the second half of this year (2021), maybe as early as October.

Nyquist shares a great deal of information and analysis in an intense 45 minutes, and suggests there are two things to watch for as trigger-indicators that a real shooting war may be next.

Many more cyberattacks, and
All kinds of explosive shocking dirt coming out on major figures, all at once (as with Fauci, but many others too).

Then, he says, the hot war is likely to begin very suddenly. It may start, he suggests, with a really serious targeted bioweapon release, and/or a nuclear attack.

Highly recommended. It's not for the faint-hearted, but it may be wise to pay some attention to this.

https://www.brighteon.com/56efa647-c0a5-44fa-9808-c17199225c4a

56efa647-c0a5-44fa-9808-c17199225c4a

Bill Ryan

11th June 2021, 19:37

There's a lot of pertinent material on J.R Nyquist's blog. (Helpfully, the url is https://jrnyquist.blog. :) )

Here's one detailed article, a couple months old, which is very relevant to the above rather scary interview (https://www.brighteon.com/56efa647-c0a5-44fa-9808-c17199225c4a) with Mike Adams:

https://jrnyquist.blog/2021/04/15/are-russia-and-china-igniting-a-third-world-war

Are Russia and China Igniting a Third World War?

I'll not copy the long article here. But for anyone who appreciated (or was freaked out by!) his new interview, this may make very interesting reading.

Ewan

11th June 2021, 19:50

Wow, coherent, plausible and very disturbing. Particularly interesting to me was the account of the recent defector who was hidden from both the CIA and FBI - if those two agencies are compromised it explains a lot historically!

There's a lot of pertinent material on J.R Nyquist's blog. (Helpfully, the url is https://jrnyquist.blog. :) )

Here's one detailed article, a couple months old, which is very relevant to the above rather scary interview (https://www.brighteon.com/56efa647-c0a5-44fa-9808-c17199225c4a) with Mike Adams:

https://jrnyquist.blog/2021/04/15/are-russia-and-china-igniting-a-third-world-war

Are Russia and China Igniting a Third World War?

I'll not copy the long article here. But for anyone who appreciated (or was freaked out by!) his new interview, this may make very interesting reading.

Having just read that blog above - Are Russia and China Igniting a Third World War? - I did notice something. He is clearly not an eagle viewing the situation from far above, in fact the opposite is apparent. He is very partisan and patriotic, whilst he decries America's leadership for being 'effeminate and -- well, he said it so often it got a little boring', he also described the OTHER SIDE as being sly, manipulative, devious and EVIL!

Not doubting his research capabilities, but perhaps his conclusions are a little off, or perhaps not, maybe I am also being 'effeminate' now? My principles remain firm though, not loose whatsoever.

Given the long history of warfare in this world, and the reasons behind it, (always scarcity, as Wade Frazier would attest to). it remains a coherent and very possible scenario.

(It is an explanation as to why Mashika was advised to return home, something I had previously failed to understand on any level).

Bill Ryan

2nd July 2021, 19:31

From Michael Snyder at the Economic Collapse Blog, published today:

(Mod's note: I've added China to the thread title here. It does now seem necessary to include that.)

http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/as-americans-party-our-enemies-on-the-other-side-of-the-globe-are-preparing-for-military-confrontation

As Americans Party, Our Enemies On The Other Side Of The Globe Are Preparing For Military Confrontation

Here in the middle of 2021, Americans are generally feeling pretty good about things. The COVID pandemic appears to be subsiding, our sports stadiums are full of fans again, the stock market has been soaring, and all over the country people are in the mood to party. In fact, July 4th celebrations across the nation are likely to be quite boisterous this year.

But in China the mood is quite different, and the same thing is true in Russia. In both cases, politicians are talking tough about the United States, and in both cases the military is being prepared for a potential future conflict. Right now, our relations with China are the worst that they have been in decades, and our relations with Russia have never been this bad in our entire history.

But the vast majority of Americans are completely and utterly clueless about all of this, because most Americans couldn’t care less about what happens on the other side of the globe.

This week, China commemorated the 100th anniversary of the CCP, and Xi Jinping used that as an opportunity to warn that any nation that tries to bully China “will have their heads bashed bloody” (https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1456801/xi-jinping-china-get-their-heads-bashed-ccp-speech-hong-kong-taiwan-usa-ont)…
“Only socialism can save China, and only socialism with Chinese characteristics can develop China,” he said.
“We will never allow anyone to bully, oppress or subjugate China.
“Anyone who dares try to do that will have their heads bashed bloody against the Great Wall of Steel forged by over 1.4 billion Chinese people.”
So exactly who do you think that Xi Jinping was referring to when he made that statement?
Do you think that it was Denmark?
Perhaps Iceland?
No, of course he was referring to the United States.

During his speech, he also spoke very forcefully about reunification with Taiwan (https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/xi-gives-blistering-taiwan-reunification-speech-vowing-foreign-meddlers-will-get-their)…
Resolving the Taiwan question and realizing China’s complete reunification is a historic mission and an unshakable commitment of the Communist Party of China. It is also a shared aspiration of all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation. We will uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, and advance peaceful national reunification. All of us, compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, must come together and move forward in unison. We must take resolute action to utterly defeat any attempt toward “Taiwan independence,” and work together to create a bright future for national rejuvenation. No one should underestimate the resolve, the will, and the ability of the Chinese people to defend their national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Most Americans have absolutely no idea how serious this situation is.

In Taiwan, there is a big push to formally declare independence, and the Biden administration has been greatly angering the Chinese government by supporting the right of the Taiwanese people to determine their own future.

If Taiwan formally declares independence, China will invade.

And if China invades, the U.S. military will intervene.

If a military conflict between the U.S. and China suddenly erupted, it would probably not “go nuclear” initially. But China has been feverishly preparing (https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1457189/china-nuclear-silos-missiles-weapons-war-threat-ww3-video-update-vn) for a scenario in which nuclear weapons will be used…
China is potentially expanding its missile silos following satellite image analysis – indicating the country is also seeking to increase its nuclear weapon stockpile. At least 119 potential silos were identified in the desert in Gansu Province spread over 700-square-miles to increase their nuclear arsenal which is estimated to be made up of between 250 to 315 nuclear weapons. It comes as President Xi Jinping issued a warning to ‘bullying’ foreign nations telling them to stay out of China’s business during a speech earlier this week.
In addition to construction at that site, the Chinese are building new silos in other locations as well (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-is-building-more-than-100-new-missile-silos-in-its-western-desert-analysts-say/ar-AALDiuX)…
“If the silos under construction at other sites across China are added to the count, the total comes to about 145 silos under construction,” Lewis, director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies, part of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, said in a summary of his findings provided to The Washington Post. “We believe China is expanding its nuclear forces in part to maintain a deterrent that can survive a U.S. first strike in sufficient numbers to defeat U.S. missile defenses.”
Instead of focusing on making their military “more diverse”, the Chinese are actually working very hard to prepare for the next war, and the dramatic shift that we have been witnessing has stunned U.S. officials (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-is-building-more-than-100-new-missile-silos-in-its-western-desert-analysts-say/ar-AALDiuX)…
The discovery follows recent warnings by Pentagon officials about rapid advances in China’s nuclear capability. Adm. Charles Richard, who commands U.S. nuclear forces, said at a congressional hearing in April that a “breathtaking expansion” was underway in China, including an expanding arsenal of ICBMs and new mobile missile launchers that can be easily hidden from satellites. In addition, the Chinese navy has introduced new nuclear-weapons-capable submarines to its growing fleet.
Meanwhile, the Russians continue to talk tough as well.

For example, Russian President Vladimir Putin just warned that there would be an “asymmetrical” (https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/15444852/putin-taunts-us-saying-their-world-dominance-is-over-threatens-to-strike-back-if-any-boundaries-are-crossed/) response if certain boundaries were crossed by western powers…
“No matter what sanctions are imposed on Russia, no matter what the scaremongering, Russia is developing and in some respects our country has surpassed the European countries and even the US,” he said.
While Putin said the nation would not be taking steps that would be harmful to themselves, he said if boundaries were crossed, they would find “asymmetrical ways” to respond.
And we don’t have to use too much energy to imagine what such an “asymmetrical” response would look like, because the Russians just put on quite a show for us 35 miles off the coast of Hawaii (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9711403/Russian-fleet-35-miles-Hawaii-practices-sinking-aircraft-carrier.html)…
Russia’s defense ministry has announced it sunk an aircraft carrier just 35 miles off the coast of Hawaii in a huge war games exercise that has alarmed the US.
At least 20 Russian warships, submarines, and support vessels, flanked by 20 fighter jets, are taking part in the exercises – the biggest since the Cold War.
As the U.S. military focuses on “social change”, the Russians have been rapidly developing a whole host of incredibly advanced new weapons systems. Here are just a few examples (https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/putin-just-made-big-promise-russian-military-even-better-weapons-188888)…
3M22 Tsirkon (https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/russia%E2%80%99s-tsirkon-hypersonic-missile-keeps-inching-closer-reality-177512), also known as Zircon, is a winged, hypersonic cruise missile. With an operational range of at least 1,000 km and a maximum speed of up to Mach 9, Tsirkon can pose a credible threat against North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) carrier strike groups (CSGs). Sarmat (https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/russia-claims-its-rs-28-sarmat-icbm-has-nearly-unlimited-range-172421) is a 200+ ton, liquid-fueled ICBM that supports a payload of up to 15 MIRV warheads; according to Putin, the weapon is virtually non-interceptable and boasts “practically unlimited range.” The S-500 (https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/russia-says-its-s-500-can-bring-down-americas-f-35-whats-truth-113406) “Prometheus” is the successor to Russia’s flagship S-400 “Triumf” missile defense system, offering across-the-board improvements in target acquisition, operational range, and tracking, as well as the functionality to engage hypersonic cruise missiles and targets flying at speeds of over 5 Mach.
During the Cold War, U.S. strategic forces had a clear edge over the Russians, but now the balance of power has shifted dramatically.

Most Americans don’t realize this, but in many areas the Russians completely outclass us now.

But at least nobody can grill hot dogs better than we do.

So enjoy this bubble of peace and prosperity while you still can, because our leaders are definitely not preparing for what is going to happen once this bubble of peace and prosperity finally ends.

Mashika

6th July 2021, 05:40

From now on, very likely, Afghanistan should be added to the title of this thread

The Russian Army is about to start a plan to take over the space left behind by the US on that country, give the learned lessons and success on Syria in the past 4/5 years. This most likely will turn things around in a lot of ways, some good some bad, who knows

The plan may not even be implemented, if the false flag thing happens, just as it may seem it will, but i think this is again, another way to deploy forces in a proxy way, and hope Russia falls into the same trap of the 1980s, however it doesn't work the same now

Time will tell. This is ridiculous, so "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" strikes again, for a short time lol, but yes

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/russia-backs-plans-for-afghanistan-interim-rule-with-taliban/articleshow/81468008.cms

As the U.S. military focuses on “social change”, the Russians have been rapidly developing a whole host of incredibly advanced new weapons systems. Here are just a few examples…

Just the ones that are allowed to become public at this time, the US has the same, as usual, just war games in the end, chess pieces moving around

Also, Ukraine keeps attacking the DonBass region, more kills and no news about it, i believe there are around 14,000 deaths already on that region, yet no word on western media

Baby Steps

19th October 2021, 20:26

Will people mistake the warmongering of Lloyd Austin for the language of peace?
alas this is all so predictable

“Russia is obstacle to peace in east Ukraine “- U.S. Defence Secretary

“Austin said Ukraine must be able to decide its own foreign policy and warned Moscow to halt cyberattacks against the United States and its allies.”

"Let's be clear, that Russia started this war and Russia is the obstacle to a peaceful resolution," Austin told a news briefing alongside Ukrainian Defence Minister Andrii Taran.

"So we again call on Russia to end its occupation of Crimea, to stop perpetuating the war in eastern Ukraine, to end its destabilising activities in the Black Sea and along Ukraine's borders, and to halt its persistent cyber attacks and other malign activities against the United States and our allies and partners."

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-cannot-block-ukraines-nato-aspirations-us-secretary-defence-says-2021-10-19/

This kind of warmongering could potentially get alot of Ukrainians and other Europeans killed. Let’s remember here who is provoking whom.

Muziekschuur

28th October 2021, 22:28

I believe for this discussion this to be a vital article.

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/leaked-report-israel-acknowledges-jews-in-fact-khazars-secret-plan-for-reverse-migration-to-ukraine/

Mashika

28th October 2021, 23:12

I believe for this discussion this to be a vital article.

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/leaked-report-israel-acknowledges-jews-in-fact-khazars-secret-plan-for-reverse-migration-to-ukraine/

It seems a bit odd they would chose Ukraine for that, since the Israel country has an autonomous oblast inside Russia, which they could use to move people out of the way of danger, if needed. And they still have full access to it these days, even if most people moved to Israel very long ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Autonomous_Oblast

Most people don't know, but before Israel was a country, this is where it all started after WW2, with the difference that it is an oblast inside Russia, so there was no full autonomy in real sense (it's still inside Russian territory and in the far east). It also wasn't what they wanted to be (a separate country in the original land they considered their own) But they do still can send people there if they wanted or needed in an emergency

So i'm not really sure how that would play. Also Israel has very good relationships with Russia these days, so i'm not sure how it could work to help Ukraine in any military sense

Kryztian

28th October 2021, 23:56

I believe for this discussion this to be a vital article.

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/leaked-report-israel-acknowledges-jews-in-fact-khazars-secret-plan-for-reverse-migration-to-ukraine/

This article has a date of Mar 18, 2014. As far as I know, there has been no Isreali mass Exodus to return to the "Khazarian homeland" since then.

The article mentions that:

A blue-ribbon team of scholars from leading research institutions and museums has just issued a secret report to the government, acknowledging that European Jews are in fact Khazars.

and then there is absolutely nothing in the article to back that up.

Although the Times of Israel seems about as trustworthy as most main stream news outlets, this seems to fit in the "fake news" category. There are no sources to back it up nor have there been any events in the last seven and a half years that would confirm anything here.

Delight

22nd December 2021, 01:00

!2/10/2021
JR Nyquist

Putin threatened today that we could be made radioactive ash ... pretty ominous so I found this video.

The Communist Long-Term Strategy - Interview with Jeff Nyquist and Fabio Bossi
Dec 10, 2021

Switches to English quickly

S-OeBuItSJY

Mike Gorman

22nd December 2021, 08:03

This could all result in the greatest RESET our species has known - perhaps Putin, and also the CCP (who I think Putin respects greatly) will consider the West being 'radioactive ash' the ultimate sacrifice towards a brighter future for mankind, I know that is a chilling prospect but I am transferring my own analysis into the context of these leaders, for them the West has become a toxic, weak, corrupt and wicked culture where even the military is now more concerned with gender issues and wokery - I can visualize them shaking their heads and reluctantly vaporizing the infection.
*I am not supporting this conclusion, I am attempting to account for the macro conclusions these people might very well arrive at*

norman

30th December 2021, 08:02

JIM JATRAS: EVENTS OF WORLD HISTORIC PROPORTIONS ARE UPON US (https://www.bitchute.com/video/6FlgZABHBdM/)

https://static-3.bitchute.com/live/channel_images/Li1M7KirPLcr/H6Yk2g03EyQbO14onhs2Ye3F_small.jpg

Jim Jatras returns to discuss how things are changing at an accelerating pace and his expectation that there will be an event or series of events of world historic proportions further on up the road.

The Gre@t Reset is something elites have been wanting to do for decades (e.g. turn the majority of the world into serfs). He doesn't see the dam breaking anytime soon (e.g. protests are irrelevant) as governments continue escalating their draconian policies. He doesn't see any political solution because, even if Republicans win, they'll just carry water for their real constituents, the corporations.

We discuss civil war, Rainbow Fascism, crowd psychology, and the move from soft to hard totalitarianism. He touches on NATO-Russia tensions, how Moscow's ultimatum sounds like a pretext for war and how D.C. pushing Ukraine to act would lead to a definitive break in Russian relations with the West, leaving the EU under American control. We ponder whether we could be living through what John the Revelator on Patmos once wrote about. He's worried the American republic may in fact go gentle into the woke quiet night.

I am B

5th January 2022, 20:01

The color revolt in kazakhstan is SO well placed and timed, and with such confuse justification that it is hard not to think it was deliberately placed and timed. It could very well turn into a "Maidan".

5 days ago Putin appeared for his speech, and Russian people for what I personally know, would not appreciate fighting such a pointless war like the Ukraine one.

Kazakhstan is a big blow on Russia's supplies, strategic troops placement, economy, and overall stability, plus a hit in the government's popularity if they decided to deliberately intervene right now.

As I said, again, hard not to think there are foreign actors intervining.

Good luck to the Kazakh people I guess.

To back my words:

https://mobile.twitter.com/theragex/status/1478816694235803656

Guru Know It All.

8th January 2022, 21:17

Nice one mate.

Mod note from Bill:
Which of the 2,115 posts preceding thos one were you replying to? :)

Baby Steps

7th March 2022, 19:32

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

Well you heard it here first

According to Aussie Cossack this island has the worst of the labs. (Had- now annihilated )

Original post 7 November ‘16

9ideon

12th July 2022, 06:18

Interview with an Independent Journalist in Syria, jaw dropping stuff in relation to wtf.

s8gH_2nk4o8

Journeyman

12th July 2022, 12:53

I'm not sure how much I buy into Santos Bonacci, but he's a very good talker. I listened to this podcast with Sam Tripoli and Iran featured heavily, Santos saying that it was the key to all the NWO manoeuvring in the Middle East over many, many years:

https://samtripoli.com/tfh-571-who-really-pulls-the-strings-of-the-vatican-with-santos-bonacci/

Bonacci says the black nobility hail from Iran and that the Iranians have retained a particular technology that the NWO desires. An interesting listen, but as I say, not sure that I buy all Santos is selling however eruditely.

K626

17th July 2022, 20:06

Inversion

9th August 2022, 18:24

The Russians claim this explosion at the Crimean Saky Airbase was not from shelling or an airstrike. They said stored ammo detonated, but the ignition source is unknown. The base is about 120 mi/193 km from the frontlines in the Ukraine.

zerohedge (https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/crimea-base-rocked-huge-explosion-possible-long-range-missile-strike)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkUd3JEBRBs&t=53s

9ideon

18th August 2022, 08:12

You know it is impossible to have a discussion on this thread with the play by play of the war with twits.

Anyone can post main stream media content. What is the point really if it leaves little room for discussion? There is about 14 missives and 19 twits since my last message which could be lost in the shuffle.

Even the so-called 'alt-media' [video content producers] I find a little troublesome, they read the days main stream media and then discuss it. [While disagreeing with most of it.] I find if I had a busy day and didn't read the news that the video content is like a brief recap of the news. It is very predictable after a while when you get to know the personalities. With good critical thinking skills, one can skim the msm and get the idea without some youtuber chiming in their two-cents.

There are many threads that just get posted with daily content and little to no discussion. Is anyone interested in some banter? They bumped the thread regarding signal to noise, so I am not the only one noticing these occurrences.

Maybe there ought to be two threads, one for up to the minute details of whats going on, which is going to be tweets & Telegrams, because that's were the blow by blow accounts are coming out, and a second one for discussion & opinions from members rather than links & vids etc ?

Members could use links to posts in this thread to make it clear what they are discussing.

I agree there is too much going on in this thread to do both.

I agree to the fact it is almost impossible to have a constructed discussion about the state of things due to the volume of tweets etc, they are most welcome though, simply due to the nutrient value of the content, a solution should be found. Perhaps there is already a Thread out there we can resuscitate?

Maybe this one thread could be used for discussions?

9ideon

19th August 2022, 16:38

Ravenlocke (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?114491-WW3-Ukraine-US-vs.-Donbass-Russia&p=1513163&viewfull=1#post1513163) #4422

Earlier this week, I received two reports that WALMART had allegedly "canceled billions of dollars in orders."
I was **not** able to get more info such as specific types of products or specific suppliers, or specific country of origin, so since I couldn't verify it, I didn't report it.

Minutes ago, I got this:
"My wife works for amazon web services (AWS) and they just canceled 40% of the marketing budget, froze hiring, and canceled all employee travel today"
It was done on a video call about 50 minutes ago. I am endeavoring to verify it, so treat it as RUMOR right now . . . but here's the thing:

If these claims prove true, this is a major indicator of bad **** coming.

Especially the travel part. AWS has assets in China, Taiwan, and Eastern Bloc countries.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________

“We don't want escalation. We’d like to avoid a situation, in which the US becomes a party to the conflict, but so far we don’t see any readiness of the other side to take these warnings seriously,” Ryabkov told Rossiya 1 TV channel on Friday.
Moscow rejects Washington's explanation, that providing Ukraine with weapons and other aid is justified by Kiev’s right to self-defense, he pointed out. “Excuse me, what kind of self-defense is it if they are already openly talking about the possibility of attacking targets deep in the Russian territory, in Crimea?” the deputy FM wondered.

This is indeed interesting, are there more people on the forum whom have had similar happenings lately?

That second part, is there any chance the Russians here can confirm sentiment in Russia?

JackMcThorn

19th August 2022, 17:10

I've read the entire article. I searched out the website (https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/en/news-page/world/strange-corporate-decisions-this-week).

I really get the feeling the article is a bit of a click-bait. He is saying that the nuclear plant is likely to be hit this week-end. [I'm sure some of us will be the first to hear about it if it happens.]

Two days ago, I got word that the US/NATO shipped four (4) nuclear ARTILLERY shells to Ukraine. Word was that the Ukrainians were to use those shells to hit the Zaporazyhe Nuclear Power Plant. A nuke artillery shell would certainly be able to penetrate a Reactor Containment building, and even a relatively tiny nuke blast would rupture a reactor, causing a radiation leakage disaster. BUT . . . they claimed . . . the fact that a nuke artillery shell was used will be MASKED by the reactor leaking radiation. So Ukraine would blame the Russians for mishandling the reactor causing it to blow up when, in reality, Ukraine caused it.

-----
There is a myriad of Wal-Mart articles indicating that Wal-Mart cancelled orders due to overstocking. Some of the articles are behind pay-walls and some are less than reputable sources.

In a call with investors announcing results for the second quarter, Walmart CFO John Rainey said the company has “canceled billions in orders” to deal with inventory pileups that have amassed over the last few quarters.

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/walmart-cancels-billions-orders-clear-180936667.html)-?guccounter=1

None of the Wal-Mart articles are in the MSM.

The amazon information is not exactly public domain so it is harder to track down, but I think the main article is meant to incite emotion than to present facts.

9ideon

19th August 2022, 17:26

Spiral

19th August 2022, 17:34

9ideon

21st August 2022, 05:56

https://twitter.com/TobiAyodele/status/1561114253276356608
1561114253276356608

Anyone know what time? Was it before or after the car bombing that killed Daria Dugina?

9ideon

21st August 2022, 10:20

Anyone know what time? Was it before or after the car bombing that killed Daria Dugina?

Bill Post#45 (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?119308-The-daughter-of-Aleksandr-Dugin-has-been-assassinated-in-Moscow&p=1513483&viewfull=1#post1513483)

According to investigators, an explosive device was planted under the bottom of a Toyota Land Cruiser vehicle Daria was driving. The car was traveling at full speed when it exploded in the Odintsovsky District in the Moscow region at about 21:00 local time (18:00 GMT) on Saturday.

It almost looks like, being very careful, he took his own life (https://amarketnews.co/2022/08/21/news-today-the-head-of-regional-directorate-of-sbu-for-kirovograd-oblast-alexander-nakonechni-shot-himself-both-russian-and-ukrainian-sources-report-the-sbu-is-ukraines-intelligence-and-c/) after that car bomb debacle, might be coincidence though.

Bill Ryan

24th August 2022, 18:54

We may need to add Turkey to the gradually lengthening thread title. :)

This is very major. For all those reading this who may nt be up to speed, there seems to have been a highly significant tipping point inasmuch as Turkey is now leaning heaving towards Russia and turning its back on the US regarding Syria.

This is an excellent video, just 13 minutes long (short videos are good news these days!), and it explains the entire development and its likely repercussions. The danger is that the US neocons will become even more pressured and enraged.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmfwRh4rJt4

Ravenlocke

25th August 2022, 02:49

Erdogan said that according to international law, it is necessary to return Crimea to #Ukraine

Erdogan said that according to international law, it is necessary to return Crimea to Ukraine in order to maintain its territorial integrity and stability in the region. For his part, Zelensky said that Ukraine would retake the peninsula in whatever way it deemed necessary.

In general, Turkey continues to play an important role as an intermediary between Russia and Ukraine, which entails the prospect of great financial and political benefits.

JrHDyGx-qdM

JackMcThorn

2nd September 2022, 17:29

Intel Slava Z posted the following. Patrick Lancaster reposted it but it is not in the main stream yet.

49532

9ideon

6th September 2022, 12:24

Interesting sum up.

mVF4LlzztIE

Kryztian

7th September 2022, 01:39

Liz Truss, the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom says she's all ready to press the button to begin nuclear annihilation:

DsmINqud4aM

9ideon

7th September 2022, 06:20

Lays it out.

wmOePNsNFw0

9ideon

7th September 2022, 06:43

This is typical thought pattern from US perspective. They are doing (going to) it in Ukraine as well. Us is going to sent heavier weapons to Ukraine because they feel Russia has been bluffing about striking back when Crimea or Russia Main will be attacked with "Nato" weapons. So they decided to start sending heavier weapons in order for Ukraine to attack Crimea and perhaps Russia main. The same with Taiwan now, they feel China has been bluffing so they order Taiwan to start leaning on China so they'll expose the bluff China represents.

They make one huge mistake in reasoning though. This is how the US does things, bluff, bluff and oooh yeah, bluff, against stronger opponents, they brush aside weaker ones. Russia and China are not like this, they warn and warn and warn simply because they realize a Huge war means loads of innocent victims on both sides, something the US and Nato never cared about.

Patience is a virtue, sometimes though even patient People lash out.

qOwAXlqmZ4c

rodguy911

10th September 2022, 13:35

Erdogan and his son Bilal are major league criminals and always have been. Currently he's playing the muslim card pretending to be Mohammad when in essence he's more closely like hitler.
One day the trurth will come out about him and his criminal son and it will all over for him.

graciousb

11th September 2022, 00:40

Kryztian

14th September 2022, 02:32

The U.S.A. is expanding it's military presence in the Pacific. Here, specifically, in Guam. They are destroying the ecology of the island to expand military bases, and the people of Guam feel as though they are placed in the line of fire in a war that is not theirs.

1569683567587852290

Bill Ryan

14th September 2022, 08:37

Kryztian

14th September 2022, 12:42

Tintin

14th September 2022, 12:44

Kryztian

16th September 2022, 15:21

This leaked RAND report, from January 2022, showing the plan for the purposeful takedown of Germany's economy, may need its own thread.

Newly Leaked Report From Rand Corporation Reveals The True Motives Behind European Destabilization & The Russia/Ukraine War
https://redpill78.substack.com/p/newly-leaked-report-from-rand-corporation

Documentation: A confidential RAND report dated 01/25/2022
https://en.weltexpress.info/2022/09/08/documentation-a-rand-report-dated-01-25-2022

The Rand Corporation denies the authenticity of the document.

https://www.rand.org/news/press/2022/09/14.html

Fake RAND Report on 'Weakening Germany'

For Release Wednesday September 14, 2022

A supposedly leaked RAND report about a bizarre U.S. conspiracy to “weaken Germany” is fake. Genuine RAND research, analysis, and commentary on the war in Ukraine may be found at this page. Given the potential origins of this fake document, we encourage you to explore this resource on the “firehose of falsehood” approach to propaganda and RAND's extensive research on “Truth Decay,” a phenomenon driven in part by the spread of disinformation.

RAND Corp. dismisses ‘fake’ report on plot to cripple EU
16 Sep, 2022 08:38
https://www.rt.com/news/562911-rand-corp-ukraine-plot/

A Swedish newspaper claims that the think tank came up with a plan to provoke Russia into attacking Ukraine to damage Germany.

A Swedish news outlet claimed this week that the US plotted to weaken Germany and the EU by provoking Russia into attacking Ukraine. It cited a document purportedly penned by the RAND Corporation. The influential American think tank dismissed the claim, calling it “fake.”

The story of an alleged US plan to drain EU resources to prop up its economy was reported on Tuesday by Nya Dagbladet, a Swedish news outlet, which describes itself as anti-globalist, humanist, pro-freedom, and independent. An English-language version was released later in the week.

The newspaper claimed that it obtained a classified document signed by the RAND Corporation, titled ‘Weakening Germany, strengthening the US’. The paper, which was allegedly produced in January, outlined a scenario for how the US could help its struggling economy by draining resources from its European allies.

The purported plot involved goading Russia into attacking Ukraine, which would force the EU to impose sanctions on Russia and decouple their economies from Russian energy.

The resulting damage to EU member states, particularly Germany, would undermine the EU’s political power and potential for pursuing policies independent from the US – and it would trigger an outflow of capital and skilled labor from Europe to the US, according to the plan as described by Nya Dagbladet.

The RAND Corporation responded to the publication on Wednesday. A short statement said that “a supposedly leaked RAND report about a bizarre U.S. conspiracy to ‘weaken Germany’ is fake.” It urged readers to sample its research on Ukraine and misinformation.

The think tank has been one of the most influential players in the realm of US foreign and military policy for decades. Whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg, who in 1971 leaked to the media classified documents detailing the scope of US involvement in the Vietnam War, gained access to the papers because he was working for the RAND Corporation as a strategic analyst.

pueblo

25th March 2023, 11:57

1639372617709658119

Faytuks News Δ

@Faytuks
NEW: Biden says that the US does not seek conflict with Iran, but that it is prepared to respond 'forcefully' to protect its personnel following yesterday's airstrikes against IRGC-affiliated targets in Syria - AP
9:04 PM · Mar 24, 2023

1639377946010853378

OSINTdefender

@sentdefender
Footage from Northeastern Syria that is reported to show Iranian Forces conducted a Heavy Artillery Attack on a U.S/Coalition Base in the Deir ez-Zur Region.

ExomatrixTV

28th March 2023, 21:16

Aaron Maté Debunks Syrian Gas Attack Coverup At The UN:

Jp5OP_pAmrg

Last week Pushback host Aaron Maté appeared at the United Nations to address the Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Warfare (OPCW) scandal over the coverup of so-called “false flag” chemical weapons attacks perpetrated by forces seeking to overthrow the government of Bashar al-Assad. Aaron sought to debunk the latest set of lies being pushed to imply that Assad government was responsible for the attacks. Jimmy and Americans’ Comedian Kurt Metzger talk to Aaron about his testimony and the likelihood that the United States will ever have to acknowledge the truth about the OPCW scandal.

Iyakum

12th April 2023, 09:39

Tintin

12th April 2023, 11:15

The Pentagon leaks show that Russia supports Iran with SU35, in return Russia receives other weapons such as drones from Iran. Russia expands Strategic Systems such as SU-35 or flankers SA-21s to Iran or expands Irans missile, nuclear, or space program, prompting Israel to provide lethal Aid. The IDF is concerned Russia will provide advanced systems or technology such as steel aloys or other material used both in missile and space programs, in exchange for Iranian weapons.
further information will follow if desired.

It's all here including a summary:

Now in the library, here:

[LEAK]_NATO_War_plan_documents_April_06_2023 (https://avalonlibrary.net/?dir=Ukraine/2022_Russian_invasion_%28Operation-Z%29/%5BLEAK%5D_NATO_War_plan_documents_April_06_2023)

Zip (https://avalonlibrary.net/Ukraine/2022_Russian_invasion_%28Operation-Z%29/%5BLEAK%5D_NATO_War_plan_documents_April_06_2023/Leaked%20Documents-20230412T085308Z-001.zip) here

Summary (https://avalonlibrary.net/Ukraine/2022_Russian_invasion_%28Operation-Z%29/%5BLEAK%5D_NATO_War_plan_documents_April_06_2023/A_Brief_Interpretation_Analysis_and_Commentary_on_the_US_Army_Leaked_Information_in_February_2023.pd f) - not in zip file - here

Cross posted from here (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?114491-WW3-Ukraine-US-vs.-Donbass-Russia&p=1551944&viewfull=1#post1551944)

Ravenlocke

15th April 2023, 21:47

https://twitter.com/Blackrussiantv/status/1647298699842682880

1647298699842682880

https://twitter.com/trtworld/status/1647308622144364544

1647308622144364544

https://twitter.com/RamAbdu/status/1647199160435613698

1647199160435613698

https://twitter.com/IrlRepRamallah/status/1647261278644125697

1647261278644125697

Ravenlocke

15th April 2023, 21:56

https://twitter.com/DavidSaranga/status/1647301637940150275

1647301637940150275

Ravenlocke

19th April 2023, 21:25

https://twitter.com/Eureka_News_ENG/status/1648433966150721536

1648433966150721536

https://twitter.com/Eureka_News_ENG/status/1648433971603316738

1648433971603316738

Ravenlocke

20th April 2023, 14:59

https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1649017107726716929

1649017107726716929

https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1649018717802471426

1649018717802471426

Ravenlocke

20th April 2023, 18:13

https://twitter.com/TheCradleMedia/status/1649086723601711112

1649086723601711112

https://thecradle.co/article-view/23887/iran-sends-us-submarine-fleeing-from-strait-of-hormuz

Iran sends US submarine fleeing from Strait of Hormuz

The USS Florida, Washington’s nuclear-powered submarine, was reportedly forced to retreat from the Strait of Hormuz on 20 April after entering Iran’s territorial waters and receiving a warning from the country’s forces, an Iranian navy official said.

“The US submarine was approaching while submerged, but the Iranian submarine Fateh detected it and carried out … maneuvers to force it to surface as it went through the Strait (of Hormuz). It had also entered into our territorial waters, but … it corrected its course after being warned,” Iranian Navy commander Shahram Irani said on Thursday.

“This submarine was doing its best, using all its capacities, to pass in total silence and without being detected,” Irani said, adding that Tehran will “certainly reflect to international bodies the fact that it had violated our border.”

However, Washington denied the Iranian naval commander’s claims in a statement released via Twitter by the US Navy.

“Iran’s claim is absolutely false. A U.S. submarine has NOT transited the Strait of Hormuz recently. The claim represents more Iranian disinformation that destabilizes the region. U.S. 5th Fleet continues to operate wherever international law allows,” the statement read.

The USS Florida, a nuclear-powered submarine equipped with guided missiles, was relocated to the region on 8 April to support the US Fifth Fleet, which is based in Bahraini waters in the Persian Gulf.

In a rare move, the Pentagon released a picture of the Ohio-class submarine as it transited the Suez Canal into the Persian Gulf. Washington usually keeps the locations of its submarines private while they are at sea.

Experts see the public show of force by the Pentagon as an attempt to beef up its forces in the region and deter resistance groups from targeting the US Army and its allies. In Syria recently, there has been a dramatic surge in resistance attacks against the US military’s illegal occupation bases, which are said to be carried out by groups affiliated with Tehran.

The US also relocated one of its warships to the Syrian coast recently, in what was also seen as a power move aimed at intimidating the Islamic Republic.

On 10 April, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanaani, said that Washington’s “dispatching submarines, moving warships or sending bombers to West Asia … is part of the US government’s attempt to cover up the decline of its global dominance.”

Ravenlocke

25th April 2023, 18:46

https://twitter.com/ArthurM40330824/status/1650887000763912192

1650887000763912192

Pris

26th April 2023, 18:20

.
Operation Mockingbird on full display.

Tweet from Simon Ateba:

"EXPLOSIVE: He told all the media there including @nytimes
that @TuckerCarlson
was fired and Julian Assange is in detention for 'DOING YOUR JOB". WATCH..EXPLOSIVE"

1651190850230054914

Also shared on The Donald:

https://patriots.win/p/16b5qDI2ds/operation-mockingbird-20-has-bec/c/

Ravenlocke

30th April 2023, 15:07

https://twitter.com/agent_of_change/status/1652650390633037824

1652650390633037824

Ravenlocke

3rd May 2023, 13:47

https://twitter.com/cirnosad/status/1653690514498256897

1653690514498256897

https://twitter.com/cirnosad/status/1653691890376802304

1653691890376802304

Ravenlocke

3rd May 2023, 15:01

https://twitter.com/TheCradleMedia/status/1653751309034565633

1653751309034565633

https://thecradle.co/article-view/24383/iran-seizes-new-oil-tanker-in-strait-of-hormuz

Iran seizes new oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz
Iran seized a Panama-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on 3 May, the US navy announced, marking the second Iranian vessel seizure in the span of one week.

“On May 3 at approximately 6:20 a.m. local time, Panama-flagged oil tanker Niovi was seized by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) while transiting the Strait of Hormuz,” the US navy said in a statement via Twitter.

“Approximately a dozen Iranian IRGCN fast-attack craft swarm Panama-flagged oil tanker … forcing the merchant vessel to reverse course into Iranian territorial waters during an unlawful seizure,” a caption attached to video footage of the seizure reads.

Just a few days earlier, on 27 April, Iran seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman.

According to Iranian naval authorities, the foreign tanker collided with an Iranian vessel, resulting in a number of casualties. The tanker violated international regulations by trying to escape, prompting Iran to seize it.

Maritime security firm Ambrey revealed last week that the US navy recently plundered an Iranian oil shipment, adding that Tehran’s seizure of the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker was a response to Washington’s seizure.

No official statement or comments have been made by the Iranian government as of yet regarding the latest seizure.

However, semi-official Iranian news outlet Tasnim reported that the tanker was “violating the law” without elaborating further.

This comes as Iran faces an increased maritime threat from the US Navy. A group of US lawmakers recently urged the government of US President Joe Biden to step up seizures of Iranian oil shipments at sea, lamenting how “Iranian oil sales continue to rise.”

Tehran has referred to such US actions in the past as ‘maritime piracy.’

A week earlier, a nuclear-powered US submarine equipped with guided missiles violated Iranian territorial waters in the Strait of Hormuz before receiving a warning from Tehran and fleeing the area.

This comes as Russia, Iran, and China have been boosting naval cooperation within the context of their alliance in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). In March, the three countries launched their third Maritime Security Bond naval exercise.

This heightened maritime threat coincided with a recent SCO meeting in India, during which Iran proposed the establishment of the Shanghai Maritime Security Belt – a mechanism to ensure safety and security on maritime routes and to preserve stable global trade with SCO member states.

Ezio Auditore da Firenze

7th May 2023, 04:43

https://reurl.cc/o0j4qj
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhY-vODfV7A

Hamish

8th May 2023, 11:50

Hello,

Twitter thread: Leaked Hillary Clinton Emails Revealed NATO Killed Gaddafi to Stop the formation of a United States of Africa

Source: https://twitter.com/AcProlific/status/1655277226978418688

jaybee

8th May 2023, 14:35

Hamish

8th May 2023, 15:11

jaybee

8th May 2023, 16:58

Hello,

Twitter thread: Leaked Hillary Clinton Emails Revealed NATO Killed Gaddafi to Stop the formation of a United States of Africa

Lest we forget - the glee of Hilary Clinton after Gaddafi was brutally murdered -

Clinton on Qaddafi: We came, we saw, he died(0:11)

(this has to be watched on YT and can't be embedded)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlz3-OzcExI

Hello,

We came, we saw, we helped, we learned, we joined, we formed a peaceful, error detected, no peace allowed, we came, we saw, he died, population destroyed, corruption, murder, rape, social distrust and humans being sold on the street.

I haven't watched this video for a while but this is as good a time as any to reflect on the pure evil the Libyan People have endured courtesy of Western Elite - fronted by politicians like Clinton, Obama, (US) Cameron (UK) Sarkozy (France).... determined to get rid of Gaddafi - not because he was bad leader but because he was too GOOD...too good to his people for their liking and wouldn't sell them out...

This video was made before Gaddafi was assassinated by the NATO backed 'rebels' - rebels that included Al Qaeda - the benefits that Libyans enjoyed under Gaddafi's leadership were many including free electricity !!! (these are presented in the first part) I've just watched it again and I'm struck by the prophetic words that begin @8:01.... 'we must show solidarity with the Libyan People - if we sit by and watch these crimes against humanity and do nothing - then we are complicit and one day.....................it will be our turn'

Well our turn has come - as the Globalist Elite turn their attentions to destroying Western Nations from within - and maybe from without as well if they get us embroiled in a World War situation - the format for us is different but the results will eventually be the same.... collapse and total authoritarian control (if they get their way) -

Libya Truth (DnB Soundtrack)

aJURNC0e6Ek

Ravenlocke

8th May 2023, 18:00

“This is the end of the Syrian war”, opening statement by Alexander

Syria returns to the Arab League. The Duran

KZhnuC4uq4E

Kryztian

9th May 2023, 02:18

“This is the end of the Syrian war”, opening statement by Alexander

Syria returns to the Arab League. The Duran

KZhnuC4uq4E

Great. In short, the Middle East which was once was factionalized now is unifying around as they have found a common enemy: the U.S.A. Another sign that the multi polar world order is taking root.

Ravenlocke

9th May 2023, 15:43

550,000 Syrian refugees have returned to northern Syria to areas that Turkey "cleared of terrorists," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said.

For the return of the remaining refugees, cooperation is needed with the UN, the EU, as well as with Bashar al-Assad, added Cavusoglu

https://twitter.com/Spriter99880/status/1655936763251273730

1655936763251273730

Ravenlocke

9th May 2023, 16:05

Text:
Looking at the Tesla cars made in China, are they like iPhones? Are Chinese just assembling parts in Shanghai Gigafactory?

Answer: Resounding NO!

In fact, by some estimates, whopping 95% of a Chinese Tesla car are made by Chinese firms! Tesla is “localized” except for a few things like semiconductor chips and software.

Examples of Tesla's Chinese Suppliers:

Battery & charging system: Chinese suppliers Ganfeng Lithium, Tianqi Lithium, and Shanshan.

Electric drive system: Xuri, Zhongke Sanhuan and Jingda

Touch screen: BOE

Visual sensor for automatic driving: Lianchuang Electronics

High-precision map: NavInfo (yeah, Chinese)

Casting machine that makes the chassis and other parts: LK Group

Welcome to China v2.0!

https://twitter.com/Kanthan2030/status/1655952923715850243

1655952923715850243

https://twitter.com/Kanthan2030/status/1655967312904880128

1655967312904880128

Ravenlocke

9th May 2023, 17:08

https://twitter.com/Sinnaig/status/1655970100346748932

1655970100346748932

Ravenlocke

9th May 2023, 19:01

https://twitter.com/BenjaminNorton/status/1655583504019668993

1655583504019668993

Ravenlocke

10th May 2023, 18:26

https://twitter.com/anadoluagency/status/1656287496714477569

1656287496714477569

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/egypt-says-syrias-return-to-arab-league-does-not-entail-full-normalization/2893825

Egypt says Syria's return to Arab League does not entail full normalization

ANKARA

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Syria’s readmission to the Arab League does not entail full normalization of relations with the Syrian regime.

On Sunday, the Cairo-based Arab League reinstated Syria’s membership after 12 years of suspension.

“Syria's return to the Arab League does not qualify for full normalization with its government,” Shourky said in televised statements.

“Reinstating Syria raises the level of representation. But this was a first step to creating a vision, understanding, and procedures that promote confidence,” he added.

Regarding the US opposition to Syria’s readmission to the Arab League, the top Egyptian diplomat termed the decision as an “Arab issue”.

“This is an Arab issue that concerns an Arab country that has been exposed to a decade of internal conflict. We must find a solution for the situation at hand,” he said.

On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia announced the resumption of the work of its diplomatic mission in Syria.

Egypt, however, still maintains low diplomatic representation with Syria.

The decision to reinstate Syria's membership to the Arab League came ahead of the annual Arab summit in Saudi Arabia on May 19.

Syria was suspended from the 22-state body in 2011 over the regime’s brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests, which led to a civil war.

The Syrian regime, however, began to exchange official visits and contacts with several Arab countries in recent months.

Ravenlocke

10th May 2023, 18:29

https://twitter.com/anadoluagency/status/1656304786554208258

1656304786554208258

https://twitter.com/anadoluagency/status/1656306553455083520

1656306553455083520

https://twitter.com/anadoluagency/status/1656292407992893441

1656292407992893441

Szymon

10th May 2023, 21:15

Hi Friends,

Last night, we briefly spoke to our friend who lives in Israel and she said that she was advised to stay at home and wait for the retaliation for the deaths of three senior members. This morning I woke up to this news.

50864

https://t.me/disclosetv/11199?single

300 rockets...

Cheers,
Szymon

Ravenlocke

11th May 2023, 01:21

https://twitter.com/Spriter99880/status/1656410070383558659

1656410070383558659

https://english.iswnews.com/28136/palestinian-launches-thar-al-ahrar-operation-rocket-attacks-and-fighting-continues-video/

Palestinian Launches ‘Thar Al-Ahrar Operation’; Rocket Attacks And Fighting Continues (Video)

ISWNews Analysis Group – In response to the Israeli army’s attacks on the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian resistance groups targeted various areas of occupied Palestine with rocket attacks.

On May 10, the Palestinian resistance groups targeted Israeli settlements with rocket attacks in response to the Israeli army’s air and artillery attacks on the Gaza Strip. According to the announcement issued by the joint operation room of the Palestinian resistance groups, the new operation against the Zionists is called “Thar al-Ahrar”.

The Palestinian resistance groups fired more than 300 rockets towards the occupied territories including Tel Aviv, Jaffa, Ashdod, Ashkelon, etc., in several stages, some of which were intercepted and destroyed by the Israel’s Iron Dome systems. But some of them also hit the Zionist areas. According to the Hebrew media, at least 16 Zionists were injured in the occupied territories while fleeing to shelters for fear of resistance rockets.

Israel TV Channel 12 announced: Due to the tension and ongoing conflicts in Gaza, the exams of students who live 40 kilometers away from the Gaza Strip will be held inside the shelters or will be postponed.

According to the air traffic monitoring of Ben Gurion Airport, the process of accepting passenger planes at this airport has been disrupted due to rocket attacks by the Palestinian resistance. Also, an Israel’s Hebrew-language website reported that the Iron Dome systems engaged with Palestinian resistance rockets near Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport.

Following the clashes, the Israeli army announced in a statement: The fighter jets of this regime have bombed 53 targets in different areas of the Gaza Strip.

At the same time as resistance rocket attacks continued throughout the occupied territories, the fighter jets of the Israeli regime carried out attacks against areas of the Gaza Strip. After these attacks, the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that 21 Palestinians were martyred and 64 others were injured since the start of the Zionist regime’s criminal attacks on Gaza.

Read more: Israeli Regime Attacks On Gaza Kills 13 People (Video)

Ravenlocke

11th May 2023, 01:40

https://twitter.com/Spriter99880/status/1656037878386835473

1656037878386835473

https://twitter.com/Spriter99880/status/1655974103977799683

1655974103977799683

https://twitter.com/Spriter99880/status/1655815370098323457

1655815370098323457

https://twitter.com/Spriter99880/status/1655815283490078720

1655815283490078720

Ravenlocke

11th May 2023, 02:01

https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1656428698583678979

1656428698583678979

https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1656428193966878720

1656428193966878720

https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1656426007358734336

1656426007358734336

https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1656421277026996228

1656421277026996228

https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1656414840166965248

1656414840166965248

Ravenlocke

11th May 2023, 02:06

https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1656400475380502530

1656400475380502530

¤=[Post Update]=¤

https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1656392425827385344
1656392425827385344

Ravenlocke

11th May 2023, 02:15

https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1656391135789473793

1656391135789473793

https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1656388201886502912

1656388201886502912

https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1656385985905672193

1656385985905672193

https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1656385722813644801

1656385722813644801

https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1656382623902584836

1656382623902584836

https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1656380731185156105

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https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1656368565123969040

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https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1656367732504293382

1656367732504293382

https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1656366825423138816

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https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1656365337124696091

1656365337124696091

Ravenlocke

11th May 2023, 02:22

https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1656305052833677316

1656305052833677316

https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1656323043713490944

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https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1656332172309954566

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https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1656332970871881731
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https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1656303697545031680

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https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1656296921475022848

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https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1656236753718595585

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Ravenlocke

11th May 2023, 02:44

https://twitter.com/dana916/status/1656419043023155201

1656419043023155201

Ravenlocke

11th May 2023, 21:03

https://twitter.com/IrnaEnglish/status/1656682125964312576

1656682125964312576

¤=[Post Update]=¤

https://twitter.com/IrnaEnglish/status/1656558218078715904

1656558218078715904

https://twitter.com/Hawkeye1745/status/1656653272743317506

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Ravenlocke

11th May 2023, 21:29

https://twitter.com/Hawkeye1745/status/1656649676496736256

1656649676496736256

Ravenlocke

11th May 2023, 21:34

https://twitter.com/Spriter99880/status/1656764598194765826

1656764598194765826

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Text:

The Palestinian resistance forces fired a long-range missile deep into Israel, but no reports of possible casualties were published, Fars writes.

At the same time, Israeli sources reported that one of the Palestinian rockets hit a house in the city of Rehovot, as a result, one person died from shrapnel, and 9 more were injured.

https://twitter.com/Spriter99880/status/1656764385413550080

1656764385413550080

Ravenlocke

11th May 2023, 21:45

https://twitter.com/Spriter99880/status/1656757523783774220

1656757523783774220

Ravenlocke

12th May 2023, 20:41

https://twitter.com/incontextmedia/status/1601272646066667520

1601272646066667520

Ravenlocke

12th May 2023, 20:51

https://twitter.com/richimedhurst/status/1657095252853895168

1657095252853895168

https://twitter.com/richimedhurst/status/1656436694336393217

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https://twitter.com/richimedhurst/status/1657099083780182030

1657099083780182030

https://twitter.com/richimedhurst/status/1656809073436704768

1656809073436704768

nxcqsmT-NFk

Ravenlocke

12th May 2023, 20:56

https://twitter.com/TheCradleMedia/status/1657118662627676196

1657118662627676196

https://twitter.com/TheCradleMedia/status/1657039271134388224

1657039271134388224

https://twitter.com/TheCradleMedia/status/1657034902032850944

1657034902032850944

https://thecradle.co/article-view/24768/israel-presses-ahead-with-flag-march-despite-gaza-operation

Israel presses ahead with flag march despite Gaza operation
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on 11 May that the annual Israeli flag march scheduled for next week will proceed as planned, despite the ongoing assault on the Gaza Strip and the relentless rocket attacks which are continuing to target various locations across the occupied territories.

“This is not a dramatic decision, but a continuation of the norm in a sovereign country. Just as the sun rises every morning, so the parade will continue in its usual format,” Netanyahu wrote on a document set to be discussed during an upcoming cabinet meeting.

After reaching the conclusion following a security assessment on Wednesday that Israel’s “Operation Shield and Arrow” in Gaza was nearing its last few days, officials estimated that the flag march should be pressed ahead with.

According to an informed source, the prime minister gave “an unequivocal directive to hold the parade as planned,” adding that “Hamas [and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)] will not tell us whether or how to march in Jerusalem.”

However, just a day later – coinciding with continued Israeli strikes on Gaza and renewed Palestinian rocket-fire, resistance missiles landed in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.

Coming as a shock to Israel and a major change in the ‘rules of engagement,’ the rocket-fire on Jerusalem prompted the Israeli government to announce a total freeze of ceasefire talks.

In a statement, the PIJ said: “The bombing of Jerusalem is a message that the eyes of the resistance are open to the holy city, and see everything that the enemy is planning there,” referring to dangerous excavations and an Israeli scheme for ‘Judaization’ of the area.

“The current battle is approaching the date of the march of the flags, and this encourages us to continue,” the PIJ statement added.

Every year, the flag march falls on ‘Jerusalem Day,’ during which Israelis commemorate the illegal annexation of east Jerusalem during the 1967 war.

During last year’s flag march, over 160 Palestinians were injured by Israeli troops and settlers. The march came around two weeks after Israeli forces shot and killed renowned Al-Jazeera correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh.

During the march, settlers were heard chanting “Death to Arabs” and “Shireen is dead.”

An anonymous Egyptian official told The Times of Israel on 12 May that “this rally already poses a threat to stability … if the fighting is still ongoing by then, it will be much harder to stop.”

“It is likely that Hamas will ride this wave and join as well,” the official said, calling for a swift implementation of a truce.

Ravenlocke

12th May 2023, 21:01

https://twitter.com/MintPressNews/status/1657099083415277574

1657099083415277574

https://twitter.com/MintPressNews/status/1657116472202743821

1657116472202743821

https://thecradle.co/article-view/24729/the-uks-secret-control-of-palestinian-security-forces

The UK’s secret control of Palestinian security forces
Since 2015, Britain has pumped vast sums annually into a “Middle East Peace Process Program.”

In an official summary of the effort, lofty rhetoric about protecting the vulnerable, upholding humanitarian law, and working for peace abounds. Yet its core – if not sole – objective is made very clear from the start. Namely, constructing institutions within the Palestinian Authority (PA) that are “ready for statehood, [and] supportive of UK values and interests.”

Leaked files reviewed by The Cradle show these British initiatives have a “particular emphasis on the security sector,” which is understandable. After all, it is arguably only through maintaining a powerful and repressive security apparatus that the corrupt, unelected, Israeli-directed PA can remain in power.

These documents show that London plays an intimate role in shaping, managing, and staffing the PA’s Security Forces and its methods of repression – by way of Adam Smith International, a controversial British government contractor.

Since 2012, the company has reaped millions “building the capacity of the Palestinian Authority Security Forces,” and “discrete areas of the Ministry of Interior,” in order to “professionalize” the Authority’s other “security institutions.”

Conducted primarily in the context of the United States Security Coordinator (USSC) mission to Israel and the Palestinian Authority, through a nexus of “embedded mentors,” the British firm provides “technical assistance, training, and on-the-job guidance” to different Security Force departments, including the Palestinian civil police, intelligence agencies, and “civil protection” units.

“Strategic advice” is also provided directly to the US Security Coordinator “on the institutional development of the police sector,” while the PA’s Media Centre receives assistance in “strategic communications” campaigns to “support their programme for achieving statehood by maintaining public support” – in other words information warfare operations, designed to manipulate and pacify Palestinians.

‘Not the easiest of tasks’

Other leaked files demonstrate that the training and services provided by Adam Smith International to the PA Security Forces are distinctly British in character.

A self-professed “highlight” of this support has been the establishment of a “Palestinian Officers Academy” styled on Sandhurst military school, where the British Army’s elite class are trained. Adam Smith International boasts that it drafted the “business case” for the Academy, cleared “design and development plans” with the Security Forces and Interior Ministry, and secured “a multi-million-pound budget” for its launch and operation.

Students at the Academy receive a nine-month-long “practical leadership curriculum” with “over 1,700 lesson plans” in English and Arabic, overseen by 12 international and 30 Palestinian staffers. Adam Smith International also advised the PA’s military training director “on how to strengthen the design and delivery of training” across the Security Forces, advising on “course design, delivery methodology, organizational structure, as well various training-related operational matters, such as resourcing, course coordination and management of training infrastructure.”

Adam Smith International guaranteed access to “discrete areas” of the PA Interior Ministry, and “buy-in” to its training operations from senior Security Forces staff, by embedding a “specialist military technical advisor” within the latter’s ranks. While unnamed in the files, the company refers to Anthony Malkin, former head of leadership training at Sandhurst.

From 2000 – 2005, he was Britain’s defense attache in the United Arab Emirates – in his own words serving as “the interface between the UK Ministry of Defence and the UAE General Headquarters,” and “[developing] policy lines at ambassadorial and ministerial level whilst supporting defense sales.”

For Adam Smith International, Malkin worked to “improve operational capability” of the Palestinian Authority’s civil police, armed forces, and intelligence services, “training, mentoring and advising leaders and staff.” Along the way, he “[showed] he can operate well in a culture of ambiguity, and has been flexible in adapting as the job has evolved to reflect wider political and military influences.”

“He is the only international consultant embedded at this high level within the [Security Forces]; his deep contextual understanding and Arabic language skills have gained him the respect of key interlocutors,” Adam Smith International approvingly noted. “Our advisor has ensured the buy-in of senior personnel, and thus the long term success of the [Palestinian Officers Academy]…through exercising well-apportioned patience, tact and diplomacy which has built strong and trusting relationships.”

Malkin left the post in 2016, after three years. In December of that year, he published a LinkedIn blog outlining his experience building the Officers Academy. It is rife with extraordinary insights, such as there being “considerable intelligence liaison between the Israeli and Palestinian Security Forces,” both in regards to alleged threats posed by the West Bank’s “immediate neighbors” but also “internal threats to safety and security.”

The rest of the article is here,

https://thecradle.co/article-view/24729/the-uks-secret-control-of-palestinian-security-forces

Ravenlocke

13th May 2023, 14:22

https://twitter.com/Spriter99880/status/1657384733196664835

1657384733196664835

Ravenlocke

13th May 2023, 18:03

https://twitter.com/Spriter99880/status/1657430873120157698

1657430873120157698

Ravenlocke

13th May 2023, 18:39

https://twitter.com/KhaledBeydoun/status/1657438475853897728

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Bill Ryan

14th May 2023, 16:54

(note to self: we should really add Turkey into the thread title :))

Today is election day in Turkey, and the entire western media lockstep chorus is that (current president) Erdogan must go. He's a bit of a wild card, of course, but he has a good working relationship with Putin, and of course that cannot be tolerated.

https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/61379
https://t.me/intelslava/47416
(https://t.me/intelslava/47416)https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/60934

DDGeopolitics/61379
intelslava/47416
DDGeopolitics/60934

Still early, of course, but here are the results so far with half the votes counted:

https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/62760 (https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/62751)

DDGeopolitics/62760

Bill Ryan

14th May 2023, 19:04

Update: it might be close. Not in the sense that Erdogan won't beat Kilicdaroglu (because he certainly will), but because if one candidate doesn't get more than 50%, then there'll be a run-off second election in a couple weeks' time.

Of course, Erdogan might well win that too, but for sure he'd like to nail it today. We'll know a lot more in a couple hours.

https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/62791

DDGeopolitics/62791

Update:

https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/62795 (https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/62793)

DDGeopolitics/62795

Update:

https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/62802

DDGeopolitics/62802

Ravenlocke

14th May 2023, 22:55

https://twitter.com/trtworld/status/1657785798161252354

1657785798161252354

Ravenlocke

14th May 2023, 23:05

https://twitter.com/anadoluagency/status/1657884370630238213

1657884370630238213

Bill Ryan

14th May 2023, 23:28

The definitive outcome: (for today)

https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/62844

DDGeopolitics/62844

Bill Ryan

15th May 2023, 21:15

Here's Alexander Mercouris in a new 14 minute video saying he's confident that Erdogan will pull through in the second round of Turkey's election, but he's not so sure that once he's been re-elected there won't still be a US-instigated color revolution against him.

Erdogan one step closer to re-election. Regime change will not end with elections

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-guUnHW_TE

Ravenlocke

16th May 2023, 15:09

https://twitter.com/Hawkeye1745/status/1657987477754216448

1657987477754216448

Ravenlocke

16th May 2023, 15:25

Text:

Haaretz newspaper revealed that during the Nakba, Ben-Gurion ordered that Palestinian wells be poisoned to prevent people from return. Wells in Acre, Gaza, Beersheba, Jericho, Galilee, Bedouin, & Jerusalem were poisoned. Zionist gangs spread germs that caused typhus and dysentery.

https://twitter.com/dana916/status/1658255628270280709

1658255628270280709

Ravenlocke

16th May 2023, 18:45

https://twitter.com/TheIntlMagz/status/1658197842782208001

1658197842782208001

https://internationalmagz.com/articles/resistance-until-victory-on-75-years-of-al-nakba

Resistance Until Victory: On 75 Years of Al-Nakba

In a podcast several days ago on YouTube former Senator from Minnesota Al Franken explained that Israel was the original Jewish homeland, but “of course, it wasn’t a perfect solution because the Palestinians happened to live there too.”

As Philip Weiss explains, Franken represents an older generation of American Jews, but his comments demonstrate a common tendency among commentators and politicians of any age to ignore 75 years of Palestinian resistance. Beginning with the Nakba (catastrophe) in ’48, when Zionist military forces destroyed at least 530 villages, massacred approximately 15,000 Palestinians, and drove at least 750,000 people from their homes, Palestinians have been united in their struggle.

Although his stance sounds anachronistic, representative of an older era, Franken’s podcast brings up several points that are relevant today. “It’s supposed to be a democracy, it’s supposed to be a Jewish democracy,” he says, “that’s the whole point– and right now we’re feeling like what Netanyahu is doing is ending that.”

In the end, Franken need not worry. “If we are to believe that Israel’s exclusivist and racially based ‘democracy’ is a democracy at all,” writes Ramzy Baroud, “then we are justified to also believe that Israel’s new government is neither less nor more democratic than the previous governments.”

“This is an indirect, if not clever form of whitewashing,” Baroud continues, as this stance assumes that Israel has always been a democracy, despite 75 years of discrimination and violence against the Palestinians, eventually culminating in the recent Nation-State Law which legitimizes Israel as an exclusively Jewish state. Despite demonstrations in Israel against the far-right government, Franken seems to be no problem with the way Palestinians have been treated in the past.

“It’s a curious but completely normal situation for the Zionist state,” Steven Salaita claims. “Palestinians are an ever-present burden on the entity and yet Palestinians are also studiously absent from Zionist notions of civic life.”

On Nakba Day, it is helpful to remember that the catastrophe is not an historical event, but rather, al-Nakba al-Mustamera, the ongoing Nakba, a reference to the past 75 years. According to Ilan Pappe, this means that the past exists in the present, part of a “contemporary historical chapter” (Foreword, Ramzy Baroud, The Last Earth, A Palestinian Story, 2018, p. xi) in the path towards liberation.

According to Hasan El-Hasan, al-Nakba was not one event, but rather a “continuous ongoing process of dispossession, Judaization and cleansing.” The goal has been the “conquest of all Palestine,” he writes, because the displacement of the original people from the land is at the core of Zionism.

At one point Franken’s guest brings up the normalization process as a solution, i.e., dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians as a path to peace. “You’ve got to stop the violence and the conflict,” David Miller says. “Then maybe you can create a transitional period that would allow success.”

Miller does not specify what he means by success. Most likely he does not mean an end to the Occupation, which is the only end game that will end the violence, though perhaps not the hate. For Palestinians, the goal is liberation, but as Salaita notes, liberating Palestine is a “process, forever in tension with forces of [the] oppression.”

As for the opposition, the language used by Combatants for Peace to promote their Israeli-Palestinian memorial ceremony reinforces the Zionist narrative that the two parties are equally responsible for the “conflict,” a term that Ramzy Baroud dispels. “Besieged, occupied people do not engage in a ‘conflict’ with their occupiers,” he observes. Instead, they are engaged in a liberation struggle that has grown stronger and more united over the past 75 years.

If liberation is a strategy, it is important to examine the language surrounding it. For example, since the Oslo Accords, the very term “resistance” was eradicated only to be replaced by rhetoric advocating “human rights,” “nonviolence,” and the two-state solution. The reality of the Occupation, under which there can be no human rights, was glossed over.

“The fact that Palestine was still an occupied country,” Baroud explains, “and that ‘state-building’ can only be achieved once ‘liberation’ was first secured, did not seem to matter to the ‘donor countries.’” These countries continued to push the illusion of the “peace process,” and to encourage that “security coordination” continue between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Zionist army, even though that meant that the PA would engage in arresting, torturing, and detaining members of the Palestinian resistance.

The “peace process,” Baroud contends, “wrought its own language,” which perhaps is slowly dying out. By dividing Palestinians in “moderates” and “extremists,” the former are valorized because they are willing to “make ‘painful compromises’” in order to attain peace. “Extremists,” on the other hand, use a wide variety of tactics, including armed resistance.

The language of liberation, used by so-called “extremists,” belongs only to the resistance. It is not written in response to a ready-made script written by the occupier; thus it does not seek to appease the colonizer or its cohorts around the world. It seeks not to backtrack by apologizing or defending its position.

Perceived by the Zionist opposition as a threat to their hegemonic hold on the narrative, such language was banned last year by the Berlin police when they barred all commemorations of the Nakba. According to Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, Berlin police repeatedly label the local Palestinian community as “emotional,” an excuse they use for banning these public demonstrations.

The language used in these documents is a form of gaslighting, i.e., telling a group of people what they should be feeling about an experience as horrible as the Nakba. “The labeling of legitimate Palestinian anger and commitment,” adds Samidoun, as a “threat to public safety” constitutes an “abhorrent act of censorship,” a measure that also seeks to prevent solidarity with other struggles.

In particular, the German state “fears a broad anti-imperialist movement,” writes Samidoun, because of its interest in Germany’s own imperialist activity. “The German state collaborates with Turkey and Israel to fulfil its imperialist interests and please U.S. imperialism,” declares the Anti-Imperialist Front. “It wants to silence those who resist.”

At the present time, Germany continues to ban Palestinian events, including Palestinian Prisoners Day on April 17, a lead-up to a probable ban on organizing around Nakba Day on May 15. “Nakba Day, also called the Great Catastrophe, marks the beginning of the displacement of the Palestinian people by the Zionist occupation,” explains Young Struggle, a collective of revolutionary youth in Germany.

In a statement translated into English by Samidoun, the collective of young German activists clarifies that in the face of continuous repression, there is a flip-side to the Nakba; “this day is a day of struggle for the Palestinian liberation movement worldwide. It is our task as revolutionaries to work for the liberation of all oppressed people, including the Palestinian people.”

The possibility that Nakba demonstrations will again be banned in Germany is very real. As in the past, Palestinians are not deterred. Speaking against the German ban but also for the 75-year-long struggle against the Zionist state, Samidoun makes clear: “We and our collective movement will not allow such tactics to succeed.”

From April 28-30, 2023, the Masar Badil, the Palestinian Alternative Revolutionary Path Movement, held its first conference on Turtle Island (North America), specifically in Ottawa, Canada. Entitled “Palestine: Envisioning Liberation, Confronting Colonialism,” the gathering concluded with a statement that brings together all colonized people in their struggles for liberation.

By “striv[ing] to support the struggle of Arab women, liberate political prisoners from Arab prisons, defend the peoples of the region, their resources and wealth, extract their natural right to self-determination and restore their historical and civilizational role from the ocean to the Gulf,” the movement affirms its future goals in revolutionary language that does not seek to appease but rather confront the Zionist state.

In “Recasting the Nakba,” Ramzy Baroud reiterates that the Nakba is ongoing, affecting generations of Palestinians up until today. In response, he calls for “ongoing resistance” among people who are bonded by memory of this past event, an experience, he says, that has created a “state of mind” capable of forging liberation in the future.

Originally published in Palestine Chronicle.

Ravenlocke

16th May 2023, 18:49

https://twitter.com/mazzenilsson/status/1658194464542797825

1658194464542797825

https://www.newarab.com/analysis/scrutinising-israels-narrative-about-nakba

Breadcrumb

As the 75th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, or ‘catastrophe’, is marked on Monday at the United Nations, pro-Israel advocates have been pushing an alternative version of historical events that positions Israel as the victim and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians as self-inflicted.

This Israeli narrative contends that as soon as David Ben-Gurion declared the independence of the Jewish state on 14 May 1948 five major Arab armies invaded historic Palestine to wage – along with the Palestinians – a “war of annihilation” against Israel and “push Jews into the ocean”.

The outnumbered Israelis defended themselves and won the war, and in the process, Palestinians fled their homes.

“These are foundational narratives for Israeli Jews and also Diaspora Jews - they are taken as obvious truth,” Dr Yair Wallach, historian, and senior lecturer in Israeli studies at SOAS, told The New Arab.

"Pro-Israel advocates have been pushing an alternative version of historical events that positions Israel as the victim and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians as self-inflicted"

“They connect 1948 (and Israel) with the Jewish memory of persecution; they provide justification for what Israel did to Palestinians as ‘self-defence’; and it informs the understanding that Israel's very existence is always in danger, and it is force and force only that guarantees the security of Israel.”

Prominent historians, including Israelis, however, have thoroughly documented how this narrative is inconsistent on multiple levels with what transpired on the ground.

They argue that the Arab armies sent to Palestine were outnumbered by the Israeli army and that the Arab armies’ goal was limited to preventing a Palestinian defeat and full ethnic cleansing, stopping refugee floods into their territories, and annexing some parts of historic Palestine to their states.

“It is clear that the Arab military effort was primarily directed at a failed attempt to save Palestinians,” Dr Wallach told The New Arab. “To be sure, there was also a rejection of partition and [an] attempt to prevent it, but the talk of ‘genocide’ has no basis whatsoever.”

RELATED

In-depth

Jessica Buxbaum

Jordan, which had the strongest Arab army in the 1948 war, had actually accepted the 1947 UN partition plan of historic Palestine in secret meetings in 1947 with Golda Meir, then head of the Jewish Agency’s political department. In return, Jordan’s King Abdullah wanted to annex the Arab part to Jordan, according to the Israeli historian Benny Morris.

However, in the 45 days leading up to the 1948 war, Zionist militias in mandate Palestine carried out 13 offensive military operations including eight outside the borders of the area allotted to the Jewish state in the partition plan. Zionist aggression included the infamous Deir Yassin massacre on 9 April, which played a central role in spreading fear and terror among Palestinians.

After this massacre, Jordan’s king came under pressure to act. But even then, he secretly met with Golda Meir again and offered full Jewish autonomy under his rule after he annexed historic Palestine, which she rejected. “He is going to this business [that is, war] not out of joy or confidence, but as a person who is in a trap and can't get out,” Golda Meir later stated.

Even when the Jordanian army entered Palestine, the King’s goal was only to fight in the Arab part of partitioned Palestine “while trying to avoid war with the Yishuv and refraining from attacking the territory of the UN-defined Jewish state”, according to Morris.

The Egyptians, who had the largest Arab army in the 1948 war, weren’t much different. The Egyptian prime minister was hesitant to go to war, and British agents intervened to convince the Egyptian king to send troops to Palestine.

King Farouk’s main motives were to prevent the Jordanian king from claiming leadership of the Arab struggle and potentially capture southern Palestine for Egypt, according to the Israeli historian Efraim Karsh.

The Egyptian troops he sent into Palestine were relatively symbolic, and their first communiqué from Cairo described their mission as “merely a punitive expedition against the Zionist ‘gangs’” as later recounted by the Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser.

Furthermore, the Lebanese army decided not to take part in the war at the very last minute because of Maronite objections after they reached a secret agreement with David Ben-Gurion who offered them financial bribes, according to the Israeli historian Yoav Gelber.

"[These narratives] provide justification for what Israel did to Palestinians as 'self-defence'; and it informs the understanding that Israel's very existence is always in danger"

Syria was primarily interested in capturing northern Palestine, while Iraq’s leaders were eager to bring the Fertile Crescent region under its leadership, according to Karsh. Iraqi troops that crossed into the northern West Bank quickly became “stationary” in the triangle of Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nablus after they unsuccessfully tried to attack the Israeli settlement of Gesher. Karsh argued the Iraqis were “notorious for their idleness before the truce”.

The Palestinian population objected to partitioning their homeland and losing 56% of it to a Jewish minority, most of whom arrived as immigrants from abroad. Palestinians argued that the UN partition plan violated the principle of self-determination, and Arab leaders rhetorically echoed this call. But opposing partition didn’t mean opposing all Jewish presence in Palestine.

Dr Wallach told The New Arab that “the official Palestinian position (in 1946-7) was that recent migrants (about a third of the Jews) would have to leave Palestine”. He argues that, nonetheless, this opposition to recent Jewish migrants fed into an “existential” fear amongst Israelis.

However, Prof. Gelber asserts that the Arab regimes’ goal “was not and could not be ‘pushing Jews into the sea’,” and argues that their “propagandist slogans” and rhetoric were aimed at "mobilizing domestic support for lame politicians".

RELATED

In-depth

Rami Almeghari

While Arabs wanting to “push Jews into the sea” has always been a questionable claim, in 1948 Palestinians were forced to evacuate by boats from Haifa after a Haganah (Zionist militia) officer ordered his troops to “kill any Arab you encounter; torch all inflammable objects, and force doors open with explosives”.

Further undermining Israel’s narrative is evidence of the limited number of troops the five Arab states sent into Palestine, which “evenly matched” the Israeli army at the start of the war. Israeli manpower grew further during the war until their numbers reached more than 90,000 combatants compared to only 68,000 Arab fighters.

Even had the Arab armies won the war, this wouldn’t have necessarily meant expelling the Jewish population.

In fact, the head of the Arab section in the Jewish Agency in 1948, Josh Palmon, reported that although Fawzi Qawuqji, the commander of the Arab Liberation Army, was interested in taking over large parts of Palestine, “he thought [Jews] could live very happily under him. And I'm sure some Jews would have done good business under him. [Some Jews] would be in key positions in his administration, in charge of finance, he would have allowed some to do well in trade. All, of course, under his rule”.

In terms of the ambitions of Jewish militias, however, there is strong evidence to support the opposite. Zionist leaders had intentions to forcefully depopulate large parts of Palestine of its inhabitants to create a Jewish state, even if there was no war.

As early as 1937, Ben-Gurion ordered the preparation of the ‘Avnir plan’ for the military conquest of all of Palestine in the event of British withdrawal. Palestinian historian Rashid Khalidi argues that this plan formed the blueprint for the creation of ‘Plan Dalet’ in March 1948, which aimed to expand the Jewish state’s borders beyond the UN Partition Plan and seize as much territory as possible and expel as many Palestinians as possible.

The premeditated aim of ethnically cleansing Palestinian villages was reflected in the words of the Haganah’s Chief of Operations, Yigal Allon, who said that "if it wasn’t for the Arab invasion there would have been no stop to [Israel's] expansion".

Even after Israel was founded, the Israeli military continued to invade and forcefully depopulate Palestinian villages for years.

For example, al-Majdal was depopulated in 1950 when Ben-Gurion ordered the Israeli army to put its inhabitants on trucks and deport them to Gaza.

Even the village of Huj, whose inhabitants once sheltered and protected Zionist Haganah militants from the British in 1946, was violently depopulated, looted, and destroyed by Israeli military two weeks after Israel’s founding.

The Israeli town of Sderot, which now overlooks the besieged Gaza Strip, was built in its place.

Ravenlocke

16th May 2023, 18:53

https://twitter.com/TheIntlMagz/status/1658055210823204864

1658055210823204864

https://twitter.com/TheIntlMagz/status/1658055357862920193

1658055357862920193

https://twitter.com/TheIntlMagz/status/1658055484392493056

1658055484392493056

https://twitter.com/TheIntlMagz/status/1658059945210974208

1658059945210974208

Ravenlocke

16th May 2023, 19:16

https://twitter.com/ClareDalyMEP/status/1658131096440127490

1658131096440127490

Ravenlocke

16th May 2023, 19:37

https://twitter.com/MiddleEastEye/status/1658468499659042818

1658468499659042818

https://www.middleeasteye.net/discover/nakba-palestine-remembering-what-was-lost?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Social_Traffic&utm_content=ap_csscorp552

The Nakba: Remembering what was lost in Palestine in 1948
The land that now makes up the state of Israel was once home to a thriving Palestinian economy and society, which produced crops like oranges and tobacco

The Nakba (the Catastrophe) dismantled Palestine and Palestinian society 75 years ago through the destruction of 500 villages, the forced exile of half of the Palestinian population, the loss of prominent Palestinian industries, and the eradication of important social and cultural traditions that united Palestinians. In commemoration of the Nakba and the atrocities that followed, the act of preserving Palestinian collective history serves as a reminder of the innovation, prestige and resilience that helped shape the region and made it thrive despite British colonialism. Honouring the legacies of this history, this photo essay examines some of what was lost in Palestine, starting with orange groves. Bir Salem, located in the Ramle subdistrict, was one of many Palestinian villages that produced the famous Jaffa orange, developed by Palestinian farmers in the mid-19th century. Citrus manufacture in historic Palestine was one of the leading industries, with the Jaffa orange dominating global markets, making it the main export by 1900. By the 1930s, the citrus industry consisted of 77 percent of the total value of exports from Palestine. The image above depict orange groves in Bir Salem and the top image shows agricultural workers sorting through oranges in Jaffa in 1907. (Library of Congress and Bibliotheque Nationale de France)

Throughout southern Palestine, orange groves decorated the countryside, with many Palestinian farming villages cultivating the crop. Yet this industry was demolished for Palestinians during the Nakba. Following the events of 1948, the fate of the Jaffa orange was placed at the centre of international dialogue. In 1949, during the Lausanne Conference, Palestinian refugees petitioned for the right to return to their orange orchards, and for the right to tend to their lands which had suffered without proper cultivation. Yet just a year later Israel would pass the 1950 Absentee Property Law, which allowed the state to confiscate all land and property belonging to Palestinian refugees. Many of the orange groves were destroyed, including the orange groves of Bir Salem. The village, once home to more than 400 Palestinian families and home to a vibrant orange grove, was turned into a kibbutz in June of 1948 and is now named Netzer Sereni. The image above depicts the Holocaust memorial statue in Netzer Sereni (Wikimedia/Avishai Teicher)

During the 1920s, Haifa was the administrative capital of Palestine and was a place where new industries began to flourish. One important area of manufacture was tobacco farming and production, which was taken up extensively by Palestinian farmers in the early years of the British mandate. One of the first and largest factories in Palestine was the Karaman, Dick & Salti Cigarette Company. (Industrial Palestine, 1925)

The company was founded by notable urban elites like Hajj Tahir Karaman, one of Palestine's most esteemed entrepreneurs and a key figure in the development of Palestinian national industries and urban development in Haifa. Palestinians were encouraged to support “watani” national industries, such as Karaman, Dick & Salti Cigarette Company, to promote and strengthen indigenous enterprises. Karaman was also a leading political figure in historic Palestine as the founder of the Palestine Arab Party and a member of the Haifa Chamber of Commerce, as well as a member of the National Committee which headed the general strike in Palestine during the Great Revolt. The photo above depicts Haifa in 1898. (Wikimedia)

The Karaman, Dick & Salti Cigarette Company was destroyed during the Nakba. The cigarette factory remains in Haifa as an abandoned rustic property, robbed of its historical might. The picture above shows women working in a cigarette factory in Nazareth in the late 1930s or early 1940s. (Israeli State Archive)

One of many historic towns in Palestine is Qisarya, an ancient fishing village once the capital of Palestine Primea and Syria Palaestina during the Byzantine and Roman eras, respectively. Qisarya, an Arabised version of the name Caesarea, served as a major intellectual hub of the Mediterranean. The ancient city has thousands of years of recorded history from the time of Herod I to the Mamluk conquest in 1265. The photo above depicts Qisarya in 1938. (Library of Congress)

In more recent history, Qisarya became a village of immigrants from all over the Muslim world during the rule of the Ottoman Empire. In 1880, following the Austria-Hungary occupation of Bosnia, Caesarea was allotted to Bosniak Muslims fleeing persecution. The Bosniak community reestablished the village amid the ancient ruins and lived there until 1947 when they were forced out by Zionist militias. The photo above depicts what remains of the Bosniak mosque there. (Wikimedia)

One of the greatest annual events to take place in Palestine was the Nabi Rubin festival, which took place in the historic village of Nabi Rubin in the Ramla subdistrict. Every year, between July and September, tens of thousands of Palestinians from the surrounding villages of Yaffa, Ramle and Lydd made their way to the shrine of the Prophet Jacob's son Rubin, and held a month-long festival in his honour. During this month-long festival, tents would surround the shrine and the nearby villages to accommodate the pilgrims. Various marketplaces, restaurants and coffee stands were also set up for the pilgrims during the celebration. There were a series of religious ceremonies put together by dervishes as well as non-religious activities like dancing, fortune telling and storytelling. The photo above depicts the Nabi Rubin festival at some point between 1920 and 1933. (Library of Congress)

In 1935, the first-ever film was showcased at the Nabi Rubin Festival. So important was this festival that urban city folk and peasants alike made their way there annually. It became one of Palestine's most prized religious and cultural events, and every year it brought united Palestinians in celebration. The picture above depicts the festival in 1930. (Library of Congress)

The last Nabi Rubin Festival took place in 1946. In 1948, the village of Nabi Rubin and its surrounding lands were captured by Haganah forces and were confiscated, marking an end to the festival and this sacred tradition that had connected Palestinians with one another for centuries. Today, the Israeli moshav (settlement) of Gan Soreq sits just West of the Nabi Rubin Shrine. The picture above depicts the Nabi Rubin shrine in 2021. (Wikimedia)

Please see article here for the photos in article

https://www.middleeasteye.net/discover/nakba-palestine-remembering-what-was-lost?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Social_Traffic&utm_content=ap_csscorp552

Ravenlocke

16th May 2023, 19:51

https://twitter.com/MiddleEastEye/status/1658493814942875649

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Ravenlocke

16th May 2023, 20:01

https://twitter.com/MiddleEastEye/status/1658457910907752452

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https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-palestine-gaza-dozens-families-homeless-air-strikes?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Social_Traffic&utm_content=ap_rvzsaym9t5

Gaza: Dozens of families left homeless by Israeli air strikes

Near the debris of their home in the northern Gaza Strip, the Nabhan extended family spent their first night of displacement sleeping on the ground, in the open, after an Israeli air strike flattened their four-storey building.

The 50 members of the family - all civilians, including five people with physical and mental health problems - lived in eight separate apartments.

The air strike was carried out on the last day of Israel’s five-day-attack on the Gaza Strip - in a campaign it launched on 9 May - before an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire took effect at 10pm local time on Saturday.

The attack left at least 33 Palestinians killed, including six children and three women.

“My home is adjacent to my family’s home. I decided to stay with them when the attack started because I thought it was safer than mine,” Um Mohammed, the eldest sister in the family, told Middle East Eye.

Unpacked

“We suddenly saw my brother running towards us and shouting ‘get out of the house it will be targeted’, we told him ‘you are talking about our home, that’s our only shelter, where will be go?’".

"He said ‘we only have five minutes, get out now'.”

'You have five minutes, get out now'

According to eyewitnesses, an Israeli intelligence officer called one of the family’s neighbours on Saturday evening, and asked him to inform the family that the house would be targeted.

“He [the neighbour] told him [the officer] that the building housed people with disabilities, and that it would be impossible to get them out of the house in only five minutes. The officer said that it was not his business and that they would target the house anyway,” Um Mohammed said.

Um Mohammed, whose home was also damaged in the strike, said that the family would stay displaced until a solution is found, because none of their relatives' houses could contain their large number.

“We are 50 individuals. People would welcome us for one or two days, but no one would have the capacity to keep us any longer.”

On the ground near Um Mohammed sat her younger sister, Ayat, who suffers from both physical disabilities and mental health problems.

When asked about her age, the 23-year-old woman told MEE that she was “three years old”. However, she was well aware of what happened last night.

“Suddenly the house was destroyed. We forgot the medicine inside. We forgot the wheelchairs inside. We were afraid, we stayed on the street and we slept here,” she said.

“We want [another] house that has medicine and wheelchairs inside.”

During the five days of the attack, Israel completely destroyed at least 93 housing units, and rendered 128 others uninhabitable. Another 1,820 housing units were damaged, according to the Gaza Ministry of Public Works and Housing.

Twice-displaced

In another neighbourhood, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, Samir Taha has already built a tent beside his destroyed home.

On Friday, two Israeli F16s flattened the building's seven apartments and penetrated the ground.

Taha, whose previous home was also destroyed by an Israeli air strike in 2014, waited two years before the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM) helped him and his married children build this home.

On the ruins of his new home, Taha now stood tearful.

“During the 2014 offensive on Gaza, they bombed another house belonging to us. We remained displaced for two years before the Reconstruction [Mechanism] could build us a home,” the 62-year-old man told MEE.

“I built a tent near my home and stayed in it for two years, I refused to take shelter in schools or to rent a house following the attack,” he continued.

“This time, I will do the same.

“It wasn’t enough that they destroyed the building, but [the missiles] also penetrated the ground. This reflects the terror [they want to inflict].”

Samir Taha's home was destroyed by Israeli air strikes for the second time in nine years (Muhammed Hajjar/MEE)
The home of Taha's nephews, next to his house, was also targeted by air strikes.

According to his nephew Mohammed Taha, the two buildings housed at least 42 people.

“I grew up in this house, I lived here since I was seven years old, and I got married in the [same] house,” the 33-year-old man said.

"We left the house barefoot, we did not have any time to take our belongings with us, not even our money. We are three brothers [living here], each family consists of seven individuals.”

Mohammed Taha said he would build a tent near his home and stay there with his family until their home is rebuilt.

“This tent would neither protect us from the cold nor the heat [of summer], not even from stray dogs, but what else can we do?,” he added.

Less than 24 hours after the Taha family homes were targeted, another one belonging to the Hasanat family was hit.

Inflicting terror

Before the air strike was carried out, the homeowner Faraj Hasanat was in the adjacent graveyard.

“An Israeli intelligence officer called me and asked me to go back home. He told me ‘I can see that you are in the graveyard.’ I asked him why he wanted me to return home, he told me ‘I want to bomb your house,” Hasanat, 38, told MEE.

“I told him, ‘Why would you bomb my house? I am a normal citizen working in farmlands, I have no connections with any factions.’ He said ‘go back to your house and get your family out of it’.”

The intelligence officer then asked Hasanat to warn his neighbours because he wanted “to bomb an entire square”.

“I told him, ‘You said you would bomb my home, what do you now mean you want to bomb an entire square?' He answered, ‘OK then I want to bomb your house, your brother’s house, and your [other] brother’s house,” he said.

“I raised my hands, saying ‘God is sufficient for us’, he told me ‘do not raise your hands’.

“I looked up [towards] the sky and I saw a drone, I told him, ‘You are recording me’, he said ‘yes, I can see you’.”

A few minutes later, the houses of Hasanat and his brothers turned into piles of rubble.

“The thing is not about my house only, many of the neighbours’ homes have now become uninhabitable. We've all became displaced.”

Prior to Israel’s most recent military attack on Gaza, more than 90,000 housing units were partially or completely destroyed in Israeli offensives since 2008.

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https://twitter.com/MiddleEastEye/status/1658487471557025792

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Ravenlocke

16th May 2023, 20:06

https://twitter.com/MiddleEastEye/status/1658381779986776064

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Ravenlocke

16th May 2023, 20:32

https://twitter.com/mazzenilsson/status/1658569477389275137

1658569477389275137

https://thecradle.co/article-view/24879

EXCLUSIVE: US and Syria holding secret talks in Oman

A senior diplomatic official in the Arab League has revealed exclusively to The Cradle that secret, direct negotiations are currently taking place between the US and Syrian governments.

The diplomat, who revealed the information under the condition of anonymity, said that “the talks took place in the Omani capital Muscat, ‘the city of secret negotiations’ between Washington and several nations in West Asia.” He also pointed out that the “meetings included security figures from both countries and representatives of foreign Ministries.”

During the talks, Syrian officials mainly pressed for the complete withdrawal of US occupation troops from the country. According to field sources that spoke with The Cradle, around 2,000 American military personnel are present at any given time in Syrian territory across 22 US bases – a figure higher than the Pentagon’s official count of 900 troops.

During the Muscat talks, the source stressed that “the American envoy repeatedly confirmed that he has information that Austin Tice is alive and in a Syrian army detention center. However, the Syrian delegation insisted that it had no information about Tice, with Damascus expressing its readiness to make all possible efforts to reveal his fate.”

The freelance journalist and former US Marine Corps officer was kidnapped in 2012 by armed groups in a suburb of Damascus.

Earlier this month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed that Washington has been “engaged with Syria, engaged with third countries” to find Tice.

According to The Cradle’s sources, the White House is convinced that Damascus knows of Tice’s whereabouts. However, the Syrian delegation in Muscat did not confirm any information on this matter.

According to sources, Washington and Damascus began secret communications during the administration of former US president Donald Trump. However, these fell by the wayside once Trump stated his intention to “kill” Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in September 2020.

The diplomat added that “secret talks took place in previous years between Damascus and Washington, but most of them were through mediators, such as the former director general of the Lebanese General Security, Abbas Ibrahim. Direct meetings also took place between the two countries, one of which was in the Syrian capital, Damascus.” However, the number of direct meetings remained limited.

Before the communication breakdown, US officials reportedly expressed their intention to eventually withdraw military forces from Syria in offers that were never realized.

According to The Cradle‘s source, the one topic that US officials did not address during the secret talks was the fate of US-backed Kurdish militias, such as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). He affirmed that “The Syrian-American talks did not mention the Kurdish militias supported by the American occupation forces in northeastern Syria.” He added, “the discussion did not address any political or military issues, with the exception of Syria’s demand for the withdrawal of the occupying forces from Syrian territory.”

The bombshell revelation of these US-Syrian backdoor dealings comes just days after the White House blasted Arab nations for restoring ties with Syria. US authorities were particularly incensed after the Arab League welcomed Damascus back into the organization last week.

“We do not believe Syria merits readmission into the Arab League at this time,” a US State Department spokesperson said on 7 May, highlighting that the White House informed its Arab allies that “we will not normalize with the Assad regime and that our sanctions remain in full effect.”

“The decision to readmit Syria to the Arab League represents a rejection of US interests in the region and shows that [Arab] countries are forging policies independent of western concerns,” the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) said after the Arab League voted to reinstate Syria.

“The Arab rush to welcome Damascus back into the fold happened despite public objections from the United States … [US] efforts at easing Mr. Assad out and replacing him with an inclusive, democratic government have gone nowhere, leaving American officials on the sidelines,” the New York Times (NYT) lamented.

Over the past year, the US has seen itself increasingly marginalized in West Asia due to decades of military interventions and economic coercion. Former allies like Saudi Arabia and the UAE have led the charge, forging close trade and security ties with Russia, China, and Iran.

China, in particular, has filled the vacuum left by the US by brokering a historic detente between Tehran and Riyadh, which paved the way for ongoing peace talks in Yemen and ending Syria’s regional isolation.

Russia has also been flexing its diplomatic muscles to resolve the Syrian crisis by hosting several high-level meetings involving Syrian and Turkish officials that seek to end Ankara’s occupation of northern Syria.

Ravenlocke

16th May 2023, 20:58

https://twitter.com/MiddleEastEye/status/1658566664835813383

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https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-elections-earthquake-victims-blamed-social-media?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Social_Traffic&utm_content=ap_mnglxwyjb5

Turkey elections: Earthquake victims blamed on social media

The term “depremzede”, meaning earthquake victim, became a trending topic on Turkish social media following the announcement of the election results, which saw the opposition underperforming compared to predictions in opinion polls.

Opposition supporters had anticipated a change in the voting preferences of the earthquake-affected region after widespread criticism of the government's handling of the disaster in February, which left over 50,000 dead and millions of people homeless.

This disappointment quickly transformed into anger.

A TikTok influencer said in a video that “we will not do anything for you as of now. First, we’ll ask who you voted for.”

She was arrested later with the accusation of insult.

In another video, a man was seen swearing to the quake-hit victims, asking how it was possible to vote for Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the wake of the disaster.

On Eksi Sozluk, a popular discussion website, dozens of entries targeted earthquake victims on the grounds that their support for Erdogan was the reason for the devastation of their cities.

One of Ankara Mayor's Mansur Yavas’s tweets that showed his municipality continuing aid to quake-hit Kahramanmaras received thousands of replies, most of which were insulting against victims of the disaster.

In some social media posts, the quake victims responded to others, saying that those insults were motivating more people to vote for Erdogan in the runoff elections that are set to be held on 28 May.

Erdogan victory

This frustration mainly stemmed from Erdogan's resounding victory in all earthquake-affected cities, with the exception of Hatay, where Kilicdaroglu was only ahead by 368 votes.

In Adiyaman, a city that suffered significant devastation in the twin earthquakes, Erdogan received 66 percent of the votes, while Kilicdaroglu garnered around 31 percent. Additionally, Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) secured four parliamentary seats from Adiyaman, compared to the CHP's solitary seat.

Similarly, in Kahramanmaras, 71 percent of voters chose Erdogan, while Kilicdaroglu struggled to surpass 22 percent. The Erdogan-led People's Alliance obtained over 70 percent, whereas the Nation Alliance received approximately 23 percent.

The only exception was Hatay, where Kilicdaroglu narrowly secured 48.07 percent of the votes, while Erdogan obtained 48.03 percent. However, in the parliamentary elections, the People's Alliance held the lead with 48 percent, while the Nation Alliance remained at 36 percent.

In fact, Erdogan and his alliance achieved similar voting percentages to the 2018 presidential and parliamentary elections, with only slight drops.

For example, in Kahramanmaras, he experienced a three percent decrease from his previous 74 percent vote share in the presidential elections.

The turnout was expectedly lower than previous years, with some suggesting more than three million people had left their homes during the disaster.

Yet, it remains unknown how many of them re-registered themselves to vote in their new areas and how many went back to their cities to vote.

The turnout in the quake region was around 80 percent, while the turnout across the country was nearly 90 percent.

Indeed, these results were not surprising for observers. An MEE report from the quake region in early May indicated that a huge shift in voting behaviour was unlikely.

Ravenlocke

17th May 2023, 12:42

https://twitter.com/johnpilger/status/1658623887125647361

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https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/aukus-powers-are-militarising-papua-new-guinea-in-preparation-for-war-with-china/

AUKUS Powers Are Militarising Papua New Guinea in Preparation for War with China

Journalist John Pilger’s 2017 documentary The Coming War With China warned that the US had established a “perfect noose” of 400-odd military bases surrounding China, while former Australian PM Paul Keating recently asserted that the AUKUS deal makes us part of this “containment policy”.

Indeed, the AUKUS, local US force posture initiatives and increasing interoperability between US and Australian forces have heightened the premise that this relationship has relegated our nation to the status of a vassal state: independent domestically but ever-compliant with US foreign policy.

However, the increasing deployment of US troops and arsenal to Australian shores doesn’t complete Washington’s agenda, as there is an island nation to the north of this one, that being Papua New Guinea, which the White House is interested in incorporating into its ring around Beijing’s neck.

This process involves AUKUS power Australia acting in a similar manner to that of the US in regard to us, when it comes to accessing and periodically obtaining control over certain Australian military facilities, as Canberra is taking a similar path at PNG’s Lombrum Naval Base in Manus province.

And while most Australians are aware that Joe Biden is coming to our country next week as part of the China-focused Quad alliance leaders meeting, many are unaware that the US president will also be paying a visit to our northern neighbour on his way, seeking to establish defence agreements.

Of strategic importance

In USA, Australia Militarizing PNG, a paper released last month, journalist and ex-PNG foreign affairs officer Dominic Navue Sengi describes the AUKUS pact as “a case of vassals”, specifically our country and the United Kingdom, “lining up together under US leadership”.

Sengi outlines that he’d predicted in 2006 that PNG would be of increasing importance to the western alliance, when it began targeting China in the South China Sea, as PNG sits squarely in “an island chain”, commencing in Tokyo to Saipan and onto Guam: “the US’ so-called ‘big spearhead’ looking into China”.

The PNG journalist is also clear about the reason why the US-led AUKUS has China in its sights, which is not, as Australian authorities and media have asserted, due to Beijing posing any military threat to Washington or Canberra, but rather it’s that it’s likely soon to surpass US hegemonic economic power.

That the “USA and Australia have inserted militarily in PNG territorial jurisdiction” is obvious to many, writes Sengi, adding that the main development that sees AUKUS powers threatening PNG’s sovereignty and independence is via their involvement in the Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island.

Yet, what Sengi describes as the AUKUS powers making forays into his nation’s jurisdiction involves a scenario whereby it’s Australia that’s asserting control over the PNG coastal military base, in a not dissimilar way to how the US has the ability to assert ultimate command over certain facilities here.

Increasing interoperability with PNG

The Obama administration shifted US military focus to the Indo Pacific region with its 2011 Pivot to Asia. And the following year saw the Gillard government agree to increasing US military presence in the north of Australia, which was officially established under the 2014 Force Posture Agreement.

This arrangement permits US forces to access dozens of local bases and take control of them during any upgrades it decides to do. And it further provides for the presence of 2,500 US marines in Australia, as well as increasing interoperability between air forces, and with the AUKUS, it also extends to navies.

In a similar manner, Australia now has access to PNG’s naval base on Manus Island. This was established via the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding for the Joint Initiative at Lombrum Naval Base, which aims to redevelop it and increase interoperability between both nations’ defence forces.

“The joint initiative will enhance PNG Defence Force capability to protect its borders and maritime resources through a broad program of mentoring, tailored training, infrastructure development and shared facilities at the PNG defence force base,” said then Australian defence minister Christopher Pyne.

Sengi suggests that secretive MoU implementation arrangements permit aspects of the multimillion-dollar redevelopment to remain hidden even to PNG cabinet ministers, with the obvious question triggered being whether Australia and the US are planning Lombrum to be an AUKUS submarine base.

A key feature of AUKUS is that Australia initially allows the US and UK to establish a joint rotational nuclear-powered submarine force here by 2027, which is prior to our nation then acquiring its own eight nuclear-powered attack-class subs, with all of this being in aid of mounting tensions with China.

Of increasing importance

The rest of the article is her,
https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/aukus-powers-are-militarising-papua-new-guinea-in-preparation-for-war-with-china/

Ravenlocke

18th May 2023, 19:19

https://twitter.com/Syria_Protector/status/1659241976468733962

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Ravenlocke

18th May 2023, 19:26

https://twitter.com/HadiNasrallah/status/1659253622981500951

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https://twitter.com/HadiNasrallah/status/1659276086985781265

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Ravenlocke

19th May 2023, 20:42

Text:

OTD in 2018, while the Syrian Army was pushing ISIS out of the Yarmouk camp in Damascus, the terror group captured one of the Syrian officers (Shadi Issa) and murdered him in the most sadistic way.

A masked ISIS terrorist placed a detonator in a booby-trapped helmet that was worn by the captive officer, after tying it to a wooden plank from the bottom of his chin to his feet, then ISIS brought him to the roof of a building and dropped him upside down, so that it would fall to the ground on his head gets exploded.

https://twitter.com/KevorkAlmassian/status/1654772999793328128

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https://twitter.com/KevorkAlmassian/status/1659603823789326348

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Ravenlocke

19th May 2023, 20:50

https://twitter.com/TheCradleMedia/status/1659644591677612034

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https://thecradle.co/article-view/25049/us-kills-syrian-shepherd-claiming-he-was-al-qaeda-leader

US kills Syrian shepherd claiming he was Al-Qaeda leader

After US military officials claimed to kill an important Al-Qaeda figure in Syria in an airstrike earlier this month, evidence from the dead man’s family indicates he was instead an impoverished shepherd and father of 10 children, The Washington Post reported on 19 May.

According to interviews with his brother, son, and six others who knew him, the slain man was Lotfi Hassan Misto, 56, a former bricklayer who they described as a kind, hard-working man whose “whole life was spent poor.”

Misto was killed by a Predator Drone strike using a Hellfire missile on 3 May. Hours later, without evidence or providing a name of the person targeted, US Central Command claimed that they had killed a “senior Al Qaeda leader.”

The interviews with Misto’s family members have caused US officials to backtrack from their original claims.

“We are no longer confident we killed a senior AQ official,” one US official told The Washington Post. Another said that “though we believe the strike did not kill the original target, we believe the person to be al-Qaeda.” Both spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The Post notes further that, “In the weeks since the attack, US military officials have refused to identify publicly who their target was, how the apparent error occurred, whether a legitimate terrorist leader escaped and why some in the Pentagon maintain Misto was a member of al-Qaeda despite his family’s denials.”

In a statement, Michael Lawhorn, a spokesman for Central Command, said that “Centcom takes all such allegations seriously and is investigating to determine whether or not the action may have unintentionally resulted in harm to civilians.”

The US military has faced accusations it has covered up past instances of airstrikes that killed innocent people as a result of what The Post described as “flawed intelligence” and “confirmation bias,” including in the case of a 2021 strike in Afghanistan that officials claimed targeted a suicide bomber but instead killed 10 Afghan civilians, including seven children.

In perhaps the most famous case, the US military carried out an airstrike in Mosul in 2017 during the battle against ISIS that killed 240 civilians sheltering in a large home.

The US military has carried out airstrikes in Syria intermittently in recent years in areas controlled by Al-Qaeda affiliated groups, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, previously known as the Nusra Front.

This is despite the fact that US planners played a key role in helping the Nusra Front capture Syria’s northwest Idlib governate in 2015 by supplying TOW anti-tank missiles to Free Syrian Army (FSA) groups fighting as Nusra proxies.

Supplying the weapons was part of the CIA’s Timber Sycamore Program, which sought to arm and fund extremist Salafist armed groups fighting the Syrian government under the FSA banner.

US, British, Turkish, and Gulf efforts to effect regime change in Syria failed, however, and President Donald Trump ended the CIA program, which enjoyed a budget of over $1 billion per year, in 2017.

The extremist groups occupying Idlib have enjoyed continued Turkish support since that time, while Turkish troops have also occupied areas in northern Syria directly.

But the status of Turkish-backed and Al-Qaeda-linked extremist groups in Syria is now in doubt as Turkish President Recip Tayyip Erdogan has in recent months participated in Russian-backed talks to normalize relations with Damascus.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has demanded that Turkiye end its occupation of northern Syria and cease support for extremist groups as a condition of any normalization of ties with Ankara.

Ravenlocke

19th May 2023, 20:54

https://twitter.com/TheCradleMedia/status/1659577237853675523

1659577237853675523

https://thecradle.co/article-view/25039/israeli-violence-persists-in-occupied-jerusalem-one-day-after-flag-march

Israeli violence persists in occupied Jerusalem one day after ‘Flag March’

Several Palestinians have been injured by Israeli settlers who continued to provoke residents of occupied East Jerusalem on 19 May, one day after tens of thousands of settlers descended in the Old City for the Jewish supremacist flag march.

Clashes between the extremist settlers and Palestinian residents broke out following a mass prayer by Jewish worshippers to celebrate the so-called ‘Jerusalem Day,’ which marks the 1967 annexation of East Jerusalem, a move considered illegal under international law.

The clashes reportedly involved stone-throwing, pushing, and verbal attacks. Israelis also smashed the windshields of several Palestinian vehicles.

In response to the violence, Israeli police targeted the Palestinians with tear gas, stun grenades, and rubber-coated bullets.

Three Palestinians and five Israelis were arrested following the clashes.

A day earlier, hundreds of Jerusalemites were forced to shut down their businesses and retreat into their homes out of fear of being harassed or assaulted by settlers.

About 3,200 police imposed a tight siege on Jerusalem, forcibly removing Palestinian men and women from the street and detaining some.

Several cabinet ministers, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Transportation Minister Miri Regev, and the chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee in the Knesset, Yuli Edelstein, took part in the so-called flag march.

Under heavy police protection, the settlers assaulted and hurled insults at Palestinian citizens in the Old City, chanting “Death to Arabs” while throwing stones and waving sticks at press crews near the Damascus Gate of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Another popular chant was “Kahane was right,” a reference to the late ultranationalist Rabbi Meir Kahane, who inspired the Jewish gunman who killed 29 Palestinians in Hebron’s Ibrahimi Mosque massacre in 1994.

“We need an annual day to remind the Arabs that we control the [Old City’s Muslim Quarter] … If we marched some other route, they would grow to think that they rule over this area,” a settler declared over a loudspeaker as the march set off.

“We need to transfer out the Arabs,” another settler told reporters, “We should have flattened Gaza last week.”

https://twitter.com/MiddleEastEye/status/1659559543997595648

1659559543997595648

Ravenlocke

19th May 2023, 21:08

https://twitter.com/TheGrayzoneNews/status/1658587187112189955

1658587187112189955

https://thegrayzone.com/2023/05/16/syrians-survive-americas-economic-siege/

Immiserated, humiliated, yet resilient: how Syrians survive America’s economic siege

Syrian-American journalist Hekmat Aboukhater traveled across Homs, Lattakia, Tartous, and Aleppo this April, reporting for The Grayzone on the devastating impact of Western economic sanctions on average Syrians.

Throughout 2023, a series of anti-Syrian refugee bills, a failing economy, and anti-Syrian rhetoric have deepened the plight of the two million Syrian refugees living in Lebanon. Hate crimes against Syrians suspected of living in the country illegally have skyrocketed, while at least 130 refugees have been deported.

Weekly Israeli strikes have kept both the Aleppo and Damascus airports perpetually out of service, preventing much-needed aid shipments from entering the country. Syrians living abroad and hoping to return home must therefore face Lebanese customs once they land in the Middle East.

Any Syrian hoping to visit Syria for something as simple as a wedding or a funeral, as I did this April, is likely to be subjected to a hostile interaction by Lebanese customs officials. The officers usually demand to know why any Syrian is entering Lebanon, and how and when they will leave. Once out of the airport, the Syrian national is forced to take a $150 taxi ride into Syria.

The dignity and privilege afforded to Italians landing in Fiumicino airport for Easter holidays, and to Americans landing in Logan airport for Thanksgiving, is not afforded to a Syrian returning home for Eid al-Fitr. And once they are home, they must navigate life in an economy that has been intentionally suffocated by Western sanctions.

US sanctions obliterate average Syrians’ savings

The Syrian Pound has deteriorated so far in value that 1 dollar now exchanges to 8,700 SYP. While the exchange rate was 1 to 40 before the war, the country’s currency began its downward spiral following the authorization by US Congress of the so-called Caesar Act sanctions bill which came into effect in 2019. With the stroke of a presidential pen, the savings of millions of Syrians was decimated over the course of a few months.

Nowadays, the average Syrian who pays for everyday goods and services must carry absurdly inconvenient amounts of cash in the form of wads stuffed in satchels and fanny packs. If that Syrian wishes to pay for something more valuable—say, monthly rent—then they need black plastic bags worth of Syrian Liras and hundreds of rubber bands.

Payments pertaining to legal settlements and real estate purchases, on the other hand, can sometimes be paid through discrete means with dollars and Euros.

To help offset the impact of inflation on average Syrians, the government has established a smart card registry that offers subsidized rations of food items, cooking gas, and vehicle fuel among other items, on a bi-weekly rotation. The government has complemented this subsidy system by offering direct payments of 150,000 SYP or $19 to government employees, families of Syrian army veterans killed in action, and retirees.
Given that a November 2022 UN report found that 90% of the Syrian population is now “suffocating” below the poverty line, these government measures, while helpful, are simply unable to meet the overwhelming needs of an immiserated Syrian population.

US military occupation starves Syria of oil and wheat

One way the Syrian government could tackle rampant inflation is by making use of its natural resources, yet this simple solution faces a severe obstacle: the US military.

The US military currently maintains a presence of about 1,000 personnel strategically situated in the resource-rich eastern third of Syria. While on paper Deir Ezzor, Hasakah, and Al-Raqqah are under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), or the Kurdish YPG forces, they are in fact occupied in violation of international law by the US military.

For the last 5 years, US forces have been documented stealing thousands of oil tankers and wheat trucks from Syria and illegally crossing the border into Iraq and Turkey. The US then sells Syrian oil in order to fund its proxy forces and military operations throughout the region.

Before the eight-year-long dirty war waged on Syria by Western and Gulf states, which saw billions of dollars of weapons and gear placed in the hands of armed groups determined to wrest control of the government, Syria was an economically self-sufficient country. The northeastern regions of Hasakah and Deir Ezzor that were besieged by jihadist gangs like ISIS, then occupied by the US military, once comprised Syria’s bread basket. Following almost a decade of destabilization, Syria relies heavily on grain exported from Ukraine, now the site of the most serious European land war since World War Two. With global food supplies disrupted, Syrians suffer immensely from acute food shortages.

Due to fuel shortages, government-provided electricity is available for only a total of 4 hours a day in Homs, Lattakia, Damascus, Aleppo, and Tartous (usually 2 hours in the early morning and 2 hours in the evening). While large cities like Aleppo, Lattakia, and Damascus have employed massive neighborhood generators (or Ampere units) to keep the lights on, the overwhelming majority of the country plunges into darkness throughout much of the day.
During my visit to Aleppo in early May, I found myself in a taxi that suddenly ran out of fuel. The taxi driver had already used his allotted ration of fuel afforded to him through the smart card, and was forced to beg a fellow driver to siphon off a liter of fuel in a plastic bottle so he could complete my ride.

While the Syrian people have been systematically starved of electricity and their own natural resources, they feel further humiliated when they see convoys of fuel tankers with Deir Ezzor license plates on their way to the fuel refinery in Baniyas in the coastal governorate of Tartus. These tankers are carrying Syrian oil that represents their national patrimony, but which is being extracted and sold back to Syria by US-backed forces in Deir Ezzor.

“These oil tankers travel hundreds of miles from the oil wells of Deir Ezzor to the refinery in Baniyas only to turn around and deliver to the Syrian governorates… What a shame,” stated Bassam, a family friend and driver, as we traveled from Homs to Tartus.

Nusra, and rebel groups during the Western and Gulf-backed dirty war of 2012 and 2019. Yet the loss that grieved him most happened more recently: He lost a close comrade in one of the hundreds of Israeli strikes that rained down on the nation in 2022.

Now, the men who survived the war to rid their country of ISIS and Al Nusra are dying at the hands of Israeli pilots flying American jets. “We didn’t only save and protect Syria in this war… We also saved those living in America and Europe by making sure that the jihadists died here. And this is how they repay us,” the dejected veteran remarked to me.

Over the course of the past decade, the West and its Gulf allies transformed Syria into a funnel for the worst of humanity. Yet the Syrian Army cleared that funnel of death for the French who supported the so-called moderate rebels, for the English who sponsored intelligence operations in Syria, and for the Americans who joined the fight on the side of ISIS and Jabhat Al-Nusra.

Online education blocked by US sanctions

Peter Jabbour is a 19-year-old Syrian student who wakes up at 4:30 AM because the lights in his room have just come on. He enjoys about two hours of government-provided electricity, rushes out of bed to charge his electronic devices and finish homework on his computer. He then tries to log onto his Coursera account to complete a programming course but is blocked. He attempts a similar course on Udemy, but is also blocked. He realizes that his VPN is no longer working. His IP address reads: Syria. The might of the US sanctions regime has come crashing down on this young student in his room.

In the eyes of Washington, Peter is not worthy of being a digital student like his peers around the world simply because Peter is Syrian and is living in Aleppo, a territory controlled by the Syrian government.

Medical Examiners assessment, but was blocked by the software because she was located inside Syria. Why is a medical exam included in the list of sanctions against a country? This is one question among many for which Syrians will never find answers from their besiegers.

Syrian civil society attempts to bounce back

As Syrian civil society struggles to recover from the dirty war and innovates on a daily basis to survive, cultural institutions have seen a noticeable resurgence as citizens begin to frequent concerts and performances once again.

While in Aleppo, I had the opportunity to attend two concerts in the historic Citadel of Aleppo and a performance in the Maronite Cathedral of Saint Elijah. The number of attendees was impressive and the sense of engagement during the shows was palpable.

It was a clear sign of the resilience that has been on display for the world to see since the start of the war in 2011, and the start of the economic war in 2019. The people of Syria seem to have understood that their country is a cog in a game played by mighty nations. And they clearly recognize that this game is only won with a far-sighted perspective.

Considering the recent Chinese-brokered peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the launch of Russian-brokered Syrian-Turkish talks, and the readmittance of Syria into the Arab League, Syrians are beginning to see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

Throughout the four governorates I visited, and throughout all the conversations I had with fellow Syrians, a word I constantly heard was “هانت,” or “hanet.” It is an Arabic expression that roughly translates to “our suffering is almost over.”

Ravenlocke

20th May 2023, 20:32

https://twitter.com/BenjaminNorton/status/1659786749717913600

1659786749717913600

Ravenlocke

20th May 2023, 21:40

Text:

Netanyahu: Attacks on Syria will continue.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told several countries in a message that Syria's return to the Arab League would not prevent the regime from attacking Syria.

In this regard, the Yediot Ahronot newspaper, citing a high-ranking Israeli official, writes that Netanyahu stressed in this message that the improvement in the position of Syria among the Arab countries does not affect Israel's actions in Syria.

https://twitter.com/Spriter99880/status/1660033468053504003

1660033468053504003

Ravenlocke

21st May 2023, 14:28

https://twitter.com/Sinnaig/status/1660201454290845698

1660201454290845698

Ravenlocke

21st May 2023, 17:58

https://twitter.com/mazzenilsson/status/1660312742778097670

1660312742778097670

Hamish

22nd May 2023, 17:33

Hello,

China: Blocking tiktok are we, claim our technology has backdoors, ok...

Source: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/05/china-bans-microns-products-from-key-infrastructure-over-security-risk/

China bans Micron’s products from key infrastructure, citing security risk
US Commerce Department strongly opposes the action, saying it has "no basis in fact."

China said US chipmaker Micron Technology’s products posed “serious network security risks” as it banned operators of key infrastructure from buying them, in its first big measure against an American semiconductor group.

The Cyberspace Administration of China on Sunday announced that the company, which is the biggest US maker of memory chips, “posed significant security risks to China’s critical information infrastructure supply chain.” As a result, it ordered “critical national infrastructure operators” to stop purchasing products from Idaho-based Micron.

The move follows a seven-week investigation into Micron by the CAC, a probe that was widely seen as retaliation for US efforts to curb China’s access to critical technology. Last October, Washington introduced expansive chip export controls, and the Netherlands and Japan have since followed.

Ravenlocke

24th May 2023, 13:25

Text:
Former UK ambassador to Damascus, Peter Ford:

🗣️ They still don’t get it in Washington. They think it’s a temporary Saudi tantrum and still talk of bringing Saudi Arabia into the Abraham Accords with Israel. This is about as likely as the cow jumping over the moon. It’s cataclysmic, guys. You have lost your linchpin in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is off the reservation and starting to whoop it up with Russia and China and other leading lights of the big new act, the Global South.

🗣️ Losing Syria could be shrugged off. But losing Saudi is disastrous, as will become more and more clear in the coming weeks and months.

https://twitter.com/KevorkAlmassian/status/1661001889884823552

1661001889884823552

https://twitter.com/KevorkAlmassian/status/1661011138765783043

1661011138765783043

Article here,

https://21stcenturywire.com/2023/05/19/never-mind-who-lost-syria-who-the-hell-lost-saudi-arabia/

Ravenlocke

24th May 2023, 16:14

Text:
Nyryshkin: According to our data, the agreement reached in March with the active mediation of China on the resumption of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran has caused an extremely painful reaction in the United States and Britain. They see the positive processes in this region as a failure of their longstanding policy of strangling Tehran and a direct threat to their strategic positions.
The specialized Anglo-Saxon structures have the task to undermine the dialogue and discredit the mediation role of Beijing. Traces of this work are already well visible in the global information space. However, I am sure that in the new geopolitical realities the seeds of discord will not sprout. The normalization of Saudi-Iranian relations is an important step not only toward defusing tensions around the Islamic republic, but also toward strengthening peace and security in the Middle East as a whole.

https://twitter.com/djuric_zlatko/status/1661377757790568448

1661377757790568448

Ravenlocke

24th May 2023, 16:43

https://twitter.com/onlydjole/status/1661397220590075906

1661397220590075906

https://twitter.com/onlydjole/status/1661397836527697920

1661397836527697920

https://twitter.com/onlydjole/status/1661398278544433154

1661398278544433154

https://twitter.com/onlydjole/status/1661398909149761537

1661398909149761537

Bill Ryan

25th May 2023, 16:28

An interesting development posted on The Moon of Alabama that I'd been unaware of. It's not that long, and may be important, so I'll copy the whole thing.

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2023/05/why-are-these-top-biden-officials-stepping-down.html#more

Why Are These Biden Officials Leaving Their Top Posts?

Recently several administration official who were working on China and Ukraine policies announced to step back or retire (https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3221733/us-state-departments-top-china-official-rick-waters-stepping-down). The people in question were not neo-conservative China hawks like Secretary of State Anthony Blinken or National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. The unexpected loss of top sane hands has me concerned that there is some big move in planning that will damage U.S. relations with China and Russia even more than they already are:
The head of a new US State Department unit tasked to coordinate efforts aimed at countering Beijing plans to step down next month, the department’s second high-ranking official with a China portfolio to announce a departure in less than two weeks. Rick Waters, head of the State Department’s recently created Office of China Coordination, and known informally as its “China House”, will leave the position just six months after it was established to manage what Secretary of State Antony Blinken called “the scale and the scope of the challenge” posed by the country.
The career State Department official will “rotate out” of the unit and the Office of Taiwan Coordination on June 23 “as part of the Department’s normal summer transition process,” according to a State Department spokesman.
There was no reason given why Waters was moved aside. This comes shortly after an even more important figure suddenly decided to retire:
The announcement about Waters followed news of US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman’s retirement earlier this month. Sherman, the highest-ranking State Department official from the Biden administration to have travelled to China, has been an instrumental member of US President Joe Biden’s efforts to build an Indo-Pacific strategy that offers an alternative to China’s economic influence and expanding military presence there.
Sherman was a hard nosed negotiator but had a realist view on issues (https://iranprimer.usip.org/blog/2021/jan/26/wendy-sherman-iran):
Before she was appointed Deputy Secretary of State, Wendy Sherman had pushed for a swift return to the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). She urged the Biden administration to immediately begin consultations with Europe, Russia and China on preserving the JCPOA after taking office. “It's important for the U.S. to start its consultations as quickly as a new administration can,” Sherman said at Johns Hopkins University on November 19, 2020.Another important figure will soon leave from a top Pentagon role (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/colin-kahl-leaves-pentagon-summer-rcna84829):
The Defense Department’s top policymaker plans to resign, according to three U.S. officials familiar with the decision. Colin Kahl, who has been undersecretary of defense for policy since April 28, 2021, is likely to leave in the summer, the officials said.
The officials, who asked not to be named, said Kahl plans to return to the private sector, most likely to Stanford University, where he was a professor and fellow before he joined the Biden administration.
...
Before his time at Stanford, Kahl was national security adviser to then-Vice President Joe Biden from October 2014 until January 2017. During the Obama administration, he was also a policy official at the Pentagon.
...
Two years ago Kahl faced a tough confirmation battle to become the No. 3 civilian at the Pentagon, in part because of his critical comments about Republicans on social media when he worked in the private sector. Republicans also criticized his involvement in the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran known as the JCPOA and his other policy views about the Middle East.
Kahl was also known for opposing escalation of the U.S. proxy war (https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/17/pentagon-official-colin-kahl-resigns-00097368) with Russia:
Kahl has also been one of the administration’s top officials making the case against sending U.S.-made F-16 jets to Ukraine, which has been a point of contention between the Biden administration and lawmakers, both Democrats and Republicans. Despite a plea from Kyiv for more advanced jets, Kahl has argued sending F-16s would take years and cost billions of dollars, while noting fighters aren’t Ukraine’s most immediate need.
China hawks had rallied against Kahl's position on China (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/when-it-comes-to-china-is-the-pentagon-s-colin-kahl-living-on-another-planet/ar-AA17iLse):
In an interview with (https://www.defensenews.com/video/2023/02/06/dod-policy-official-talks-taiwan-threat-from-china/) Defense News this week, Kahl offered extraordinary overconfidence that China will not attempt an invasion of Taiwan within the next two years and likely far further into the future. This bears note because U.S. military and intelligence officials increasingly do believe that Xi is likely to order an invasion before this decade is out, possibly before 2027. Their assessment is vested in intelligence reporting and comprehensive political and military analysis.
Kahl, however, is unconcerned.Kahl announced his departure from the Pentagon shortly before Biden elevated a China hawk to the top position of the U.S. military (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/biden-tapping-gen-charles-brown-for-chairman-of-the-joint-chiefs/ar-AA1bEscX):
President Biden is nominating Gen. Charles "C.Q." Brown Jr. to serve as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the president is expected to announce Thursday in a White House Rose Garden ceremony. Brown is currently the Air Force chief of staff.
The position is the nation's highest-ranking military officer, and the chairman is the primary military adviser to the president, as well as to the defense secretary and National Security Council.
Gen. Brown had previously commanded the U.S. Air Force in the Pacific region. He is known for seeing China as the top U.S. enemy (https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-leaders-we-are-out-of-time-china-has-caught-up/):
Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. in his keynote address said China’s People’s Liberation Army has the largest aviation forces in the Indo-Pacific and the largest conventional missile capability in the world, and is actively fielding hypersonic missiles. China also is establishing bases around the globe, often in places where the U.S. already has a presence. China has said its armed forces will be fully modernized by 2035 and “world class by 2050,” said Brown, who noted that “China continues to move its modernization timelines left at a rate of change that is outpacing the United States.”
“The day after the last C-17 left Kabul, I was in the Indo-Pacific where a graver threat is manifesting, where the risk and stakes are high,” Brown said. “We must move with a sense of urgency today in order to rise to the challenges of tomorrow, because the return to strategic competition is one of our nation’s greatest challenges. Strategic competition may not be as stark or obvious as a 9/11-like event, but it can be just as catastrophic. We cannot wait for a catastrophic crisis, whether it be sudden or insidious, to drive change for the Air Force and the Joint Force. If we do, it will be too late.”
I think that all these moves are somewhat related. Wendy Sherman and Colin Kahl have known each other throughout their careers. Both of them cooperate with each other while serving in several Democratic administrations. It is hard to believe that did not talk to each other about stepping down.

But still I find none of the usual background pieces in foreign policy media that connects these moves or would explain the issues involved. Can they find no one who wants to talk about this?

Or is it just me seeing things that ain't there because I fear that the Biden administration is preparing for even more escalatory policies?

Ewan

25th May 2023, 18:52

No idea what I am about to do here but following a rare visit to Twitter I stumbled upon the following, - if you can make sense of what Twitter presented me with a code for embedding a tweet.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Western hypocrisy faces inconvenient facts.....<br>💪💪💪 <a href="https://t.co/riVH6C17YP">pic.twitter.com/riVH6C17YP</a></p>— Richard (@ricwe123) <a href="https://twitter.com/ricwe123/status/1661648371256262656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

:ROFL::ROFL:

I'm an idiot, someone will fix, hopefully..

Ravenlocke

25th May 2023, 19:05

Ravenlocke

25th May 2023, 19:19

https://twitter.com/ricwe123/status/1661809183233114128

1661809183233114128

Ewan

25th May 2023, 20:03

Ravenlocke

25th May 2023, 20:38

Ravenlocke

27th May 2023, 18:11

Text:
For the first time in a long time, Russian aircraft carried out airstrikes against the terrorist organization Tahrir al-Sham in the countryside of Idlib. Numerous arsenals and bunkers of militants were destroyed.

This is apparently the result of recently intensified negotiations with Turkey, Syria, Iran and Russia.

https://twitter.com/dana916/status/1662456479910096897

1662456479910096897

infantmilitario

Ravenlocke

27th May 2023, 18:25

https://twitter.com/mazzenilsson/status/1662453394567487488

1662453394567487488

https://asiatimes.com/2023/05/china-seizing-us-arms-markets-in-the-middle-east/

China seizing US arms markets in the Middle East
China using weapon sales to make linkages, develop networks and consolidate wider strategic interests in the oil-rich region

China is poised to break into the Middle Eastern arms market through big deals with Saudi Arabia and Egypt, both of which have traditionally relied on the US for their big-ticket purchases.

South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported this month that Saudi Arabia Military Industries (SAMI) is in talks with China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco) about acquiring China-made Sky Saker FX80 and CR500 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones, Cruise Dragon 5 and 10 loitering munitions and the HQ-17AE short-range air defense (SHORAD) system.

The Egyptian Air Force is also reportedly poised to acquire China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG) J-10C multirole fighter, with the two sides set to meet during this year’s Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition in Malaysia.

SCMP says Egypt plans to acquire 12 J-10Cs, which feature advanced electronic warfare systems and active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.

The 2022 Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Trends in International Arms Transfers Report notes that, from 2018-2022, Saudi Arabia was the world’s second-largest arms importer, accounting for 9.8% of global arms imports over that period, with the US supplying 78% of Saudi Arabia purchases.

The same report notes that Egypt was the world’s sixth-largest arms buyer during the period, accounting for 4.5% of global arms imports, with 34% of its imports coming from Russia.

In a 2018 SIPRI article, Pieter Wezeman notes that Saudi Arabia aims to diversify its arms suppliers to widen and deepen its international political network to minimize the effects of Western arms sales restrictions.

Such restrictions have stemmed from Saudi Arabia’s widely-criticized military intervention in Yemen, the 2018 brutal murder of political dissident and journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and last year’s OPEC+ oil price dispute with the US.

Asia Times noted in February 2022 that Saudi Arabia’s push to find arms suppliers apart from the US might have been driven by the latter’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, foreign policy mistakes in Iraq and Syria, a fickle-minded approach to Ira, and shift of strategic attention from the Middle East to the Pacific.

Saudi Arabia’s arms purchases from the US have also been criticized for being politically motivated, overpriced and out of step with the kingdom’s underlying strategic needs.

According to the 2022 SIPRI report, Egypt is the world’s sixth-largest arms importer, accounting for 4.5% of global arms imports from 2018-2022, with Russia supplying 34% of its purchases.

Russia has not always been Egypt’s preferred arms provider. Bradley Bowman and other writers note in a May 2021 Defense News article that before the 2013 Egypt coup, wherein then-defense minister Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi deposed the then-incumbent president Mohammed Morsi, the US accounted for 47% of Egyptian arms imports.

However, after the 2013 coup, the Obama administration froze aircraft, tank, and missile sales to Cairo for two years until relations improved.

Due to that freeze, Bowman and the other writers note that Egypt tried to diversify its arms import providers by purchasing large quantities of weapons from Russia and France, both of which were willing to look the other way on its human rights violations.

However, the threat of US sanctions stemming from Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine has forced Egypt to drop its planned purchase of 24 Su-35 fighter jets. The poor performance of Russian weapons in the ongoing Ukraine war may have tainted their appeal to established buyers like Egypt, causing Cairo to look for alternatives from China.

Sebastien Robin notes in a November 2020 Forbes article that China’s top jets, such as the J-10C, may already have surpassed the best Russia can offer. Robin notes that China has started to build a technical lead over Russia in fighter aircraft development, with Russia’s aerospace sector at a disadvantage due to structural and budgetary constraints.

Robin notes that Russia’s Su-35s have a passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radar, which is inferior to the AESA radar on the J-10C and other modern Chinese fighters. He also says that China has improved its indigenous jet engine technology and has superior missiles, more mature stealth technology and better integration of precision-guided weapons than Russia.

Mihir Kaulgud notes in a May 2022 article for Usanas Foundation that China wants to become a major power in the Middle East, but more pragmatic and restrained than the US.

Kaulgud says that China’s arms exports to the Middle East show its push to establish a “soft presence” in the region, as shown by its willingness to sell affordable advanced weapons to friendly countries without political strings attached.

Arms sales obviously involve decisions at the highest level of government and thus establish professional linkages via training and education with the selling country, making them ideal focal points of strategic cooperation for China.

Kaulgud states that China is expanding its relationships and networks in the region while not provoking the US. He notes a pragmatic aspect to these ties, as China may want to secure reliable oil and gas providers via its arms sales.

Those sales, Kaulgud notes, can cause Arab states previously aligned with the US to look at China as an alternative security partner, with China likely to create new regional security arrangements and even play a stronger role in Middle Eastern domestic politics.

He says that while present arms exports are the basis of China’s security engagement in the Middle East, they can also serve as stepping stones to a broader security and military presence in the region.

Ravenlocke

27th May 2023, 18:38

Text:
🇨🇳🌾🇷🇺 China and Russia are reported to accelerate the construction of their own grain corridor project

By importing more wheat and barley from Russia, China will reduce dependence on Australia, the US, Canada and France.

The grain corridor in the Far East will supply grain to Inner Mongolia in northeast China.

DDgeopolitics

https://twitter.com/dana916/status/1662438194946662401

1662438194946662401

Ravenlocke

27th May 2023, 19:34

https://twitter.com/thesiriusreport/status/1662413375068942338

1662413375068942338

Ravenlocke

27th May 2023, 19:45

https://twitter.com/MintPressNews/status/1662203317240332288

1662203317240332288

Tintin

28th May 2023, 10:29

Tintin

28th May 2023, 11:09

This is time-stamped 18 hours ago so presumably happened yesterday, at noon:

Source: https://twitter.com/Spriter99880/status/1662499321114140673

Text:

The moment of the attack of the Taliban on the border post of Iran at noon today

1662499321114140673

Hamish

28th May 2023, 14:07

Okay, and I might be wrong here, but there was always something mighty fishy about the US abandoning all that equipment when they left Afghanistan. I hunched that the equipment was being repurposed either for the black-market, or, for another battlefront at some point.

This may now have provided some kind of an answer - an attack on Iran from Afghanistan (and perhaps Israel from the western side later)?

Source: https://twitter.com/Terror_Alarm/status/1662481600939016192

🚨🇦🇫🇮🇷Taliban moves troops, and heavy weaponry to the border with Iran, warns to capture Tehran within days, if Iran does not stop the provocations.

1662481600939016192

Hello,

Think you might have hit the nail on the head here. What was the benefit in American getting out of Afghanistan that fast and leaving behind powerful military weapons and equipment. Knowing also that the Afghanistan was crumbling and the Taliban was taking over.

We know the argument will be costs, too much money and time in moving all that equipment out, so tried to destroy some whilst leaving plenty more.

Makes you wonder if though if this was seen as a benefit for some players in the large game being played. Leaving all that equioment for the Taliban, and perhaps having a special arrangement with certain global powers to be a pawn in Iran/Palastiine/Israel war.

Hmm...

Bill Ryan

28th May 2023, 16:50

In the second and final round of Turkey's important election, Erdogan looks certain to remain president. :thumbsup:

https://reuters.com/world/middle-east/erdogan-positioned-extend-rule-turkey-runoff-election-2023-05-27

Erdogan appears headed for victory in Turkey runoff

A little earlier, CNN had reported:

Number of opened ballot boxes - 82.64%
Erdogan - 53.41%
Kılıçdaroglu - 46.59%

Update:

Number of opened ballot boxes - 99%
Erdogan - 52.87 %
Kılıçdaroglu - 47.13%

Ravenlocke

28th May 2023, 16:57

https://twitter.com/spectatorindex/status/1662851481014501376
1662851481014501376

¤=[Post Update]=¤

https://twitter.com/WorldWarNow_/status/1654910677100687360

1654910677100687360

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https://twitter.com/WorldWarNow_/status/1654910776048492546

1654910776048492546

Ravenlocke

28th May 2023, 18:48

https://twitter.com/Spriter99880/status/1662891992337076227

1662891992337076227

https://twitter.com/Spriter99880/status/1662891767346200577

1662891767346200577

https://twitter.com/Spriter99880/status/1662892072230088705

1662892072230088705

Bill Ryan

28th May 2023, 19:04

And from Newsweek (https://www.newsweek.com/putin-scores-win-turkeys-election-1803087): :)

Putin Scores a Win in Turkey's Election

Ravenlocke

28th May 2023, 19:31

https://twitter.com/DagnyTaggart963/status/1662875867561832450

1662875867561832450

¤=[Post Update]=¤

https://twitter.com/OnlyRealJohanna/status/1662893970320441345

1662893970320441345

https://twitter.com/OnlyRealJohanna/status/1662893973915029504

1662893973915029504

Ravenlocke

28th May 2023, 19:37

https://twitter.com/DagnyTaggart963/status/1662892299825688577

1662892299825688577

https://twitter.com/DagnyTaggart963/status/1662884560802050050

1662884560802050050

https://twitter.com/DagnyTaggart963/status/1662883862366519296

1662883862366519296

https://twitter.com/DagnyTaggart963/status/1662880144896172035

1662880144896172035

https://twitter.com/DagnyTaggart963/status/1662879134773592065

1662879134773592065

https://twitter.com/DagnyTaggart963/status/1662878705654329348
1662878705654329348

https://twitter.com/DagnyTaggart963/status/1662900898614394880
1662900898614394880

Ravenlocke

28th May 2023, 19:41

https://twitter.com/Spriter99880/status/1662902043927879680

1662902043927879680

Ravenlocke

28th May 2023, 19:45

https://twitter.com/PM_ViktorOrban/status/1662860463921590274

1662860463921590274

Bill Ryan

29th May 2023, 17:19

I've just edited the already long thread title to include Turkey. :)

The recent Turkish election was pretty important for a variety of reasons, which is why it's received so much coverage everywhere. For those who may be aware of this but do NOT know all the details and background — and would like to! — this 20-minute video from the Duran (mostly Alexander Mercouris) explains many things that some may not have been fully aware of.

Erdogan wins. What's next for Turkey?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrCqpxR83NA

Ravenlocke

29th May 2023, 17:32

https://twitter.com/MoonofA/status/1663231979083513863

1663231979083513863

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2023/05/egg-in-their-face-two-anti-china-claims-the-wall-street-journal-made-last-weeks-were-fake.html

Egg In Their Face - Two Anti-China Claims The Wall Street Journal Made Last Weeks Were Fake

On May 26 Amnesty International published one of its usual aggressive accusations against a government the U.S. is hostile to.

Hong Kong: Government must reveal whereabouts of Uyghur student detained at airport (archived)

Hong Kong authorities must reveal the whereabouts and fate of a Uyghur student who has been missing since he arrived in the city from South Korea earlier this month, amid fears he has been unlawfully extradited to mainland China without due process and is at risk of arbitrary detention and torture, Amnesty International said today.
Abuduwaili Abudureheman has not been heard from since he sent a text message to a friend on 10 May. In the message, Abudureheman said he was being interrogated by Chinese police after arriving at Hong Kong airport.
“The unknown fate of Abuduwaili Abudureheman is deeply worrying, given the background of crimes against humanity committed against Uyghurs by the Chinese government in Xinjiang, and its ongoing pursuit of Uyghurs who have travelled overseas,” said Alkan Akad, Amnesty International’s China Researcher.
The accusations seem to be based on claims made by a single anonymous source:

On 10 May 2023, Abuduwaili travelled to Hong Kong to visit a friend, but he has been missing since his text message that evening, saying that he was being questioned at the airport by Chinese police. The friend has made Abuduwaili’s disappearance public after becoming increasingly concerned for his safety.
Amnesty International understands that Abuduwaili was on a Chinese government “watch list” of Uyghurs and other Muslims from the Xinjiang region, based on the fact that he had a history of overseas travel. Amnesty International has documented numerous instances of the Chinese government targeting Uyghurs both at home and abroad with arbitrary incommunicado detention, lengthy imprisonment and torture purely based on the fact that they had travelled outside of China.

In 2021 Amnesty closed its Hong Kong office. One wonders then how it communicated with the relevant "friend"?

The Wall Street Journal and others published China bashing pieces based solely on Amnesty's claims.

The authorities Hong Kong were pretty pissed about the allegations as the man is question had never been there:

Hong Kong on Saturday criticized rights group Amnesty International’s accusation that a Uyghur student disappeared after being interrogated at the airport, and said that government records showed that he had not entered or been refused entry to the city.
The Korean Yonhap news agency made efforts to actually contact the man. It tuned out that he is still in Korea and has no plans to go anywhere else (machine translation):

(New York = Yonhap News) Correspondent Koh Il-hwan = Abduwali Abu Dureheman (38), an international student from Xinjiang, China, who Amnesty International said was missing in Hong Kong, is staying in Korea, his advisor said.
In a phone call with Yonhap News on the 29th, Jo Wook-yeon, head of the physical education department at Kookmin University, who is Abu Durehman's advisor, said, "Amnesty's announcement is not true."

Dean Cho said, "Abu Dureheman has not departed from Hong Kong, and is staying in Korea safely."

Dean Cho repeatedly confirmed that he had been in contact with Abu Durehman on a daily basis for guidance for his doctoral degree, and that "it is true that he is in Korea."

"I don't know why Amnesty announced that Abu Dureheman in South Korea was missing in Hong Kong," he said.

We don't know either but it aptly shows what standards Amnesty International and other such propaganda outlets have when making their sensational claims. None. A claim by one person based on a text message that may not even exist and made for whatever reason is trumpeted into the world even before any effort is made to verify it.

And why do the Wall Street Journal and others, who should have higher standards, publish Amnesty's accusation without ever fact checking them?

That is a question that one that can be reliably answered. The U.S. is hostile to China. Therefore U.S. mainstream media must bash China whenever they can.

Here is a case from another recent WSJ attempt to do just that:

On the day that Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui visited Moscow on the last leg of his European trip, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) ran an article that completely contradicted the facts and even fabricated stories. Such behavior that attempted to impose its own views and practices on others is in fact obstructing the peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Facts have proven that blindly fueling the fire can only escalate the conflict and cause more harm to people.
The article began by stating that the Chinese envoy carried a clear message that "US allies in Europe should assert their autonomy and urge an immediate cease-fire, leaving Russia in possession of the parts of its smaller neighbor that it now occupies," accusing China of trying to split the West.

However, what the WSJ received was a denial from Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. On May 27, Kuleba said in a video message that after the article appeared, he immediately contacted his colleagues in the European capitals visited by Li. None of them confirmed that negotiations about what the WSJ suggested were held.

In response to this, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning stated on Monday that she noted that the Foreign Minister of Ukraine publicly said that he contacted other parties and no country said Li made the remarks reported by the WSJ.

That is some egg in the face of the WSJ editors. China bashing in the opinion sections is fine. But fake news, twice in one week, to make some editorial point, is not something that readers are willing to pay for.