Puppet MastersS


Target

From media outlet to 'non-state hostile intelligence service'

Kevin Gosztola
Scheerpost
Tue, 28 Mar 2023 00:00 UTC
Assange
© CC BY-SA 2.0/Wikipedia CommonsJulian Assange • Cancillería del Ecuador • 2014
By designating WikiLeaks a spy outfit, the U.S. government has stacked the deck against Julian Assange and leveled an unprecedented threat against journalism.

This is an excerpt adapted from Kevin Gosztola's new book: Guilty of Journalism: The Political Case Against Julian Assange. You can find the book here.

On April 13, 2017, Mike Pompeo, then Secretary of State, spoke at an event hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, headquartered in Washington, D.C., in which he displayed his thirst for revenge against WikiLeaks. "It is time to call out WikiLeaks for what it really is — a non-state hostile intelligence service often abetted by state actors like Russia.
"WikiLeaks walks like a hostile intelligence service and talks like a hostile intelligence service and has encouraged its followers to find jobs at the CIA in order to obtain intelligence,"
This was when the CIA first introduced the public to the conspiracy theory that would later make up the core of the Justice Department's indictment against Assange in 2019.
Read More...
Nuke

No more double standards and impunity. West provokes Russia. Result: Nukes in Belarus on NATO's borders


Strategic Culture
Fri, 31 Mar 2023 18:59 UTC
The Anglo-American-led NATO alliance has no longer the presumption of impunity. The decades of unchecked aggression from NATO expansionism and criminal Anglo-American subterfuges in foreign countries are over.
Military Vehicles with ICBMs
© Public domain
The historic - and unacceptable - deployment of U.S. nuclear weapons in several European NATO states as well as the recent announcement by Britain of supplying depleted uranium weapons to Ukraine is the prologue to Russia's decision to place tactical nukes in Belarus. The Western outcry following Russia's decision is absurd and hypocritical.

The pattern is familiar and speaks of incorrigible arrogance. The United States and its NATO allies make reckless escalatory moves that are unprecedented in their aggression toward Russia; then Moscow makes a reciprocal move, and yet the Western governments and their dutiful news media become apoplectic with rage over Russia's "threatening conduct" and nuclear blackmail.

Maybe one day, Western leaders will eventually choke on their own illogical apoplexy.
Read More...
Arrow Up

Donald Trump was just indicted...but why?

Kit Knightly
Off-Guardian
Fri, 31 Mar 2023 18:45 UTC
Anti Trumpers
© Off-GuardianSome people really hate campaign finance violations.
Last night it was announced that former-President Donald Trump was being indicted by the Manhattan Grand Jury, he is expected to surrender himself to authorities later today.

The indictment is sealed until arraignment, but we do know the rough nature of the charge(s). Essentially, the accusation is that he paid "hush money" to pornographic actress Stormy Daniels to prevent her from going to the press. CNN is abuzz with anonymous sources "familiar with the case" who are predicting 30-plus charges related fraud, but all that's really known is that it concerns Daniels' hush money.

Hush money, in itself, is not technically illegal, but if it could be established that campaign funds were used to make the payment, and Trump knew about it, it would be a felony campaign finance violation.

Yes, a campaign finance violation. That's all. Much smaller names have had much bigger crimes swept under the rug.

Hell, Hillary Clinton's campaign was found guilty of the same exact crime over their commissioning the ridiculous "Steele Dossier". No arrests, just a fine...and they were literally trying to spread misinformation to swing an election.

So why can we expect to see Trump's mugshot on the front cover of every newspaper tomorrow? Why is Donald Trump the first President to ever be indicted, and not, say, Richard Nixon or George Bush jr?

Well, there are two schools of thought on that subject, or rather two competing narratives.
Read More...
Pistol

Canada: Polievre SLAMS Trudeau for claiming legal firearms should be banned in response to knife crimes

David Krayden
The Post Millennial
Thu, 30 Mar 2023 00:01 UTC
trudeau poilievre
In a Question Period exchange Tuesday with Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau blamed recent stabbing deaths in Vancouver and Toronto on gun ownership.


Comment: See also:

Read More...
Eye 1

'Not as generous': Polish leader hits Germany over Ukraine support

Lili Bayer and Jacopo Barigazzi
Politico
Fri, 24 Mar 2023 08:46 UTC
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki
© Olivier Matthys/EPA-EFEPolish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said the EU’s biggest economy must step up and lead.
In an interview with POLITICO, ​​Mateusz Morawiecki called on the EU and NATO to overhaul spending rules to spur massive military investments.

Germany has fallen short in supporting Ukraine, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told POLITICO on Friday, lashing out at Berlin as Europe searches for ways to continue arming Kyiv.

In an interview following the EU leaders' summit in Brussels, the conservative Polish leader said the EU's biggest economy must step up and lead — part of a broader call he made for the EU and NATO to revise their spending rules and unleash massive military investments.

Among his proposals: NATO allies should dramatically jump their spending target to 3 percent of economic output, the EU should explore raising new debt for defense purposes and countries should accelerate efforts to repurpose frozen Russian assets for the war effort.


Comment: It will probably just put the EU into an even deeper Economic crisis. Russia is not an EU enemy.
The USA and their fascist allies in the EU blow the NordStream, one of the most important Strategic economic infrastructures for Europe. Now, the same psychos want to "save" Europe by making the economic situation even worse. Thank you, but please, don't help anymore.


But Morawiecki's most pointed comments targeted Germany, which has had a fraught relationship with Poland of late.

Comment: See also:

Read More...
Attention

Best of the Web: Manhattan Grand Jury votes to indict Donald Trump, Trump responds, DeSantis says Florida will not extradite

Christopher Bertman
Timcast
Thu, 30 Mar 2023 00:01 UTC
trump
Trump Will Be The First Former President To Be Indicted.

A Manhattan grand jury voted to indict former president Donald Trump Thursday evening.

The grand jury's vote regards an alleged settlement made with adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the former president's 2016 campaign, according to five people with knowledge of the matter per the New York Times. Trump and Daniels allegedly had a sexual encounter in 2006, according to the claim.

Trump is the first former president to face criminal charges after office.

Comment: Trump responds, from Timcast:
"This is Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history," the former president wrote in a statement. "From the time I came down the golden escalator at Trump Tower ... the Radical Left Democrats ... have been engaged in a Witch-Hunt to destroy the Make America Great Again movement."

Trump referenced previous efforts to indict him, including claims the former president had ties to Russia, two impeachment attempts, and last year's raid on Mar-a-Lago.

"The Democrats have lied, cheated and stolen in their obsession with trying to 'Get Trump,' but now they've done the unthinkable - indicting a completely innocent person in an act of blatant Election Interference."


"Never before in our Nation's history has this been done," Trump continued. "Weaponizing our justice system to punish a political opponent, who just so happens to be a President of the United States and by far the leading Republican candidate for President has never happened before."

"I believe this Witch-Hunt will backfire massively on Joe Biden," Trump concluded. "The American people realize exactly what the Radical Left Democrats are doing here. Everyone can see it."

Trump followed up his response in a Truth Social post:
These Thugs and Radical Left Monsters have just INDICATED the 45th President of the United States of America, and the leading Republican Candidate, by far, for the 2024 Nomination for President. THIS IS AN ATTACK ON OUR COUNTRY THE LIKES OF WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE. IT IS LIKEWISE A CONTINUING ATTACK ON OUR ONCE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. THE USA IS NOW A THIRD WORLD NATION, A NATION IN SERIOUS DECLINE. SO SAD!
"This evening we contacted Mr. Trump's attorney to coordinate his surrender to the Manhattan D.A.'s Office for arraignment on a Supreme Court indictment, which remains under seal," said a spokesperson for New York district attorney Alvin Bragg. "Guidance will be provided when the arraignment date is selected."
DeSantis says his state will not assist in an extradition request. From Timcast:
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has responded to the news of former President Donald Trump's indictment, saying that it is a "weaponization of the legal system."

DeSantis also said that his state would not assist in an extradition request if one is made for the former president.

News of Trump's indictment by a New York grand jury broke on Thursday, despite previous reports that the grand jury hearing evidence was taking a month-long break.

"The weaponization of the legal system to advance a political agenda turns the rule of law on its head," DeSantis tweeted. "It is un-American."


DeSantis accused Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg of "stretching the law" to get the indictment.

"The Soros-backed Manhattan District Attorney has consistently bent the law to downgrade felonies and to excuse criminal misconduct. Yet, now he is stretching the law to target a political opponent."

DeSantis also said that his state will not assist with any potential extradition requests "given the questionable circumstances."

"Florida will not assist in an extradition request given the questionable circumstances at issue with this Soros-backed Manhattan prosecutor and his political agenda," DeSantis said.

George Soros, a far-left billionaire who tends to fund extremist candidates, pledged to donate at least a million dollars to Braggs' campaign through his Color of Change PAC. In their endorsement, the PAC noted that the now-District Attorney would not continue a justice system that "protects and privileges the powerful and well-connected."


Read More...
Chess

Certainty Trap: L'Entente is a bitter pill for the West

Alastair Crooke
Strategic Culture
Mon, 27 Mar 2023 00:00 UTC
Xi-Putin L'Entente

The West is stuck between the public sentiment which it contrived and the reality on the ground, Alastair Crooke writes.

Consequential Strategic Change - Upon leaving his meeting with Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping said to Putin, "Change is coming that hasn't happened in 100 years - and we are driving this change together".

The 'Entente' was sealed during hours of talks over two days, and amidst a plethora of signed documents. Two powerful states have formed a duality that, in marrying a gigantic manufacturing base to the pre-eminent raw materials supplier and the advanced weaponry and diplomatic nous of Russia, leaves the U.S. in the shade. A seat in the shadows (assumed through volitation, or inability to contemplate such radical transition) reflects the U.S. with its back turned towards participation in the unfolding multipolar world.

Comment: See also:


Read More...
Bullseye

Russia has right to fight security threats, 'it's creating a more equitable world order' - Nicaragua Foreign Minister FM

Rahim Volkov
teleSUR
Thu, 30 Mar 2023 12:00 UTC
Moncada Lavrov Nicaragua Russia
Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Denis Moncada (L) and Foreign Minister Serguei Lavrov (R) in Moscow, Russia, March 30, 2023. The Nicaraguan chancellor ratified his country's willingness to promote world peace and stability in a meeting with Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Lavrov in Moscow.
In a meeting with Russian chancellor Sergei Lavrov on Thursday, Nicaraguan Foreign Affairs Minister Denis Moncada ratified that his country recognizes the security threats that forced Russia to start the special military operation in Ukraine.

"Russia is a sovereign and independent country. As such, it has the right to live with dignity and fight any threats posed against its integrity," Moncada stated in Moscow.

The Nicaraguan chancellor stressed that he will continue to support the Russian government's fight for world peace and stability. "The active and dynamic contribution of Russia, China, and Iran to international relations is creating a more equitable world order," he praised.

Comment:



Read More...
Arrow Up

World Court rules US illegally froze some Iran assets, must pay compensation


Reuters
Fri, 31 Mar 2023 02:24 UTC
International Court of Justice
© ReutersThe case before the International Court of Justice was initially brought by Tehran against Washington for allegedly breaching a 1955 friendship treaty.
In a partial victory for Iran, judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday ruled Washington had illegally allowed courts to freeze assets of some Iranian companies and ordered the United States to pay compensation, the amount of which will be determined later.

However, in a blow for Tehran, the World Court said it did not have jurisdiction over US$1.75 billion in frozen assets from Iran's central bank.

Acting Legal Adviser Rich Vise of the US State Department said in a written statement that the ruling rejected the "vast majority of Iran's case", notably where it concerned the assets of the central bank. "This is a major victory for the United States and victims of Iran's state-sponsored terrorism," Vise added.


Comment: Exemplary US denial right there.


Comment: Regardless of the fact that the US won't be paying the fine, overall, geopolitical events signal a positive shift for Iran, meanwhile the outlook for the US seems to only be getting worse:

Read More...
MIB

WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich arrested in Russia over spying claims

Will Stewart and James Callery
The Daily Mail
Thu, 30 Mar 2023 21:22 UTC
Evan Gershkovich
© AFP/GettyEvan Gershkovich was detained in Russia on suspicion of spying for the US
Moscow's Lefortovo district court on Thursday ordered US journalist Evan Gershkovich to be arrested on spying charges and held in pre-trial detention until May 29.

Gershkovich, 31, was detained in Yekaterinburg in the Urals where he was on an assignment for The Wall Street Journal. Gershkovich told the court on Thursday that he was not guilty of espionage, something he has been accused of by the FSB security service, the state TASS news agency reported.

The reporter - an accredited foreign correspondent in Moscow - was held over alleged 'illegal activities' and was 'suspected of espionage for the US government', the FSB said. Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman said Gershkovich had been 'caught red-handed'. He could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of espionage.

The Journal said in a statement: 'The Wall Street Journal vehemently denies the allegations from the FSB and seeks the immediate release of our trusted and dedicated reporter, Evan Gershkovich. We stand in solidarity with Evan and his family.'

Comment: The CIA has a long history of recruiting media figures to use in propaganda campaigns and to spy while on foreign assignments. Russia has ample reason for its suspicions.

Read More...