Puppet MastersS


Bullseye

Putin meets Malaysian PM to discuss new unbiased MH-17 crash investigation

Russia Malaysia Putin Mohamad
© VestiRussian President Vladmir Putin greets Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad at the Eastern Economic Forum
Vladivostok, Russian Federation - During the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia's Far East, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with dozens of world leaders and discussed various matters, especially those concerning possible business deals. The Russian President also held a meeting with the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

This was the first time that Malaysia had taken part in the Eastern Economic Forum. Apart from business deals and Malaysia's interest in acquiring Russian technologies, with a special emphasis on space technology, which is a field in which Russia excels, another crucial issue was discussed.

Comment: Malaysia deserved to be a full participant in the MH17 investigation. It knew the inquiry was rigged from the moment it was excluded from the proceedings, despite it being their plane and many Malaysian nationals on board. Perhaps now some real truth will be unearthed.


Attention

Johnson would rather be 'dead in a ditch' than ask the EU for Brexit delay

BJohnson and horse
© Reuters/Danny LawsonBritain's PM Boris Johnson visits West Yorkshire Police Training and Development Centre on September 5, 2019.
The British prime minister said he would never ask the EU for an extension of the Brexit deadline - he'd rather "be dead in a ditch" instead. Meanwhile, parliament is close to forcing him to go to Brussels.

The remarks were delivered by Boris Johnson on Thursday during a speech after his visit to a police training center in West Yorkshire. When asked by a reporter if he could promise the British public he would never go to Brussels to ask for a new Brexit delay, Johnson replied affirmatively, and emphatically added that he "would rather be dead in a ditch."

While the PM was apparently adamant in his refusal to kowtow to the European Union, he managed to dodge a direct question from a reporter asking if he would resign rather than request the Brexit prolongation. Instead, the Tory bigwig simply reiterated his calls to "get Brexit done" and said that any delays would be "totally pointless."

"It achieves absolutely nothing. What on earth is the point of further delay?" he added.

It was not immediately clear how Johnson plans to deliver on his bold promise, given the string of defeats he has suffered, which resulted in the loss of the parliament majority and the adoption of a bill that actually obliges him to go and seek a new three-month extension to prolong the Brexit process.

Comment: More from RT, 6/9/2019: Finnish PM: No-deal Brexit 'pretty obvious now'
The Prime Minister of Finland, which currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union, claims that it is "pretty obvious now" that Britain will crash out of the bloc without a deal.

Addressing reporters at a news conference in Helsinki on Friday, Finnish PM Antti Rinne delivered a sobering assessment of the intractable Brexit crisis, with under two months left until deadline day, October 31.

"The situation in Britain is quite a mess now, we don't know what is happening there. It seems pretty obvious now that we are not getting Brexit with the agreement."

The pessimistic tone from Rinne puts him at odds with UK PM Boris Johnson who insisted, in a statement given outside 10 Downing street on Monday, that "progress" was being made in Brexit talks."In the last few weeks the chances of a deal have been rising," Johnson claimed.

A new bill, which forces the UK prime minister to seek a 3-month extension to Article 50 from Brussels, goes to the House of Lords on Friday and is expected to become law on Monday.
In addition from RT, 6/9/2019: British opposition parties agree to vote down BoJo's demand for snap poll
Jeremy Corbyn's Labour and other opposition parties have agreed to reject UK PM Boris Johnson's bid for a general election before the EU summit in October.

Johnson's government is scheduled to table a second early election motion on Monday having failed to achieve the necessary support this week for a snap poll.

However, after holding a meeting on Friday morning, opposition parties, including Labour, the Scottish National Party, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, and the Green Party, revealed that they were united in opposing such a move.

During an interview with BBC News, the SNP's Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, insisted that Johnson wasn't "going to determine the time" of a general election. A defiant Blackford suggested that the prime minister was "trying to frustrate the will of Parliament... we will choose the timing of that election."

Responding to the announcement, the British PM claimed that the parties were making an "extraordinary political mistake."

"All I see is Corbyn and the SNP clubbing together to try and lock us into the EU when it's time to get this thing done," Johnson said.

Opposition parties want to make sure Johnson upholds the latest piece of legislation that should pass into law on Monday, which compels the PM to secure a delay to Brexit by seeking a 3-month extension to Article 50 from Brussels.



Briefcase

Devin Nunes sues Fusion GPS for false media smears, bogus ethics claims

Nunes
© Getty ImagesRepublican Congressman Devin Nunes
The former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee sued Fusion GPS and its founder in a sweeping suit alleging conspiracy to obstruct investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

In the suit, Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., alleges Fusion GPS worked directly with a tax-exempt organization to intimidate and harass him over his investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. That organization, Campaign for Accountability, filed bogus ethics complaints with the Office of Congressional Ethics to sideline Nunes as he investigated Fusion GPS's role in the false claims that President Donald Trump treasonously colluded with Russia to steal the 2016 election from Hillary Clinton.

Fusion GPS, which hired Christopher Steele to smear Trump with a dossier of unsubstantiated allegations, previously worked on behalf of Russian interests to thwart U.S. sanctions against the regime of Vladimir Putin and its wealthiest backers. Steele, the former foreign spy tapped by Fusion GPS to develop the claims that launched a years-long investigation against Trump and his supporters, similarly worked for sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

In the complaint, Nunes specifically alleges that Campaign for Accountability funneled $140,000 to Fusion GPS in 2018 for unspecified "research." Campaign for America, a tax-exempt organization that claims to be non-partisan but is known for targeting conservative Republicans, received $1.3 million in contributions and grants last year. The group does not identify its donors, although Nunes says one of them is the left-wing New Venture Fund.

Comment: See also:


Nuke

Zarif to Mogherini: Iran to continue JCPOA talks despite ongoing reduction of obligations

Mogherini/Zarif
© AFP/Hans PunzEU Foreign Policy chief Frederica Mogherini • Iranian FM Javad Zarif
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif sent on Thursday a letter to EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini expressing readiness to continue the talks on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with the remaining signatories, despite proceeding to the third stage of rolling down its obligations under the deal.

Iran is going to further reduce its obligations under the JCPOA starting from Friday. The third stage, in particular, includes research activity beyond the frameworks of the nuclear deal. Earlier in September, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that this nuclear activity would, in particular, include research of the new type of centrifuges.

"In an attempt to demonstrate its good will, Iran is ready for dialogue at all levels with the parties, remaining in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action," Iranian Foreign Ministry's representative, Abbas Mousavi, said, commenting on the contents of Zarif's letter to Mogherini.

Comment: More from Sputnik, 6/9/2019: Iran lifts limitations on R&D field scaling back commitments to Nuclear Deal
"Foreign Minister (Mohammad Javad) Zarif, in a letter to EU policy chief (Federica Mogherini) announced that Iran has lifted all sanctions on its Research and Development activities," ISNA quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi. Iran also said it would report the details of its nuclear steps to the United Nations nuclear agency.



Hammer

Brexit Party threatens Johnson: Fail to deliver 'clean-break' from EU, you're finished!

Farage and Tice
© Reuters/Scott HeppellBrexit Party leader Nigel Farage and Chairman Richard Tice
The chair of the Brexit Party has threatened Boris Johnson that if he fails to deliver a 'no-deal' exit from the EU, his party will make sure that his time as UK prime minister will be even shorter than predecessor Theresa May's.

Richard Tice, who also represents the Brexit Party in Strasbourg as an MEP, issued the stark warning to Johnson on Thursday via social media. He insisted that Nigel Farage's party and PM Johnson could be "best friends or worst enemies," and urged him to abandon May's "dodgy deal." "Do otherwise and we'll make sure your time as Prime Minister is even shorter than May's."

Earlier, in an interview with the BBC, Brexit Party leader Farage claimed that Johnson's Tories "cannot win an election" in any snap poll if his party stands against him.

Farage did however appear to offer an olive branch to the prime minister, saying that if a "non-aggression pact" were to be formed then "with a clear policy [at a general election], we'd be unstoppable."

Comment: Additional from RT, 5/9/2019: BoJo's bro quits government
British PM Boris Johnson's brother Jo has resigned as a Conservative MP and government minister, citing "an unresolvable tension" over the Brexit crisis.

He resigned as transport minister over Theresa May's Brexit deal, and said last year that he wanted a second EU referendum, putting him at odds with the majority of his Tory colleagues, including his older brother Boris.

In an article detailing his resignation Johnson, who represented Orpington in Kent, wrote that "Brexit has divided the country. It has divided political parties. And it has divided families too."



Star of David

Trump's Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt resigns

Jason Greenblatt
© Evan Agostii/Invision/APJason Greenblatt
President Trump's foray into Middle East peacemaking seems to be in doubt once again. One of the key advisors drafting Trump's plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace is leaving the White House.

Transcript:
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST: President Trump's foray into Middle East peacemaking seems to be in doubt once again. One of the key advisers drafting Trump's plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace is leaving the White House. And there is no sign yet of when or if the plan will be released. NPR's Michele Kelemen reports.

MICHELE KELEMEN, BYLINE: Jason Greenblatt was a lawyer for the Trump Organization before he was tapped to work with Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner in drafting a peace plan for Israelis and Palestinians. Just a couple of months ago, he was on ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, saying the administration's draft was essentially finished.

JASON GREENBLATT [from an archived soundbite] : We're a lawyer is - our nature is to continue to tinker with it until the president asks us to put our pencils down. But if he asked us to put our pencils down tonight, we could put our pencils down tonight and hear it when he's ready.

KELEMEN: Now Greenblatt says he's leaving the White House in the coming weeks. Officials say he's still holding out hope that the plan will be released before he leaves. There had been indications it could happen soon after Israel's elections this month. But the White House will only say that this long-delayed plan will be released when it is appropriate. Many experts see Greenblatt's departure as a sign that the draft won't see the light of day or, even if it does, won't lead to peace talks.

Comment: See also:


Airplane

Terrorists use Western-style drones to attack Russian facilities in Syria

Israeli drone
© Benjamin WheelockIsraeli drone
Expert estimates indicate that terrorists in Syria are using western-designed drones to attack Russian facilities, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov said on Thursday. The diplomat noted, in his address at a global conference on fighting terrorism that Moscow was concerned about drone attacks in Syria, including against officials.

"We are constantly registering the mass usage of this method to stage attacks on Russian bases in Syria. Meanwhile, the drones that are being used are not amateurish. Experts note ... that Western specialists' developments are being used", Syromolotov said.

Moscow believes that global cooperation on the matter is necessary, and both legal and technological means should be used for countering terrorism, Syromolotov added.

Russian Air Base Hmeymim was attacked by unmanned aircraft earlier this week.

Comment: See also:


Chess

Venezuela prosecutors open probe into opposition leader Juan Guaido for 'high treason'

Juan guaido venezuela bolivar
© Agence France-PresseJuan Guaidó, the head of Venezuela's opposition, tried and failed to oust Nicolás Maduro in April, 2019.
A criminal investigation has been launched into Venezeulan opposition leader Juan Guaido and several key advisers after the government led by President Nicolas Maduro accused them of acts of treason.

Venezuelan Prosecutor general Tarek Saab announced the move on Friday. Guaido was allegedly involved in negotiating away Venezuela's "historical claim" to the territory of Esequibo, which is formally under the administration of Guyana.

Comment: teleSUR reported on 26 June 2019:
"What Guaido doesn't know, is that we had people in all the meetings where they planned hits on members of the government; we have all the recordings, videos and information necessary to face down a coup," Rodriguez told reporters.

Among the governments involved in the financing of the cup, according to Rodriguez's statements, Chilean President Sebastian Piñera, the Colombian President Ivan Duque as well as the government of the United States in Washington.

In one of the videos revealed by the minister, one senior figure within the coup, known as 'Marina' "I told them, the support of the gringos and an intervention is necessary."

In another video, a soldier who was part of the April 30 coup attempt in Venezuela revealed the involvement of two foreigners in the operation, one from Panama, one from Israel.

Rodriguez went on to reveal that during the most recent coup attempt, there were also plans for a coup within the opposition leadership against Juan Guaido, who had illegally declared himself an "interim president" of Venezuela in January.

Evidence collected by the Venezuela government and intelligence also showed that Guaido had paid another opposition figure to ensure that former general Baduel not be released, as Baduel was head of a rival opposition faction.

As evidence of these accusations, the vice president presented the same statements made by Piñera, Duque and U.S. National Security Advisor, John Bolton, in which they assure that Maduro's government has little time left.
New charges added to the obvious:




Star of David

'Israel will bear the consequences' if it renews 'aggression' - warning from Lebanon's President Aoun

lebanon soldier border watch Israel
© Agence France-Presse/Jack Guez/FileLebanese soldiers on a watch tower along a new wall on the Israeli-Lebanese border
On Sunday, the Israeli military launched massed mortar, artillery and air strikes against multiple targets in southern Lebanon, following a Hezbollah anti-tank missile attack targeting Israel Defence Forces positions along the border. The back and forth attacks followed a series of Israeli drone and air strikes on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon late last month.

Lebanon will have every right to respond if Israel renews its military "aggression" against the country, Lebanese President Michel Aoun has announced.

"Any aggression against Lebanon and the safety of its territories will be met with legitimate self-defence, and Israel will bear all its consequences," Aoun said, speaking to UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis on Friday, his remarks quoted by local media.

Star of David

Iraqi militia commander: Israeli drone attacks in Iraq were launched from US bases

drone iraq
© CC0
Last week, amid silence from Tel Aviv regarding Israel's alleged involvement in a recent string of drone strikes against Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Unit militia, a senior Trump official told US media that any Middle Eastern country which aligns itself with a "malign" power like Iran is responsible for attacks against itself.

The US provided the Israeli military with access to bases from which its drones took off to attack targets inside Iraq, Ali al-Yasseri, commander of Saraya al-Khorasani, an Iraqi Shia militia group, has alleged.

"The drones flying in Iraqi airspace had taken off from US bases," al-Yasseri said, his remarks quoted by Iranian Arab-language news channel Al-Alam News Network.

According to the commander, the use of US bases inside Iraq has enabled Israel to carry out attacks inside Iraq in an "indirect" manner.

Al-Yasseri did not specify exactly which base or bases the US allegedly allowed Israel to use for the strikes. The US has access to about a dozen military bases in Iraq, including the Al-Asad Airbase in Al-Anbard governorate, Erbil International Airport in Erbil governorate, the Kirkuk Air Base in Kirkuk, Qayyarah Airfield West in Nineveh, and the Balad Air Base in Saladin governorate.