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Russia's campaign is snuffing out the CIA's Al-Qaeda forces


Moon of Alabama
Fri, 02 Oct 2015 10:08 UTC
su-34
© Dmitriy Vinogradov / RIA Novosti
Technicians service Russian Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback strike fighters at Syria's Hmeimim airport.
With some 125 strikes in three days the Russian bombing campaign continues to build. The U.S. media is now obsessed with the idea that Russia may be using "dumb bombs" instead of Syrian "barrel bombs". This is becoming a new propaganda meme. But videos from the Russian airbase show that at least some of the planes are armed with KAB-500S-E satellite (GLONAST) guided bombs which are precise "smart" bombs. (Other pictures and video from the Russian air base show a quite comfortable life including air conditioned quarters, a mess tent, Gulaschkanonen, a bakery, a laundry etc. This base is not an improvised short-term installation.)

Besides that how is it more humane to kill by a precise bomb than by a "dumb bomb" or "barrel bomb". Gaza was bombed by the Israelis with (U.S. produced) smart bombs. That did not lead to less destruction or killing. The recent Saudi (U.S. produced) bomb on the Yemen wedding that killed 130 people was also "smart" and hit right where it was targeted at.

The Russians bombed, as I earlier described, mostly in the corridor up to the Turkish border which is in the hand of al-Qaeda, Ahrar al Shams and CIA mercenaries. It also bombed Raqqa, the Syrian capital of the Islamic State and killed a dozen fighters. In response to that the Islamic State canceled Friday prayers in Raqqa seemingly out of fear that any congregation of IS fighters would now get bombed.

Funny. The U.S. claimed for a year that it was seriously bombing the Islamic State. But the Friday prayers have never be canceled before. Could it be that the Islamic State did not believe the U.S. claims but now fears that the Russians really mean business?

Comment: As Moon of Alabama wrote in a previews piece:
Indeed. Even back in 2012 the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency found:
THE SALAFIST, THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD, AND AQI ARE THE MAJOR FORCES DRIVING THE INSURGENCY IN SYRIA.
"Moderates"- my ass.
And the claim that ISIS wasn't in Homs? "Except that just nine days ago the Islamic State shot dead seven men in Rastan for being allegedly gay." See also: Western warmongers killed 1.5 million Muslims in 'war on terror'; falsely accuse Russia of '30 civilian casualties' in airstrikes against ISIS

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Pirates

Bounty offered for capture of Russian soldiers in Syria by Al-Qaeda affiliate

Jack Moore and Damien Sharkov
Newsweek Europe
Fri, 02 Oct 2015 20:57 UTC
A prominent spiritual leader and financier of al-Qaeda's official branch in Syria, the Nusra Front, issued a bounty worth three million Syrian pounds ($15,900) for the capture of a Russian soldier in Syria on Thursday, a day after Russia carried out its first airstrikes against rebel groups in the country.

A poster shared on social media offers one million Syrian pounds ($5,300) paid to the fighter who captures a Russian soldier and two million ($10,600) paid to the fighter's faction.
Al nusra russian bounty poster
© Twitter
The two bounty posters show the reward of one million Syrian pounds in Arabic, Russian and English. The poster on the left shows a picture of Abu Hassan Al-Kuwaiti, the Nusra Front's spiritual leader.
"To the heroic Mujahideen brothers, a prize of a million [Syrian pounds] to anyone who takes hostage a Russian soldier," wrote Abu Hassan al-Kuwaiti, a spiritual leader of the Nusra Front, in a tweet that has been retweeted more than 150 times and shared widely among online jihadi sympathizers on Twitter.

Although Newsweek could not independently verify that the account was owned by al-Kuwaiti, Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi, an expert in the monitoring of online extremists and a fellow at the U.S.-based think tank The Middle East Forum, told Newsweek by email that the bounty had been publicized by al-Kuwaiti, describing him as an "important figure" in the terror group's structure.

The two bounty posters appeared on social media for the capture of a Russian soldier after al-Kuwaiti's announcement. One poster shows pictures of al-Kuwaiti, a Kuwaiti citizen whose real name is Ali bin Hamad al-Arjani, as well as Nusra Front's top military commander, Maysar al-Jubouri, who is known by the nom de guerre Abu Maria al-Qahtani. A third man, who has not been identified, appears in the picture.

Comment: Expect to soon see some conveniently 'captured Russian soldiers' that will be paraded before Western media cameras. With the numbers of radicalized Russian nationals going to Syria to join these groups, it shouldn't be too hard to arrange.

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Radar

Russian fighter jets destroy jihadist headquarters in Raqqa, Syria


RT
Sat, 03 Oct 2015 09:00 UTC
SU-34
© Maxim Blinov / RIA Novosti
SU-34
A surgical airstrike by Russian fighter jets has knocked out the battle headquarters of a jihadist group near Raqqa, according to Russian Defense Ministry. Operating from the Khmeimim airbase, the Russian Air Force continues to inflict pinpoint strikes on Islamic State installations.

"Over the past 24 hours, Sukhoi Su-34 and Su-24M fighter jets have performed 20 sorties and hit nine Islamic State installations," Igor Konashenkov, Russia's Defense Ministry spokesman, reported.


Konashenkov added that yesterday evening Russian aircraft went on six sorties, inflicting strikes on three terrorist installations.

Comment: While Russia is taking care to very precisely bomb only terrorist targets, the United States and its allies were carpet bombing Syria for years, resulting in civilian casualties they call 'collateral damage'.

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Bomb

Hypocrisy! American airstrike in Afghanistan hits hospital, kills at least 50 doctors, patients and civilians


RT
Sat, 03 Oct 2015 07:55 UTC
kunduz hospital
© Doctors w/o Borders / Twitter
Medecins Sans Frontieres says it gave the coordinates of hospital hit by an airstrike to US forces several times.

A hospital in the Afghan city of Kunduz has been hit and partially destroyed in an overnight "aerial attack" that killed at least nine Medecins Sans Frontieres staff. NATO has admitted a US airstrike may have caused accidental "collateral damage."
"Collateral damage":
RT news, 3 Oct, 2015:
US forces conducted an airstrike in Kunduz at 2:15am on Saturday, said NATO coalition spokesman Colonel Brian Tribus. "The strike may have resulted in collateral damage to a nearby medical facility," he said. "This incident is under investigation."

"We are deeply shocked by the attack, the killing of our staff and patients and the heavy toll it has inflicted on healthcare in Kunduz," Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) said in a statement.

Three MSF staff have been confirmed dead, while more than 30 are unaccounted for, according to the organization's official statement.

Comment: Oh this is priceless. Amid all of the Western govt. and media lies about Russia "killing civilians" in Syria. NATO does this, not just to Afghan civilians, but to Western NGO workers!

When Russia allegedly does it, it's a tragedy trumpeted all over the news; when America repeatedly and provably does it, it's written off as collateral damage. Is there something wrong with this picture?

The people of Afghanistan are losing all the time in this conflict. The intervention of foreign forces destroyed the very fabric of the country, which needs to be built up again.

Even the BBC is reporting on it:
Medecins Sans Frontieres said the number of its staff killed had risen from three to nine.

It said the strikes continued for more than 30 minutes after US and Afghan authorities were told of its location.

US forces were carrying out air strikes at the time. The Nato alliance has admitted the clinic may have been hit.

At least 37 people were seriously injured, 19 of them MSF staff. At least 100 patients were in the hospital.

Many patients and staff remain unaccounted for, MSF says.

The organisation says that all parties to the conflict, including Kabul and Washington, had been told the precise GPS co-ordinates of the hospital in Kunduz on many occasions, including on 29 September.

After staff at the hospital became aware of the aerial bombardment in the early hours of Saturday morning, US and Afghan military officials were again informed, MSF said.


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Vader

Psychopathic projection alert: Obama claims Russian airstrikes 'strengthening ISIS'


RT
Sat, 03 Oct 2015 00:15 UTC

U.S. President Barack Obama addresses a news conference in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, October 2, 2015. © Joshua Roberts / Reuters

The US president has slammed Russian airstrikes against Islamic State in Syria, going as far as to accuse Moscow of making ISIS stronger by decapacitating the "moderate folks," prepared by Washington to stitch the country back together once Syria falls.


Comment: Moderate folks like the CIA-trained Free Syrian Army, responsible for the Houla massacre originally blamed on Assad?


In his first public comments since Russia launched anti-terrorist airstrikes in Syria, US President Barack Obama was fiercely harsh, claiming that Moscow's military operation was counterproductive and is not distinguishing between Islamic State targets and the so-called moderate opposition.


Comment: They are one and the same. Western-backed "terrorists"!


The US leader accused Russia of weakening the Syrian rebels' chances of eventually toppling President Assad's government and somehow strengthening ISIS as a result.


Comment: He's right about the first point! That's actually the point: protecting Syria's leadership from a foreign-backed coup. Can you imagine Merkel training rebels in America to take out Obama?!


"The moderate opposition in Syria is one that, if we ever going to have a political transition, we need. And the Russian policy is driving those folks underground or creating a situation in which they are decapacitated and it is only strengthening ISIL," said Obama.
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Bomb

Another Bibi 'bomb' at the UN: Meet the 'death stare' - Netanyahu's 45 seconds of silence during speech

Phillip Weiss and Adam Horowitz
Mondoweiss
Thu, 01 Oct 2015 00:00 UTC
Image

Follow Israel's line of psychopathic reasoning, or I'll glare at you. Or worse.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's signature moment at the United Nations today was his 44 seconds of silence to indicate the world's silence in the face of alleged Iranian threats to Israel. Here's video of it, posted by the Prime Minister himself on Facebook:

Comment: Overheard at the office of Netanyahu's communication director just a few months ago:

Communication Director: "Listen, Bibi, you're going to have to sound very strong at the next UN meeting when you address the delegates. You'll have to let everyone know you mean business about Iran since most of the world wants to see the deal with Iran go through! And the stupid Americans - we don't know what they're doing, but that's another story."

Netanyahu: "How about another pictogram with a bomb on it? This time we'll paint a nice big nuclear mushroom cloud around it with a map of Israel surrounding the bomb. I have some sketches I brought with me..."

Communication Director: "No Bibi, we have a much better idea. This time you must make them feel guilty like never before -- they have to believe that by choosing to normalize relations with Iran that it will mean the death of Israel, and you'll remind them again very strongly about the holocaust of course. So, listen, you remember that time we took a stroll on the beach a few years ago and you got really upset at the guy with the falafal stand?"

Netanyahu: "You mean when I gave him two shekels and the guy said the falafal sandwhich was three shekels and I told him "do you know who the hell I am?!""

Communication Director: "Yes Bibi, good. Now do you remember what you did just before saying that to him?"

Netanyahu: "Sure I do, I gave him my angry look. I was really upset - charging me three shekels for a two shekel falafal sandwhich! He should've given it to me for free because of all I do for this country."

Communication Director: "Right! Well, we want you to do the exact same thing as you did then, only this time you'll give the angry look right in the middle of the speech - to all the delegates, yes? You want them to feel very very guilty and upset with themselves for even considering normalizing relations with Iran. And you'll stare them down for a really really long time, like at least half a minute. Get it?

Netanyahu: "Great idea - I love it. You know, I'm still a little angry at that stupid guy with the stand. Ok, get me a mirror I want to bring up those feelings again and start practicing right now!"

Communication Director: "Wonderful - someone get Bibi a mirror ASAP!!"

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Magnify

Middle East liberation: As Russia pounds militant targets, Iran readies ground invasions while Saudis panic

Tyler Durden
Zero Hedge
Thu, 01 Oct 2015 12:05 UTC
Russian jets and Putin
© Getty images
Back in June, the commander of Iran's Quds Force, Qasem Soleimaini, visited a town north of Latakia on the frontlines of Syria's protracted civil war. Following that visit, he promised that Tehran and Damascus were set to unveil a new strategy that would "surprise the world."

Just a little over a month later, Soleimani - in violation of a UN travel ban - visited Russia and held meetings with The Kremlin. The Pentagon now says those meetings were "very important" in accelerating the timetable for Russia's involvement in Syria. The General allegedly made another visit to Moscow in September.

The timeline here is no coincidence. Iran has long provided covert and overt support to the Assad regime via financial transfers, logistical support from the Quds, and via the involvement of Hezbollah in the Assad government's fight to regain control of the country.

As we've documented extensively over the past several weeks, what appears to have happened here is that Iran, unable to simply invade Syria in support of Assad (because doing so would obviously be a disaster in terms of preserving the optics around the P5+1 nuclear deal), turned to Moscow which has in the past used Russia's Security Council veto to block the referral of the war in Syria to the Hague and which is a known ally of both Tehran and Damascus.

Comment: We are witnessing the opening moves to reshape the Middle East and perhaps the world by 'Putin the Caesar.' The fight is truly being taken to the terrorists in Syria, instead of the United States' false efforts to take on ISIS/ISIL with the intent of overthrowing Assad. Perhaps the new efforts by Russia and other countries will soon spread to Iraq, if the above reporting begins to play out. The response of the West, the United States and its puppet allies, thus far has been to ramp up propaganda against Russia. This will not be the only response. You can be sure the midnight oil is being burned in the various intelligence agencies and think tanks in the West. Be on the alert for a false flag operation to justify a response people would not normally back.

The below clip of John McCain's response to and spin on the situation is a case in point of the type of thinking and response we can expect. It gives a glimpse of the moral insanity plaguing Western leaders and intelligence agencies where the ends always justify the means, control and domination are the end goals and never ending war is the result.


Also, watch closely because the 'mask of sanity' of the Western leaders may begin to fall with the additional pressure being applied.

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Black Magic

Old imperial anti-Russian propaganda machine in high gear

Stephen Lendman
Global Research
Fri, 02 Oct 2015 23:35 UTC
ISIS 2

It never rests, now in high gear following Russia's announced aerial campaign against ISIS in Syria, beginning on September 30.

For the first time since WW II, Russian and US warplanes are bombing the same country - each for entirely different reasons.

Moscow's campaign aims to defeat ISIS, eliminate its scourge. Washington actively supports it, striking Syrian targets exclusively, duplicitously claiming otherwise.

The US State and Defense Departments' lying machine has sprung into action, criticizing Moscow instead of praising its efforts, vital against terrorists ravaging Syria.

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter claimed Russian airstrikes are tantamount to "pouring gasoline on the fire."

"By supporting Assad and seemingly taking on everyone who is fighting Assad, you're taking on the whole rest of the country of Syria," he blustered.
That is not our position. At least some parts of the anti-Assad opposition belong in the political transition going forward. That's why the Russian approach is doomed to fail.
Carter and other administration officials fear it may succeed, undermining Washington's imperial strategy, a long overdue initiative.

John Kerry suggested Russia isn't fighting ISIS, instead targeting non-existent moderate rebels. Despite Moscow's request to clear Syrian airspace to avoid any accidental aerial engagements between US and Russian aircraft, Kerry said so-called "coalition" strikes will continue.

America's declared war on ISIS is a complete fabrication. Russia's is the real thing - why Obama administration officials are so alarmed about its justifiable intervention, supporting a regional ally in need, complying fully with international law.

Comment: The hypocrisy of the Western world is breathtaking. Not only have they financed, armed and trained terrorists flying under the flag of ISIS/ ISIL/ Daesh/ Al Nusra Front/ Free Syrian Army, but they use their air force and drone program strike and indiscriminately kill civilians - including women and children - all over the world with impunity - declaring them "enemy combattants" after the fact. Just to further their own sick hegemonic agenda. And when finally someone steps up and really starts cooperating with the only force on the ground able to counter these madmen, the proverbial "media hell" breaks loose in Washington and their aligned buddies.

For more information about what the US/ NATO is up to in Syria and elsewhere, now and in the past, see:

Western warmongers killed 1.5 million Muslims in 'war on terror'; falsely accuse Russia of '30 civilian casualties' in airstrikes against ISIS
U.S. sets records with number of drone strikes in Afghanistan this year (2012)
After bombing Libya to ruins, who will be the next victim of US 'humanitarian' intervention?
War crimes: U.S. politicians are asked about Saudi atrocities...here's what happened next

By the way - watch the video (in the last of the above links) of a journalist asking Australian ex-prime minister Tony Abbott for clarification of something he said previously - very, very creepy! And that is the caliber of our "elected" leaders!

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Snakes in Suits

War crimes: U.S. politicians are asked about Saudi atrocities...here's what happened next

Michael Krieger
Liberty Blitzkrieg
Fri, 02 Oct 2015 21:16 UTC
Image
© Fayez Nureldine/AFP/Getty Images
Saudi army artillery fire shells toward Yemen from a post close to the Saudi-Yemeni border.
Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney smiled and repeatedly said, "Nice to see you," when I asked if he had any concerns about the Saudi Arabian-led bombing campaign in Yemen.

- From the Intercept article: U.S. Senators Hem and Haw on Saudi Arabia's Human Rights Abuses

Just in case you're still confused as to why the Middle East is a flaming cauldron of death, destruction and chaos, Lee Fang provides you with some insightful observations from the self-proclaimed "leaders of the free world."

From the Intercept:
Given the news this week that Saudi-led forces bombed a wedding party in Yemen, killing scores of civilians, as well as the decision by the Saudi government to behead and then crucify Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, the teenage son of a government critic, I attempted to talk about the Saudi Arabian human rights record to a number of politicians at the Washington Ideas Forum, an event hosted by The Atlantic and the Aspen Institute to discuss "this year's most pressing issues and ideas of consequence."

Most were uninterested in commenting.

Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney smiled and repeatedly said, "Nice to see you," when I asked if he had any concerns about the Saudi Arabian-led bombing campaign in Yemen.
This has to be a joke, right?

Comment: Yup, these creatures live in an alternate reality that is not human.

Saudi Arabia silently kills UN war crimes probe in Yemen: While Washington remains eerily quiet

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Vader

US seeks to sideline the EU in Syrian peace talks


Sputnik
Fri, 02 Oct 2015 20:57 UTC
Image
© AFP 2015/ Louai Beshara
The US government has torpedoed European proposals for a multilateral peace conference on Syria. Washington supports the idea of peace talks, but without the EU at the negotiation table, DWN wrote.

Taking into account the current refugee crisis, the EU is bearing the major burden of the civil war in Syria. Therefore, the US' unwillingness to see Europeans at the negotiation table caused much surprise among European politicians.

There was a dispute between European diplomats and their US counterparts on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, when French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius had proposed to set up a multilateral format of negotiations on Syria, similar to the P5+1 talks on the Iranian nuclear program.

Britain, France and Germany have been supporting the idea to resolve the crisis together with the US, China, Russia and Iran. However, the US is welcoming only Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Turkey to the negotiation table.
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