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Kim Jong-un hails Seoul as a gracious host, despite US doubts on Olympic reconciliation


RT
Tue, 13 Feb 2018 14:19 UTC
Kim Yo Jong
© Yonhap/Reuters
Kim Yo Jong (2nd left), N Korea's Samjiyon Orchestra performance, Seoul.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has thanked Seoul for being a gracious Winter Olympics host, describing the games as a positive step towards bringing peace to the Korean Peninsula.

Kim noted the "warm climate of reconciliation" facilitated by the winter games, and "expressed thanks" for the "sincere" and "very impressive" efforts made by Seoul to welcome the North Korean delegation during their three-day visit to PyeongChang.
"It is important to continue making good results by further livening up the warm climate of reconciliation and dialogue created by the strong desire and common will of the North and the South with the Winter Olympics as a momentum,"
Kim said while meeting with members of the delegation upon their return to Pyongyang on Monday, according to North Korean state media. After receiving the delegation Kim issued "important instructions" aimed at cultivating "the improvement of North-South relations."

Heading up the delegation was Kim Yo-jong - Jong-un's sister and the first member of the North's ruling family to visit the South since the end of the Korean War - who reportedly relayed "movements of the US side" to her brother, a possible reference to her rather awkward encounter with Vice President Mike Pence.

Comment: With both Koreas appearing to be on better terms, it is stark contrast to the grumbling and gnashing of the US. VP Pence has conveyed the level to which the US will continue its pressure on North Korea, no matter the fealty or progress of the Koreas. Should North engage South under continuing good terms, the US stands to lose both face and turf.
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Light Sabers

US DNI Director: Risk of inter-state conflict now higher than at any time since end of Cold War


RT
Tue, 13 Feb 2018 20:02 UTC
missile
© KCNA / Reuters
The risk of inter-state conflict is higher now than at any time since the end of the Cold War, according to US Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats.

The most immediate threats over the next year will come from North Korea and from "Saudi-Iranian use of proxies in their rivalry," Coats said during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday.

"At the same time, the threat of state and non-state use of weapons of mass destruction will continue to grow," he added.

His statement was accompanied with a detailed assessment of worldwide threats to intelligence community.

Comment: Whatever risk there is, is there because of the US Empire and its geopolitical maneuvering around the world to control resources and further enrich the elites who control Western governments. That is what needs to be fixed to change the wartime conditions we currently find ourselves surrounded by.

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Mail

Police investigate 'white powder' sent to Obama's DC office


RT
Tue, 13 Feb 2018 18:51 UTC
Obama
© Jim Bourg / Reuters
Former US President Barack Obama
Police are at former President Barack Obama's office in Washington DC where white powdery substance was reported.

People in hazmat suits are seen outside the building in the US capital's downtown. The incident occurred at 12:30 pm local time, according to Fox News.

Comment: See also: Envelope with 'white powder' sent to Trump Jr's residence, wife hospitalized in NY

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Whistle

Syrian Army discovers huge stockpile of terrorist weapons including a US-built guided missile in northeast Hama

Andrew Illingworth
AMN
Sun, 11 Feb 2018 00:00 UTC
syrian army discovers terrorist weapons Hama
Following its defeat of Islamic State forces in northeast Hama province several days ago, the Syrian Army has discovered and laid claimed to a huge stockpile of heavy weapons that until very recently belonged to the terrorist group.

On Sunday, Syrian troops clearing abandoned ISIS areas in northeast Hama discovered a large arsenal of heavy equipment and guided weapons.

Whilst not the first cache to be found in the region, it was certainly the most formidable.

Comment: Yet another 'smoking gun', proving that the US has been providing direct cooperation and support to ISIS terrorists.

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Star of David

Netanyahu defiant as Israeli police recommend indictment over bribery and fraud charges


RT
Tue, 13 Feb 2018 20:23 UTC
Benjamin Netanyahu
© Eddie Keogh / Reuters
Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli police have recommended that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu be indicted over allegations of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

Netanyahu, speaking in a televised statement following the announcement, said he will continue to lead Israel "responsibly and faithfully" despite the impending charges and insisted nothing will come of the "baseless" cases against him.

Police submitted their recommendations Tuesday evening following a 14-month long investigation into the "gifts affair" in which Netanyahu is alleged to have improperly accepted expensive gifts from businessmen.


The charges stem from two separate investigations, Case 1000 and Case 2000. The former involves allegations that Netanyahu, and his wife Sara, accepted gifts worth thousands of dollars from wealthy businessmen. The other, focuses on an alleged deal with Yedioth newspaper for more positive coverage in exchange for a crackdown on its rival outlet.

Comment: See also: Netanyahu maintains innocence as Israeli police edge closer to indicting PM for corruption

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Chess

Russian FM Lavrov: US may seek longer stay in Syria to create quasi-state


PressTV
Tue, 13 Feb 2018 19:37 UTC
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
© AFP photo
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a meeting with his Italian counterpart in Moscow on February 1, 2018
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has warned of a possible plan by the United States to continue its military presence in Syria for a long term in an attempt to create a "quasi-state" in the eastern areas of the country.

Speaking at a press conference Tuesday, Lavrov criticized the US for its "completely different" position with regard to its future military presence in Syria, adding, "We have a suspicion.... that the United States wants to stay there for a long time, if not forever."
"The Americans, in my opinion ... are trying to act by dangerous unilateral steps. And by the way, these steps look more and more like part of a line for creating a certain quasi-state on a large part of the Syrian territory - on the eastern bank of the Euphrates and up to the Iraqi border," he added.

Comment: The United States will continue to train local security forces in Syria and maintain a military presence in the country as long as required to defeat Daesh, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Tuesday.
"The United States will maintain a conditions-based and ISIS-focused military presence in Syria. As part of that presence, we will continue to train local security forces in Syria," Tillerson said.

In northern Syria, Turkey is fighting to dismantle the armed Kurdish presence along the border, heightening tensions between Ankara and Washington, which has supported the groups now being attacked by its fellow member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

"We are keenly aware of the legitimate security concerns of Turkey, our coalition partner and NATO ally," Tillerson said. "We will continue to be completely transparent with Turkey about our efforts in Syria to defeat ISIS [Daesh], and we stand by our NATO ally in its counterterrorism efforts."

Tillerson announcement comes after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the US earlier in the day to "stop this theater with Daesh in Syria," adding that a decision by the US to continue to fund the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia would affect Turkey's decisions.
US Dispatches More Military Aid to Kurds in Syria
The Arabic-language Enab Baladi reported that the US convoy was dispatched to the Kurdish-held regions in Syria's Hasaka via Simalka border-crossing at border with Iraq.

Enab Baladi reported that the convoy, containing fifty trucks, has arrived in Rojava in Northern Syria.
Russian Sources: Kurds Planning to Escalate Afrin Battle in Turkey
The Arabic service of RT news channel quoted the Russian Svobodnaya Pressa news website as reporting that as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to intensify attacks against Afrin in Aleppo province, the situation in Northwestern Syria is exacerbating.

It added that the Kurds will not suffice to resistance against the Turkish army and will launch counter attacks and spread the clashes to the Turkish areas bordering with Syria.

Meantime, Karim Yildrim, a Turkish military analyst, disclosed that the Kurds now hold new weapons enabling them to resist against the Turkish army's most advanced weapons.

The Turkish army had earlier warned the Kurds against using different types of US and European arms.


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Light Saber

Lavrov says US actions appear to be an attempt to establish a 'certain quasi-state' east of Euphrates


Sputnik
Tue, 13 Feb 2018 18:39 UTC
lavrov
© Sputnik / Maxim Blinov
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that, from Russia's point of view, the United States seems like it is planning to stay in Syria for a long time, maybe even forever.
"Now we hear completely different explanations from our US partners regarding their presence in Syria - they say that this presence should be maintained not only until military tasks are accomplished, but also until there is a stable political process that should end in a transition of power which will be acceptable for all - meaning for the United States - which is regime change. In general, we have a suspicion.... that the United States wants to stay there for a long time, if not forever,"
Lavrov told a press conference after talks with his Belgian counterpart, Didier Reynders.

As Lavrov specified, Moscow had been having a lot of questions to Washington about their recent actions in Syria.
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Chess

Russian ambassador stresses importance of mending ties with United States


RT
Tue, 13 Feb 2018 16:24 UTC
Russia United States flags
Russia's ambassador to the US has stated the importance of overcoming the negative tendencies in mutual relations and called proper cooperation between the two nations crucial to overcoming global threats, such as terrorism.
"It is important to guide our American partners to understanding of the objective necessity of repairing the bilateral dialogue. Russian-American cooperation remains a decisive factor that influences all key global processes. Only together can we defeat the plague that has stricken the humanity - terrorism. After we unite we can reinforce the foundations of strategic stability and settle regional conflicts," Ambassador Anatoly Antonov said in his speech dedicated to Russia's 'Day of the Diplomatic Worker'.

Comment: The problem is the Deep State in the United States lives off the conflict they created with Russia. It's part of their 'raison d'etre'.

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Propaganda

Department of Homeland Security calls out NBC report saying Russia hacked elections as fake news


RT
Tue, 13 Feb 2018 16:35 UTC
hacking
© Getty Images
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said a recent report by NBC News was misleading. The channel claimed Russia "successfully penetrated" the voting systems of several states.

"Recent NBC reporting has misrepresented facts and confused the public with regard to Department of Homeland Security and state and local government efforts to combat election hacking," DHS cybersecurity chief Jeanette Manfra said on Monday.

In the NBC report, which aired last week, Manfra claimed that while the exact details are classified, voting systems in 21 states were targeted, and is quoted as saying "2016 was a wake-up call." However, Manfra also adds that only an "exceptionally small number" of states were targeted successfully. Despite this, NBC's headline on its website reads "Russians penetrated US voter systems, top US official says," which Manfra has accused of being misleading.

Comment: NBC and other outlets are so deep in the mud they obviously can't see anything else.

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Cheesecake

Israel threatens to 'bite hard' after downing of its fighter jet in Syria - Damascus warns Tel Aviv of 'more surprises' in Syria


RT
Tue, 13 Feb 2018 19:12 UTC
Israeli F-15 fighter jet
© Amir Cohen / Reuters
An Israeli F-15 fighter jet
Tel Aviv has vowed to defend its interests without any limitations in the wake of heightened tensions with Tehran over the recent strikes in Syria. At the same time Damascus warns Israel of "more surprises" in case of new attacks.

"We will respond to every provocation, we will continue to protect our vital security interests," Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said on Tuesday as cited by local media."To paraphrase the known saying, 'This is not the time to bark, it's time to bite' - and we'll bite hard," the minister warned, adding that he hopes it will not come to that.

It was the first time Liberman had spoken about the February 10 events. Tensions between Israel and Iran have rapidly flared up since Saturday, when an alleged Iranian drone infiltration into the Israeli airspace triggered the Israeli Air Force's retaliatory strikes in Syria, the biggest in years. Amid the cross-border escalation, Israel lost an F-16 fighter jet to enemy fire for the first time in 35 years.

Comment: See also:

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