Puppet Masters

US expects its forces to 'recapture' Syrian territories from ISIS within coming weeks

Sputnik
Wed, 30 Jan 2019 10:31 UTC

Late last year, US President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of US troops from Syria, with the White House later stating that the process had already begun. However, no concrete dates have been disclosed so far.

US-backed forces will recapture the remaining Daesh territory in Syria within a couple of weeks, according to acting Defence Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan.

The "disciplined" US withdrawal from Syria is still in its early stages, the acting the defence secretary stated.

States supporting Russian sanctions are now leaders in increased trade with Russia

Rehan Amjad
Pakistan Point
Wed, 30 Jan 2019 10:31 UTC

Over the first 10 months of 2018, the Russian trade with foreign states grew by 20 percent year-on-year, reaching $567 billion, with the countries that support anti-Russia sanctions showing the biggest trade increase, a report by the international audit and consulting network FinExpertiza revealed on Monday.

FinExpertiza said, citing the Russian Federal State Statistics Service, that 27 foreign states had experienced a significant boost in trade with Russia over the given period. According to FinExpertiza, 17 of these states have been supporting anti-Russia sanctions. In January-October 2018, Russia's trade with these countries amounted to $271.6 billion, which accounts for 48 percent of its total trade over the given period.

The Russian-Polish trade has seen the most significant increase as it grew by 37.5 percent year-on-year to $17.8 million in January-October 2018.

$840M in gold bars set aside to be loaded onto Russian airliner at Venezuelan airport - reports UPDATE

Edmund DeMarche
Fox News
Wed, 30 Jan 2019 09:51 UTC

About 20 tons of gold from Venezuela's central bank was ready to be hauled away Tuesday on a Russian airline's Boeing 777 that landed in Caracas a day earlier, a Venezuelan lawmaker wrote on Twitter.

The destination of the $840 million in gold bars was unknown, but a source told Bloomberg News that it represented about 20 percent of the country's holding of the metal. The gold was set aside for loading, the report said.

The news outlet, which first reported on the tweet, identified the lawmaker as Jose Guerra. The lawmaker did not provide evidence for his claim but is identified in the report as a former economist at the country's central bank with close ties to workers still there.

Noticias Venezuela, a news outlet in the country, posted a photo of what it identified as a Nordwind Airlines plane from Moscow that made the trip with only a crew aboard.

Comment: See also:

UPDATE: Russia denies the claim:

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has dismissed charges by Venezuelan National Assembly member Jose Guerra that Moscow has tried to move 20 tonnes of gold to Russia.

"There is no such information," Peskov said in reply to a question.

He urged a very cautious attitude to various "fakes news".

Venezuela's foreign minister: Oil the sole purpose behind US coup attempt

RT
Tue, 29 Jan 2019 19:39 UTC

Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorge Arreaza has said the real reason behind the United States' "coup" attempt was to get its hands on the country's vast oil reserves.

The US imposed sanctions on Venezuela's state-owned oil firm PDVSA on Monday, prompting a tweet from Arreaza, who said the move was "more proof" that Washington was going after Venezuela's oil. The sanctions provide "concrete and irrefutable evidence of the sole and real purpose of this coup attempt in Venezuela: oil," Arreaza wrote.

Introducing the sanctions, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said they would be lifted only if current President Nicolas Maduro handed control of the country over to Juan Guaido, an opposition politician who declared himself interim president last week in a move which was supported by Washington but which many experts have described as unconstitutional.

Comment: While still wielding substantial power, the US has been getting its eyes bruised left and right on the world stage by the crashing weight of reality. Looks like Uncle Sam is ready for yet another round.

Roger Stone pleads not guilty in charges from Mueller witch hunt

Morgan Chalfant, Lydia Wheeler
The Hill
Tue, 29 Jan 2019 02:59 UTC

Roger Stone pleaded not guilty in federal court on Tuesday to a string of charges emanating from special counsel Robert Mueller's probe amid a wild scene outside the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C., where dozens of onlookers showed up to either cheer Stone on or ridicule him.

The self-proclaimed "dirty trickster" appeared wearing a conservative suit and left the courthouse without speaking to reporters - days after he made the rounds of the Sunday talk shows to fight back on his indictment.

Stone's attorney, Robert Buschel, pleaded not guilty on Stone's behalf to seven charges: obstruction of a congressional inquiry, witness tampering and five counts of making false statements to Congress.

Comment: This is about all the American people can expect from the Mueller probe. Chintzy bells and whistles.

See also:

On close examination, Roger Stone's indictment is less than it seems

Lavrov: Russia will do everything to support the legal government of President Maduro

RFE/RL
Tue, 29 Jan 2019 19:41 UTC

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in 2015.

Russian officials have lashed out at the United States over the upheaval in Venezuela, vowing to support embattled President Nicolas Maduro and sharply criticizing Washington for imposing sanctions on the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA.

In comments on January 29, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Washington of "publicly setting a course for illegal regime change" by recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim president.

"Together with other responsible members of the world community, we will do everything to support the legal government of President Maduro in standing up for the Venezuelan Constitution," Lavrov said.

Comment: You can bet Russia is already miles ahead of any the schemes Bolton thinks he has in the works.

"Crimes against humanity": Former UN rapporteur says US sanctions on Venezuela like a "medieval siege"

Michael Selby-Green
The Independent
Sun, 27 Jan 2019 08:22 UTC

'Modern-day economic sanctions and blockades are comparable with medieval sieges of towns'

The first UN rapporteur to visit Venezuela for 21 years has told The Independent the US sanctions on the country are illegal and could amount to "crimes against humanity" under international law.

Former special rapporteur Alfred de Zayas, who finished his term at the UN in March, has criticized the US for engaging in "economic warfare" against Venezuela which he said is hurting the economy and killing Venezuelans.

The comments come amid worsening tensions in the country after the US and UK have backed Juan Guaido, who appointed himself "interim president" of Venezuela as hundreds of thousands marched to support him. European leaders are calling for "free and fair" elections. Russia and Turkey remain Nicolas Maduro's key supporters.

Comment: Back in the day when the US could run roughshod over South America (and much of the planet) coups like this were par for the course, but the world has changed and it's not going to get away with it so easily this time.

See also:

And check out SOTT radio's: NewsReal: US Regime Change Operation in Venezuela - This Time It's Legit?

China opposes sanctions against Venezuela; US responsible for consequences

RT
Tue, 29 Jan 2019 07:53 UTC

China has thrown more weight behind embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, stressing that it supports him even despite the perils he faces and making clear that fresh US sanctions will only make life worse for Venezuelans.

President Maduro, who is attempting to bring the lingering turmoil under control and resist the US-led pressure, has received a new sign of support from Beijing. Asked if China is sticking with Maduro, Geng Shuang, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said: "We have sent President Xi Jinping's special envoy to attend inauguration ceremony of President Maduro. If we didn't recognize him, why did we need to attend it?" he asked rhetorically.

The comment came only a day after the US slapped Venezuela with a package of sanctions targeting state oil company Petróleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA).

China believes the US restrictions will do more harm to ordinary people's lives than the government, Geng argued. In all, Washington "should bear responsibility for the serious consequences [stemming] from this."

Comment: With China's financial commitments and monetary support in the billions to Venezuela, perhaps the US sees its chance to double-gain its gamble.

More from RT:

Sergey Lavrov slammed the US sanctions against Venezuela, calling them "cynical", as Washington froze the $7 billion assets of the state-run oil company PDVSA and its US subsidiary Citgo. Moscow's top diplomat implied that the White House is pursuing vested interests in Venezuela.

"US companies operating in Venezuela are excluded from the sanctions regime. Simply put they want to overthrow the government and gain profits at the same time," the Russian diplomat said.

Lavrov believes that what the US is doing is simply trying to confiscate Venezuela's money under the guise of sanctions, noting that the US "has experience" in such "illegal" affairs, giving Iraq, Libya, Iran, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Panama as examples.

Washington's sanctions were announced on Monday as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said they are meant to prevent a "further diversion" of Venezuela's assets by President Nicolas Maduro. Restrictions are to remain in force till "expeditious transfer of control to the interim president, or the subsequently democratically elected government" takes place.

Maduro slammed American authorities for "stealing" the company and demanded Donald Trump to keep his "hands off" Venezuela.

Palestinian PM Hamdallah resigns; Abbas begins government reshuffle

i24News
Mon, 28 Jan 2019 05:52 UTC

© Mahmud Hams/AFP
Palestinian PM Rami Hamdallah arrives in Gaza City March 13, 2008 prior to an explosion near his convoy.

Palestinian factions not convinced in Fatah's call for unity, seen to antagonize Hamas.

Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah officially submitted his resignation on Tuesday, after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas reportedly requested the move over the weekend.

During the weekly cabinet session, Hamdallah said the entire government had given its resignation, and was at "the disposal of the President." The cabinet would "continue to perform its duties and serve our people, and carry out all responsibilities until the formation of a new government," the prime minister said on twitter.

"We express our confidence in the success of the efforts to form a new government that will be able to meet the citizens demands, restore national unity, end political division, and lead our people to the path of freedom and independence."

During a visit to the southern West Bank city of Hebron on Monday, the premier had denied a new government was an attempt to squeeze Hamas. "We hope that all Palestinian factions will participate in this (new) government and I appeal to the Hamas movement to participate," he said. Fatah Central Committee member supported the claim on Monday night. "There is no veto on Hamas' participation," Azzam al-Hamad told Palestinian media. The Islamist movement Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, is not part of the PLO.

Fatah's central committee made recommendations to Abbas to dissolve the government last week, and welcomed the prime minister's declaration.

On close examination, Roger Stone's indictment is less than it seems

Byron York
Washington Examiner
Sun, 27 Jan 2019 05:37 UTC

There are two sides to special counsel Robert Mueller's indictment of longtime Trump associate Roger Stone. On one side there are the 'under-oath' statements Stone made to the House Intelligence Committee that Mueller says are false. On the other, there are the Stone statements Mueller did not challenge.

The testimony for which Stone was indicted concerns his descriptions of dealings with two men - Jerome Corsi and Randy Credico - who Stone used to attempt to get in touch with WikiLeaks head Julian Assange in the summer and fall of 2016, at the height of the presidential campaign, when WikiLeaks published hacked emails relating to Hillary Clinton. Some of Mueller's charges seem somewhat small; for example, Stone was charged with lying because he said he and Credico communicated by phone but not by email when in fact, according to Mueller, they communicated by both phone and email. But in each case, Mueller says Stone knowingly made false statements.

On the other hand, the indictment does not accuse Stone of lying in some key instances when he defended himself against some of the most serious allegations of the Trump-Russia matter. Remember the media frenzy over Stone's August 2016 tweet that it would soon be "the Podesta's time in the barrel"? Remember Stone's tweets with Guccifer 2.0? And remember his claim, "I dined with my new pal Julian Assange last night"? House investigators asked Stone many questions about those topics, which Stone answered. Mueller did not charge Stone with lying about those issues, or with any illegal underlying behavior, either.

Comment: Something out of nothing is a lot of nothing.

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Puppet Masters

US expects its forces to 'recapture' Syrian territories from ISIS within coming weeks

States supporting Russian sanctions are now leaders in increased trade with Russia

$840M in gold bars set aside to be loaded onto Russian airliner at Venezuelan airport - reports UPDATE

Venezuela's foreign minister: Oil the sole purpose behind US coup attempt

Roger Stone pleads not guilty in charges from Mueller witch hunt

Lavrov: Russia will do everything to support the legal government of President Maduro

"Crimes against humanity": Former UN rapporteur says US sanctions on Venezuela like a "medieval siege"

China opposes sanctions against Venezuela; US responsible for consequences

Palestinian PM Hamdallah resigns; Abbas begins government reshuffle

On close examination, Roger Stone's indictment is less than it seems

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