Puppet Masters

Message from Washington to Moscow? Seven dead after 'Islamic terrorists' detonate car bomb near Russian embassy in Kabul

RT
Wed, 20 Jan 2016 18:22 UTC

At least seven people have been killed in a suicide car bomb explosion that struck near the Russian embassy in Kabul. A terrorist was apparently targeting a van carrying local journalists, Afghan officials say.

At least 20 more people, including women and children, were injured in the incident, Reuters reported citing Ismail Kawusi, a spokesman of the Ministry of Public Health. Earlier, Afghan Deputy Minister of Interior Muhammad Ayoub Salangi earlier tweeted that four people had been killed and 24 were injured.

The suicide car bomb attack took place on Darul Aman road, according to embassy spokesman Aleksey Kosarev. He said there were no casualties among the embassy staff.

Comment: 'Suicide bomber', whatever.

There is no way "Afghan officials" or anyone else can discern right away that any given explosion is the result of a 'suicide bomber'.

Far more likely, given its proximity to the Russian embassy, is that this was a carefully placed message from the US to Russia:

'Don't even THINK about coming in to clean up OUR Afghanistan!'

Israeli defense minister would 'prefer ISIS' in open conflict over Iran

RT
Wed, 20 Jan 2016 19:01 UTC

Israel continues to express bitter sentiment over the diplomatic victory that secured the nuclear accord with Tehran: The country's defense minister stated that Tehran's nuclear ambitions and "terror infrastructure" are a bigger threat than Islamic State.

Speaking at the Institute for National Security Studies' (INSS) conference in Tel Aviv, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon stressed that "Iran is our main enemy," and if he were to choose between Iran and Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) in an open conflict, he would "prefer ISIS."

Comment: More from the Times of Israel:

Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said Tuesday that Iran poses a greater threat than the Islamic State, and that if the Syrian regime were to fall, Israel would prefer that IS was in control of the territory than an Iranian proxy. "In Syria, if the choice is between Iran and the Islamic State, I choose the Islamic State. They don't have the capabilities that Iran has," Ya'alon told a conference held by the Institute of National Security Studies in Tel Aviv. ... "Iran determines future of Syria and if it leads to perpetuation, Iranian hegemony in Syria will be huge challenge for Israel," he said. The defense minister also characterized the conflict in Syria and Iraq as the "height of the clash of civilizations."

He's kind of right. But Israel represents the same kind of 'civilization' as that of ISIS.

"Many in the West refuse to acknowledge this — won't even say 'radical Islam,'" Ya'alon said. "Of course not every Muslim is a terrorist, but most terrorists in the world today are Muslim. We can't ignore that."

Nonsense. Most Muslim terrorists are Muslim, by definition. There are plenty of non-Muslim terrorists. Ya'alon represents many of them. There are probably few countries whose leadership would openly state that they prefer head-chopping, liver-eating, slave-owning torturers, killers and rapists. But that's just how Israel rolls, we suppose.

Lavrov says 'we'll fight ISIS until its complete annihilation' after Kerry talks

RT
Wed, 20 Jan 2016 18:51 UTC

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov before their meeting on Syria, in Zurich, Switzerland, January 20, 2016

© Jacquelyn Martin / Reuters
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov before their meeting on Syria, in Zurich, Switzerland, January 20, 2016.

Islamic State and the Nusra Front won't be part of the proposed Syrian ceasefire as the fight against the jihadists will go on until their complete annihilation, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov and his US counterpart, John Kerry, agreed during talks in Zurich.

"The main thing is that we came to an unambiguous conclusion that the UN Security Council Resolution 2254 will remain the main basis for us to move forward," Lavrov told journalists in Switzerland.

During the negotiations, the two diplomats "discussed practical steps to ensure the conditions for a ceasefire" in Syria in accordance with the UN resolution, the Russian foreign minister added.

The truce "wouldn't apply to terrorist organizations Islamic State and the Nusra Front (Jabhat al-Nusra)," he stressed.

"They can't be subject to an agreement on a ceasefire as they remain our enemies. And we'll continue to fight them until their complete annihilation," Lavrov stressed.

The 21st Century: An era of US-led fraud, war crimes and propaganda

Paul Craig Roberts
paulcraigroberts.org
Mon, 18 Jan 2016 18:12 UTC

In the last years of the 20th century fraud entered US foreign policy in a new way. On false pretenses Washington dismantled Yugoslavia and Serbia in order to advance an undeclared agenda. In the 21st century this fraud multiplied many times. Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, and Libya were destroyed, and Iran and Syria would also have been destroyed if the President of Russia had not prevented it. Washington is also behind the current destruction of Yemen, and Washington has enabled and financed the Israeli destruction of Palestine. Additionally, Washington operated militarily within Pakistan without declaring war, murdering many women, children, and village elders under the guise of "combating terrorism." Washington's war crimes rival those of any country in history.

I have documented these crimes in my columns and books (Clarity Press). Anyone who still believes in the purity of Washington's foreign policy is a lost soul.

Russia and China now have a strategic alliance that is too strong for Washington. Russia and China will prevent Washington from further encroachments on their security and national interests. Those countries important to Russia and China will be protected by the alliance. As the world wakes up and sees the evil that the West represents, more countries will seek the protection of Russia and China.

Good is bad and bad is good: How the Fed manipulates the markets and caused the recent stock market slide

Mike Whitney
Counterpunch
Tue, 19 Jan 2016 17:28 UTC

When the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and S&P peaked in May 2015, investors were still confident that the Fed "had their back" and that any steep or prolonged downturn in stocks would be met with additional liquidity and a firm commitment to maintain zero rates as long as necessary. But now that the Fed has started its long-awaited rate-hike cycle, investors aren't sure what to expect.

This growing uncertainty coupled with flagging earnings reports have factored heavily in Wall Street's recent selloff. Unless the Fed is able to restore confidence by promising to take steps that support the markets, stocks are going to continue get hammered by economic data that's bound to deteriorate as 2016 drags on.

For the last few years, investors have relied on the so called "Bernanke Put" to prevent significant stock losses while the real economy continued to sputter and underperform. The moniker refers to the way the Fed adds liquidity to the markets during periods of stress to put a floor under stocks. Investors have been so confident in this safety-net system that they've dumped trillions of dollars into equities even though underlying fundamentals have remained weak and the economy has sputtered along at an anemic 2 percent per year. Investors believed the Central Bank could move stocks higher, and they were right.

Stark raving mad: Bankrupt Kiev expands 'trade embargo' against Russia (5th largest economy on Earth)

RT
Wed, 20 Jan 2016 14:41 UTC

'Under management'

The Ukrainian government on Wednesday added about 70 food items to the list of banned goods imported from Russia. Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk explained the move as 'Kiev's counter-measure' to Moscow's food embargo. "We will further defend our market," said Yatsenyuk. He also suggested expanding the list of sanctioned Russian individuals and entities. Ukraine's Ministry of Economy and Trade has issued a list of food products from Russia the import of which was banned from January 10, 2016 until August 5, 2016. The list includes bakery goods, pastries, chocolates, meat, fish, coffee, black tea, cigarettes, beer, and other products.

Trade restrictions were also introduced in response to Moscow cancelling a free trade agreement with Ukraine. On Tuesday, Kiev said Russia's ban on Ukrainian products undermined the World Trade Organization rules, and that Ukraine plans to raise the issue at a WTO meeting in February. According to Russian Economic Development Minister Aleksey Ulyukaev, Moscow's measures do not violate WTO rules.

In December Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law suspending the free trade agreement with Ukraine as of January 1, 2016. Putin said Kiev's move to open its borders with the EU compromised Russia's interests and economic security. The Russian government has expressed concerns that without such a barrier, Ukraine could illegally supply the country with embargoed European goods.

Comment: The prime minister of an economy that is all but clinically dead and is being 'managed' by a US-led consortium, wants to complain at the WTO about Russia's lawful attempts to protect itself against unilaterally-imposed US sanctions - sanctions that are in violation of the WTO's core principles?

Good luck with that, Yats.

Yatsen-yukkety-yuk

Duma committee unanimously rejects Communist Party bill targeting 'public demonstration of homosexuality'

RT
Mon, 18 Jan 2016 13:35 UTC

The Russian lower house Committee for Constitutional Law has recommended rejecting a bill drafted by Communist Party MPs that proposes fines for any public demonstration of non-traditional sexual relations.

The chairman of the committee, Vladimir Pligin MP (United Russia), told reporters on Monday that its members voted unanimously to reject the draft.

The bill introducing punishment for any public demonstration of non-traditional sexual relations was prepared and drafted by Ivan Nikitchuk and Nikolai Arefyev of the Communist Party caucus. The lawmakers want anyone who shows "distorted sexual preferences" in public places to be fined between 4000 and 5000 rubles ($53-$66). Similar actions in educational or cultural establishments should carry up to 15 days in jail, the draft reads.

One of the authors of the bill said that by "the demonstration of sexual relations" they meant "kissing and holding hands." When asked who should control the observation of the new rules, should they be adopted, he answered that it could be included in the responsibilities of the Russian police.

Kiev sends 70 units of heavy armaments to Gorlovka, Donetsk and Mariupol

Translated by Ollie Richardson
Fort Russ
Wed, 20 Jan 2016 13:40 UTC

Almost 70 units of heavy armaments and armored vehicles, as well as a few hundred militants of the UAF have been moved this week to the line of contact. Today, the representative of the Ministry of Defense of the Donetsk People's Republic Eduard Basurin confirmed this, reports Donetsk News Agency.

According to Basurin, intelligence of the DPR continues to detect the concentration of military equipment and personnel of the APU in three areas: Gorlovka, Donetsk and Mariupol. Six howitzers "Pion" and "Hyacinth" caliber 152 mm, seven MLRS "Grad", BMP 12, up to 20 vehicles with ammunition and personnel and up to 10 buses with fighters of the 54th mechanized brigade and two platoons of the battalion "Aidar" were found by reconnaissance in the Gorlovka direction.

Comment: Also see: Yats is out: Obama-appointed head of Ukraine appears to have been ousted by Poroshenko

US delegation to finalize new Israeli military aid package

Press TV
Tue, 19 Jan 2016 06:59 UTC

A high-level American delegation is expected to visit Israel next week to work out the final details of a new 10-year military aid package. The American delegation, composed of members of US National Security Council, will hold meetings with Israeli security and military staff, Israeli media reported Tuesday. The National Security Council assists the US president on national security and foreign policies.

On top of the agenda is the technical details of an approximately $41 billion 10-year military package, the Haaretz newspaper reported, citing a source involved in the talks. The new agreement would come into effect from October 2018.

Washington is currently providing Tel Aviv with $3.1 billion in military assistance annually and the new deal would likely increase that amount to $4.1 billion. Israeli officials have urged Washington to increase the aid to $5 billion. The current aid is separate from the nearly $500 million in annual US funding for Israel's missile system programs in recent years. It is also on top of the US military equipment held in Israel, which is valued at $1.2 billion.

Israel is the largest cumulative recipient of US foreign assistance since World War II. US military aid to Israel has amounted to $124.3 billion since it began in 1962, according to a recent US congressional report. Strong congressional support for Israel has resulted in Israel receiving benefits not available to any other country.

Comment: As long as the US keeps financing Israeli terror, the Palestinian genocide will continue. It allows Israel to defy international law, occupy territories illegally, force native occupants from their homes and land in the most cruel and devastating ways. It is a monetary policy that defies logic, law, and financial sense. When did Americans become so blind and twisted to support such a pathological regime and not think twice about the consequences of funding such actions? Is it because the US essentially does the same thing? You are whose company you 'keep.'

Red Cross disputes German tabloid claims of starving Madaya residents being 'pro-govt actors'

RT
Mon, 18 Jan 2016 22:46 UTC

German tabloid Bild has accused starving residents of the Syrian town of Madaya of being "actors." But RT's correspondent believes some media simply dislike what people suffering from malnutrition had to say about rebels selling off government aid.

Last week RT's Murad Gazdiev accompanied the Red Cross and the UN convoy that brought food to the besieged Syrian town of Madaya, some 44km northwest of the capital, Damascus, close to the Lebanese border.

The images of hunger-bitten children outraged the world and the stories told by their mothers are truly shocking.

Madaya citizens told RT that the Syrian government had sent them aid, but they never got it because it was seized by the rebels, who sold humanitarian aid off to starving people at ridiculously high prices. A kilogram of rice was fetching as much as $250.

Those filmed by RT - women, children and some men, mostly elderly and sick - were not allowed to leave Madaya because no agreement had been reached and all those people were forced to pick up their bags and go back to the town, where there is no food.

But their words struck the wrong chords with some media outlets, such as Germany's Bild, which accused the aid organizations and RT of forming a conspiracy with President Bashar Assad.

The German tabloid accused the people trying to escape from Madaya of being "regime actors" of Assad's government.

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ROEL

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Puppet Masters

Message from Washington to Moscow? Seven dead after 'Islamic terrorists' detonate car bomb near Russian embassy in Kabul

Israeli defense minister would 'prefer ISIS' in open conflict over Iran

Lavrov says 'we'll fight ISIS until its complete annihilation' after Kerry talks

The 21st Century: An era of US-led fraud, war crimes and propaganda

Good is bad and bad is good: How the Fed manipulates the markets and caused the recent stock market slide

Stark raving mad: Bankrupt Kiev expands 'trade embargo' against Russia (5th largest economy on Earth)

Duma committee unanimously rejects Communist Party bill targeting 'public demonstration of homosexuality'

Kiev sends 70 units of heavy armaments to Gorlovka, Donetsk and Mariupol

US delegation to finalize new Israeli military aid package

Red Cross disputes German tabloid claims of starving Madaya residents being 'pro-govt actors'

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