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Colluding in war crimes: Britain's unreported military alliance with Israel

Mark Curtis
Middle East Monitor
Thu, 06 Dec 2018 14:24 UTC
Netanyahu may
© AFP
British Prime Minister Theresa May and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meet in London on 6 June
Britain's international trade secretary, Liam Fox, recently visited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pledging to increase trade and investment between the two countries, which already stands at a record $9bn.

While more than 230 Palestinians have been killed and thousands more injured by Israeli forces since March, London's ties with Tel Aviv are growing ever stronger.

Yet, I cannot find a single article in the British "mainstream" media noting the depth of supportive UK policies towards Israel. This media blackout is allowing Britain to continue backing Israeli aggression in the occupied territories with impunity.

Arms as usual

Comment: See also: And check out SOTT radio's: NewsReal: Israeli-French Deception Downs Russian Spy Plane Off Syria, US Escalates 'Regime Change' Against Iran

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Handcuffs

Poroshenko's meddling with church violate Ukraine's constitution


RT
Sat, 08 Dec 2018 06:48 UTC
poroshenko ukraine religion
© Global Look Press
Poroshenko's drive for an independent Ukrainian Orthodox church breaches the secular nature of the country, experts say, while some believe it might be part of a foreign-inspired strategy, not just a pre-election stunt.

Ukraine - according to its Constitution, at least - is supposed to be a secular state, and Poroshenko's activities constitute an obvious violation of the country's fundamental laws, historian and political analyst Vladimir Kornilov believes.

"He's flagrantly violating the Constitution of Ukraine, which has established separation of the church from the state; he's grossly violating a whole bunch of Ukrainian laws, including presidential ones," Kornilov told RT.

"The head of the state himself decides when the so-called 'unification council' of churches will take place. Where else in the world, in which Christian country, is that possible nowadays?"

Comment: As it is, the breakaway Ukrainian church looks like it will become a lacky of the US-sponsored Patriarch of Constantinople, and Porky's stint as US puppet in Ukraine looks numbered.

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Bullseye

France's Yellow Vests protests show Europe has failed on democracy - Erdogan


Sputnik
Sat, 08 Dec 2018 20:18 UTC
erdogan
© Sputnik/ Sergei Guneev
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated Saturday that Turkish police were frequently accused of using force, however, he pointed to the situation in France and note how the local police treated people there, the Anadolu news agency reported.

According to the Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan cited by the Anadolu news agency, the Yellow Vest protests pointed out to Europe's failed democracy, human rights and freedom, adding that Europe's security was threatened by the native population.

"The walls of security and welfare that they so cherished started to be shaken not by migrants or Muslims, but by their own citizens," Erdogan said.


Comment: Well, at least part of the instability is due to mass migration enforced by France's leadership, particularly Macron.


Comment: It's not just France that is reaching boiling point in Europe, however it seems that the French are taking the lead, for the moment. But Erdogan is right, were this a country the West could plunder and use geostrategically, 'freedom' fighter jets would have been dropping bombs already:

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Heart - Black

Syrian Priest reveals ongoing drama in rescuing captives from terrorists


Sptunik
Sat, 08 Dec 2018 03:03 UTC
syria
© REUTERS / Rodi Said
Syrian priest George has been engaged in rescuing captives captured by militants since the onset of the conflict in the Arab republic, feeling personal responsibility for the reconciliation efforts in the home country.

Seven years ago, he took part in the first such operation, rescuing soldiers abducted by terrorists. Since then, he has been making every effort, so that peace could return to his country.

Priest George told Sputnik about how the crisis in Idlib province had broken out and also shared the details of the rescue of kidnapped Christians and representatives of other religions.

In Right Place at Right Time

Father George became a priest in 1977 and began his service in Latakia. He was also in charge of the parishes in the city of Jisr al-Shughur in the neighboring province of Idlib.

According to the priest, at that time neither Christians nor Muslims could even imagine that, 40 years later, this small town in the west of Idlib would become one of the main strongholds of terrorist and radical armed groups.

Comment: See also: Father Daniël in Syria: 'Fake News is Imposed With Great Enthusiasm in the West, While Channels of Truth Are Closed'

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Question

Red flags? Right fit?: Trump's new attorney general pick is William Barr

Aaron Blake
The Washington Post
Fri, 07 Dec 2018 09:45 UTC
Barr/Trump
© kirkland.com/Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Former Attorney General, William P. Barr • President Donald Trump
President Trump insisted when he made Matthew G. Whitaker his acting attorney general that he wasn't familiar with Whitaker's past commentary critical of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III's probe. But his new pick to be the attorney general has a record of making similar comments, and despite some favorable comments from Democrats, those could pose a problem in his coming confirmation fight.

President Trump confirmed Friday that former attorney general William P. Barr will be his nominee to head the Justice Department. Picking George H.W. Bush's attorney general would seem a pretty safe and confirmable pick, on its surface.

But much like Whitaker's, Barr's past commentary has played down the severity of the allegations against Trump - on both the collusion and obstruction-of-justice fronts - and he also has suggested the Clintons should be in more trouble.

In fact, in November 2017, Barr told the New York Times that there was more basis to investigate Hillary Clinton for the Uranium One deal than there is to investigate Trump for potential collusion with Russia. He went so far as to say the Justice Department was wrong to give Clinton a pass.

"To the extent it is not pursuing these matters, the department is abdicating its responsibility," he said.

Comment: If Barr is confirmed by the Senate - longevity of position has not been the latest trend.

Additional from Breitbart:
George Terwilliger, who served as Deputy Attorney General under Barr said his former boss would bring "40 years of high level experience, both in government and in business, which gives him a perspective that fits many of this administration's priorities."

Barr, currently an attorney at the law firm Kirkland & Ellis, is said not to possess a "particular ambition" about returning to his former agency, yet does feel a "sense of duty" to accept the nomination if offered.

The White House is also reportedly looking closely at Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX), a member of the House Judiciary Committee and a favorite among his conservatives colleagues.

While Barr is the top prospect to lead the Department of Justice, the White House has yet to make a final decision.


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Handcuffs

Canada Takes A Hostage: Free Meng Wanzhou

Christopher Black
New Eastern Outlook
Sat, 08 Dec 2018 20:20 UTC
Meng Wanzhou

Meng Wanzhou
"It is clear the US is pushing the battle line to our door ... We can completely regard the US arrest of Meng Wanzhou as a declaration of war against China."
So read an editorial in the Global Times of China on December 6, the day after Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of the Chinese company Huawei was taken hostage by the Canadian and American governments on December 1. The daughter of the founder of China's largest telecommunications company was arbitrarily arrested and detained by Canadian police in Vancouver in transit between planes on December 1 on the pretext of a US extradition request.

The arrest has shocked and angered China while in Canada the large Chinese population must wonder how safe they are. The background to the arrest is fairly simple. Huawei has become a global competitor in the global phone market and their 5G phones are cutting edge technology and so not welcomed by competing phone companies in, US, Japan, south Korea, France, and Sweden, who are so afraid of the competition that they and their governments have spread stories that the phones are loaded with spyware and are "a danger to national security."

The company has even been threatened by the US and allied governments with criminal charges in America's increasingly hostile economic war against China alongside its increasing military pressure, provocations and insults. It's one way to control the market. But now, acting as a mafia they have kidnapped, detained, and hold hostage a Chinese woman whose simple crime is going to work every day. The lack of outcry from women's rights groups in the west is not surprisingly, deafening.

Comment: In response to the arrest, China warned Canada on Saturday that there would be severe consequences if it did not immediately release Huawei Technologies' chief financial officer, calling the case "extremely nasty." China's Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said Canada's arrest of Meng at the request of the United States while she was changing planes in Vancouver was a serious breach of her lawful rights.

The move "ignored the law, was unreasonable" and was in its very nature "extremely nasty," he added.
"China strongly urges the Canadian side to immediately release the detained person, and earnestly protect their lawful, legitimate rights, otherwise Canada must accept full responsibility for the serious consequences caused."


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Snakes in Suits

Grilled for six hours, Comey to be called back for more questioning in closed-door House hearing

Marisa Schultz
New York Post
Fri, 07 Dec 2018 07:12 UTC
Comey
© AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
Former FBI director James Comey
Former FBI Director James Comey was grilled for more than six hours Friday behind closed doors at a congressional hearing - but Republicans are calling him back for more. "We had more questions than we had time," said Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), the chairman of the House Oversight Committee.

Comey agreed to return Dec. 17, but questioned what more Republicans would want to know.

"After a full day of questioning a few things are clear to me. One - we could have done this in open setting," Comey said. "And two - when you read the transcript you'll see that we're talking again about Hillary Clinton's emails for heaven's sake. So I'm not sure we need to do this at all."

Democrats charged that summoning Comey was the GOP's final attempt to distract from special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe before they lose control of the House in January.

"This is a big wild goose chase," said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) "It reinforced my view that the Clinton probe has fully run its course."

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) said he plans to shut down the GOP inquiry once he becomes chairman of the Judiciary Committee. "It's a waste of time to start with," Nadler said. "The entire purpose of this investigation is to cast dispersion on the real investigation (by) Robert Mueller. There's no evidence whatsoever of bias at the FBI."

Comment: Weasel Comey's pushback on any probe of the Clinton email scandal is revealing, in light of his own culpability of a similar offense.

See also: Former FBI Dir. Comey seeks to quash subpoena to testify in Russia investigation

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Footprints

Houthis deal: Release all detainees if Yemeni gov't responds in kind


Sputnik
Sat, 08 Dec 2018 20:20 UTC
Houthis
© Al Arabiya
Houthis
The Houthi movement is ready to release all its detainees if the Yemeni government agrees to respond in kind, Abdul Majid Hanash, a member of the Houthi delegation to the talks in Sweden, said.

The UN-mediated talks between the Yemeni government and the Houthis started in Stockholm on Thursday. On the same day, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths announced that the two sides had signed an agreement on prisoner exchange.

"On the issue of detainees, we have done all we can do. We are now ready to release all those we have without conditions if the other side responds. They have said let's agree to release 200 people from each side, but we would like to release all," Abdul Majid Hanash, a member of the Houthi delegation to the talks in Sweden told reporters.

He stressed that the Houthis were ready to provide the lists of all those who had died or were still kept in captivity to the government's delegation.
"We are even ready to present all the names of those that have died and all that we have [detained], because their parents have the right to know what has happened to them. We have said that we are ready to cooperate in this direction... We want the International [Committee of the] Red Cross to be a mediator," Hanash added.
Abdul Malik Ajri, a member of the Houthi-led Political Bureau, in turn, said that all those whom the Houthis were still holding in captivity were foreigners, mainly the Saudis.
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Stock Down

Rouhani: US sanctions are 'economic terrorism' against Tehran


RT
Sat, 08 Dec 2018 09:12 UTC
Iranian rally
© Rouzbeh Fouladi/Zumpress/Global Look Press
Iranians are rallying against US policies.
The US sanctions against Iran are blatant examples of "economic terrorism," and by disrupting Tehran's ability to fight terrorist attacks, Washington puts its own security at risk, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said.

The "illegal US sanctions" are "a form of economic terrorism," Rouhani said, as cited by Iranian media. He further noted that the restrictions, re-imposed by Washington, are aimed at "terrorizing the economy" of Iran and threatening other nations into cutting trade and investment in the county.

Speaking at a security-themed conference on Saturday, the president noted that the sanctions may backfire since they undermine Tehran's own efforts to fight drug trafficking and terrorist attacks. "I warn those who impose sanctions that if Iran's ability to fight drugs and terrorism are affected... you will not be safe from a deluge of drugs, asylum seekers, bombs and terrorism."

On the sidelines of the event, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused the US of flooding the region with weapons, turning it into a "tinderbox."

"The level of arms sales by the Americans is unbelievable and much beyond the regional needs," he said. That constitutes "a very dangerous" policy pursued by Washington in the region.
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Handcuffs

Political prisoners of Empire: Canada arrests Huawei CFO in Vancouver on behalf of US

Robert Fife and Steven Chase
The Globe and Mail
Wed, 05 Dec 2018 15:59 UTC
Meng Wanzhou huawei
© Reuters / Alexander Bibik
(L) Huawei offices in Auckland, New Zealand. Reuters / Phil Noble (R) Meng Wanzhou attends the VTB Capital Investment Forum in Moscow, Russia October 2, 2014
Canada has arrested the chief financial officer of China's Huawei Technologies, who now faces extradition to the United States on suspicion she violated U.S. trade sanctions against Iran.

Meng Wanzhou, who is also the deputy chair of Huawei's board and the daughter of company founder Ren Zhengfei, was arrested on Saturday in Vancouver at the request of American law enforcement authorities.

"She is sought for extradition by the United States, and a bail hearing has been set for Friday," Justice Department spokesman Ian McLeod said in a statement to The Globe and Mail on Wednesday. "As there is a publication ban in effect, we cannot provide any further detail at this time. The ban was sought by Ms. Meng."

A Canadian law-enforcement source with knowledge of the arrest said the United States is alleging Ms. Meng tried to evade the American embargo against Iran, but provided no further details. The source was granted anonymity by The Globe because they weren't authorized to speak publicly about the arrest.

U.S. prosecutors in New York have been investigating whether Huawei violated U.S. sanctions in relation to Iran, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal in April.

Huawei said in a statement to The Globe that Ms. Meng faces "unspecified charges in the Eastern District of New York" and that she was arrested when she was transferring flights in Canada.

Comment: Wow. Is this really where the US wants to take things? What if China and Russia start abducting American executives?

The Dow Jones fell 600 points today in response:

dow huawei
© Google
Update (12/8): Court records from Meng Wanzhou's bail hearing show the charges against her stem from a 2013 case. Meng allegedly used a fake English name and served on the board of a Huawei subsidiary company called Skycom. In 2010, Skycom was caught attempting to smuggle embargoed cellphones into Iran, and in 2013 Meng allegedly lied to US banks that she had no links to Skycom.

Meng's arrest could be used as further leverage in the ongoing trade war spat:

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